Making Coolant Testing a Priority for Autumn

Coolant is essential! It helps maintain optimal engine temperature, prevents overheating, and ensures the longevity of your vehicle for many miles. Given the complexities of electric motor and gasoline engines in hybrids, regular coolant testing is crucial.

To ensure your hybrid's optimal performance, coolant testing should be a regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine. Here's what to look for:

• Coolant level: Check your coolant reservoir for adequate fluid.
• Coolant color and condition: The coolant should be clear or slightly colored, without any signs of rust or debris.
• Coolant freezing point: Ensure your coolant has a sufficiently low freezing point to protect your engine during cold weather.
• Coolant boiling point: Your coolant should have a high boiling point to prevent overheating.

ArborMotion’s specialists technicians know what to look for and how to test to ensure optimal results for your specific vehicle.

Schedule Professional Coolant Testing for Your Toyota Prius Hybrid Today!

While you can check coolant levels yourself, professional coolant testing and service are recommended. A qualified technician can perform a comprehensive analysis and address any issues before they escalate. All our technicians are ASE certified and three have ASE Master Technician certifications. If you want a reputable technician who specializes in your brand of vehicle, schedule an appointment on your Toyota Prius Hybrid today!

November Department of the Month – Beata O’Brien

Beata O'Brien

There are many layers to ArborMotion; we have our technicians, service team, parts department, drivers and the owner. But the true back bone of this company is Beata O’Brien! Beata is our Finance Manager, and she keeps all of us on track. Without Beata, ArborMotion would spinning in circles. 

Beata has been working at ArborMotion for 7 years and this is her first job in the automotive industry. She holds two Master degrees in liberal arts. Beata is able to look at our financial reports and point out the areas where we can improve so we can do even more for our customers. Besides making sure that ArborMotion is doing wonderfully, Beata is passionate about figure skating and music. When she’s not working, you can find her at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube skating or playing the piano.

Beata truly is the glue that holds ArborMotion together. While we’re up front providing the best customer service, Beata is in back watching the numbers. Without her, we would not be able to give our customers a great experience. You can find Beata from time to time floating around the shop, next time you are in stop and say hi! 

Schedule a Service Today with Foreign Car Repair Specialists in Ann Arbor

At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor. All our technicians are ASE certified and three have ASE Master Technician certifications. If you want a reputable technician who specializes in your brand of vehicle, schedule an appointment with us today!

What is Mercedes Benz Dynamic Select?

Are you overwhelmed by all the new features Mercedes has to offer?

Do you want the best driving experience?

Want to find out how the Dynamic Select feature can improve your everyday driving?

The Mercedes-Benz Dynamic Select system allows you to easily switch driving modes depending on the terrain and location you’re exploring. These drive modes include: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. These modes can be selected with the tap of the console button. In Sport mode, the throttle, shifting and chassis sharpen and in ECO mode, they ease up. 

Each mode makes adjustments so you can have the ideal driving experience wherever you go. At ArborMotion, we look forward to helping you properly repair and maintain your Mercedes Benz. Call (734) 761-1088 or schedule your Mercedes repair in Ann Arbor online today.

4 Common Advantages that Synthetic Oils Offer Over Conventional Motor Oil

When you change your car's engine oil you have a lot of choices, including synthetic or conventional oil. Most people wonder what the benefits are of using synthetic, and if it's really worth the money. 

Conventional motor oil is a lubricant that is derived directly from crude oil. Synthetic oil actually begins its life as conventional oil and is modified to improve its protective and lubricant properties. One of these modifications is to restrict the oil molecules to a smaller, uniform size. This results in better surface area coverage. This is also how the oil becomes essentially finer and can introduce oil leaks that weren't present before using synthetic oil.

The most common advantages that synthetic oils offer over conventional motor oil are:

• Improved Lubrication - Most synthetic oils have added lubricants that increase the ability to keep engine parts slick, especially at high temperatures. This decreases wear in the long term, and may make your engine last longer.
• Better Stability - Synthetic oils are specially engineered to maintain their viscosity (thickness) at higher temperatures and over longer periods of time. This helps you prevent engine wear in several ways. It allows the oil to "stick" to engine parts more readily, providing better wear protection, as well as doing a better job protecting your engine from cold starts.
• Reduced Breakdown - Synthetic oils are less likely to break down, which means that many synthetic oils don't need to be changed as often as conventional oils. The additive package (Detergents, anti-foaming products etc.) is built to hold up to an extended oil interval.
• Fewer Deposits - As conventional oils break down, they often leave deposits on engine components. Mechanics refer to this as "sludge" or "scaling." This is common in engines that run for long periods of time, are driven hard or driven under tough conditions. As conventional oil breaks down, it sticks to different surfaces in the engine and "bakes on" just like cooking oil would in a frying pan.

Although the properties of synthetic oil are definitely superior, conventional oil will protect your vehicle's engine just as well if you follow the proper oil change intervals. At ArborMotion, we’ve always taken the stance that it’s best to change oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles for conventional oil and 5 months or 5,000 miles for synthetic oil. Vehicle manufacturers have been extending their oil intervals well beyond that. BMW/Mini for example suggest a 15,000-mile interval! We find that the vehicles that come in at that interval are low on oil and the oil is very dark.

Do your vehicle a favor by choosing the right oil and interval and follow that routine as closely as possible. As we like to say, it's cheap insurance!

Schedule an Oil Change Today with Foreign Car Repair Specialists in Ann Arbor

At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor. All our technicians are ASE certified and three have ASE Master Technician certifications. If you want a reputable technician who specializes in your brand of vehicle, schedule an appointment with us today.

Department of the Month – Porsche Technicians

We’re slowly making our way through ArborMotion folks! 

We have technicians who work in the main shop but we also have two who work on Porsches in the back of our shop. This month, we’re going to focus on the Porsche techs! ArborMotion takes pride in our Porsche techs and customers. For more than forty years, ArborMotion has been servicing the Ann Arbor area with fantastic service not only your brand-new Porsches, but your vintage cars, racing cars and your daily driving vehicles. 

Many of our customers know that Nick Pott is in charge of our Porsche Department. But most people don’t know who is actually working on their vehicle. Who are the guys in the back making sure that your summer car is ready to go right when you are?

Let us introduce you to Tyler Berry and Joe Planck. These are the two Certified Porsche Technicians at ArborMotion. 

Joe Planck

Tyler Berry

If you read the newsletter two months ago, you might remember Joe Planck’s Buick Car of the Month. Joe has been working on cars practically his whole life! His grandpa had Porsches growing up and he would help him fix them. Joe went to school at Washtenaw Community College, where he studied Automotive Technician Repair Maintenance. He’s also Steering, Suspension, Electrical Systems and Electronics ASE Certified. Joe loves finding new things to fix and learning how to fix them on his own. No job is too big or too small! 

Tyler Berry has always been interested in cars but the mechanical side of things didn’t come until he was a senior in high school when his dad bought a 1964 Chevy 2 Nova that they transformed into a drag racing car. Since his dad was interested in classic American cars, Tyler decided to narrow his focus of interest to Porsche. Tyler loves working on engines and transmissions; the list of engines and transmissions that he has built is slowly growing every day. 

Everyone who brings their Porsches into ArborMotion can walk out knowing that their vehicle is in the best hands! The time and care that Joe and Tyler put into your vehicles always result in your vehicle leaving in better condition than when it came in. If you have a Porsche (or know someone with a Porsche) and you’ve being searching for a place to take fantastic care of your vehicle, look no further. ArborMotion takes great pride in our Porsche department and we have the best technicians to back that up. Next time you’re in, ask about the Porsche Department and take a look at the Porsches we have stored in the back! 

Porsche Service in Ann Arbor: Schedule Service Today with an ASE Certified Porsche Technician!

Our craftsmanship is driven by our expertise and dedication to the Porsche brand. Our facility has the right tools and equipment to work on everyday drivers or classic investments. Our team is prepared to service almost any Porsche in almost any condition. Call today to schedule Porsche service in Ann Arbor.

Mercedes Service in Ann Arbor

When looking to get your Mercedes Benz serviced, look no further! ArborMotion has been servicing Mercedes Benz for more than 30 years. Our technicians are trained to use the Mercedes Benz specific scan tool technology to diagnose and repair your vehicle. 

We use only Mercedes Benz OE and equivalent parts. As a result, we can warranty all repairs for two years with unlimited miles! 

Choosing ArborMotion to repair your Mercedes Benz gives you the following – 

• 2- year unlimited mile warranty on all repairs
• Certified Mercedes Benz technicians
• Mercedes Benz and OE parts
• Complimentary Mercedes Exclusive inspection
• Complimentary hand car wash with every service
• Complimentary daily door to door shuttle service
• Complimentary loaner vehicle by appointment
• Convenient Mercedes Benz service A & B 

ArborMotion has technicians and service advisers who go above and beyond the ordinary to make sure your vehicle leaves running better than when it came in. Our Mercedes Benz work is no exception. We’ll make sure to give it the luxury treatment that it deserves. You can count on technicians who care about every vehicle, so next time you need service, don’t hesitate to contact us! Feel free to talk to our service advisers about all the great things that come with a Mercedes Benz service appointment! 

We look forward to helping you properly repair and maintain your Mercedes Benz. Call (734) 761-1088 or schedule your Mercedes repair in Ann Arbor online.

August Department of the Month – Drivers

In past months, our readers have met our Service Team and our Owner. Now it’s time to meet our Shuttle Drivers! These men take you home, take you to work, and bring you back to ArborMotion. Not only that, they also run important errands throughout the day so our techs have the right parts to make sure your vehicle is in top shape. 

This team is made up of three retirees, John Wagner, Steve Tinkle and Ed Sikorski.

John Wagner is a retired high school mathematics teacher! He has been with ArborMotion since 2014 and this is his first job in the automotive industry. John enjoys meeting and chatting with new people and being a driver. There’s never a shortage of friendly faces!

John Wagner

Steve Tinkle worked as an Information Technology professional, specializing in application/software development for 30 years. He was looking for a part-time job and ArborMotion was the perfect fit! His first job in the automotive industry was at thirteen years-old, working on broken lawn mower engines. He holds two college degrees from Eastern Michigan University: a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems; and a master’s degree in business. 

Steve Tinkle

Ed Sikorski is a retiree who wanted a part-time job and found the perfect fit with ArborMotion. Ed practiced law before joining us, and has been with us ArborMotion for two years. Ed’s favorite part of the job is engaging with all of our customers. He says the challenge is trying to navigate the construction and traffic in downtown Ann Arbor. When he’s not working, you can find him on the water! Whether it’s fishing, hunting, or relaxing with his four grandchildren, we’re sure that Ed finds way to enjoy his time off. 

Ed Sikorski

Come in and ask for a shuttle ride, they’re free! Plus, you get a friendly face, a great ride and great service!

ArborMotion: Foreign Car Repair in Ann Arbor You Can Trust.

At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor. All our technicians are ASE certified and three have ASE Master Technician certifications. If you want a reputable technician who specializes in your brand of vehicle, schedule an appointment with us today!

Never Skip a Tire Rotation!

When it comes to basic car repairs, what’s the first thing you think of? Oil change? Topping off your fluids? Hopefully, what also comes to mind is tire rotation! Tire rotation is often skipped when people service their vehicles. We recommend not skipping this important step.

Learn more here!

ArborMotion: Foreign Car Repair in Ann Arbor You Can Trust.

At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor. All our technicians are ASE certified and three have ASE Master Technician certifications. If you want a reputable technician who specializes in your brand of vehicle, schedule an appointment with us today!

How to Protect Your Car’s Interior in the Summer

As we all know, the changing seasons take a toll on our vehicles. The hot sun can ruin your paint, and salt can accelerate the appearance of rust. While all of this is happening to the outside of your vehicle, do you stop to think about the effects the seasons have on the inside?

The summer heat can turn the inside of your vehicle into a sauna! When the door opens, heavy, hot air will surround you. 

Want to know how to make your car cooler? These helpful tips will make sure your vehicle will be almost as cool as your A/C! 

One inexpensive way to cool down your interior is to park in the shade as much as possible. This will prevent the sun from shining directly into your vehicle … which will help with the inside temperature and help protect your paint at the same time. If shade is limited where you work or live, a windshield protector is a fantastic way to create some. These come in various sizes and shapes, so finding one that fits your vehicle should be a breeze! They also sell whimsical ones if a solid color doesn’t tickle your fancy.

A lot of vehicles have leather interiors, which is very nice visually, but our leather-seated friends know the pain of sitting down in shorts. Seat covers are a great way to keep your leather interior in great condition and helps it keep cool. We can also all relate to hot steering wheels -- covers for those are also available! 

For those of us with children or pets, window shades are a great purchase. They help keep your vehicle cool while also protecting your little ones. 

Speaking of pets -- they need our help staying cool during the summer months as well. Besides air conditioning and window shades, one purchase that could be beneficial is a seat cover that turns your backseat into a bench! Not only does this protect the seat’s longevity, it provides more space for your four-legged friends. Caution: your furry friends should never be left in a hot car. These are suggestions on how to stay cool as you travel.

This summer has been brutal! No one wants to spend their time in a hot car. If you choose one of these ideas to protect the inside of your vehicle, your car will thank you. Protecting your vehicle means you’re not only protecting yourself, but also the people and pets that go with you. 

ArborMotion: Foreign Car Repair in Ann Arbor You Can Trust.

At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor. All our technicians are ASE certified and three have ASE Master Technician certifications. If you want a reputable technician who specializes in your brand of vehicle, schedule an appointment with us today!

June Department of the Month

ArborMotion is made up of six departments staffed by talented, fun men and women. We’re the people that make sure your vehicle is at its best, which we hope helps you, our customer, feel your best. 

From the moment you step into our shop, we want you to know you’re among friends. Your vehicle is going to be well taken care of! 

Who are the people taking care of your vehicle, answering your phone calls and driving you where you need to go First up, our Service Crew. 

Our Service Crew consists of five people. Each of them is charged with the responsibility to make sure that you’re in and out the door with 100% satisfaction. Our duties can range from ordering the smallest part needed for your car, to explaining your repairs, to rescheduling your appointment. Without this expert crew ArborMotion would be incomplete. 

Nick Pott has been ArborMotion’s Shop Manager for four years, but has worked with cars his entire life. He attended University of North Western Ohio, where he studied high performance motor sports. He’s an avid Michigan football fan (Go Blue!) and belongs to the SCCA racing group. 

Nick Pott, Shop Manager

Bobby is one of two Service Advisors who explains the details of your service orders. Bobby is the man behind the curtain who makes sure your car’s information gets to our technicians. Bobby attended Washtenaw Community College where he studied auto service, auto body repair, motorcycles, welding and fabrication. 

He was also a motorcycle service instructor for three years; he promoted the program by visiting various high schools.  

During his time at WCC, Bobby entered a paint and body work competition through Autorama. He received 4^th place in 2009 and 1^st place in 2012.

Bobby, Service Advisor

Chuck is our talented Service Advisor. Without his expertise, the front of our shop would turn into chaos. He relays your concerns to our technicians, who in turn makes sure that your car is running at its best.  He attended Washtenaw Community College where he studied auto service. Chuck’s other passion is anything R/C; boats, drones, jets, airplanes. You can find him at the R/C track! 

Chuck, Service Advisor

Tom is our Parts man; he’s the reason your car leave the shop running like new. He’s in charge of ordering parts and materials, and anything your car might need. He attended MSU (Go Green! Go White!) In his spare time, he enjoys modifying Volkswagens. 

Tom, Parts Specialist

Emily is our Customer Service Specialist. She’s the liaison between ArborMotion and Total Detail. She organizes and schedules shuttle drivers, assists with internal marketing, and with scheduling customer repairs. She attended Wayne State University where she studied art history and fine arts. Emily is a huge field hockey fan; you’ll find her at Ocker Field watching Michigan battle it out. 

Emily, Customer Service Specialist

As you can see, Arbormotion is made up of many people with many talents and interests. In the coming months, you’ll meet everyone! Getting to know our customers is one of many perks of the job, so the next time you’re in don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation. Our Service Crew loves to chat! 

Schedule service today!

June Car of The Month

At Arbormotion, we’re all about cars! Whether your car is the latest model or a vintage Porsche, we treat every car as if it were our own. Because of that each car leaves better than when it came in. 

The people working on your cars aren’t just technicians; they’re people who have a passion for this business and for the Automotive Industry. Many of our technicians and employees actually fix cars during their free time. Some are even involved in auto racing.

Nick Pott is ArborMotion’s shop manager – he’s been with the company since February 2014. Nick grew up around the race track watching his father, Tim Pott, race and build cars. In 1977, a 1974 Porsche 914 was brought into Tim’s shop for repairs after an accident, and he decided this was the car he was going to build and race. 

Back in 2001, Nick won his first race driving the yellow Porsche in a club race; he was able to follow up with his second win the following day. Tim raced the car until 2002. In 2014, Nick made it his own.  

This 1980 Porsche has a highly modified 1.8-liter engine that was built to SCCA production race specs. The brakes have been upgraded to 914-6 calipers, pads and rotors. The interior has been stripped, and the windshield removed and replaced with a Ginther-style windscreen. The back half of the car is a tube frame chassis with a custom Borla exhaust and coil-over suspension. The fenders and bumpers are fiberglass, while the hood and doors are lightened stock sheet metal. The car runs stock “cookie cutter” Porsche 15” wheels shod with 215/58015Hoosier Radial Slicks. 

Tim was able to pass down his knowledge and passion for cars to his son, who is now ArborMotion’s Porsche expert. Nick brings all his knowledge and expertise to the job of leading the Service Crew and Porsche Department. Call our shop today and ask for Nick Pott—a certified Porsche Repair Enthusiast!

Summer Car Shows You Don’t Want to Miss!

Summer is the time of bbq’s, beaches and bonfires under the stars. However, if you’re looking for a little more excitement, look no further than the car shows of Michigan! From Vintage shows to NASCAR races, these shows will leave you wanting more. 

Cars and Coffee 

June 30^th, 9-12 PM

Dearborn MI

Gateway Classic Cars

Street Machines

June 23^rd, 9-4 PM

Saline MI (Downtown)

Saline Summer Festival

Vintage Car Show Series (4 Part Series) 

June 30^th, July 14^th, July 28^th, August 11^th 8-1 PM (For All Shows)

Each show spotlights a new car

Hazel Park MI

Orphan Car Show

September 16^th 

$6 Adults (12 and under free)

Ypsilanti MI (Riverside Park)

Cars Under the Stars

July 1^st, 7-10:30 PM

Fireworks, Food Truck Rally, Car Gathering

Pontiac MI

Mencs Practice & Qualifying 

MIS (Michigan International Speedway)

August 10^th, 5 PM

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice

Buy Tickets Online

Corrigan Oil 200

MIS (Michigan International Speedway)

August 11^th, 1 PM

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Free Post Race Concert

Buy Tickets Online

If these shows are not enough for our avid car enthusiasts, feel free to check out MIS website, as well as, carshowtracker.com. This website gives information for shows close to home, as well as, all over the country. 

For our friends who prefer two wheels to four, check out dairylandinsurance.com. A great list of upcoming events and shows around the country with locations, times and websites.

Have a Question About Car Shows? Ask Our Experts in Foreign Car Repair at ArborMotion!

Do you have questions about car shows available in your area? At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor and can help you answer any questions you may have. Call our shop today to speak to a ASE Certified Technician about your options. 

What is HUD and How Can I Get One If My Vehicle Does Not Have It?

HUD is an acronym for Heads Up Display which is the ability to display navigation and speed info on your windshield. This greatly helps you keep your eyes pointed straight ahead where they belong, not looking down at your phone for directions.

Many new vehicles feature HUD and in our opinion it’s a great leap forward in safety. Too many accidents are caused by distracted drivers today. The more we can keep people’s vision straight ahead, the better.

Here’s an example of what a factory installed HUD looks like: 

Factory Installed HUD

Are you convinced that this is a great idea but you won’t be buying a new vehicle anytime soon? That’s not a problem, as always, the aftermarket can provide you with a solution. There are many HUD products available! Here’s one that we like made by HUDWAY called the HUDWAY Glass Heads-Up Navigation Display. It’s portable so it can be moved from vehicle to vehicle, is very affordable at $49.95 and works with any smartphone.

HUDWAY Glass Heads-Up Display

Benefits include 

- View directions & the road at the same time to drive safer

- See more clearly on both poor visibility & clear days

- Use w/ any smartphone & any HUD app - it's universally compatible

- Display any HUD-based navigation app

- Get free promo codes to navigation apps by Hudway to use w/ your Glass

Watch THIS VIDEO to learn more or go to https://hudwayglass.com

Soon, all vehicles will be equipped with HUD systems! Until that happens, it’s good to know that we don’t have to wait for a new car purchase to take advantage of this terrific technology.

Have a Question About HUD Technology? Ask Our Experts in Foreign Car Repair at ArborMotion!

Do you have questions about HUD technology? At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor and can help you find an aftermarket solution that fits your needs. Call our shop today to speak to a ASE Certified Technician about your options. 

The Sound Reasoning Behind a Pre-Purchase Inspection

There are many ways to check out a car before you buy it. You can go online and check the Carfax status, or look on Edmunds.com or Cars.com and make sure the amount you offer is within the range of market value. You can even research common issues a vehicle may have and compare that to the Carfax report to see if it has ever been serviced for that issue.

The one thing you can’t do online is a good old-fashioned physical inspection by a certified technician. A “Pre-Purchase Inspection” can be the best money you will ever spend. Some people are afraid to have the inspection done in fear that nothing will be wrong with the vehicle and they spent the money “unnecessarily.” The truth is exactly the opposite. You want to learn that the car needs nothing so you’ll have confidence when you buy it. 

If defects or service needs are found, then you can use that info in two ways. If the vehicle ends up needing too much service, then you dodged a bullet – which is money well spent. If it only needs minor service but still looks to be a good vehicle (which is what happens most often) then you’re armed with the knowledge of what needs to be done to get the car up to your standards. You can then negotiate the sale accordingly.

Often, we do a “Post-Purchase Inspection” which can sometimes be very bad. We have inspected vehicles numerous times that were purchased first and then brought to us only to find that the vehicle needs so much work that it’s not worth doing, or it exceeds the value of your vehicle. This scenario is what makes the first scenario we described (Pre-Purchase Inspection showing the car needs nothing) the best possible outcome with no need to be afraid of spending the money.

Bottom line: if you’re considering purchasing a vehicle, bring it to ArborMotion for an inspection by our ASE certified technicians that will either save you money, save you from a huge mistake or give you the confidence that the vehicle you’re considering is a sound purchase. Make it a win-win no matter the outcome.

ArborMotion: Foreign Car Repair in Ann Arbor You Can Trust.

At ArborMotion, we specialize in foreign car repair in Ann Arbor. All our technicians are ASE certified and three have ASE Master Technician certifications. If you want a reputable technician who specializes in your brand of vehicle, schedule an appointment with us today.