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We love the snow! While winter can be exciting and fun, we want to make sure that our community prepares well for winter driving. An emergency kit is a wonderful way to feel like you can handle the situation if something happens while you are in the car.

When you make your kit, think of the things you need and then add a few things you'd want if you had to wait for help. A few necessities may be water, food, blankets, and boots. You may also want a cell phone charger, some extra clothing, and a book if…

With the availability of winter tires and the weather, you are going to need to know the type of winter tires you are going to be looking at. There are three different types of winter tires. They are studded winter tires, studless winter tires and performance winter tires. They each give you benefits.

With the studded winter tires, you are going to have metal studs that dig into ice, but may damage the road. The studless is a nicer alternative for the road. It takes care of the snow and maintains traction without the snow. 

If your car doesn't turn exactly in the direction that you want it to, you could either be experiencing an oversteer or an understeer. Both of these situations can be dangerous if there other vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles nearby. There are many stability features built into some of the models that we have at MINI of Portland to account for steering issues.

During an oversteer, your car will be turning more sharply than expected. This is more likely to happen in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, since the back wheels are where all the power is being delivered. 

There are a lot of myths surrounding motor oil. Some of them used to be true, but others never were. If you're under false impressions, that might impact how you have your oil changed. Here are a couple of myths that you can be sure have been debunked.

Some people believe that if you use synthetic oil that you can never go back to conventional oil. This is simply not true. It is, however, true that high-mileage vehicles can benefit from high-mileage oil, which is often synthetic. Talk to your mechanic about the right oil for your vehicle. 

When you're driving in the winter months, there are a few things that you can do to provide the proper care for your vehicle. Since the sun sets earlier in the day, you need to examine the lights on your vehicle to ensure that you can clearly see while you're on the road.

Colder weather often strains the battery in a vehicle. One that is weak in the summer could leave you on the side of the road in the winter. Consult with a technician at MINI of Portland to have your battery tested as well as the…

Brake pads are an important automobile part because they apply force and friction to the brake rotors, which are the discs that you can sometimes see behind the tires of certain vehicles. When the brake pads apply pressure and friction to the rotors, it will cause the vehicle to slow and stop. Because your vehicle's wheels rotate very quickly, brake pads will go through extreme stress that leads to regular wear.

Usually, brake pads should be replaced every 50,000 miles, but there are some vehicles that need their brake pads replaced after 25,000 miles. 

Proper tire pressure is very important for your tires because it makes a difference in the ride you get and how long your tires will last. Even with a warranty on the tires, you may have to replace the tires yourself if they wore out due to improper air pressure. Pay us a visit at [DEALER] and let us check your tires and offer some tips on tire maintenance.

Tire pressure is something that should be monitored regularly. Proper tire pressure is vehicle specific, which means go by what your vehicle owner’s manual says and not what is written…

Your vehicle's braking system has brake fluid that flows through the brake lines. Without brake fluid, you wouldn't be able to stop your vehicle when you apply pressure to the brake pedal. It needs to be drained and changed on a routine basis because it will degrade over time. You can learn more about brake fluid by reading our content below.

There are many kinds of brake fluid, which can make it confusing about which one your vehicle needs, but the two main types are glycol-based and silicone-based. If your vehicle includes ABS, it will probably need a…

If you neglect getting alignment services performed on your car, you run the risk of doing more damage than you might realize. Here are a few of the things to consider if you haven't gotten an alignment recently.

The car is going to start pulling to one side or the other as a result of hitting a curb or banging into a pothole. Pulling to the side affects the handling, and that means you will have a difficult time at higher speeds being able to safely keep your vehicle within the lane lines. 

Brake pads are an important part of a disc braking system. They absorb the friction and heat that occurs between the caliper's piston and the rotor. When you push on the brake pedal, the caliper squeezes the rotor. The process generates a lot of friction, which is needed in order to stop the piston and bring your car to a stop.

Brake pads may be made from metal or ceramic. Heavy vehicles usually have ceramic brake pads. No matter what type your car has, they will need to be replaced. City driving with stop-and-go traffic wears out the brake…