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The first day of Spring is on March 20th! When the warm weather finally hits Long Island, you won't want to be sitting around the house any longer! Here is a list of some family-friendly activities for Springtime on Long Island. Soar through some trees If your family is looking for an adrenaline rush, take a trip to the Adventure Park in Wheatley Heights. Eight different rope courses, among five acres of trees. For fees and more information call (631) 983-3844 The Bethpage Air Show A memorial day tradition at Jones Beach in Wantagh, this is a can't-miss event on Long Island that shows off world-class military and civilian fliers. Make sure to pack some earplugs for the little ones! The Arbor Day Family Festival In late April, at Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, your children can experience a combination of education and entertainment. This event includes live music, a petting zoo, free access to the Coe Hall and its exhibits, and tons of outdoor activities. Old Westbury Gardens Old Westbury Gardens is home to flower gardens, trails, lakes, picnic areas, and more. There are many children's events and mini log cabins for them to play in. Call (516)333-0048 for fees Greenport Carousel Check out the vintage 1920's carousel at Mitchell Park in Greenport. Call (631)477-0248 for fees. Ext.211 Adventureland With over 20 rides and a haunted house, there are plenty of things for children and adults to enjoy. (631)694-6868 Seal Walk At Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton Beach, you can take a mile and a half long guided walk to see seals with CRESLI (Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island) between May and November (631)244-3352 Long Island Duck's Game Take your family out to a ball game! Root for your home team, the Long Island Ducks at the Bethpage Ballpark. (3 Court House Drive, Central Islip) Long Island Game Farm At the Long Island Game Farm in Manorville, children can bottle-feed baby animals, enjoy carnival-style rides and more! Camp out at Wildwood The campgrounds at Wildwood State Park in Wading River features restrooms, showers, grills, fishing, a hiking trail, sand volleyball courts, basketball nets, and a ball field. (631)929-4314 Mini-golf At Tiki Action Park in Centereach, you and your family can enjoy,mini-golf, go-carts, a 40-game arcade, and more! (631) 471-1267 Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center Check out butterflies, birds, bugs, coral reef, otters, penguins, sea lions, seals, and so much more with your family at the LI Aquarium & Exhibition Center in Riverhead. Whether you're flying in from MacArthur airport or leaving the Ronkonkoma train station, stop into our showroom at, Competition BMW of Smithtown 599 Middle Country Road, St. James, NY 11780, to see a vehicle in person, or give us a call at (888) 861-6280 to speak to a Sales Consultant today!

After a harsh Winter on Long Island, with plummeting temperatures, a little bit of snow and some road salt, your BMW vehicle may need some extra care. Say goodbye to winter, for now, by preparing with this Spring maintenance checklist. Come into Competition BMW of Smithtown for an oil and oil filter change. In order to maintain a healthy engine, it is crucial that you schedule regular oil changes. It’s natural for your engine to pick up some impurities while your motor oil lubricates and cools the engine, this is okay, but over time the motor oil becomes less effective. This is why it is important to regularly schedule oil and oil filter changes. If you’re using old motor oil it becomes harder for the oil to do its job of protecting your engine. Schedule an appointment with Competition Auto before spring comes around, so you can enjoy the warm weather without having to worry. Have your battery tested and replaced. During the winter, your battery works harder by slowing the chemical reactions. Now that the weather is getting warmer, there’s a chance you might have problems with your battery. Come schedule an appointment with one of our technicians at Competition BMW of Smithtown’s Service Department to test your vehicle’s battery to avoid dealing with a car that may not want to start. Check tire pressure and tread. Check your tire pressure before you leave the house in the morning and adjust your tires based on the reading. The constant changes in the Winter weather could cause fluctuations in your tire pressure. Tires generally lose up to 1 PSI (pound per square inch) for every 10-degree temperature drop, and both over-inflated or under-inflated tires can start causing problems for you on the road. This is also the perfect time to check your tire tread as well. Without a sufficient tread, your tires have less of a grip on the road, which could cause your car to have issues when dealing with wet weather or having to come to a quick stop. Thankfully, you only need one thing to check your tire tread. Grab a penny and try out the penny test! Replace wiper blades and refill wiper fluid. After a long Winter of wiping snow and ice from your windshield, your windshield wipers may be looking rough. If your windshield wipers seem to be smearing water across the windshield or just aren’t doing their job, it may be time for a windshield wiper cleaning or new windshield wipers. If a simple wiper cleaning doesn’t fix the issue, then it is time to change your windshield wiper blades to prepare for the upcoming spring and summer rainstorms.  Make sure not to forget to top off your wiper fluid as well. Clean your lights or replace the bulbs. You may be thinking that you need glasses if you’re finding yourself to be squinting from your driver’s seat at night, but you might just need to give your headlights a good scrubbing. People seem to forget that just as your car does, your headlights and taillights get dirty as well. You can polish your headlights with a soft bristle brush, baking soda, and water. If that doesn’t work, a simple bulb replacement should solve the problem! Here at Competition BMW of Smithtown, it is our number one priority to care for your BMW just as we would for ourselves. Whether it be assisting you with your oil, battery, oil filter, tire pressure, wiper blades, changing your bulbs, etc., we pride ourselves on taking excellent care of your vehicle. Our trained technicians will gladly examine these things for you, in order to get your Spring Maintenance Checklist in order. Call us today for more info (888) 874-2022.

New tires sold in the U.S are required to have small indicators molded into the tread design and across the tire called wear bars. When your tires wear down to the point where your wear bars are at the same height as your tread, they no longer meet the minimum required tread depth and the tires must be replaced. When the tire treads are worn down, it is dangerous and can be illegal. With worn down tread, your tires are more prone to losing traction in rain or snowy weather. Water is meant to escape through the treads to allow the rubber of your tires to meet the ground. When the water cannot escape, the tire floats on the water, which causes hydroplaning, making the driver lose control of the vehicle. There are several ways to check your tire tread depth, the most popular and well known being the penny test. To perform the penny test, turn a penny upside down and insert it in between your tire treads. If all of Lincoln's head is exposed, it's time to replace your tires. This trick is fool-proof because there is 1/16 of an inch between the top of Lincoln's head and the edge of the penny, which is the minimum legal limit for tread depth. At Competition BMW of Smithtown Tire Center, we can take care of all of your tire needs. Some pros of bringing your vehicle to us are making sure you buy the correct tires for your BMW model, expert installation from our trained technicians, and competitive tire pricing. Your safety is our priority so call us today to schedule an appointment! (888) 874-2022

Apple seems to be an up and coming company when it comes to the automotive industry. Launched in 2014 after a lengthy development process, was Apple CarPlay. What is Apple CarPlay though and how does it work? In short, it gives iPhone owners a quick and convenient way to access the data stored on their mobile devices. CarPlay makes driving a whole lot safer by reducing distractions, according to Apple and AAA, and it’s much more user-friendly than many infotainment systems. This is because motorists can access a wide variety of features without touching their mobile device, or taking their eyes off the road. If you’re ready for ios directly on your dashboard, here’s everything you’ll need to know. What can CarPlay do? Apple CarPlay performs many of the same functions as an iPhone. Motorists can use the software to get immediate directions, make calls, send and receive text messages, and listen to music or podcasts. The features are displayed on a readily useable interface with large icons that are instantly recognizable to iPhone users. Most of CarPlay’s features can be accessed by using Siri, Apple’s digital assistant. For example, the driver can say “Call Michael” or “Get directions to Bahama Breeze restaurant” and Siri will obey. A driver who is equipped with voice recognition can navigate the software using the touchscreen embedded in the dashboard, or the various knobs and buttons found on the steering wheel and center console. The iPhone’s screen is locked when CarPlay is active. A small section of third-party apps that are compatible with CarPlay is iHeartRadio, Spotify, Audio Books, Audible, Google Maps, and Waze. However, the vehicle settings are not a part of CarPlay, so the driver would need to exit the application in order to adjust things such as, the climate control, radio stations, or switching to a different driving mode. Every iPhone, iPhone 5 and up, is compatible with CarPlay, although the device must have ios 7.1 or newer for the app to work. Some cars support wireless CarPlay, too. In vehicles that do not support wireless CarPlay, the iPhone needs to be directly hooked up to the car using a certified Lightning-to-USB cable. This means that you should plan an upgrade if you’re still sporting a 30-pin-to-USB iPhone. Once you decide on purchasing a BMW that is equipped with Apple CarPlay, setting it up is quite simple. There are seven simple steps to connecting your iPhone to Apple CarPlay. Check your Competition vehicle’s CarPlay compatibility Open your iPhone’s settings Tap General Tap CarPlay Select turn on Bluetooth or USB only Enable your Competition vehicle Select your Competition vehicle from available vehicles Competition BMW of Smithtown, serving all of your automotive needs.

At Competition BMW of Smithtown, we make servicing your BMW a priority. If you require service on the road, you can give BMW Assist a call and they will be able to bring your BMW to the nearest BMW dealership where your warranty will be honored. THE FAST SERVICE MENU: Oil Service Air Filter and Microfilter Check and Replacement Front and Rear Brake Pad Change Halogen Light Bulb Replacement (Non-Xenon, Non-Laser) Individual Tire Replacement Wiper Blade Replacement Brake Fluid Flush Oil and filter changes for peak performance. To keep your vehicle performing to the best of its ability, the oil, and its filter should be changed regularly. Accept nothing less than the engine oils specifically designed, manufactured and tested to bring out the full potential of BMW engines. Original BMW Engine Oils display excellent viscosity for rapid lubrication, consistent cold start performance, and wear protection to help prolong engine life. Comprehensive and quick service. BMW technicians will perform a comprehensive Multi-Point Inspection during your visit and notify you of any services or repairs that your vehicle may require. With Express Service by BMW, you’ll get it all done in about an hour. (Actual times may vary. Participating dealers only). Getting the level of care you deserve. When you come to Competition BMW of Smithtown, your vehicle will be serviced by skilled, expertly-trained technicians, using only genuine parts and the latest diagnostic tools. Most dealerships offer loaner cars, as well as a comfortable lounge with a television, free WiFi, and more. BMW Certified Classic Centers. A Certified Classic Center uses only 100% Original BMW Parts and BMW approved equipment. All parts come with a two-year, unlimited mileage limited warranty.* Senior Technicians bring unparalleled knowledge and expertise, having received special factory training for BMW Classic vehicles. Click here to find your nearest BMW Certified Classic Center. Competition BMW of Smithtown, serving all of your automotive needs.

While fuel prices may be dropping, drivers are still spending a huge portion of their budgets on filling up their tanks. On average, the price of gas has dropped 50 cents since the beginning of summer, but with a bit of forethought and common sense, drivers can still watch their fuel bills fall almost immediately. Making some of these habits commonplace can help you to keep fuel costs at bay when the prices inevitably skyrocket again. Take it easy on the pedal Adhere to your vehicle’s fuel type Watch the weight you carry in your car Reduce drag Inflate your tires to the correct pressure at least once a month Stick to the motor oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer Keep your gas cap fully sealed Avoid prolonged idling (prolonged idling can use up to an entire gallon of gas within an hour) Refuel in the morning instead of at night Replace your air filter frequently Use your cruise control when possible Be sensible when using your vehicle’s air conditioning unit Avoid rapid braking and acceleration Minimize the number of intersections you encounter Replace your spark plugs when necessary Drive at or below the speed limit Pulse and glide: Accelerate quickly to your desired speed, coast until the vehicle slows, and repeat as needed. Regular engine checkups Corroded battery cables cause the alternator to work harder, using more gas. Come into one of our Competitive Automotive shops to have them cleaned as a matter of course with each engine check up Keep your windows rolled up to reduce drag Come in for regular oil changes Maintain a safe following distance (being too close will cause you to brake more and accelerate more to keep that unnecessary and dangerously small gap)

If the thought of changing the time on your Competition BMW dash makes you cringe, this is the quick and easy article for you! Here’s the simple way to set your BMW clock with iDrive. Go to the main iDrive screen Select settings Click time & date Scroll to time and push the iDrive controller, this should make the hour digit turn red. When the hour digit is red, you can rotate the iDrive controller around so you can change the time on it. Push down on the iDrive controller to select the desired hour digit. This will take you to the minutes digits. repeat steps 5 & 6 for the minute’s digits.

Many things go into maintaining your Competition vehicle, to make sure it performs safely and at its peak. Wheel alignment affects fuel efficiency, tire wear, tire performance, vehicle handling, and maneuverability. You should have your BMW checked with Competition BMW of Smithtown's Service Center. The following symptoms are signs of poorly aligned tires: Excessive or uneven tire wear Feeling of looseness or wandering Steering wheel vibration The steering wheel is not centered when the vehicle is moving straight ahead. It is recommended to bring your BMW in to have your car alignment checked every 10,000 miles, or at least once a year. The importance of a total alignment: Reduced tire wear: Improper alignment is a major cause of premature tire wear and damage. Over the years, a properly aligned vehicle can add thousands of miles to the tire life. Most tires are replaced prematurely due to adverse wear. Better gas mileage: Gas mileage increases as rolling resistance decreases. Total alignment sets all four wheels parallel, which along with proper inflation, reduces resistance. Improved handling: If your car is pulling to the side or you constantly have to move your steering wheel to keep the vehicle moving straight ahead, know that these handling issues can be solved with a total alignment service from a Competition Automotive shop in Smithtown, NY. With all the vehicle components aligned properly, the shock is more efficiently absorbed for a much smoother and enjoyable ride. Safer driving: A suspension system inspection is part of the alignment process. This allows worn parts to be detected before they become a costly issue.

During spring, your air filter is working twice as hard to keep your vehicle running at its peak performance. Before the pollen hits Long Island full force this spring, you should consider bringing your vehicle to one of our Competition Auto shops, in Smithtown, NY, where our team will carefully and efficiently inspect your air filter, so we can make sure your filter can continue to protect your car all throughout the season. The purpose of your air filter is to keep any unwanted dirt and debris from reaching your vehicle’s engine while also regulating the airflow used to burn fuel. If your air filter isn’t operating to the very best of its ability, the engine can suffer damage and contaminants. Protecting your engine from these contaminants can extend the life of your engine greatly. A dirty filter can hinder the fuel from being mixed with the right ratio of air, which reduces the fuel efficiency of the vehicle and can cause issues with the spark plug. When the ratio is too rich with fuel, it can lead to engine flooding and spark plug pollution. How to know if it’s time to change your air filter: A decrease in gas mileage Ignition problems Replacement time (check your owner’s manual)

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The redesigned 2019 BMW X4 is one of the most athletic SUV's in its class. With its coupe-like roofline, athletic curves, and compelling color choices, the BMW X4 is sure to make a statement on any road. This all-wheel-drive BMW SUV handles extremely well whether you're driving around town or opening things up on a winding road. It grips the road well and also rides smoothly, even if the road isn't perfect. Click here to read more about the 2019 BMW X4. Stop by Competition BMW of Smithtown or call (631) 265-2208 to schedule a test drive.

BMW invites you to join the Winter xDrive Experience to witness the dynamic power of our full line of BMW Sport Activity Vehicles, including the all-new X5 at one of BMW's Northeast partner ski resorts. The Winter xDrive Experience runs through now until the end of March concluding at Sunday River. All registered guests will receive a $1,000 purchase incentive, valid through June 30, 2019. This event gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal to a variety of different BMW's to see which one suits your style. As a bonus, the all-new BMW X7 will make an appearance. Professional driving instructors will teach you how to conquer the winter elements using xDrive, (BMW's intelligent all-wheel-drive system) through street drives and a timed autocross course. This special BMW event takes place at the following resorts where you can make the most of your trip: Stratton, Mountain Creek, Loon, Waterville Valley, and Sunday River. You can register directly on the resort websites and each event takes place for the following dates: February Activation Stratton: Feb 22-24 Mountain Creek : Feb 15-18 March Activation Loon: Mar 1-3 Waterville Valley: Mar 1-3 and Mar 8-10 Sunday River: Mar 15-17 and Mar 22-24