Cars Specification

Your mobility depends too much on your possession of a private vehicle. You may go for a car, motorcycle or truck as your own vehicle. But due to severe weather conditions in many regions it is not a good idea to depend on motorcycles all the time. It is also not a good idea to have a truck or SUV as they drink lot of gas and the maintenance is high. Somewhere in the middle and perfectly positioned vehicle for Desi would be a car. There are various types of cars to suite your need.

What you should have

If you are a single man and do not depend primarily on your car for commuting to your work, then go for anything as you wish.

There are coupes which have capacity for 4 persons but only two big doors. Primarily these cars are designed keeping in view for two, driver and one passenger. The other model is the sedan which has capacity for 5 and has 4 doors. This can also be called a family car. Depending on the size of the car, they are categorized as Compact, Mid-sized and Full. Compact cars are very small in size and have a good mileage per gallon too. Some manufacturers even make two seated compact cars. The power of the compact car is also little less than the cars of other categories. There are other cars that have powerful engines and are rated as sports cars.

On the contrary, if you have a big family and need more space in your vehicle, then go for van/SUV. But I wont suggest this idea to people who have just come to US, before/after marriage and dont have any kids.

Besides, it is always your dream and desire that makes you to go for a particular type and model. But before deciding upon something, you must give a thought to the other factors like, the mileage, sitting capacity, transmission, trunk capacity, engine power, ease of driving/safety, interior, power doors and anti-theft devices. Also your affordability plays a major role in purchasing a vehicle.

Do you have a driver license yet? It is most important to have one before going for a vehicle. Various states have different rules for issuing drivers license. You can logon to Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) sites to know about the pre-requisites and methods of getting one driver license for your state. Normally it involves a written examination, minor vision test and a road test.

The never-ending comparison

Now you have to decide whether to buy a new car or a used car. I wont suggest you any thing or force you to go for what I think is right, but you must know the good and bad things involved in each.

Used Cars

* They are cheaper.

* They may be old.

* They might have more than one owner.

* They could be purchased from private parties or authorized dealers.

* They might have gone through serious maintenance/repair in the past.

* They might have gone through an accident in the past.

* Some parts/components are just about to die.

* There may not be enough warranty/guaranty on some expensive parts.

* The mileage may not be good.

* They may need more maintenance.

* They may not be reliable for long drives.

* Resale may be a headache.

New Cars

* They are not cheap.

* They are covered under manufacturer/dealer warranty.

* Their fuel efficiency must meet the specification.

* There is the satisfaction of owning a new car.

* Easy to get a finance for new car than a used car.

* No need to worry about the engine, body, suspension, tyre, batteries and interior conditions.

* Insurance premium may be higher.

* Can only be bought from an authorized dealer.

There are many other things that can be discussed as advantages and disadvantages under both the headings. However, I dont want to focus on them right now. If you are convinced to buy a new car, then go for it.

Your target

Now it is the time for you to decide the Make, Model and Type of your car. In US you will find hundreds of Make and Models (no Hind Motors/Maruti cars of course). From a Desi prospect I would say it is better to start with Honda/Toyota/Nissan. These Japanese car manufacturers know our requirement and never ditch us on the highways. The engines are good and prices are low. They run long enough before giving up. The life of a Honda/Toyota is considered to be 300K miles. But the look and interior designs are not at par with the American/European cars.

Buying a New Car

Take a cup of coffee, chat with your friends and go through some reviews before you decide upon the make model and color of your first dream car in USA. Check for the existing/upcoming models of your car by logging onto the sites. Select the color and interior and look at the car through the simulator. The most important thing that you must consider here is that, when the next model is going to be released. If it is very soon, then dont go for it, because after you buy your car, you will see the newer model in the market and the resale value of your car will fall drastically.

Cars with automatic transmission and power window have good resale value. ABS and anti-theft devices are added advantages. Leather interior is as per your wish.

Now you have all the details in your mind and the budget is also finalized. Next step is to study the finance market and look for the bank/credit union who gives the best APR. Also dont forget to decide upon your auto insurance. Find out a good insurance company and try to get a quote from them. The premium varies from place to place. With all these things set up, go to the Auto-Mall of your city. Go for a test drive for the car you have already decided. Beware of the car sales representatives. They will always try to sale you the most expensive car they have. But you shouldnt deviate from your decision. Try to bargain with them for a possible reduction in their margin and ask for extra accessories.

What is the status of the loan? Have you arranged one or you want the dealer to make some arrangements for you? Always try to bring down the APR. If you are very new to US and dont have any credit score, you may not get a good APR. However, dont worry about the APR right now. You can always refinance the loan with a better APR after you buildup the credit history after few months of repayment of the loan.

Once the deal is final, you need to sign some papers and then provide the Insurance details if you have. Otherwise, you could also provide the insurance agents phone number and the sales representative will talk to the insurance agent to get the car insured before leaving their premises (dont worry too much for the insurance premiums now, it is important to get your car insured before you drive out of the dealers premises, however you can easily change your insurance later, if you find a better one). In case you didnt get any insurance, you can always go for binder insurance, but they are quite expensive, but you can always cancel them in the middle once you establish your insurance with somebody else and get the refund for the unused portion of your premium.

The next thing is to make the financial paper work. You will be guided to the dealers accounts department and one of the accountants will assist you in finalizing the loan and payment for the car. At that time they will try to sale an extended warranty for another 3 years after the manufacturers warranty. It is you who will decide for that. Dont listen to them, but evaluate it being unbiased. They will try to sale so many other things like paint guard, gap insurance etc. I would suggest not to go with all these things except paint-guard.

After everything is over, they will apply for the vehicle registration/license plate to DMV on your behalf and give you the temporary ownership license (stuck to the windshield of your car). As far as I know, they wash the car and give you a full tank as a compliment before you drive your car back home.

New cars dont give you much trouble as long as you do all the regular oil change and maintenance in time.

Buying a Used Car

Used cars are good but not as new cars. They are much cheaper than the new cars, but at the cost of your peace of mind. You can buy used cars from either a private party or from any dealer. Here also you have to decide your budget and the make, model and year of the car that you need. Also the other main factor is the odometer reading.

There are many sites that give you the links for used cars for sale. You can also refer to the local news papers for any such advertisement. There are places in some cities where people come with their cars for auction/sale. Since you are new, dont go to such places. Rather get contact information from news paper ads or internet. Get the details of the car like make, model and year of the car, miles it has run, condition of batteries, tires and engine condition etc.

Now go to Kelly Blue Book (www.kbb.com) or Edmund (www.edmund.com) and try to evaluate the car. KBB will ask you some question depending upon the private trading or buying from dealer. After you enter data about the private trading car, it will show you an approximate value of the car.

Private Party

If you are buying a used car from a private party, then you need to be more cautious about certain things like, the engine condition, the body condition, the interior and the accident/maintenance history of the car. Dont go for cars that have already run almost 300K miles (for Honda and Toyota). You can start locating for used cars for sale from various sources like, news papers, local ads and internet. After locating the availability near your place, prepare your matrix.

* Call each of them to fix an appointment for trial.

* Get the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) from the owner.

* Check for the approximate cost of the car using KBB or EDMUND sites.

* Compare the advertised price with the approximate cost that you arrived at.

* Use the VIN to find out accident/maintenance history from CarFax.com and check for any major incident. There will be a registration fee for CarFax.com, go for the one month pack.

* Talk to a mechanic for pre-purchase inspection of the vehicle. Mechanics charge around $50 per car. It is better to go to some brand names like Pep-Boys. They are good and reliable, but you may need to take an appointment beforehand.

* Go to the owner, see the car physically (for any visible dents, body color, torn airbag containers and interior) and then drive it with the owner.

* Take the car to the mechanic and have it inspected.

* (All the cars need a timing belt replacement after running for around 100K miles, so if the car is around or over 100K, then you need to figure out if the timing belt has been replaced, this information could be obtained from the CarFax report too. One thing you must remember that, in US, the auto spare parts are not that expensive, but the labor charge to install them is too high.)

* The mechanic will give you a report, in which it will indicate the current condition of the car and what needs to be fixed with a rough estimation.

* Check for the vehicle registration, is it current?

* Is the vehicle smog certified?

With the Kelly Blue Book report, CarFax report and the mechanics report, you can have a good bargain with the owner. If you really like the car and every thing looks OK to you, then start bargaining. Dont focus more on the tires/batteries, they are not that important as the engine.

NEVER BUY A CAR THAT HAS A SALVAGED TITLE.

Once you have decided to buy the car, talk to the owner about the payment and mode of payment (check or cash). The owner has to give you a pink slip indicating that you paid for the car and it is yours now. He cant simply lodge a complaint with the police saying you have stolen his car. It is his duty to inform the DMV office about the sale and transfer of title. You should also apply to DMV for transferring the title to your name. For registration, you will need the pink slip, the insurance (get one immediately) and smog certification. After you apply for the transfer of the vehicle registration into your name, you are the proud owner of the car.

It is too cumbersome to buy a used car from a private party, sometimes it is too risky and in all the cases it is damn cheaper. For some unlucky guys it might have resulted in spending huge money on maintenance the next day. But it is not always true. However, you are supposed to visit the mechanic frequently and spend lot of time there.

Buying from Dealer

The next best thing that you can do is to buy a used car from a dealer. It may not be as cheaper as buying from private party, but 100 times more reliable. Even some dealers give warranty on the used cars they sale. They buy the used cars, clean them up, do a thorough checking of the engine and repair any damages, dents etc before putting them on sale. You dont have to take the car to a mechanic for inspection, worry about the smog certification. But never forget to check the approximate price through KBB and have a CarFax report handy before making a deal with the dealer. Normally, good dealers dont keep cars for sale that have any major issues like bad accident history, salvaged title etc.

Go to the dealer, talk to the sales representative about your purpose. He/she will show you all the different used cars they have that fits your requirement as well as your budget. Once you have selected the model, make and color, go for a test drive (dont forget to check the odometer reading). If everything feels ok to you, then go to the dealers office and access their computer to logon to KBB for approximate pricing as well as to CarFax for accident/maintenance history for that car. Some dealers even do this for free. Now with all these things handy, start the bargain. You must always consider the worry free deal with the worth of the vehicle you are paying for. You may end up paying a little more than that of a private party deal, but there wont be any worries after you buy the car. If there will be any problem with the car (which is covered under warranty), you can always comeback to the dealer for having it fixed for free. The dealer may also arrange a loan for you and take care of the other formalities like title transfer etc. You will save a lot of time/worries in this. Time is important and costly in this country. So it is your call again.

After you finalize the deal, it follows the same process as a new car purchase. So finish all paper work and drive the car safely back home.

Tips

* If you own an old used car that needs maintenance and the mechanic gives you a list of jobs to be done, then do all of them once. That way you may save a lot of labor charge.

* As per my experience, buying a new car is always better than buying a used car from a dealer and buying a used car from a dealer is always safer than buying a used car from a third party.

* It seems to be a huge amount in the beginning to buy a new car. But if you compare the money spent for new (repay the loan) and used car (repair/maintenance), then over a period of 3 years they will almost equate with each other. So, why not to enjoy the ride of a new car.

1. Open the hood of your Mercedes and locate the mass air flow (MAF) sensor, mostly found between the air cleaner box and the air intake pipe of more modernized engines.
2. Unfasten all of the clamps that hold the air filter box to the intake hose and disconnect completely. Remove the air filter inside and thoroughly clean this area of any dirt that may have built-up over the extensive use of your Mercedes. This step is not imperative to removing and replacing the MAF sensor, but it will certainly help improve the functionality of the new sensor once installed. Replace the air filter if necessary, but leave the air box disconnected at this time.
3. Use the necessary socket to remove the bolt that holds the clamp of the air intake pipe. Remove this piece to free the intake pipe.
4. Pinch both sides of the MAF sensor and wiggle free until you have completely removed this part from the engine. Be patient, as this may take a few moments of your time to loosen.
5. Compare the old MAF sensor that you just removed with its replacement counterpart. Make sure both sensors match identically and replace the new MAF sensor exactly as the new one was removed. It should slide on very easily, with little wiggling to set into place.
6. Reconnect all of the parts that were removed to access the MAF sensor and clean the air filter box. Make sure all bolts are tightened properly to hold the intended clamps together, ensuring that the air intake tube and air filter box both are set exactly as they were before removal and installation of the MAF sensor.

The Honda Brio will be launched in Bangkok. The latest innovation from Honda is expected to raise the bar and set a new standard for eco-cars in terms of design, packaging, cabin comfort and fuel-efficiency in Thailand. The starting price will be 399,900 baht, with an annual sales plan of 40,000 units. (1 baht = approximately 2.7 yen)

The 1.2 liter motor develops 90 Bhp of peak power at 6000 rpm whereas the peak torque of 11.21 kgm is generated at 4800 rpm. It is very likely that for India, this figures may come down and the Brio would develop close to 10 Bhp less.

It was revealed then that the A-segment Brio is 3,610 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,475 mm tall. That’s 45 mm longer, 85 mm wider, but 65 mm lower than a Hyundai i10. These profile side-by-side pics show no difference between the concept and the white mule (except for body coloured B pillars), which pics appeared on a Thai website.




Press Release

The new small car in Thailand BRIO was released

Hondas Thai subsidiary, Honda Automotive (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bangkok, President: Atsushi Fujimoto), so announced the following day, March 17, 2011, will guide the content.

Honda has developed a new compact car for the Asian market "BRIO (Brio)," announced today, the governments eco-car certification model 1 ? on sale in late May as Thailand.

"Brio" is a newly developed small car market for Entorika expanding in Asia, Thailand and India. Hondas M · M (Man Maximum / Minimum Mechanical) Thought 2 ? evolved, compact body size of any city easy 3 ? , the realized design and spacious interior presence to assert.

Thailand specification car, 1.2L i-VTEC engine that is the governments eco-car certification standards 5L/100Km ? four or more fuel efficiency, Euro4 Emissions 5 ? corresponding environmental performance. In addition, while standard equipment on all grades airbags passenger and driver seat, 390,000 price 9,900 baht (1.07 million to about 9,730 yen 6 ? ) and setting from the affordable prices and performance required in the Thai market This model has both.

Honda Automobile Production (Thailand) Company Limited has made, has sold 40,000 units a year from release. Also, in the future also plans to export to neighboring countries.
"Brio" is followed by production and sales in Thailand are also plans to export to neighboring countries from the production and sale in India later this year.

1 ? Engine emissions, fuel consumption, and vehicle requirements such as clearing the emissions regulations and standards, the 17% reduction in excise duty
2 ? M · M and Hondas philosophy is "to maximize space for people, minimum space for mechanisms" that "people centered" concept of working in Hondas car manufacturing is the basic idea
3 ? Takeshi Tamotsu width 3,610 mm × 1,680 mm × 1,485 mm Tamotsu Takashi
4 ? ECE R101-mode measurement
5 ? Emissions regulations are enforced in Europe
6 ? Rate of about 1 baht = 2.7 yen

The luxury carmaker Lexus has announced the Japanese retail price for the entire ES 350 and ES 300 sedan next generation. In particular, the ES 350 is about $ 36,000 in the U.S., cheaper than the previous generation ES and ES 300h 2013 will be more expensive with prices starting at $ 38,580.

Lexus ES 350 new-generation 3.5-liter engine V6 with Variable Valve VTT-i dual. Power car 268 horsepower at 6200 rpm machine cycles / minute, maximum torque 248 Nm of torque at 4700 rpm machine cycles / minute. Engine with 6-speed gearbox is controlled by electronic control system intelligence (ECT-i). Lexus ES 350 fuel consumption 13 liter per 100 km in the city and 8.9 liter per 100 km on the highway.
300h Lexus ES equipped with a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder fuel consumption with the 7 liter per 100 km in the city, 7.2 liters / 100 km on the highway and lost 7 liter per 100 km on the highway when combined with hybrid engines. Vehicles with a capacity of 200 horsepower.

Blind spot warning function is optional upgrades. Rear screen out market, with RCTA warning system (to help avoid collisions when reversing out of parking), lane deviation warning lamp technology and automatic collision avoidance system.

According to standard Lexus audio system provides with 8 speakers and automatic sound Livelier (ASL), combined with a CD player, USB / IPod, SiriusXM Satellite Radio system registered 3 trial months. With Audio Display package, customers receive a 7-inch screen HD can connect to iTunes. System Bluetooth telephone connection automatically.

Draining the System
1. Park the vehicle and allow it to cool or wait long enough so that you can place your hand on the radiator for 10 seconds without discomfort. Remove the cap from the coolant overflow tank, then loosen the vent plug on the tank.
2. Unbolt the underbody paneling under the radiator to access the drain plug on the radiator and engine. Place a catch pan under the radiator, then turn the drain plug at the bottom of the radiator counterclockwise. Be ready for a rush of possibly warm fluid, and dont get any in your eyes. Wait for the coolant flow to stop, then pour the contents of the catch pan into a five-gallon bucket with a lid.
3. Repeat this procedure with the drain plug on the bottom of the coolant expansion tank; it should be readily visible and accessible from under the car. Finally, locate the coolant drain plug on the engine block. Youll find it just under the exhaust manifolds, near the center of the engine. Drain the coolant and dump it into the bucket. Reinstall all the drain plugs, and tighten each to 8 to 10 foot-pounds.
Refilling the System
4. Prepare a 50/50 mix of purified drinking water and BMW coolant Part No. 82 14 1 467 704, or just buy pre-mixed antifreeze approved for use in this application. Set the heater controls to maximum and set the heater fan to the lowest speed; this will engage the auxiliary heater pump, and flush the heater core of any remaining fluid.
5. Start the engine, and begin slowly adding water/coolant mixture to the coolant overflow tank. Make sure the vent valves remain open, or youll end up with air trapped in the system. Continue slowly filling the system with coolant until the coolant backs up into the overflow tank and stays at the "Cold Fill" line.
6. Close the coolant vent plugs, check for leaks and replace the cap on the overflow tank. Check the coolant level after driving about 50 miles; there may have been a bit of air trapped in the system, and it will gradually "burp" out as the system pressurizes. Add coolant as necessary to reach the "Cold Fill" line on the overflow tank.

1. Use a floor jack to lift the front of the BMW. Remove the splash guard under the engine. This is held on with screws and plastic plugs that are removed by hand. Turn on the ignition, set the heater to 91 degrees and set the fan to the low speed. This will get the coolant out of the heater core.
2. Locate the radiator fill cap in the engine bay and loosen the bleeder screw with a screwdriver. Make sure you let the car cool down enough if it has been driven recently.
3. Locate and remove the two blue radiator screws located directly beneath where the radiator fill cap is located. Place a container under the drain plugs and drain them one at a time. Reinstall the radiator drain screws. Remove the 13-millimeter engine block drain plug, located on the passenger’s side of the engine block near the front axle, and drain the coolant into the container. Place a new washer on the drain bolt and put it back in the block, tightening it to 18 ft/lbs with a torque wrench.
4. Remove the intake ducting by carefully prying up the three plastic rivets that hold it to the top of the radiator. Remove the neck of the air box by pressing the two vertical sides of the ducting together and pulling it off.
5. Remove the wires that go to the radiator fan and the T25 Torx screw that holds the fan on. Remove the plastic rivet on the driver’s side with a screwdriver. Remove the fan by pulling it straight up and out.
6. Remove the wire that goes to the thermostat. Use a 13-millimeter socket to remove the bolt on the upper right part of the thermostat. Use a 10-millimeter socket to remove the three bolts on the top and bottom of the thermostat.
7. Remove the upper and lower radiator hoses from the engine block. Remove the thermostat. Clean the surface where the thermostat gasket is installed so there is no gasket material remaining.
8. Install the new thermostat with the 13-millimeter bolt and the three 10-millimeter bolts. Use a new gasket when you reinstall the thermostat. Tighten the bolts to 7 lb/ft. Reinstall the radiator hoses. Reinstall the fan and the intake ducting. Top up the system with coolant.

1. Remove the bolts that secure the seat base to the floor pan with a socket and ratchet. The bolts are between the center cut-out in the seat where the seat belt fasteners come out of the center of the seat. Remove the bolts with a socket and ratchet.
2. Grab the front of the seat and work your fingers between the floor pan and the bottom of the seat. Pull up to force the clamps out of the floor pan and pull the seat forward to separate it from the seat back.
3. Push the seat belt fasteners from between the two seat panels and remove the lower seat from the Mercedes.
4. Grab the bottom of the seat back where the seat was joined with the seat base. Pull out on the bottom of the seat to remove the clips from the trunk frame. Keep pulling until the entire seat is free from the trunk frame and remove the seat back from the Mercedes.

Nissan will unveiled a new genre-defining concept at the 2012 Sao Paulo International Auto Show, the model is being placed into the spotlights once again, this time with the Japanese based automaker releasing the first teaser image with the vehicle in question.

The concept will introduce a unique new genre to the automotive world and is made with the cooperation of Brazilian designers and built in the country.

The new concept looks to be a two-door sports compact - possibly a roadster - inspired by the likes of the Juke crossover and the hero GT-R coupe.

The Sao Paulo Motor Show opens on October 24th,



Press Release

NISSAN SHOWCAR PROMISES YOUR ADMIRATION FOR DESIGN AT SAO PAULO MOTOR SHOW

SAO PAULO, Brazil (15 October, 2012) - Bold, vibrant, passionate... and thats just the color!

Be prepared for some real drama from Nissan when Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd reveals a new concept car at the 27th Sao Paulo International Motor Show (24 October - 4 November).

The high-character concept, which will introduce a unique new genre to the automotive world, has not only been created specifically for the Sao Paulo show, it has also been created by the cooperation with Brazilian designers, built in the country and underlines the strategic importance of Brazil for Nissans growth plans.

Nissan doubled its sales to claim almost two per cent of the Brazilian market in 2011 and aims to account for more than five per cent of new car sales in the country by 2016. This is backed by a new manufacturing facility, currently under construction, in Resende which will produce up to 200,000 units when operations start in 2014.

"The showcar will dazzle on two counts," said Shiro Nakamura. "It is a genuinely new and exciting concept, and it will explode with energetic design and impressive color that fully express our impression toward the country."

"When our designers arrived in Brazil to start work on the project, they loved the vibrancy and passion of the country but were a little surprised in the rather conservative colors of the cars on the streets... they all seemed to be monochrome - silver or black."

"Finally, theyve made sure our showcar might have a color as lively as the country."

The new small car has a typical Mitsubishi design language except for the fighter jet grille. Guess, Mitsubishi might have skipped this fascia design owing to the car’s small size. Mitsubishi will launch the ‘close to production’ car at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show during March 3 – 13, 2011.

The car will be produced by Mitsubishi Motors Thailand (MMTh) at the site where the new factory is to be built in at the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate in Chonburi province. Initially, the production capacity of this new factory will be around the 150,000-unit per year level, and in the future it can be boosted to the 200,000-unit per year level. The new factory is planned to hire around 3,000 new staffs.

Several pattern sketches give the strong denote of a direction Mitsubishi will take with the automobile, as well as Mitsubishi has pronounced the automobile will get an engine in between 1.0-liters as well as 1.2-liters. Production of the automobile is set to start next year at the brand new bureau in Thailand, that will trade cars to rising markets.

The sale price will be 400,000 baht in Thailand, Masuko said, adding that cars from the new plant would be sold in Japan.

Source: Mitsubishi




Press Release

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Conducts Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for New Factory at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand

Bangkok, December 9, 2010-Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) today conducted a Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony for a new third factory of its Thailand producer and distributor, Mitsubishi Motors Thailand (MMTh) at the site where the new factory is to be built in at the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate in Chonburi province. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Thailands Minister of Industry Chaiwut Bannawat and MMC President Osamu Masuko.

The third factory will be built adjacent to the first and second factories, and is planned to start mass production in March 2012. It will produce the "global small" 1.0-1.2L class compact vehicle that MMC plans to launch in fiscal year 2011. Initially, the production capacity of this new factory will be around the 150,000-unit per year level, and in the future it can be boosted to the 200,000-unit per year level. The new factory is planned to hire around 3,000 new staffs.

The "global small" to be produced at the new factory will be a new vehicle based on a completely new platform currently being developed by MMC with "compact," "affordability," and "fuel efficiency" as the basic concepts for the vehicle. The "global small" will conform to Thailands Eco-car Project, implemented by the Thai government with the objective of promoting investment in Thailands automobile industry and reduction of dependence on fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. The "global small" will be positioned as an entry model in MMCs model lineup, and plans are to export the vehicle from Thailand to markets worldwide as a global strategic vehicle that corresponds to both market needs of emerging countries, for which demand for automobiles is expected to increase, and advanced nations, where vehicle downsizing is increasing in order to correspond to energy issues in addition to environmental awareness.

Minister Chaiwut Bannawat expressed his pleasure at the ceremony: "Its my great pleasure that Mitsubishi Motors Thailands factory becomes a part of our Eco car Project. This Mitsubishi factory will bring to Thailand many technologies for automobile production and lead to improve labor skills for auto industry as well as related industries."

In addition, MMC President Masuko added "Its a great honor to have this memorable day for the construction of the third factory. From the beginning, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has strongly believed in Thailands potential as the production hub for global markets; now Mitsubishi Motors Thailand became the production base of our 1- ton pickup. We share the Thai governments environmental concerns and we have made Thailand the global production hub for the "global small."

New (third) Factory Outline
Location Laem Chabang Industrial Estate, Chonburi, Thailand
Position About 100km southeast of Bangkok
Factory Summary Built-up vehicle factory (pressing, welding, painting, assembly)
Initial Producton Capacity Around 150,000 units/year
Vehicle Produced “Global small”
Start of Mass Production March 2012
Employees Approximately 3,000

1. Fill the tank with high-test 91+ octane gasoline when it is almost empty. This will help the engine run well, and clean out any carbon buildup.
2. Run the vehicle to half a tank, then fill with 87-octane fuel. This will give you mid-grade fuel of 89. The BMW engine is rated for 91-octane fuel.
3. Run the car till it needs fuel again and fill with 89-octane. At the next fuel stop, repeat the process starting with high-test fuel. This cycle will allow you to run regular fuel in the BMW 325.

1. Open the hood and locate the belt tensioner for the air conditioner belt. The tensioner is mounted to the front of the engine block between the crankshaft and the a/c compressor. Use the tensioner pulley bolt to loosen the tension from the belt.
2. Position a 3/8-inch drive breaker bar and a metric socket onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar in a counter-clockwise motion to loosen the tension from the belt. Pull the belt out from around the tensioner pulley, the a/c pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Remove the belt from the engine well.
3. Locate the serpentine belt tensioner mounted to the front of the engine block on the lower left hand side of the alternator. Use the tensioner pulley bolt to loosen the tension from the belt.
4. Position a 3/8-inch drive breaker bar and a metric socket onto the tensioner pulley bolt. Turn the breaker bar in a counter-clockwise motion to loosen the tension from the belt. Pull the belt off the tensioner pulley and the remaining accessory pulleys. Remove the belt from the engine compartment.
5. Route the new serpentine belt around the accessories exactly as described by the belt routing diagram that is stamped to the top of the fan shroud. Once the belt is inside the accessory pulleys, turn the tensioner counterclockwise with the breaker bar and socket again and slide the belt around the tensioner pulley. Release the breaker bar and remove it from the tensioner.
6. Route the new air conditioner belt around the a/c compressor pulley and the crankshaft pulley. Turn the tensioner counterclockwise with the breaker bar and socket again. Slide the belt around the tensioner pulley and release the breaker bar. Remove the breaker bar from the engine compartment. Look over both belts to ensure they are seated inside of each accessory pulley.
7. Crank the engine for 10 to 15 seconds to completely seat the new belts inside the accessory pulleys. Turn the engine off.

1. Log onto an internet browser.
2. Direct your internet browser to www.bmwusa.com.
3. Click on Certified Pre-Owned in the menu bar at the top of the website.
4. Click on Model Search in the menu on the right of the page.
5. Select the All Preowned option, or Certified Preowned if you would like a BMW certified vehicle.
6. Click the drop-down menu labeled Series and select X5.
7. Click the Model drop-down menu and select the model of X5 you would like, or select All Models to search without restrictions.
8. Enter the Oregon Zip code you would like to search into the text box labeled Zip Code.
9. Click the drop-down menu label Distance and select the distance you would like to search from the Zip code you entered.
10. Click the drop-down menu labeled Price Range and select the minimum and maximum price you would like to pay, or select No Max and No Min to see all prices.
11. Click the drop-down menu labeled Year Range and select the oldest and newest year of X5 you are searching for, or select No Min and No Max to search all years.
12. Click the drop-down menu labeled Mileage Range and select the minimum and maximum vehicle mileage range, or select No Min and No Max to search all X5s regardless of mileage.
13. Click the Search button. A list of X5s meeting you search criteria is now displayed, you may sort the list by clicking the drop-down menu labeled sort by and selecting your preference.

2013 Nissan Sentra: improvement in fuel efficiency and forward in style
The new edition of Sentra steps forward in style, sophistication and refinement as well as presenting an improvement in fuel efficiency.

Technicians of the Japanese firm did not only focus on bringing the 2013 Sentra to another level with regard to comfort and aesthetics, but also made a strong work in the technical section.

Efficiency was improved up to a combined fuel economy of 34 mpg. To achieve this we installed a new 1.8-liter engine and 130 HP that is coupled to a Xtronic CVT transmission (S version offers an optional six-speed manual), it optimizes both performance and efficiency. Another contributing factor is the reduction in weight of 150 pounds by the use of ultra-light materials.

The exterior design combines modernity and elegance, offering the public an image of self more "premium" than its competitors in the segment. Excels new Nissan grille and LED headlights both front and back. Additionally your waistline has been reduced to give it a more aggressive look.

Inside using high quality materials that are not common in a compact car. To this is added a larger space that provides a superior level of comfort (more legroom in the second row of seats in its class). Its dual zone climate control systems found, audio system with four speakers (Bose Premium with eight speakers optional), 4.3-inch display, USB for iPod, Bluetooth and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Another novelty of the 2013 Sentra is NissanConnect navigation system controllable from a 5.8-inch touch screen.

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is offered in six different trim levels from autumn this year.

1. Insert the DVD to play into the slot on the dashboard DVD player and navigation system. Wait for the DVD menu to appear on the screen.
2. Follow the prompts and choose whether you wish the DVD to be played on the right-hand rear passenger screen, the left-hand rear passenger screen or both. Touch the selection on the screen until the one you prefer is highlighted, then remove your finger from the screen.
3. Choose to allow the passengers touch-screen controls so they can work the player from their screens. Touch that option on the dashboard touch-screen to highlight it.
4. Press Play when the DVD menu appears.
5. Adjust the volume settings for minimum and maximum on the dashboard touch-screen panel. This sets a volume range so the passengers in back can adjust the volume without it becoming too loud for you.

1. Record the security code for the radio so that you can connect the battery after removing the harmonic balancer. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench. This prevents you from inadvertently starting the engine, while removing the harmonic balancer.
2. Remove the splash shield for the front wheel wells with a socket wrench to gain access to the vibration damper. Some vehicles with a VR6 engine also require you to disconnect the lower engine shield to access the vibration damper.
3. Hold the crankshaft pulley in place with Tool No. 3273. Detach the accessory drive belt that the crankshaft drives.
4. Disconnect the central bolt on the crankshaft with a socket wrench. Remove the vibration damper from the crankshaft.

Change Oil in a BMW
1. Drive your BMW onto the car ramps in order to give yourself plenty of room under the car. Put the vehicle transmission in park and place a 4 inch by 4 inch wood block behind one of the rear tires to keep the vehicle from rolling backward.
2. Pull the oil dipstick out of the tube and lay it aside so the oil can drain freely from the bottom. Place a drain pan underneath the engine, directly below the oil filter.
3. Turn the nut on the top of the oil filter cap underneath the motor counterclockwise, using the crescent wrench. Be careful of oil draining from the filter when you loosen the cap.
4. Place the oil filter cap aside and pull the filter from the housing. Locate the drain plug on the back side of the oil pan under the engine and place the drain pan underneath the plug once the oil filter housing has been drained.
5. Unfasten the oil drain plug with an open end wrench and remove the plug, allowing the oil to drain out of the engine completely. Once all the oil has been drained, screw the drain plug back into the oil pan and tighten it with the open end wrench.
6. Place the new oil filter inside the filter housing and screw the cap back on using the crescent wrench to tighten the cap. Slide the dipstick back into the tube and verify that it is secure.
7. Detach the oil cap from the top of the intake manifold and place a funnel in the opening. Add between 4 and 7 quarts of oil to your BMW depending on the size of the engine.
8. Take the funnel out of the top of the intake manifold and secure the oil cap to the top of the manifold. Remove the wood block from the back tire of the BMW and the car off the car ramps.
9. Turn the engine off and dispose of the drained oil at your local recycling center or automotive supply store.

1. Disconnect the cable running to the negative battery terminal. Loosen the nut on the cable clamp running to the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench and slide the clamp off the terminal.
2. Open the hood and look straight at the front of the engine. You will see a belt that snakes through a system of pulleys. This is the the serpentine belt, also called a drive belt. It needs to be removed in order to remove the alternator. Draw a diagram of the belt path and orientation. You will need this diagram when reinstalling the belt.
3. Remove tension on the drive belt with a socket wrench and a 14mm socket. The tensioner is on the drivers side of the engine, near the front of the engine. The tensioner bolt protrudes out of the engines pulley system at a 45 degree angle, with a little bit of a hex shape at the top of the bolt and a small hole in the middle of the bolt. Turn the bolt counterclockwise to remove tension on the belt.
4. Pull the belt off the pulley system.
5. Remove the electrical connector running to the alternator.
6. Remove the alternator. Remove the upper and lower alternator mounting bolts. The alternator is mounted on the front of the engine.
7. Install the new alternator. Installation is the reverse of removal. Make sure that you orient the drive belt properly when installing it.
8. Attempt to start the engine. As long as the battery was not drained entirely when the alternator failed, you should be able to start the engine. If the battery is dead, you may need to install a new battery. To do this, remove the cable clamps on the battery terminals following the procedure in Step 1. This time, youll be removing both the positive and negative cables. Always remove the negative cable first and attach it last. Once the cable clamps have been removed from the terminal, remove the battery from the battery holder and drop in a new battery. Then, reconnect the battery terminals and tighten the cable clamps.
9. Check to make sure that the battery light does not stay on once the Mercedes is running.

1. Connect the iPod or iPhone to the BMWs stereo via a cassette tape adapter, if the vehicle has a tape deck. Place the tape portion of the adapter in the stereo, and insert the other end into the headphone jack of the device. It will play through the stereo via the tape deck.
2. Broadcast the signal from the iPod or iPhone via an FM transmitter. The transmitter allows you to basically pirate an empty FM radio station (one with plenty of static, not being used for an actual broadcast in your area) by beaming the iPods output to your car antenna, which it would play over your BMWs stereo. They cost between $20 and $100, as of 2010, depending on the features and quality.
3. Install an auxiliary input cable in the back of the BMWs stereo. If you do not have extensive knowledge of how to service a car stereo, you should have this done by a professional. The cable would be run from the stereo into the cabin of the BMW, allowing you to plug it into the iPod or iPhone whenever you desire to listen. The sound quality is unparalleled in the realm of iPod-to-car-stereo connections.

1. Pop the hood and disconnect the Audis battery. This will disable the airbag light, preventing it from lighting up when the seats are being removed.
2. Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the plastic caps off all four bolts found around the Audis seat. Then, remove all four bolts with an Allen wrench, connected to an L-shaped tire iron, in a counterclockwise motion.
3. Unclip the seat heaters and the airbag sensors that are found under the Audis seat. If the seat heaters and airbag sensors are hard to see, use a flashlight.
4. Pull up and remove the seat away from the Audi.
5. Place the new seat onto the location which the stock seat was removed, and place and clip on the seat heaters and airbag sensors from underneath the seat.
6. Use an Allen wrench to attach the four bolts that were removed to the new seat, connected to an L-shaped tire iron, in a counterclockwise motion, and place the plastic caps onto the bolts.
7. Reconnect the battery and close the hood.