BMW is one of the well-known auto makers that are highly appreciated for its innovations, luxury car parts and accessories. The German automaker famous for its BMW accessories continues to prove its prominence in the industry with the recent launch of the 2007 AC Schnitzer BMW Z4 M Roadster.

When problems do arise, it serves as a test of character as well as a test of just how innovative people could get. The imagination of the problem-faced individual would be put to work so as to find a solution. And in the world where gas and fuel is a daily need in life, people from the Bay Area have found ways so as to spend less on gas.

For starters, ask around. Ask your friends and people at work where they get their vehicles serviced. If they're happy with a certain repair facility or technician, then give that repair facility or technician a try. If they do good work and your satisfied with the results, then you've solved your problem.

First and foremost, do not attempt repairs that are beyond your ability. If you feel unsure about a repair, you should seek out a competent professional to do the work for you. Better to pay someone who knows what they're doing than to attempt to fix it yourself and screw it up. Many systems on vehicles today are very complex. Repairs often require considerable skill and expertise, not to mention special tools and equipment. A simple mistake could ruin sensitive (and expensive!) electronic components. So don't tackle jobs that are beyond your abilities.

The most common causes of steering looseness include worn tie rod ends, a worn idler arm or center link (on vehicles without rack and pinion steering), a worn steering gear or a worn steering rack. Normally, your steering wheel should have no more than about a quarter inch of play. Any more means something is worn or loose and needs to be fixed.

A high speed shimmy is usually caused by a wheel that's out of balance or a bent wheel. The first thing to check for would be a bent wheel. Raise the front of the vehicle off the ground and rotate each wheel by hand. If you see any sideways or in and out movement of the wheel, it is bent and needs to be replaced.

There are two schools of thought on this subject. Rotating the tires, which is recommended by all tire manufacturers, involves changing their position on the vehicle from one wheel location to another. This helps to even out tire wear between all the tires so the tires last longer and do not develop abnormal wear patterns. This may be recommended every 8,000 to 15,000 miles.

A plugged fuel filter, crushed fuel line or clogged pickup screen inside the fuel tank can all starve your engine for fuel. Enough fuel may get through for the engine to start and run at low speed, but when more fuel is needed it can't get through resulting in loss of power at high speed. The same kind of problem can also be caused by a weak fuel pump. But fuel pumps usually quit altogether when they fail.

Yes, but probably not for very long. If the alternator warning light is on, it means your charging system is not producing enough current to meet the electrical needs of your vehicle and to keep the battery charged. That, in turn, means your vehicle is running on borrowed time off the battery alone. You can keep on driving as long as the battery has enough juice left in it to keep the ignition system, fuel injectors, fuel pump and other electrical accessories working. But sooner or later, the battery will run down and your engine will die. How long this might take is anyone's guess. If you're driving during the daytime and aren't listening to the radio or running the air conditioner, the battery along might keep you going for four, five, six or more hours. On the other hand, if its nighttime and you have the lights on, the heater or air conditioner and radio, you might run the battery dead in an hour or two.

Not unless you want to risk damaging your engine. When the temperature light comes on, it means your engine is overheating. An engine should not overheat if the cooling system is properly filled and is working normally -- even during hot weather or stop-and-go driving. Sometimes abnormal driving conditions such as towing a heavy trailer during hot weather may overload the cooling system's capacity to control heat, but usually a temperature warning light means trouble.