Welcome to December, the grand finale of the calendar year, where every day feels like a mix of holiday cheer, mild panic, and the eternal question: “Wait…what day is it?”

Your trunk is full of body soaps and lotions for last minute gifts, your backseats got residue pine needles, and your glovebox now doubles as a gift wrap station. The kids are counting down, the cookies are mysteriously disappearing, and your car is doing its best to keep up with all the extra mileage.

Let’s be honest, this month is basically a high-speed sleigh ride with very few brakes. School concerts, ugly sweater parties, work potlucks, last-minute mall runs, and oh yeah…weather that can change from overcast to sleet in the time it takes you to say “I think we can make it without snow tires.”

Before you hit the road for midnight mass or just a much-needed Target escape, make sure your vehicle is ready to handle the hustle. Dead batteries, worn tires, and old wipers don’t exactly scream holiday spirit, but they sure can kill it fast.

We’re here to help you glide through December with confidence. Cheers to safe travels, smooth starts, and stress-free check engine lights. Let’s wrap up 2025 with joy, safety, and maybe even a little peace on earth (or at least peace in traffic).

A Message From Joe

Big Profit, Small Steps

The older I get, the more I realize that the biggest changes in life never happen in ONE BIG LEAP. They happen in quiet moments—small, consistent steps, taken day after day. It’s not glamorous, but it’s real.

In our business, it’s easy to think that success is about landing the big ticket job, upgrading equipment, or finding that “perfect” new hire.

But the truth?

The magic is in the small stuff. The everyday habits. The conversations that sharpen our thinking. The time spent learning something new—even if it's just five minutes while the shop is warming up.

I’ve seen it in this team. The ones who show up curious, ask better questions, keep their notes, rewatch the training video, and push themselves just a bit more—they’re the ones who grow. They don’t just become better techs or writers. They become the kind of people you can build something with.

And here’s something I read the other day that stuck with me: If you get just 1% better each day, by the end of the year, you're not 365% better. You’re 37 times better.

That’s the power of compounding—not just in money, but in your mindset and skills. It’s like investing in yourself a little every day, and watching it quietly multiply.

Now, I know it’s December. The year's winding down. The days feel long and dark. But this is exactly when that daily effort matters most. Because if we want to see big results in 2026, the work starts now—with small, daily steps.

You don’t need to climb a mountain this month. Just move one stone. Then do it again tomorrow.

Let’s keep growing—together.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
—Will Durant (summarizing Aristotle)

Joe

Fueled by Facts, Useless but Fun

Why Are Car Turn Signals So Satisfying?

That rhythmic click? It’s called a “tick-tock” relay, designed to sound like a clock so it’s impossible to ignore (in theory). Psychologists found it triggers your brain to pay attention… or at least feel like you’re being productive.

Unless you're that one driver who still doesn’t use it. Yes. We’re talking to you.

How Often Should I Really Service My European Car?

We hear it all the time:
“Do I really need an oil change already? My car says I’ve got 3,000 miles left!”

Let’s be honest—European car owners are some of the most passionate drivers out there. Whether it’s the growl of a BMW inline-six, the smooth pull of a Mercedes turbo, or the clean Scandinavian lines of a Volvo, these cars are engineered for people who love to drive.

But here’s the catch: if you want your European car to last well past 100,000 miles without draining your wallet on surprise repairs, you can’t just follow the factory maintenance schedule and hope for the best.

Why the Factory Interval Isn’t Always Your Friend

When BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Volvo print “10,000 miles between oil changes” in the owner’s manual, it looks great. It makes ownership sound lower-maintenance, it makes EPA emissions ratings a little shinier, and it makes lease customers happy (since most lease cars never live past year three with the same driver).

But you? You’re not the lease customer. You’re the one actually owning the car. You’re the one who wants that engine to still purr (not knock) at 150k miles. And that’s where reality and marketing split.

Real-World Recommendations, Backed by Experience

Let’s walk through the most common European brands we see in our shop and explain what we recommend—and more importantly, why.

BMW

Factory interval: 10,000–15,000 miles
What we recommend: Every 6,000 miles
Why: Modern turbo engines like the N20, B48, and N55 are incredibly sensitive to oil quality. Delaying oil changes leads to sludge, timing chain stretch, and VANOS actuator failures. Forums and technicians alike widely agree that the factory interval is too long for long-term ownership.

Audi / Volkswagen

Factory interval: 10,000 miles
What we recommend: Every 6,000 miles
Why: Audi and VW’s direct-injected engines (like the 2.0T and 3.0T) are notorious for carbon buildup on intake valves and oil consumption issues. Shorter intervals help reduce sludge and keep PCV and turbo systems in better shape. Independent repair shops across the U.S. have been recommending this for years, and AudiWorld forum contributors echo it.

Mercedes-Benz

Factory interval: 10,000 miles
What we recommend: Every 6,000 miles
Why: While Mercedes engines are fairly robust, long oil intervals tend to lead to dirty hydraulic lifters and premature timing chain wear—especially in M271 and M274 engines. High-quality synthetic oil helps, but consistent changes are key. That’s not us speculating—that’s what you’ll find in detailed tech breakdowns on MBWorld and similar forums.

Volvo

Factory interval: 10,000 miles
What we recommend: Every 6,000 miles
Why: Volvos are durable but quirky. Delayed oil service often leads to PCV failures, oil leaks, and in older models, clogged breather systems. Turbocharged models especially benefit from fresher oil. Independent Volvo techs recommend staying closer to the 5,000–7,500 mile mark, especially in P2 and P3 platforms.

MINI

Factory interval: Up to 15,000 miles
What we recommend: Every 5,000 miles
Why: MINI engines (especially the N14 and N18 turbo variants) are some of the most oil-sensitive we’ve seen. They’re compact, high-revving, and run hot. If you want your MINI to make it past 100,000 miles without a rebuild, do the oil changes early and often. MINI forums and repair shops universally warn against following the factory schedule.

Porsche

Factory interval: 10,000 miles
What we recommend: 6,000 miles for daily drivers
Why: Porsches are performance machines. Even if you’re not tracking them, daily-driven Boxsters, Caymans, and 911s still benefit from shorter intervals. For vehicles with DI (direct injection), carbon buildup is a known issue. Techs on Rennlist and Porsche forums frequently advise oil changes every 5,000 miles for cars driven regularly.

Why It Matters

Most modern Euro cars use direct injection (GDI). It’s great for power and MPG, but it causes carbon buildup on intake valves. Fresh oil won’t eliminate it, but it slows it down—and saves you from nasty surprises like clogged breathers, PCV failures, or $4k timing chain repairs.

The Bottom Line

Don’t let a dashboard light decide your car’s future. Oil is cheap. Engines aren’t.
At Joe Davis Autosport, we build service plans that fit you—not just what the manual says.

👉 Next time you’re in, ask us to show you the photos from your last Digital Vehicle Inspection. We’ll walk you through exactly how your car’s holding up—and what’s coming next.

 Get Your Vehicle Winter-Ready!

From December through February, Joe Davis Autosport is offering our Winter Service Bundle to help keep your car performing its best through the cold months ahead. Don’t wait until the first freeze, schedule your Winter Service Bundle today and drive with confidence all season long!

Honoring the Educators Who Inspire Us All

At Joe Davis Autosport, we believe that community is built by the people who give their all. Recently, we had the privilege of saying thank you in a special way. In partnership with the Pennridge community, we celebrated one inspiring educator who goes above and beyond for her students every day.

Read on to see how a simple idea — our Back-to-School Teacher $1,000 Giveaway — turned into something truly heartwarming, reminding us all of the power of gratitude, generosity, and hometown pride.

Favorite Part of the Holidays?

Nate (Service Manager): Spending quality time with family and enjoying some well-deserved relaxation… if he can find the time!

Ryan (Shop Foreman & Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Saab Specialist): Spending time with friends and driving through the Christmas light shows!

Peter (Technician: Audi and Volkswagen Specialist): Decorating the neighborhood with luminaries alongside family!

Justin (Technician: Volvo, BMW and MINI Specialist): The food.

Chris (Service Writer): Enjoying drives to see Christmas lights all around town.

Logan (Technician): Watching his dog unwrap gifts on Christmas morning… while trying not to tear apart the real presents!

Trinity (CRM and Marketing Specialist): Enjoying all the Christmas nostalgia and joining in on festive activities!

Cindi (Owner): Having fun with the grandchildren doing Elf on the Shelf!

Joe (Owner): Enjoying the festive spirit and the generosity that fills the season!

Missed November’s Newsletter?