ECS News

Occasionally, start problems are not the result of low battery voltage, fuel pump issues, or ignition problems. Sometimes the starter motor itself is the culprit, typically failing suddenly and without warning. ECS offers several starter unit replacements for the Z4 M coupe and roadster, each meeting or exceeding the requirements designated by BMW. Remanufactured OEM BMW and Bosch units, as well as new Valeo and World Source One starter units are available.

The rear shock mount for the BMW Z4 proved to be a poor design; the rigors of daily driving deteriorated the rubber, causing rattling, clunking & rear shock deflection - oftentimes resulting in a blown-out shock mount. The most highly advanced & intelligent solution to this common problem is the superbly engineered, fully serviceable Ultimate Performance Rear Shock Mount upgrade from ECS Tuning. 80A polyurethane isolation bushings allow damper shafts to better articulate, while hard-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum shock mount reinforcement plates make blowouts an impossibility.

A stripped thread can turn an enjoyable weekend project into an unbearably frustrating experience, occasionally bringing the entire job to a complete halt. The Schwaben Metric Thread Repair Kit was designed specifically for European cars with the most commonly used metric sized threads in mind, keeping your project in motion whenever metric threads are stripped or otherwise damaged. The kit contains everything to keep your project going - simply drill out the old thread, tap out the hole with the correct sized tap, and screw in a new insert with the installation tool.

When addressing a vehicle's braking system, it can be easy to overlook brake fluids. It's not always clear which parts are necessary to do the job correctly - usually resulting in unnecessary time and expense. ECS has assembled three Brake Fluid Flush Kits, each containing the convenient Motive Power Bleeder, Schwaben Bleeder Wrench, and one liter of brake fluid - everything needed for a basic servicing. The level 2 Kit includes a Motive Catch Bottle Set; the level 3 kit further improves the level 2 kit with high-performance TYP 200 brake fluid.

Enjoy the rare opportunity for significant savings with Schwaben Tool Kit Bundles from ECS. Any order over $200 will be shipped free of charge - the perfect way to invest in professional-quality tools for your European car. Complete 11 piece set of External Torx Sockets are available - these sockets have become popular at many locations, such as seat rails, chassis components, and suspension. Featuring a fine satin finish that's easy on the hands and easy to wipe clean the 12 Pc Metric Combination Wrench Set includes professional grade 8-19mm metric wrenches.

Schwaben products are characterized by simple, clever designs. Their wheel storage solutions may be the best examples of these qualities. The Schwaben Wheel Tree holds up to 275lbs and allows you to safely stack your wheels without the risk of scuffing and scratching. Convenient locking casters allow you to easily move the whole set anywhere in your garage or shop at one time. And when saving floor space is the highest priority, the Schwaben Wall-Mounted Wheel Rack allows you to securely store up to four 11½" wide wheels and tires against the wall, away from your work space.

The rear shock mount on BMWs has proved to be a poor design; the rigors of daily driving deteriorated the rubber, causing rattling, clunking & rear shock deflection - oftentimes resulting in a blown-out shock mount. The most highly advanced & intelligent solution to this common problem is the superbly engineered, fully serviceable Ultimate Performance Rear Shock Mount upgrade from ECS Tuning. 80A polyurethane isolation bushings allow damper shafts to better articulate, while hard-anodized 6061-T6 aluminum shock mount reinforcement plates make blowouts an impossibility.

Protect your valuable alloy wheels from damage; use Protecta lug bolt sockets from Schwaben. Each of the three common socket sizes comes wrapped in a protective plastic sleeve that shields the wheel bolt holes from damage caused when regular steel sockets are used to remove and install wheels. Available in regular and extended-reach sets, these burly 1/2-inch drive six-point sockets come in a handy carry case, and are color-coded by size. Don't risk an expensive wheel repair; keep a set of Protecta Sockets in your tool box.

Fresh coolant is paramount to safe & reliable engine operation. The process of bleeding the air out of your cooling system during a coolant refresh is tedious & therefore often neglected. ECS offers a highly convenient solution to the tedium & frustration associated with coolant servicing – the Schwaben Coolant Evacuation Kit. Insert the tool into the radiator service neck, attach the included Venturi adapter & allow the system to reach 25 psi, drawing out the vacuum. Use the same tool to fill your radiator, allowing the pressure to resume to 0 psi, completing the procedure.

The impact driver is a fast and effective way to remove tight or corroded screws and bolts, reducing the chance of rounding off--or rounding out--the fastener head. Insert a slotted or Phillips head screwdriver bit into the driver. Place the screwdriver bit into screw head, and strike the driver with a hammer. The impact drives the bit inward as it rotates the screw, breaking it loose. Reverse the tool to tighten fasteners. For stubborn bolts, remove the black screwdriver bit adapter head, and replace it with any 3/8 - inch drive socket.

The VANOS system in the S54 inline-six engine is a finely-tuned variable valve timing adjuster, relying on high pressure oil to function effectively. This high pressure oil is filtered to remove impurities in the oil, which may otherwise damage the expensive unit, turning it into an expensive paperweight. A clogged filter results in oil starvation: a no-no for VANOS. Servicing the VANOS filter at regular 30k mile intervals will help ensure this does not come to pass. ECS Tuning offers several VANOS filter service kits to address not only the filter service, but oil leaks as well.

For over 35 years, Escort has been a leader in high-performance radar and laser detectors. Offering advanced features of convenience such as GPS, Bluetooth, and cell phone integration, as well as clever performance features like all-band ultimate radar/laser protection, 'instant on', and laser shifters, Escort radar detectors are the pinnacle of protection for the automotive enthusiast. ECS Tuning is proud to be your authorized dealer of Escort products, the most intelligent solution for discerning drivers.

Maintain critical valve lash clearances and keep your engine running smoothly with a BMW valve adjustment kit for S54 engines. Our shim kit contains 138 shims in 23 selective thicknesses, from 1.72 to 2.48mm, in 0.04mm increments. The plastic removal tool has a small magnetic insert making it easier to remove and install shims. BMW recommends a valve lash inspection and adjustment at 30,000 mile intervals, an expensive ongoing expense if you pay to have the service performed. Buy our kit, however, and you'll save money and feel the satisfaction of a job well done.

By providing it all for you in a single click, ECS has made it easier than ever to get the quality replacement matching components you need when beginning a brake service. Our brake service kit includes rotors, pads, sensors, assembly grease, and even a full complement of set screws to make your brake replacement easy. Everything you need to perform a professional quality brake service, you can find at ECS Tuning.

After your engine produces power, and before your wheels propel your vehicle forward, energy is lost through your drivetrain. These losses are measurable and significant, and are made worse by worn or failing bushings. ECS recognized the need for more performance-oriented differential bushings, and have arrived at another world-class product. The in-house engineered Performance Polyurethane Differential Bushing Sets take care of driveline slop and reduce power deflection, while increasing throttle response and overall drivetrain rigidity.

The Z4 M comes with an excellent handling package, but there's always room for improvement. Let H&R up your game with adjustable sway bars that pick up where BMW left off. Made in Germany, H&R sport springs, sway bars, and adjustable coilovers are built on decades of experience designing world class suspension upgrades; then manufactured to old world standards where "excellence" is more than just a word.

Most of us have to admit to sleeping through a chemistry class--or two--after a rough night. The good news is the Chemical Guys didn't. Now they've put the power of Raw Science to work in a complete professional car care line that combines surface-safe cleaners with lasting protectants and sealers. Stop squirting dish detergent into a bucket. Remove the toughest dirt, even from alloy wheels, and restore your car's exterior and interior finishes to a rich, lasting luster.

To secure shocks and struts to their mounts, the retaining nut must be torqued to its proper specification using a torque wrench. Strut nut sockets allow for the use of an allen wrench to hold the damper shaft while utilizing your torque wrench on the socket to achieve proper torque. An improper torque value may result in premature mount failure - or worse. Some aftermarket strut nut sizes differ from what was originally found on the vehicle. Please measure your nuts to be sure - alternatively, pick up our Schwaben 5 Piece Strut Nut Socket Set and be covered for all common sizes.

Rack and roll. In sun or snow, RockyMounts has a roof mount solution for your active lifestyle. Whether you're skiing, snow boarding, or cycling, RockMounts roof rack accessories are as easy to load as they are good looking. For a weekend with nature, a 14er Cargo Cage Roof Basket will handle up to 150 pounds of camping gear. Its scooped grille design keeps items in place, and sheds water and snow. The next time you plan a getaway, plan to take RockyMounts.

The Volkswagen Audi Group catalog includes more than just Volkswagens and Audis. This results in more than a couple overlaps in parts, for both performance and styling. If you know where to look, that is. We do. ECS Tuning brings you the front lip spoiler from the European-only SEAT Cupra R. This lip features an aggressive design not found on any US-market car. While not exactly direct-fit, with some slight tweaking, you can give your Golf a unique appearance that will have other enthusiasts guessing. And to sweeten the deal, take a look at the price!

This brawny 12-point socket set is a great set to have on-hand for any European car owner. The hefty ½ inch-drive shank accepts breaker bar, impact guns, or torque wrenches. Specially hardened to take the added abuse from a impact gun, these sockets are also coated for added protection and so you can tell them apart from non impact rated sockets. Significant internal depth allows for use with a range of applications with varying length shafts. Made of durable chrome vanadium steel, these sockets are tough enough to get the job done.

Now you can stack your extra wheels without the danger of scratches and scuffs. This wheel storage rack keeps your wheels spaced apart, and being on locking casters, allows you to easily move the whole set anywhere in your garage or shop at one time. Sturdy steel construction and a wide base means this wheel rack won't tip over. Holds up to 275lbs - enough for most any wheel & tire set. Fits up to 8½" wide wheels, depending on offset.

Massive rotors, multiple-piston brakes, and advanced pads are glamorous, eye-catching upgrades to your vehicle. But experienced enthusiasts know that all that stopping power relies on adequately bled brake lines. Your brake fluid is incompressible, like a metal; but air is compressible, so ridding your lines of this gas is imperative for fully realized braking power and response. ECS has an array of solutions to tighten up your braking system, including a Power Brake Bleeder, multiple synthetic Brake Fluid options, and a premium Schwaben Brake Bleeder Wrench.

Store your wheels and tires without taking up floor space! Supporting up to 250 pounds, the adjustable rack allows you to store up to four 11½" wide wheels and tires. The parts are all steel and the rack folds upwards out of the way when not in use. Mounting holes spaced 48" apart to conveniently adapt to standard center studs.

Add a Euro look to your US spec MKV Golf or Jetta with European style and projector headlights. Not only are these headlights an upgrade in the looks department; they also upgrade how well you can see. The halogen projectors and Euro lenses provide brighter, clearer light in an improved pattern. It's easy. Plug in, switch on, and turn heads.

Within the wishbone suspension design, camber and caster are specified by the wishbones, while toe-in is secured by the trailing arm. Bushings support the trailing arms, securing them to the chassis. Over time, the trailing arm bushings wear down, leaving toe-in under-regulated and suspension geometry altered. Every facet of handling performance is harmed, making the driving experience unpredictable and imprecise. A clever and simple solution to trailing arm deflection is the ECS Trailing Arm Bushing Limiter Set, a brilliant investment for all E85/E84 Z4 owners.

The specialty tool experts at Schwaben have released a series of superbly engineered, exceptionally reliable car ramps, now available from ECS tuning. The new 30" to 67" Car Ramps are available with a regular or low-profile design. Specially made to accommodate vehicles with low bumper clearance, the low-profile ramps eliminate the risk of body damage & the dangers of sliding ramps. These Schwaben Ramps are made from advanced EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam with a special anti-skid coating, preventing sliding while adding additional structural strength.

Schwaben Specialty Tools is known for releasing clever, highly useful automotive tools that make owning a European car less frustrating and more fun. Two new exciting product releases - the Mechanic's Stethoscope and the Scraper, Pick and Hook set - are superb examples of Schwaben reliability and ingenuity. Featuring an aluminum probe & rubber trumpet, the Schwaben Stethoscope makes finding vacuum leaks, pressure flow noises, and knocks infinitely more simple. The Scraper, Hook And Pick Set is an indispensable kit with endless uses, from carbon cleaning to picking out o-rings.

Give 'em what they really want the most: cold, hard cash. Buy a traditional ECS Tuning plastic gift card and include it as a sweet surprise for a special someone. Need something fast? We have an entirely new virtual gift card for last-minute shoppers (and those who don't want to wait for delivery of a plastic card). Just order an ECS virtual gift card in any denomination from 5 to 1000 dollars, and we'll fire it off to your email box in minutes. Then pass it along to friend or family member and let them activate the card and order anything they like from the ECS site.

Make wearing your seat belt more comfortable and add a little Motorsports style to your car at the same time. Goes over your factory seat belt and adds a layer of extra cushion to make wearing your seat belt on longer road trips, or track days, more comfortable. 5" in width, 12" in length for long-lasting comfort.