 Whether you’re looking to have the coolest car on the block, the ability to alter your ride level on the fly, or better load carrying capabilities, it’s time to look into getting an air suspension system.
An air suspension system replaces conventional springs with air springs. These air springs are basically bags inflated to a specific pressure or height with an outside compressor via a valve on the bag. An air suspension system offers five key benefits as outlined in Hot Rod. Read on to learn more from our team at DCH Millburn Audi.
Adjustability. Anyone who’s ever had the pleasure of spending weeks adjusting and fine tuning springs and shocks in order to get the “perfect” ride would have gladly traded a platinum wrench (which may have ended up thrown through a garage window out of frustration) for an air suspension system. Because an air suspension system provides a lot more room for error when it comes to height, load, and rate, you can get the system fine-tuned in much less time, even on the fly.
Handling. In additional to being super cool, an air suspension system provides superior handling. They’re progressive, which means the more they compress, the stiffer they get. Combined with the aforementioned enhanced adjustability, you’ve got yourself enormous performance potential.
Customization. Everyone has his or her own idea of what a perfect ride feels like. With an air suspension system, the way your car handles can be accommodated with little or no component changes. A wide range of riding styles can be achieved by a simple adjustment of air pressure and shock valving.
Height. If those who switched from conventional suspension systems to air suspension systems were honest, quite a few would admit they got an air suspension system because they wanted to look cool. The cool continuum runs the spectrum between low riders or mini-trucks to the more common driver who simply wants to lower his or her ride for a unique look. Most air suspension kits put the vehicle several inches below standard vehicle heights and usually can be adjusted up for normal driving, filling it up with gas, or rolling it onto a truck bed.
Load carrying. Although air suspension systems are more commonly associated with young men trying to impress young ladies on a Saturday night with their sweet new ride, air suspension systems were originally designed for commercial use. More specifically, they were designed to help 18-wheelers carry more of a load while providing more comfort for the driver.
If this heretofore little known vehicle component intrigues you, check with our dealership service department to learn more about your options.
 The day you bring home your new car is well-worth celebrating. The day you trade it in for a new vehicle can be just as exciting, especially if you have maintained your vehicle well over the years. Learn why proper maintenance is so important, both during ownership and when trading in, from our team at DCH Millburn Audi.
Cost vs. Benefit. There are two primary reasons individuals don’t get proper maintenance on their vehicles: time and money. Those who don’t have enough time to keep their vehicle maintained will definitely not have enough time to get it repaired down the road. Those who are worried about the cost of maintaining a vehicle need to examine two things: the cost of getting a vehicle repaired due to a lack of maintenance, and the increase in resale value as a result of proper maintenance.
Documentation. So you followed your maintenance log that came with your vehicle, right? Great! You also documented each and every oil change, tune up, tire rotation, windshield wiper switch, and whatever else you could think of documenting, correct? Having this information on hand makes your vehicle much more attractive to buyers. If you tell a prospective buyer that you’ve meticulously maintained your vehicle, he or she will be more likely to believe you if it’s properly documented in a log book, especially when accompanied by receipts.
Recommended maintenance and what to record. If you haven’t kept a log, gather your receipts. If you don’t have receipts, go through credit card statements. Make sure your records are accurate. Here are some of the things you should document:
- Fluid changes
- Tire rotation
- Paint or body shop receipts
- Engine repair paperwork
- Car detailing receipts
- Inspection reports
- Smog certificates
Other recommended maintenance. Obviously, nobody wants to buy a car that doesn’t run well, but in your haste to document and maintain mechanical aspects of the vehicle, don’t neglect to maintain the exterior and interior. Unsightly blemishes on the exterior or a torn, ripped, or dirty interior can distract from your well-organized documentation as well.
Pre-sale preparation. In addition to routine cleaning of the car’s exterior and interior, there are a few things you’re going to want to pay special attention to when preparing a car for resale. Clean the windshields inside and out. Use a high-quality product to return the luster to vinyl surfaces and components on the inside. Vacuum the upholstery and carpets. Wipe down surfaces. If you’ve been doing this all along, you’ll have no problems when it comes to preparing the vehicle. Keep the exterior free of debris and give it a good detailing when preparing it for sale.
There are more factors than routine maintenance when it comes to maintaining a car’s value. Take note, however, that an unmaintained vehicle will fetch less money, regardless of its make or model.
 Understanding your luxury vehicle’s new car warranty will make the ownership experience even more enjoyable. So before you buy that car, educate yourself on new car warranty basics with these insights from our team at DCH Millburn Audi.
Not all policies are the same. This is a general list of things covered in your new vehicle. Each warranty is different. Make sure you take a close look at it, so you know the specifics of your new car warranty.
Bumper-to-bumper warranties. As the name implies, a bumper-to-bumper warranty covers almost every major component in the car. This includes components such as air conditioning, vehicle sensors, major electrical components, audio systems, and vehicle sensors. Bumper-to-bumper warranties do not normally cover routine maintenance—oil changes and fluid top-offs, for examples. A recent trend, however, is the addition of separate free maintenance provisions.
Powertrain warranties. Powertrain warranties do not guarantee you’ll be free of car repair costs for the life of the warranty. A powertrain warranty covers the engine and transmission, along with other moving parts, such as the drive shaft. Powertrain warranties do not normally cover routine maintenance—tire rotation or engine tune ups, for example.
Roadside assistance. There are very few things that ruin one’s day more than being stranded at the side of the road. If you have a roadside assistance provision or a separate roadside assistance policy, you won’t be stranded for long. Roadside assistance policies cover a myriad of problems, including flat tires, locksmith services, jump starts, and other unforeseen potential day-ruiners. Keep in mind that these policies rarely cover incidental expenses.
Tires and batteries. If the tires and battery aren’t covered in the car’s bumper-to-bumper warranty, most are covered by an individual warranty. With tires and batteries, most warranties have a year and mileage limit. These warranties are pro-rated, meaning if they go bad early, you’ll get a portion of the money back toward a replacement. Tire warranties normally do not cover punctures or collision damage.
Factory accessories. Chances are if you bought a new luxury car, you want to drive around in style–and it’s hard to drive around in style when the accessories don’t work properly. Audio system upgrades, engine upgrades, and other add-ons are usually under warranty for a period of between one and three years, or for as long as the bumper-to-bumper warranty is in effect—whichever is shorter.
Seat belts, airbags and third party accessories. Seat belts and airbags are sometimes covered in the powertrain or bumper-to-bumper warranty and are sometimes covered separately. Third-party components typically carry their own warranties.
Other warranties. The proliferation of hybrid vehicles has led to a need and a market for hybrid components warranties. Coverage usually includes the high-voltage battery pack along with the hybrid assist motor and all the electrical connections in between.
If you have any questions about the care or ownership of your new luxury vehicle, just visit our dealership or contact us to learn more.
 Auto owners like you take pride in their cars. Regardless of whether you bought a new car from the showroom or bought your car used, you want to keep your vehicle looking like new for a long time. Unfortunately, modern life is the enemy of a great-looking car. Tar and stones from roadways can wreak havoc on beautiful finishes. Other drivers can carelessly dent your car in parking lots and refuse to accept responsibility for the damage. Debris flying out of trucks, birds, and other problems add to the long list of threats to your car. Rather than accepting dings, scrapes and grime on your car as a fact of life, follow these five steps from our team at DCH Millburn Audi to keep the exterior of your car looking fabulous.
1. Get covered
Rain, snow, and sunshine can all adversely affect the exterior of your car. You can do little about the weather while driving your car, but when you get home, you can cover your car to protect its beautiful finish. Although garages offer the best protection against outside forces for your car, you might find out that you can get similar results by using a car port or a portable garage. A portable garage is a flexible cover that you can put over your vehicle to protect its exterior while not in use.
2. Paint Protection Film
Special products exist that help protect the finish of your car at all times, even while you drive. Paint protection film creates a layer of protection between the exterior surfaces of your car and the environment, so your car can withstand an array of road hazards. This type of product eliminates expensive trips to your dealer’s body shop for touchup work and preserves the resale value of your car. Ask your dealer what recommended paint protection products will work best for your model.
3. Wash Your Car
Although a carwash can put the exterior of your car in jeopardy, it can help prevent harmful grime build up. If you care a lot for your car, you will give it a loving hand-wash and wax periodically to keep its finish looking great. While you wash, you can look for new scrapes and dents that either you or your dealer can quickly repair before they become ugly and embarrassing.
4. Cautious Parking
Parking lots pose some of the most severe threats to auto exteriors. Regardless of how carefully you park, someone else will come along and park too close to your car, giving your car a free dent. Although often minor, parking-lot damage can cost a lot to repair. Motorists these days live with the fear that a claim will cause their insurance premiums to rise, so they might not take responsibility for denting or scraping your car. It’s time to take parking into your own hands. You can try taking up two spots when you park, making it impossible for other car doors to reach your vehicle. Also, you can park far away from other cars where most people will never park. The long walk will give you valuable health benefits, and the remote parking spot can help prevent damage to your car.
5. Common Sense
Your best defense against scrapes, dents, and grime might reside under your own hat. Common sense should tell you to avoid roads while they undergo paving line-painting work. Avoid attempting to enter narrow alleys and resist the temptation to drive up to your mailbox when you get home at the end of the day. Never drive your car near trees and bushes. Always avoid dirt or gravel roads. Also, keep your garage and carport clear of tools and other objects that can easily fall and damage your car.
 Buying pre-owned is a great way for savvy consumers to find a dependable vehicle that can last for years. We have always taken pride in the quality and value of our used inventory. Now, DCH has made it even easier to find both amazing value and peace of mind when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle.
Why is the DCH Way a better way? Unlike other car dealers who sell pre-owned vehicles “AS-IS” or “buyer beware”, DCH stands behind every pre-owned vehicle sold with either a 90-day, unlimited-mileage limited warranty or the remaining manufacturer warranty.
You won’t find any “AS IS” vehicles on our lots—only fully reconditioned, professionally inspected and quality-certified vehicles of the highest standards in the industry all with some type of warranty coverage. We stand behind what we sell and make it our mission to deliver customer happiness in everything we do.
We carry three levels of used vehicles to fit your needs and your budget, and while every vehicle we sell is quality-inspected, reconditioned, and comes with a 5-day money-back guarantee or exchange, there are varying levels of warranty coverage based on each class explained below.
DCH Certified Vehicles must pass our comprehensive 125-point quality inspection and include a 90-day/unlimited-mileage $0-deductible platinum warranty along with a complementary 12-month membership to our best-in-class Motor Club. Our Motor Club membership includes 24-hour roadside assistance, towing service, emergency lockout protection, key fob replacement insurance and more.*
DCH Value Vehicles are higher-mileage, older vehicles that must pass a rigid 60-point quality inspection and include a 90-day/unlimited mileage powertrain warranty along with a complementary 12-month membership to our best-in-class Motor Club. Our Motor Club membership includes 24-hour roadside assistance, towing service, emergency lockout protection, key fob replacement insurance and more.*
Manufacturer Certified Vehicles have undergone a rigorous multi-point quality inspection by highly trained technicians according to the manufacturer guidelines and include varying degrees of warranty coverage and other inclusions per the manufacturer program guidelines
We are so confident in the quality of our pre-owned vehicles that each and every unit we sell comes with a 5-day/500-mile money-back guarantee or exchange. If you are anything less than completely satisfied with your purchase, bring it back to our dealership and we will help you find a new vehicle that you love—or provide your money back.
At DCH Millburn Audi, we are committed to the DCH Way of providing customers a fantastic car buying experience that they can’t find anywhere else. We know our pre-owned vehicle program is the most comprehensive in the industry, and we’d love to share it with you. Call, click, or visit us today to learn more.
*See actual program guide for details.
 Everyone’s heard of Disney World and Sea World and Legoland. Perhaps you’ve even been there. Perhaps, however, you’re looking for a more unusual theme park, one that will make you scratch your head with curiosity and pay a moderately large entrance fee to find out more. Here are 10 highly unusual theme parks in the United States from our team at DCH Millburn Audi.
Dollywood. Dolly Parton’s country music theme park provides “a blend of thrilling rides, spectacular shows and master craftsmen in the Great Smoky Mountains,” according to the online description. There’s a good chance your kids don’t even know Dolly Parton was a famous singer, actress, and icon, or that she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999. You can tell them while waiting in line for one of the park’s outstanding attractions.
Hersheypark. There are few things in life that equal the pleasure of a day at an amusement park. One of those is a visit to Chocolate World—think Willy Wonka but with only chocolate. You may want to postpone your chocolate feast until after the thrill rides.
Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure.® Nothing screams fun like dairy. The Fair Oaks Dairy Adventure in Indiana includes educational exhibits, a 4-D movie experience, and their “world famous Birthing Barn.”
Wild Adventures.® This Georgia theme park name doesn’t sound unusual. The fact that it’s a theme park with a zoo, however, makes it unusual. Wild Adventures features a zoo with hundreds of animals, a water park, and a wide variety of roller coasters, all with animalistic names.
Holiday World. Christmas, 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving are combined with roller coasters, wave pools, and thrill rides in the United States’ oldest amusement park.
Gatorland. It’s only natural that the gator capital of the world should be located in Florida. Gatorland is a “110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve, combining ‘Old Florida’ charm with exciting, new exhibits and entertainment.”
Rockome Gardens. Located in Illinois, Rockome Gardens features delightful rock creations located within several of the park’s beautiful gardens. Other attractions include train rides, buggy rides, an Amish museum, a blacksmith shop, and the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken.
Holy Land Experience. You don’t have to travel to Jerusalem to explore biblical sites—just visit the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. Attractions include The Scriptorium, The Wilderness Tabernacle, the Great Temple, and the Smile of a Child Adventure Land.
Silver Dollar City. Old mining towns would have been a lot more fun if only they had a few roller coasters, some children’s rides, some thrill rides, and numerous entertainment options. That’s the thinking behind the Silver Dollar City Theme Park in Branson, Missouri.
Tweetsie Railroad. Appalachia loves their trains, and there’s no better tribute to trains than to build a theme park to honor them. Attractions include train rides galore, Miner’s Mountain, and Deer Park.
Now you have an alternative to Disneyland.
 We at DCH Millburn Audi are pleased to announce that we are one of three DCH Auto Group dealerships recently named to Automotive News’ annual list of the Top 100 Dealerships to Work For.
Along with oue dealership, DCH Honda of Temecula and DCH Toyota City were also honored with the distinction of the best new-car dealerships to work for in North America. The esteemed industry publication acknowledged our dealerships for excelling in worker satisfaction, retention and exceptional treatment of their employees. What’s more, this is our second year to be included on the list.
As a DCH Auto Group dealership, we are not only committed to ensuring employee satisfaction, but also to guaranteed customer satisfaction. Visit us today to experience award-winning DCH service.
 When drivers fall asleep at the wheel, even for just a few seconds, terrible accidents can quickly occur. When you are tired, your concentration span suffers, making you slower to react to hazards that the road throws at you. Use these tips from DCH Millburn Audi to stay alert and keep yourself safe in traffic on your next road trip.
Break your journey up to make it more bearable. Stop every few hours, and make sure that the driver gets a good break. Stretch your legs and go for a walk. Get some fresh air and move around. If possible, it is also a good idea for different passengers to share the driving role on a road trip.
Do not eat heavy, rich foods before or during the journey. Food that sits in your stomach will make you feel lethargic. Eat light, tasty snacks and choose foods that release energy slowly to keep you going. Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, can also help to give you a small boost of energy on the road, but drinking too much can adversely affect your senses. Ultimately, water is the best way to stay hydrated.
Keep your mind occupied. Many solitary drivers enjoy music. If you have passengers, however, start up a conversation to keep your mind busy. A simple game of I-Spy with others can also be a great way to stay alert, but ensure that such games do not become a distraction.
Open the window for a blast of fresh air. In the summertime, the air conditioning keeps you cool. However, fresh air will awaken your senses after an extended period on the road.
These tips may help to keep you awake during a long trip, but if you are overly exhausted, you shouldn’t be behind the wheel. A good night’s rest is the ultimate solution for driver fatigue.
 It’s time for the little ones to head back to school!
While this time of year is exciting for youngsters, adults are not only confronted with the challenge of a modified daily agenda, but they are also presented with a slew of changes on the road, including an increase in cyclists, school buses and young pedestrians.
This school year, we at DCH Millburn Audi encourage you to be cautious on the road and follow these tips from the National Safety Council to ensure a safe morning commute.
Eliminate distractions: Driving the kids to school should be a hands-free activity. Put down the cell phone and do not text or engage in phone conversation behind the wheel.
Obey the speed limit: Comply with traffic laws and drive slowly. Obeying the speed limit is especially important while driving in residential areas and school zones.
Be mindful: As school buses stop often to pick up or drop off children, drivers must keep a watchful eye on young pedestrians who may pay no heed to traffic or walk in the street. Also, if backing out of your driveway, be sure to watch for children walking or biking to school.
Buckle up: Setting a good example is important. All vehicle passengers should utilize their seatbelt, including the driver. Children en route to school should also remove their backpack prior to buckling up.
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