Maintenance & Advice
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Maintenance & Advice
Winter Tires in Italy 2026: Dates and Fines
Italy's winter tyre law kicks in on 15 November 2026: dates, fines, the real difference between M+S and 3PMSF, and what to check on the tyres before buying or selling a used vehicle this season.
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Maintenance & Advice
Diesel Particulate Filter: Warning Light and Cost
A lit DPF warning light is not a breakdown, it is an alert. Here is what cleaning, regeneration or replacement really costs, what to check before buying a used diesel, and why a removed filter costs far more than it seems to save, as inspection checks get stricter from 2026.
Maintenance & Advice
Timing Belt: When to Change It and What It Costs
Real replacement intervals by brand, preventive costs versus a breakage, and what to check before buying or selling a used car.
Maintenance & Advice
BMWs Third Fire Recall of 2026 Just Landed, and This Time It Is the Older Cars
On September 3, 2026, BMW opened a new recall covering 189,130 3, 5 and 7 Series built between 2014 and 2020 over a starter fire risk. Heres what to check before you buy, sell, or keep driving one of these used sedans.
Maintenance & Advice
Titanium Is Coming to Lead-Acid Batteries: What It Actually Means for Your Used Car Today
A new study proposes a titanium current collector to make lead-acid batteries lighter and longer-lived. It's still a lab prototype — here's what actually matters today, from the warning signs of a dying battery to real replacement costs.
Maintenance & Advice
Italy's Car Inspection Overhaul in 2026: ADAS, EV Batteries, Mandatory PEC and New Inspectors, What It Means for Used-Car Buyers
Between an EU reform on ADAS and batteries, a PEC consultation closing 13 September, a new traceable inspectors registry and a fee still in limbo, Italy's car inspection is changing more than the headlines suggest. Here is what to know before buying or selling a used car.
Maintenance & Advice
Does Ultra-Fast Charging Really Wreck an EV Battery? What the Data Actually Shows for Used Buyers
BYD fast-charged one of its EVs over 350 times in nine days and lost just 1.3% of battery capacity. Independent data from 22,700 vehicles tells a more nuanced story. Here is what actually matters when you are shopping for a used EV.
Maintenance & Advice
EV Batteries Are Aging Better Than Expected: What the New Data Really Shows
Three studies published between late 2025 and 2026 - from Sweden, the UK and the US - all point the same way: EV batteries are degrading far slower than buyers fear. Here is what that means for anyone selling or buying a used electric car.
Maintenance & Advice
Car Maintenance Costs in 2026: Italy's Inspection Fee Hike Is Coming (Just Not Yet), Plus the Hidden EV Advantage
Italy's mandatory car inspection fee is set to rise to 88.20 euros, but the implementing decree still has not landed. Here is what it really costs to keep a car on the road in Italy in 2026, from pricier services to the real electric-versus-petrol maintenance gap.
Maintenance & Advice
Black-Flag Traffic and 40C Heat: The Checks a Used Car Needs Before the August Getaway
The first weekend of August 2026 brings black-flag traffic and an African heat wave pushing past 40C. On an older car, extreme heat hits the battery, tyres and air conditioning first: here is what to check, with the numbers that matter.