Blog

When your GMC is new, its wheel alignment is perfect. This can change over time, for example, due to hitting a pothole,  bumping the curb, or worn suspension components. As your GMC dealership, we want to give you some signs that you need to visit us for an alignment service. more 3 Signs You Need an Alignment Service at Your GMC Dealership Pulling to One Side One of the most common signs of an alignment problem is if your wheels pull to the left or right when you're driving. When the issue first appears, it feels like a small nudge in one direction. As time passes, alignment will become more out of whack, and keeping your vehicle moving in a straight line can become difficult. The angle of your wheels is determined during your GMC's design phase to provide the best possible performance. All four wheels must have the same angle for your vehicle to drive straight. If one angle is different from the others, it automatically causes your GMC to turn in that direction. Pulling to one side not only gives you less control over your vehicle, but it also affects braking, and this can cause an accident. Uneven Tire Wear Alignment is determined by three angles: camber, caster, and toe. Camber is the angle of a tire viewed from the front, so wheels may turn inward, outward, or be perpendicular to the road surface. Caster is the angle of a wheel viewed from the side, and it's determined by whether the wheel's steering axis points forward or backward. Toe is the angle of a tire viewed from above, and it can angle inward or outward. Strange wear patterns on your tires can show the type of alignment problem. Feathering, for example, appears as a smooth edge on one side of the tread blocks and a sharp edge on the other side, and is due to an incorrect toe angle. A camber problem, on the other hand, appears as excessive wear on the inner or outer edges of the tread. A Rough Ride If you're experiencing vibrations while driving, your wheel alignment may be incorrect. When two of your wheel points are in opposite directions due to an alignment issue, your GMC is effectively being pulled in two directions. This increases excessive damage to the tread sections in contact with the surface and produces vibrations. We'll need to investigate, as vibrations could also be caused by worn wheel rotors or incorrect tire balance. Depending on the cause of the problem, we'll correct it by correctly aligning your wheels, rebalancing the affected tires, or repairing or replacing the damaged rotors. Contact our service department today at Buick GMC of Beaverton in Portland, OR.

City-smart on the outside but impressively spacious and useful on the inside, the 2025 Buick Encore GX offers upscale design, modern tech, and everyday versatility. It's the subcompact SUV that feels calm and capable whether you're parallel parking downtown or packing up for a weekend drive. more Read the rest of this entry City-Friendly Style The Encore GX's subcompact footprint makes it easy to slip in and out of Portland traffic, and its modern style turns heads along the way. Its sculpted lines, checkmark-shaped LED headlamps, and deep-tinted glass give it a refined look. The lineup includes the Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir trims, and each has a distinct personality that's expressed through a unique grille and stylish wheels. The Avenir, for example, is the most upscale trim, and that's seen in the exclusive Black Ice grille and 19-inch Pearl Nickel wheels. It also adds LED taillamps with clear lenses, bright chrome accents on the front fascia, and useful roof rails. Sophisticated and Spacious Cabin The Encore GX seats five with enough legroom for adults in both rows: 40.9 inches in the front and 36 inches in the rear. It also offers flexible cargo space. There's a spacious 23.5 cubic feet cargo area behind the rear seats, but you can expand that to 50.2 cubic feet by folding the rear seats down. With the available flat-folding front passenger seat also folded down, you can carry items up to eight feet long. Power and Performance The Encore GX comes standard with an ECOTEC 1.2L turbo engine, a continuous variable transmission (CVT), and front-wheel drive. For a bit more passing power, a 1.3L turbo engine is available, and you can opt for all-wheel drive with a nine-speed transmission if you need more traction for snowy streets or gravel roads. User-Friendly Tech The Encore GX features an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen and an eight-inch driver information center integrated under a single glass pane, so key information is available at a glance. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice command allow you to make calls, send messages, and control your music and never take your eyes off the road. Bluetooth audio streaming and a six-speaker audio system provide endless music options, and an available seven-speaker Bose audio system offers an even richer experience. Comprehensive Safety Suite Every Encore GX comes with Buick Driver Confidence, a suite of driver-assistance features that includes front collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and front pedestrian braking. A rear vision camera is also standard for added confidence while parking and backing up. From downtown errands to coastal escapes, the Encore GX's city style, flexible space, and modern tech elevate every drive. Stop by Buick GMC of Beaverton in Portland, OR to see it for yourself.

There's nothing quite like entering a clean, fresh-smelling, clutter-free cabin in the morning for your daily drives. For your car, an ideal interior maintenance regime should entail regular detailing at your local Buick dealership. In between these professional deep cleans, the following tips and habits will help to minimize dirt, grime, stains, and unpleasant smells. 8 Tips for Maintaining Your Buick's Interior Avoid Snacks and Drinks With a straightforward no-food-or-drink policy, you'll remove a major source of stains and debris. Without accidental coffee spills, smears of chocolate, and crumbs in the upholstery cracks, your car will stay so much fresher and cleaner. more Install OEM Floor Mats You can protect your car's carpets with genuine Buick floor mats that fit perfectly without cracks at the edges. These robust weather-proof mats are easy to remove and wash once a week. Vacuum Frequently When cleaning the mats, it's also a good idea to vacuum the nooks and crannies of your cabin. Invest in a neat little car vacuum that makes it easier to get under the seats, into door pockets, between the seat and console, and into other tricky areas. Keep Air Vents Clear The air quality inside your cabin impacts your health and driving pleasure. By regularly cleaning your air vents and changing the cabin air filter, you'll help a great deal in keeping your cabin air breathable. Use Good Seat Covers A significant portion of your cabin's surface area is upholstery, which you'll want to protect from stains, rips, and harmful UV rays. Comfortable, elegant, easy-to-clean seat covers are the simplest way to do this. Apply Protective Window Tint Both leather and cloth upholstery steadily fade when exposed to direct sunlight. So, try to park in the shade whenever possible. It's also advisable to install window tints with effective UV protection. Condition Leather Upholstery It's wise to occasionally use a high-quality conditioner to clean all leather surfaces. Apply only a small amount of conditioner and use a microfiber cloth or soft-bristled brush to gently wipe away dirt and stains. Disinfect the Dashboard Keep a disinfectant spray in your car to routinely kill bacteria on the dashboard, steering wheel, door handles, seatbelt buckles, and any other part that's often touched. The more often you do this, the less chance bacteria and mold will have to settle in. Book Interior Maintenance Services at Your Buick Dealership With professional detailing, every single crevice and hard-to-reach element of your cabin is thoroughly cleaned, down to the seat rails and deep seatbelt cracks. Advanced methods and tools are used such as steam cleaning and stain extraction machines, with first-class specialist products. In short, a thorough detailing is the closest your Buick will get to reviving that new-car smell. Visit Buick GMC of Beaverton in Portland, OR. We can detail both the interior and exterior of your car. As a two-time winner of dealership of the year, we maintain exceptional standards of customer care.