Workshop Magazine: Issue 34

INVESTIGATION: ARE AUTONOMOUS CARS REALLY THAT CLEVER?

+ ISSUE 34 | JULY 2018

£2.50 | WORKSHOPMAGAZINE.CO.UK

SILENCE IN COURT! The Judge gives his verdict on your legal problems

UNDER THE BONNET

FIESTA FEVER

nce The clever tech and engineering excelle ST powering new version of sensational

MORGAN MARVELS

PRODUCT NEWS

New gear for your garage

Our track day with the friendliest bunch of petrolheads around

How good are your suppliers?

JOB DONE WITH LESS FUSS Autologic brings you industry-leading diagnostics equipment together with expert support from our OE trained master technicians – enabling you to tackle every job with greater confidence, efficiency and profitability.

To find out more visit autologic.com or call 01865 870060

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DIAGNOSTICS WITH THE EXPERTS

BLACKBALL MEDIA HASLAR MARINE TECHNOLOGY PARK HASLAR ROAD, GOSPORT, PO12 2AG T: (023) 9252 2434

CONTENTS. Automechanika Birmingham: More than 10,000 people through the doors at ‘fantastic’ event

EDITORIAL HEAD OF EDITORIAL REBECCA CHAPLIN

rebecca@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @believebecca

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PRODUCTION EDITOR DAVE BROWN

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dave@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @CarDealerDave

FEATURES EDITOR JACK EVANS

jack@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @jackrober

STAFF WRITER RYAN HIRONS

ryan@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @RyHirons

JUNIOR EDITORIAL ASSISTANT TRISTAN SHALE-HESTER tristan@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @tristan_shale

HEAD OF DESIGN GRAEME WINDELL

graeme@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @graemewindell

New for you: Two pages of the latest workshop products

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The Judge: Can we force an employee to work his notice period?

Our Kev: The tea break that led to a whole lot of trouble – and a very late evening at work!

ADVERTISING

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On test: Air hammer could prove useful

SALES MANAGER JON HICKEY

j.hickey@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @cardealerjon

ACCOUNT MANAGER MICHELLE SEARLE

michelle@blackballmedia.co.uk

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION finance@blackballmedia.co.uk

SUITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JAMES BAGGOTT james@thebaize.com Twitter: @CarDealerEd

MANAGING DIRECTOR ANDY ENTWISTLE andy@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @CarDealerAndy

CONTRIBUTORS Felicity Bestwick, John Bowman, Jess Ernerth SUBSCRIPTIONS If you know someone who would like a FREE copy of Workshop Magazine, email the details to subs@workshopmagazine.co.uk and we’ll do the rest.

DISTRIBUTION Workshop Magazine is distributed to a database of up to 10,000 service and repair sites, franchised car dealers, independents, car manufacturers and suppliers.

Company No. 6473855 VAT No. 933 8428 05 ISSN No. 1759-5444 Workshop Magazine is published by Blackball Media Ltd (Company No 6473855) and printed by Warners. All rights reserved. Conditions of sale and supply include the fact that Workshop shall not, without our consent, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated way or in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or affixed to or as any part of a publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever.

Workshop Magazine is fully protected by copyright.

Nothing may be reproduced wholly or in part without permission.

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Shell & Geely: Epic trip highlights strong partnership

Welcome

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HATS off to the organisers of Automechanika Birmingham.

The team pulled off another successful event for 2018, with 10,200 people through the doors of the NEC over three days in early June. I was delighted to attend with a colleague of mine and was seriously impressed. There was so much going on that it was difficult to know where to start, and we had a busy but enjoyable day in Brum.

As you’re probably aware, the expo is at the heart of the event and was packed with trade stands manned by the suppliers of all manner of goods and services to the automotive aftermarket. Many of them were showcasing new products for the first time and receiving plenty of interest as a result.

We all need various products and services to help our workshops run smoothly – and in this month’s magazine, we are launching our annual Workshop Power Awards! (I know, a seamless link between two different subjects – I should take up writing for a living.)

The survey gives YOU the chance to have your say

Our Fleet: Christian’s getting a bit nervous as his Metro is due its MOT soon about the companies you use in your business – and as you might remember from previous years, we have all sorts of categories.

To highlight just a few, you can have your say about your trade insurance provider, the motor factors you use and the companies that supply you with tools. It’s the third year we’ve run the survey, and when the results are in we hold a glitzy awards do to reward those who are deemed by you to be the best in the business.

What else do we have for you in a packed Issue 34 of Workshop Magazine? Well, Adam Weller takes another look at the world of motorsport on page 23, there’s a sideways look at the world of hybrids on pages 24 and 25 (they’re not all automotive, you know!) and we have another helping of new product news. Why not put the kettle on and have a good read? Enjoy the issue!

Rebecca Chaplin, Head of Editorial WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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NEWS.

INVESTIGATION

Are today’s ‘autonomous’ cars really that clever?

We head to Thatcham Research’s centre to explore the misconceptions of today’s ‘driverless’ technology

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utonomous cars are coming. As exciting and/or terrifying as that may sound, there’s a good chance that in the future we’ll all be travelling around in driverless vehicles.

It may sound like an age away, but driverless technology has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years and we’re seemingly getting very close to just hopping into cars that can take us anywhere all by themselves.

At least, that’s what manufacturers will want you to think.

We’ve been invited to Thatcham Research’s test centre in Berkshire to experience firsthand some of the misconceptions surrounding today’s ‘autonomous’ technology.

‘The technology is in advance of what the consumer understands and what the laws allow you to do,’ Matthew Avery, director of insurance research at Thatcham, tells us.

The firm, along with the Association of British Insurers, is urging manufacturers to deliver more clarity on what constitutes a ‘driverless’ feature and a ‘driving assistance’ feature.

‘Manufacturers advertising self-driving cars in their literature isn’t a good thing,’ Avery

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by RYAN HIRONS @RyHirons

continues. ‘I think the consumer needs to be brought in clearly step by step.’

Our first practical demonstration brings us to the passenger seat of a Tesla Model S 75D — perhaps the car best known for its ‘autonomous’ capabilities today. Just before setting off with its Autopilot mode in full swing, we’re alerted to the firm’s advertising of the feature online.

‘Full Self-Driving Capability’ reads the headline, with the promise of the car being able to match its speed to the traffic around it, automatically change lanes and self-park — among other things.

‘It asks me once to put my hands on the wheel and that’s it for the rest of the journey,’ states Avery as we reach a faux motorway in Autopilot mode — and a quick glance over to the dashboard proves he isn’t wrong.

As expected, the Tesla easily navigates itself between the clear white lines ahead of us — even when encountering a slight bend — but the big problem arises when those lines come to a sudden stop. Lost, it tries to pick out a path to

follow on the blank tarmac before giving up and bringing itself to a gentle halt — but not without a rather jolty ride along the way.

‘We like that it brings itself to a stop — what we don’t like is that it hasn’t observed any input during the process, putting a potentially distracted driver and those around at risk,’ Avery said, more calmly in this environment than likely would’ve been the case on a busy highway.

It’s not only Tesla with this sort of issue, though. In fact, what was up next proved to be much more dangerous.

We hop into a BMW 530e fitted with ‘Driver Assist Plus’, which the German manufacturer describes as ‘partially autonomous driving’ — ‘partially’ proving the key word.

‘It’s better than the Tesla in that it asks every 15 seconds if my hands are on the wheel, but it’ll take any movement — so I only have to give the wheel a wiggle,’ observed Avery, once again in the driver’s seat.

We approach the same faux motorway as we did in the Tesla — only this time, as the car comes to the junction, it continues straight onwards across multiple lanes. In the real world, this would leave us facing the prospect of hitting a

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On our second run in a Tesla Model S at Thatcham, the dark-coloured BMW 530e we were following made a very late manoeuvre at speed. Our vehicle didn’t have time to read the hazard ahead – in the form of a car-shaped inflatable – and we ploughed straight into it

“

We like that it brings itself to a stop – what we don’t like is that it hasn’t observed any input during the process.

3 Our first run sees the BMW peel away into the right-hand lane at a good distance from stopped traffic ahead — allowing the Tesla to read a parked car (actually in this case a soft Ford Fiesta-esque target built to mimic a car) early on, coming to a safe halt behind.

A good start, we think.

We approach the same situation again, only this time the 530e ahead makes a very late manoeuvre at speed — which could easily happen in the event of a sudden traffic jam. The Model S doesn’t have time to read the hazard itself — one that an attentive human could pick up — and flies straight into the back of the soft target.

It serves as a stark reminder

4 that we’re still a long way from a full autonomous future — and just how informed consumers need to be about remaining attentive.

It’s poor enough that what happened occurred at a closed course, but on a public road? Disaster.

Full autonomy is coming, however, and the ‘autonomous’ technology on offer today is rapidly improving. For now, though, it’s clear that we’re a while off hopping into a car that we can pay no attention to while in the driver’s seat — and Thatcham’s message to manufacturers on clarity is something they should listen to.

MATTHEW AVERY concrete barrier at speed. Not good, obviously.

Our final exercise for the day starts with us being told: ‘You’ll be safer in the back.’

Consider us excited (and a bit worried).

So, into the rear of the Tesla we climb. We follow the BMW with our Autopilot enabled, in a test designed to show how the Tesla would deal with a late lane change by the car in front.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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NEWS.

A special brew for petrolheads!

Motoring information and entertainment galore at mikebrewermotoring.com

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ne of the best-known names in the world of buying and selling cars, Mike Brewer, pictured right, has launched a new website aimed at enthusiasts, consumers and wannabe wheeler dealers.

Packed with features, car-related news and reviews, consumer advice and engaging vlog content from the cheeky chappie himself, the new site offers more than any of the traditional motoring sites, thanks to its carefully crafted mix of high-quality advice and entertaining, interactive video content.

Created with the Baize Group, which owns Workshop Magazine publisher Blackball Media, mikebrewermotoring.com aims to inform and entertain.

For those who want even more, the site also has an exclusive subscribers’ area where, from as little as £2.49 a month, visitors can gain access to premium content from Mr Wheeler Dealer himself, including exclusive weekly videos, advance access to Mike Brewer Motoring events and the chance to buy a half-price, signed copy of Mike’s

Ultimate Guide To Used Cars. Oh, and you also get a mikebrewermotoring.com coffee mug!

‘I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while,’ said Brewer, whose own dealership business, Mike Brewer Motors, has branches in Sheffield and Luton. ‘I’ve spent my life with cars and made an amazing career out of them, so it seems logical to have a place where I can share the benefit of my experience, my anecdotes and some of my car-buying and selling advice with like-minded petrolheads.’

James Baggott, CEO of the Baize Group, added: ‘We’ve known Mike from when we first started out, as he was – naturally – magnetically drawn towards the first title we launched, Car Dealer.

‘In that time, the world of publishing has changed beyond recognition, but Mike’s easy charm, wise advice and ability to spot a deal from a mile off haven’t altered. We’re delighted to partner with him on this venture.’

DRIVEN BY AIR.

Experience safety www.pclairtechnology.com/80-years

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A HORNGROUP BRAND

NEWS ROUND-UP. What’s been making the headlines at workshops around the United Kingdom?

COUNTY FERMANAGH:

A trainee mechanic has been killed in a farm accident. Neil Graham, 18, from Garrison, died after an incident involving a tractor in a farm garage in the Boho Road area of Enniskillen, the Belfast Telegraph reported. The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation, and Arlene Foster, DUP leader and local member of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly, told the newspaper: ‘This is immensely sad news for the Garrison community. Our thoughts turn to Neil’s family who are mourning the loss of their son. They are very much in our prayers.’

| EXPANSION |

SOUTH YORKSHIRE:

The ‘key’ to the building that will house the new £50 million McLaren Composites Technology Centre has been handed over to McLaren Automotive ahead of the final fitting out. The centre – at the Advanced Manufacturing Park on the site of the former Orgreave Colliery – is where McLaren will innovate the process for making the ultra-lightweight and strong carbon-fibre tubs at the heart of its luxury sportscars and supercars. The tubs will then go to McLaren’s Production Centre in Surrey, where the vehicles have been assembled since 2011.

TIPTON:

A garage run by a father-andson team in the West Midlands has fallen prey to thieves who carried out a £60,000 raid.

David Parsons owns Dave’s Service and Repair Centre in Sedgley Road West and runs it with the help of his son, also called David. The company is based in a former Territorial Army building, where the duo have spent their spare time carrying out repairs on classic cars, as well as building and selling their own vehicles, for 20 years. In the raid, which is thought to have taken place on June 15, thieves broke in and ransacked the garage, stealing around £60,000 of parts and equipment.

SOMERSET:

The future has never looked brighter for Somerset-based operators of Mercedes-Benz vans following the opening of a state-of-the-art servicing facility in Taunton.

The light commercial vehicle centre represents a £1 million investment by Mercedes-Benz South West, which has responded to rising demand from customers for manufacturer-approved aftersales support. The centre is at the edge of Taunton’s Crown Industrial Estate, which is a short distance from the retail dealership in Toneway, where vans were previously maintained and repaired.

MTS introduces two new exhaust systems for Dacias ITALIAN company MTS has introduced two new exhaust systems for the Dacia Duster and Dacia Logan as part of its plan to expand its UK product range.

The systems – designed for the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre Dacia Logan, and the 1.4-litre MPi, 1.6litre MPi and 1.6-litre 16V twowheel-drive Dacia Duster – are available for next-day delivery from MTS’s Doncaster warehouse.

The MTS range covers 95 per cent of the vehicle parc, with more than 3,000 parts available. The company’s products are designed to be fitted quickly and easily by technicians, with no modifications required, and perform as well as the original part would.

These new exhausts offer a high level of corrosion protection and are bent with an internal ball during production instead of being pressed, resulting in optimal back pressure, improved engine performance and increased fuel economy.

The brand also refuses to paint over external weldings for aesthetic purposes, as it believes this process causes unnecessary damage to the environment via additional pollution.

The exhaust mufflers are 100 per cent mechanical, meaning the silencer remains intact without any interior deterioration, offering consistent performance. The entire exhaust is also produced using aluminiumised steel.

| PORTFOLIO |

SMPE expands NTR Lucas product range

BUCKS:

The Aylesbury Youth Motor Project has launched an appeal for cars, bikes and parts for students to use as learning tools. The project aims to help students who are struggling at school but who have a passion for motoring and engineering. It provides the chance for youngsters to go into the garage trade armed with Entry 3 and Level 1 qualifications. While cars and bikes are the most common vehicles worked on, project manager Rob Shirley said they’d happily take anything mechanical. He added: ‘We’re open to donations of anything and everything!’

STANDARD Motor Products Europe (SMPE) has extended the Lucas engine management portfolio.

Around 3,000 new products are now available for workshops to order, such as pumps, switches, sensors and valves, all of which are engineered by SMPE in the UK and can be delivered anywhere in Europe with Lucas’s new licence agreement. Among the new additions are 491 oxygen sensors, 164 exhaust gas temperature sensors, 75 air mass meters and 537 ignition lead sets, meaning the supplier now has one of the largest offerings of engine management products available, covering around 1,000 OE and aftermarket references.

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NEWS.

More than 10,000 through the doors at Automechanika Third annual event, with almost too many highlights to mention, reflected the vibrancy of the automotive aftermarket

by TRISTAN SHALE-HESTER @tristan_shale

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utomechanika Birmingham, the UK’s leading exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and vehicle production industry, has drawn to a close, with 10,200 automotive industry personnel visiting the highly successful 2018 event.

The event featured 500 exhibitors from 26 countries covering a floor space of 9,400 square metres. More than 120 companies exhibited at Automechanika Birmingham for the first time including AA Garage Guide, Snap-On, Ceramex, GSF Car Parts and Wurth Electronics.

The event delivered an excellent opportunity for the automotive industry to come together, network and do business.

Automechanika Birmingham, now in its third year, will run again in 2019 before moving biennially to alternate with Automechanika Frankfurt. Reflecting the vibrancy of the independent automotive aftermarket, the new-for-2018 ‘garage quarter’ was a major highlight with independent businesses flocking to see the very latest products and services from more than 130 suppliers, as well as a garage social area for visitors to network and meet similarminded businesses.

The workshop training hub attracted a large audience, where visitors heard a number of wideranging presentations, discussions on the state of the automotive industry and live demonstrations on new product technology.

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‘The threats are complex but we are up for the challenge’ WENDY Williamson, chief executive of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF), provided an extensive insight into the future of the sector during a speech delivered to a packed audience at the aftermarket theatre at Automechanika Birmingham.

In her speech, which covered the changing face of UK parts distribution, legislation and future connectivity, Williamson also looked at how lifestyle changes will affect the trade in the future.

The speech revisited type approval, an ongoing theme of IAAF’s lobbying activities over the past three years.

Williamson said the IAAF had ‘fought hard to ensure a number of key amendments were included in the final legislation,’ now approved by the European Parliament.

Brexit was also a factor in her speech and there was a stark reminder of the confusion this may bring. Williamson reminded delegates that all EU legislation will be adopted in the UK as of March next year, but as type approval legislation doesn’t take effect until September 2020, ‘it throws up a question of where this legislation now sits’.

It was also the setting of the much-anticipated Garage of the Year awards final. The winner, Hillclimb Garage of High Wycombe, took to the stage to collect the award and a £1,000 cash prize.

With new product launches dominating the aftermarket hall, along with announcements of key distribution agreements signed between companies, the event offered more than 70 hours of seminars. Returning for another year, the vehicle production hall hosted the successful

The event delivered an excellent opportunity for the industry to come together, network and do business.

Technological changes in vehicles were also discussed and Williamson said it was imperative for parts suppliers and distributors to ensure garages had access to accurate information so they could supply and fit the correct parts.

Williamson said: ‘We as a sector need to ensure we keep up to date with the times. We must continue to invest in tools, equipment, people and of course training to ensure we’re able to cope with the myriad changes that are taking place in the automotive industry. We have a reputation for finding a way through – the threats are complex but we’re certainly up for the challenge.’ ‘meet the buyer’ and ‘open forum’ events, hosted by the SMMT. Innovation was also a key theme in the vehicle production hall, with an enthralling debate by the women in innovation panel, a who’s who of key industry influencers.

Simon Albert, managing director of Automechanika Birmingham, said: ‘It’s been a fantastic event and has further developed the identity of Automechanika Birmingham going forward, underlining our commitment to unite the entire automotive industry.

‘We are delighted with the quality and quantity of senior professionals who attended, as well as the number of independent garages that visited the hugely popular garage quarter.’

Next year’s event at the NEC Birmingham will take place from June 4 to 6, with more exhibitor and show announcements to follow.

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BIG PICTURE.

| UNDER THE BONNET |

Ford Fiesta ST

Jack Evans and James Jervis look at the latest iteration of the performance car that the Blue Oval says has been engineered to make its drivers smile.

THERE’S a whole lot of expectation associated with this new Fiesta ST. Its predecessor was, after all, one of the very best-handling hot hatches of all time, with its firecracker performance turning the most mundane journey into something very special indeed – even the weekly run to the shops.

But, as with all things, change needs to happen in order to progress. That’s why you’ll see a whole raft of updates on this all-new ST, ranging from the engine all the way to the headlight design.

In keeping with the times, that all-new powerplant is more efficient than the one it replaces but it manages to provide more power too – which just goes to show that better fuel economy doesn’t need to mean worse performance.

We’ve cracked out the spanners and had a good look underneath the skin of the allnew Fiesta ST – check out what we found.

Suspension:

The previous ST’s suspension was seen as too stiff for urban areas so Ford has put significant work into changing that – most notably with new vectoring springs. These work on the torsion beam rear suspension, with non-uniform, noninterchangeable directionally wound springs, which Ford claims absorb vertical and cornering forces. Work has also been done to the dampers, with Ford’s Ride Control 1 valving allowing more control when under force but enhanced comfort when cruising.

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Visuals:

The new ST has a more purposeful stance and expression, with sharper and more dynamic features, including the grille and front intakes.

New rear lights draw its width in, which helps to make the hatch look more fit for the job.

Wheels:

Included in the top-of-the-range ST-3 and optional in the ST-2 are new 18-inch alloy wheels, which have a snug fit in the wheel arches and, with the red brake callipers, further emphasise how this is ‘track inspired’.

Interior:

Engine:

Personalisation has become a key focus, and a vast majority of this is in the interior. Recaro sport seats and different trims are on offer, as well as enough blue in the stitching and seatbelts so you can’t forget this is the ST. Classy touches include a metal-topped gear lever, eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a B&O 10-speaker audio set-up.

On the surface the new ST features a 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit, based on the one-litre EcoBoost that has been used in the Fiesta over the past four years. However, it will also use cylinder deactivation technology, which will cut off the fuel supply to one of the cylinders during coasting and light use of the throttle to help improve fuel economy.

Economy:

Ford claims an overall CO2 figure of 136g/km and 47.1mpg for both three- and five-door variants – a slight improvement over the previous generation’s claimed 138g/km and 141g/km, and in between the 47.9mpg and 46.3mpg for the three-door and five-door respectively.

Driving modes and tuning: Gearbox:

The last ST received high praise for its six-speed manual gearbox and it’s been used once again to get the full potential out of the engine. What is new is the option of a Quaife torque-biasing limited-slip differential.

Performance:

Despite downsizing, the ST engine’s performance increases in all the important categories. A total of 197bhp is now on offer – a 17bhp growth.

This means a new top speed of 144mph and 0 to 60mph in just 6.5 seconds.

A selection of driving modes are now available for the first time in a Fiesta ST, letting owners use their ST as a track day toy or for manoeuvring in cities and on the school run. For precision handling, torque vectoring and three modes of stability control are available, as is the ability to enhance it with sports-inspired springs, wheels, brakes and steering system.

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NEWS.

YOU HAVE THE POWER – IT’S TIME TO GIVE US YOUR HONEST OPINIONS Can it really be two years since we launched the Workshop Magazine Power Awards? Yes it can – and here we go again! We need your help to discover the suppliers that do their best for you (and identify those that don’t). So don’t be shy – get involved and tell us what you think!

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heck out the happy people in the picture on the right! They all represent companies and organisations that were successful in last year’s Workshop Magazine Power Awards – the second annual event of its type.

Once again, it was a fantastic occasion, during which the most highly regarded suppliers to the service and repair sector were rewarded for their efforts. And our trophy winners had good reason to look happy as they picked up their awards.

Their customers, the readers of Workshop

Magazine, decided who took home the gongs – and there’s nothing better than praise from the people with whom you do business.

Once again for 2018, we’re asking the readers of this magnificent magazine to get involved in Workshop Power. Over the next two pages, you’ll see questions about suppliers in categories ranging from motor factors large and small to garage cleaning product suppliers.

All we ask is that you give us your honest views on the companies you use.

We want to know which suppliers are the best and how good they are at helping you out (even

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Our 2017 Workshop Power Awards were a big success – and we can’t wait for this year’s event! when the going gets tough), which parts and equipment you use, whom you go to for advice and who enhances your presence on the internet.

It’s all done in confidence, and you don’t have to fill the survey form in by hand and post it to us – using the workshoppower.co.uk website is the easiest way to complete it.

Once we’ve received your answers, they’ll be fed into our Workshop super-computer (the brains behind the magazine) and we’ll then be able to pull together all the data we need from the anonymous opinions.

By the end of the process, we’ll have an accurate idea about the suppliers that are at the top of their game, those that are simply average, and those that are, well, not so hot. We’ll be sharing our findings to make sure your opinions are heard, so it’s highly likely that suppliers will make changes to the way they work with their customers based on the feedback we give them.

Can I say what I really think?

Absolutely. The whole reason behind the Workshop Power Awards is to allow the industry to be entirely forthright, whether that’s praising

suppliers to the skies or hanging them out to dry.

As mentioned earlier, the survey is completely anonymous. We’ll be telling the suppliers and agencies what we found out but not who told us, so you can speak your mind fearlessly.

And again, we’ll hold a glitzy award night to celebrate their achievements, which this year will take place on Tuesday, October 16 at the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire.

So, how do I take part?

That’s really easy. You can either fill in the survey on the following pages and post it to us using our address on page three, or if you don’t want to rip up this gorgeously glossy magazine, you can go to workshoppower.co.uk to fill in the questionnaire online. Nominations close on August 31, 2018.

So, please spare a few minutes to complete the form – either in this magazine or online.

We promise it won’t take long – and the opinions that you express could genuinely benefit all of us in the sector.

We look forward to finding out what the industry thinks.

Let the great survey begin!

The easiest way to fill in the survey is online at workshoppower.co.uk Please give a mark out of 10 where shown.

And remember... this is completely confidential, so don’t be shy about telling us your views!

We want to know about the suppliers with whom you work. The winners will not be decided solely by being the most popular but by how good they are at providing you with a product or service. We’ll be naming a winner and two highly commended places for each category, and these will be announced at the Workshop Power Awards ceremony on October 16. For each category, first tell us your supplier, then give them a mark out of 10, and finally add any comments you have, which will help the judges decide. The closing date for nominations is August 31.

1. Large Motor Factor of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

Please give a mark out of 10

3. Hand Tools Manufacturer of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

Please give a mark out of 10

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7. Best Customer Care Who provides it? .......................................................................................

Please give a mark out of 10

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8. Trade Insurance Provider of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

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5. Diagnostics Systems Supplier of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

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9. Recruitment Agency of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

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2. Small Motor Factor of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

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6. Lubricants Manufacturer of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

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10. Tyre Manufacturer of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

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NEWS. 11. Best Garage Software Provider of the Year We use ......................................................................................................

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Who were our winners in 2017? Go online to bit.ly/WPower17 to find out Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower – the venue for our awards ceremony on October 16, 2018

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FEATURES.

PART 9:

What a memorable Indian adventure!

Globetrotting mechanics Andy Gove and Sean Tubby encountered some monkey business on the latest leg of their epic motorbike trip from the UK to Vietnam...

Taking pictures of monkeys was fun – but turned out to be rather hazardous too!

India – Jodhpur to Goa Sean Tubby

J

odhpur, known as the ‘blue city’, even though it didn’t seem to us to be very blue in colour, provided us with some tasty home-cooked meals and a pleasant stay during our epic motorbiking adventure.

Naveen, a guy we’d met earlier on our trip and someone who had become a firm friend, arranged for us to spend a couple of days at his parents’ house just outside the city centre. It was great to see the large metal gates and ample space for the ‘ladies’ (aka our old Africa Twin motorbikes Barbara and Flo) outside their property.

We had plenty of time to see the sights.

These included a fort and a palace but we decided not to enter either of them, as it was 600 rupees at each location. We had a good look around the outsides though, to satisfy our hunger to see the local heritage.

We also took a stroll around the market in the city centre and stocked up on essentials, namely shower gel and baby wipes (for when there is no shower). The markets are incredible places, with a chaotic mess of vehicles and people, business transactions being carried out, haggling and shouting with arms waving frantically, the smell of rich spices, and the taste of used two-stroke oil.

We spent the next day doing nothing other than watching movies on TV. This might sound like a bit of an anti-climax, but the downtime was much needed and gave our brains a chance to switch off while we sat in comfy chairs, ate roti and chicken dal, and drank Mountain Dew. We forgot where we were and completely relaxed, but in moments of clarity, realised we were in the house of someone we barely knew, eating their food and sitting lazily on their furniture. Quite funny really.

After a good sleep and a hearty breakfast the next day, we loaded the bikes and said our goodbyes. We were then told that we must stay for lunch, as Naveen’s mother had cooked for us and said we needed our strength for the ride.

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Barbara and Flo were fully loaded as we tackled the Indian leg of our mammoth journey Thank you for this guys, it was the best food we had eaten for a while!

By the time we left it was early afternoon and it was another scorcher of a day. With the fan switches on and our stomachs full, we aimed for Udaipur. Leaving the city streets saw us climb into the green, tree-lined roads through gorgeous, rolling hills. The tarmac was mostly a pleasure to ride on as we wound our way through the scenery. We spotted a number of monkeys on the side of the road and, as Andy passed them, I thought it might be nice to take a photo.

I stopped, opened up my tank bag, and suddenly became surrounded by the curious and excited little beasts. I managed to hurriedly take a few snaps before I was in danger of an attack, and then bolted, thinking that it probably wasn’t a great idea to stop. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in Longleat and that I was on a motorcycle!

We reached the outskirts of Udaipur and awaited confirmation of the address of our next couch-surfing host. As we waited on an industrial estate, the owner of a marble-cutting company came out of his steel-clad structure to say hello.

He did not speak any English, but insisted that I should go somewhere with him. Andy waited by the bikes as I nervously went with the man.

He ushered me onto a truck weigh-bridge. This

is essentially an extremely large set of scales that is set into the floor and used to check the weight of a vehicle.

The size of it suggested that it was for HGVs. The man then ran inside his windowed office and looked at his computer screen before spinning it around for me to see. 80kg.

Apparently I have lost weight on this trip! The man then shook my hand and gestured for me to return to my bike. I did, feeling rather confused and laughing hysterically at the situation.

We received our address soon after and got on our way. Only 20 minutes away, easy peasy – or so we thought.

One hour later, we were still riding around the streets, struggling to find the house. We stopped several times to ask for directions and were greeted with hard stares towards us, and then the bikes, with no replies at all.

Even when showing the address written down we were getting nowhere. One chap thought he knew the way and told us to follow him on his bike, which we did, until he also became lost and led us along a small road where we became surrounded by kids, all wanting selfies.

We finally found our host, Sanjay, and parked up Flo and Barb outside his house. We grabbed the roll mats and crashed out on the floor of the

Snapshots from an incredible time in India... including drinks with fellow travellers at a rooftop bar watching the sun go down, above left

bedroom, feeling exhausted from all of the chaos.

The next day we ventured into the city on a clapped-out tuk-tuk that sounded like its engine was about to throw a rod. This didn’t stop the owner from driving flat-out for 20 minutes for the 100 rupees we had given him. In the city we explored the park, filled with impressive and exotic trees and plant life. We wandered into the market where the heckling commenced again.

‘Come and look in my shop’, ‘lovely jubbly prices’ and ‘you buy my stuff’ could be heard in a wave of excitement as we moved through the narrow streets. Sanjay was also hosting a group of French travellers, so we met them for lunch and, later, drinks at a rooftop bar while we watched the sun set.

We made some more contacts and stayed with them in a shared house. We met the group for lunch between their jobs and student work

“

and another night and day were spent in their company before we began our journey to Goa. We jumped on the Mumbai Expressway in a bid to get ourselves away from some of the hazards on some of the smaller roads.

We saw the warning signs on the slipway onto the smooth and, for the best part, empty road.

‘No two-wheelers, no three-wheelers,’ they read.

We carried on regardless, I didn’t see anyone who was going to stop us, anyway. About 10 miles later, and after quickly realising that the Indian drivers we passed didn’t understand how to use the lane system, we reached a large ‘toll booth’ with a strong police presence.

They were already smiling in a devious fashion when we pulled up about 10 metres from the barrier. We were ordered to turn back as motorcyclists are deemed unsafe and not allowed on these roads. We tried to explain to them that

We spotted a number of monkeys on the side of the road and I thought it might be nice to take a photo.

we were probably the safest drivers around!

We were told to ride back the way we had come, through the oncoming traffic, until we could exit onto a smaller road. Surely that would have been insane?

I told the guy as much, too. After 10 minutes of arguing, we agreed that the best solution was for us to ride through the toll gates, make a U-turn, and then return the way we had come, but on the correct side of the road.

A little bit of me thought about making that U-turn, but that was overwhelmed by a wash of excitement that found me twisting back the throttle and smiling inside my helmet as the barrier was lifted high enough for us to pass. We only had another 10 miles of freeway anyway.

That night, just outside the city of Pune, we camped by a lake. It was the time of the Diwali festival and fireworks could be seen being let off in nearby towns and villages.

We woke up early, had a cup of tea and some nicely separated mayonnaise on bread, and made tracks for Goa. We had heard of a guesthouse on Anjuna beach, from our hitchhiking musician friend, Ubeyt, when he had passed through there a month before. He said we must visit that place, so we did. We didn’t have much else on anyway...

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| 17

FEATURES.

Come for the cars, stay for the community Tristan Shale-Hester went to the Brands Hatch Morgan track day at Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex to find out just what makes these enthusiasts tick.

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A line-up of older Morgan models attracted plenty of attention from visitors

P

eople buy cars for all sorts of different reasons. Some want practicality, economy or comfort, while others seek speed, acceleration and handling. But Morgan buyers have something else at the front of their minds – community.

Curious about the makings of this particular mind-set, we attended the Brands Hatch Morgan track day at the Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex in the hope of discerning the attraction of these faux-classic British sports cars.

Arriving at the Jackie Stewart Pavilion bright and early, the members of the owners’ club were given a lengthy briefing emphasising the rules of this strictly non-competitive event.

After this was over, the keenest members in the group went straight for the track to complete some hot laps, while we were introduced to Alistair Gordon – one of the club’s volunteers who helps out on event days such as this.

The plan was for us to take a couple of Morgans out on the road to get a feel for them before tackling the circuit itself.

Hopping behind the wheel of a bright red Morgan 4/4, it became immediately apparent that the 18-plates on the front and rear of the car weren’t accurate indicators of its genuine age or technological state.

Not only does the 4/4 look like it’s been ripped straight out of the 1930s (it features a frame made entirely of wood from an ash tree), but there are no creature comforts for the driver or passenger.

Gordon made us familiar with the various quirks of the car, such as the fly-off handbrake, and then we hit the road.

The 110bhp four-cylinder Ford engine may not be the biggest powertrain in the world, but it had enough pep to keep the featherweight sports car moving at a good pace. The steering was lighter than we might have expected, but perfectly predictable, while the Mazda gearbox was beautifully smooth.

However, the area in which the car really did let itself down was the pedals.

All three of them were very strangely laid out

and too close to each other. Furthermore, the brake pedal in particular required an almighty amount of force to be pressed far enough down to actually reduce the speed of the vehicle.

As I got a feel for the 4/4 on the twisting country roads around Goodwood, I asked Gordon what it was that had made him buy a Morgan himself and get involved with the club.

He explained that he wanted a sports car that felt like a classic but was also reliable enough for him to take on his regular holidays to France, so he bought a 4/4 similar to the one we were in at that very moment.

However, what made him fall in love with the car and the brand was the community he discovered after purchasing his 4/4. In Brands Hatch Morgan, he found a group of people whose company he enjoyed, and he soon found himself attending all the club’s events and helping out as a volunteer.

Pulling up back at the circuit, we hopped out of the 4/4 and into the next model we were testing – a yellow WorkShopMagazine.co.uk WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

|| 19 19

The previousFEATURES. generation Morgan

3 Wheeler, left, and the newer updated version

A standard Morgan 4/4, above, and right, Brett Syndercombe’s customised 4/4 racing car 3 Wheeler. The car’s design sees it equipped with two wheels at the front and one at the back.

Firing up the 2.0-litre V-Twin engine causes the whole vehicle to rock from side to side, with its 82bhp output being plenty to send it hurtling down any road at breakneck speed.

Surprisingly, cornering isn’t an issue in the 3 Wheeler, although keeping the wheels in a straight line can be tricky, as holding the steering wheel is a bit like trying to stay in control of an excited Alsatian on a lead. Furthermore, the pedals once again presented an issue in that neither they nor the seat were adjustable in our test car. This means any driver more than about six feet has to bend their left foot at a painful backward angle to keep it off the clutch.

A few uncomfortable miles later and we returned to the circuit, only for another volunteer – Neil Lock – to offer us a passenger ride in his personal 3 Wheeler.

Finished in dark blue with cream racing

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stripes, Lock’s 3 Wheeler was gorgeous to look at.

What’s more, it not only had adjustable pedals to allow taller people to drive it, but it also had a custom exhaust to increase the sound output – so much so that it failed Goodwood’s strict noise restrictions and wasn’t allowed out on track.

It was also a slightly older model than the yellow one and pre-dated the latest European safety legislation, meaning it was lower and had sportier aesthetics.

As we tore up the hill past Goodwood Racecourse, nearly deafened by the extraordinary noise coming from the little car, we put the same question to Lock as we had to Gordon – what’s the appeal of Morgans?

For Lock, it’s all about the sensation of speed you get while only going at about 40mph, especially in the 3 Wheeler. The fact that the whole car rattles and shakes like hell at any speed makes it ideal for a quick burst of adrenalin.

He also echoed Gordon’s sentiments about

the community spirit of Morgan owners and especially the Brands Hatch Morgan club.

Arriving back at the track, it was time for another – rather more extreme – passenger ride.

I was told to get into a heavily modified Morgan 4/4 alongside Brett Syndercombe, one of the club’s professional drivers. He reminded me of Top Gear’s The Stig in that he had a fullface helmet on and didn’t really say much. He preferred to let his driving do the talking.

As we flew out of the pit lane and into the first corner of the circuit, I understood why they made me wear a helmet for this part of the event.

The speed Syndercombe was carrying through the twists and turns of the track was so incredible, I felt as though I was going to fall out on to the tarmac.

Not only did this demonstrate what a talented driver Syndercombe is, but it also showed just how capable a Morgan can be.

Granted, this particular vehicle had been

Under the skin

The back end of the latest 3 Wheeler – the extended stalks make the rear more visible modified for racing purposes, but it was still a 4/4 without any frills or fancy technologies.

Following three very quick laps and a brief lunch in the Jackie Stewart Pavilion to recover from the trauma of nearly falling off the face of the earth, a huge parade of Morgans was organised on the track.

I rode shotgun in the same red 4/4 I had driven earlier that day and was shown the layout of the circuit by one of Goodwood’s instructors.

Then it was my turn to take the wheel.

Swapping seats and lining up in the pit lane, I buried the throttle on the green light and set off along the circuit, although nowhere near as quickly as Syndercombe had done earlier.

This was my second time tackling Goodwood Motor Circuit, but on the first occasion a couple of years ago it was pouring with rain and I couldn’t see a thing, meaning I probably didn’t exceed 60mph.

As a result, I intended to make the best use of

the clear blue skies that day and gave it my all.

On the first lap, I think I made every mistake possible – driving a car on-track is very different to doing so on the road. The second lap was smoother – I hit more apexes, stuck to the lines more and was generally a lot smoother.

On my third and final lap, I was actually impressed with myself (even if nobody else was).

I tidied up all the errors I had made and managed to get round the whole circuit without doing anything that made me look like the total rookie that I was. Pulling back into the pits, I felt more than happy with how much I’d improved in just a matter of minutes.

Stepping out of the car and making my way up to the roof of the pavilion to watch the beautiful British sports cars zooming past, I reflected on what an incredible community spirit there was among the owners that day and realised that was the key reason why I wish I could buy a Morgan.

IF THERE’S one question Morgan owners are sick of hearing, it is, without a shadow of a doubt, ‘Is that the car with the wooden chassis?’

The answer is a resounding ‘no’. Morgan chassis are made of steel and have been for the entire history of the company. However, wood does play an important part as a material used in the structure of a Morgan, because the entire frame, which supports the body, is made of ash.

In terms of powertrains, Morgan has a habit of borrowing engines from other manufacturers to power its cars. One of the most common units used by the British marque is the 1.6-litre Ford Sigma, which has been used in the 4/4 since 2009 but can also be found in various models from the American manufacturer, including the Fiesta, Focus and Puma.

The 1,595cc engine produces 110bhp and enables the sports car to achieve a top speed of 115mph.

It’s a similar story with transmissions, as Morgan actually uses Mazda gearboxes in its cars.

The Japanese manufacturer has a contract with a Leicestershire-based company called Vitesse, which takes in shipments of five-speed gearboxes designed for the Mazda MX-5 and then adapts them.

Don’t think that Morgan’s engineers sit on their hands though! At the company’s factory in the Malvern Hills, these borrowed components are mated with beautifully crafted chassis, frames and bodies to make these cars exactly as the customers want them.

And when we say exactly, we really do mean it.

Morgan will accommodate just about any personal touches a customer requests, from different paint colours down to the nature of the quilting on the leather seats. In an era of high-tech mechanised car production, it’s very comforting to know that Morgan is still doing things the old-fashioned way.

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JUST THE JOB.

BY GAVIN WHITE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AUTOTECH RECRUIT

Why the industry needs to attract and retain skilled technicians Garages need to proactively nurture their staff to prevent them joining the thousands of people who leave our sector every year

A

ccording to reports, garage owners say they can’t hire the skilled talent they need and, as baby boomers retire in their droves, there is set to be a surplus of jobs going begging.

Couple this with the well-documented fact that the younger generation doesn’t want to work in an industry it sees as old-tech and oily, and the picture for recruitment within the motor industry looks bleak.

But what about the experienced technicians who have the skills needed to work within the industry but don’t currently do so?

A lot is being done to entice the next generation to join. However, this band of skilled people who could help the motor trade prosper needs attention, as do the technicians who are still working with us.

During the recession, there were many slowdowns and layoffs, and vehicle technicians began transferring their skills and moving to other industries. However, while the turbulent years have led to a boom, up to 15,000 technicians are reportedly still leaving the industry every

year. Therefore, everyone with a vested interest in the industry, from car dealership directors to workshop owners, holds a responsibility to not only attract, but retain, their vehicle technicians.

Today, the automotive industry sits right at the forefront of technological advancements, with a constant search for fresh ideas. Over recent years, there has been significant investment from the government and car manufacturers, which demonstrates the commitment the UK has to its automotive capabilities.

But how does this affect a skilled vehicle technician? Not a great deal in the day-to-day business of servicing cars. However, what it does show is the top-level realisation that in order to prosper we must invest in the future and it will, eventually, filter through.

The interesting thing about these new technological advancements is that they will affect everyone working within the industry for the better. For instance, workshop staff will be provided with more efficient, high-spec equipment, and innovative technologies will add a new layer to the job.

Some people believe that all a vehicle technician needs to do is plug in a computer to their car and it will tell them what is wrong and how to fix it.

That could not be further from the truth.

Today, cars are incredibly complex, computerdriven machines and manufacturers are making it harder and harder to diagnose properly.

Which is why investing in the right staff training now will provide a return on investment, as it will ensure technicians are highly skilled and trained to deal with the influx of high-tech and electric vehicles that are infiltrating the market.

Salaries are on the rise too. In fact, the industry saw the second-highest salary boost in 2017, with a 10.2 per cent wage rise compared with the year before, but technicians are still reportedly only being offered a salary increase and additional training when they hand in their notice. This demonstrates the reactive nature of bosses and reinforces the need to proactively nurture the workforce, through training and fulfilling pay promises, to ensure that it is equipped to deal with whatever tomorrow brings.

Who is Gavin White? After spotting a gap in the market for a recruitment agency dedicated to placing temporary workers in the motor trade, Gavin established Autotech Recruit in 2010. As an agency solely focused on the automotive aftermarket, Autotech Recruit supplies MOT testers and vehicle technicians on a contract and permanent basis. Gavin now employs more than 20 staff at the company’s head office, with a contractor network of 300 MOT testers and vehicle technicians, supplying workshops across the UK.

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INSIDE TRACK.

ADAM WELLER LOOKS AT MOTORSPORT ENGINEERING, DEVELOPMENTS AND NEWS

My plea to ACO: Don’t drain the individuality from LMP1

In the 1990s, GT1 cars shared very little with their road-going counterparts

I

f you’re interested in motorsport, you’ll know that Le Mans took place last month. Chances are you’ll also know that Fernando Alonso was part of the team of drivers that delivered Toyota’s first victory at the event, and perhaps you’ll have heard that they did so without any stiff competition from other manufacturers.

And while there’s been an influx of privateer entries in the top LMP1 class of the event, it’s clear that things shouldn’t continue as they are, with Toyota spending well over double the money of anyone else in order to develop its hybrid TS050 prototype – to, in essence, compete with no one.

The search for a solution to the LMP1 issue appears to be nearing a conclusion, after a press conference held during Le Mans weekend set out the basis of new regulations that will come into effect from 2020.

In a nutshell, we’ll be seeing hybrid racing sports cars with bodywork that ensures ‘highly visible relevance’ to ‘hypercars, supercars, prestigious GTs and concept cars’ from manufacturers. This sounds great, but it also sounds like a plan with many potential pitfalls.

To understand why there is as much panic as there is positivity in my mind for this upcoming rule set, we have to look at recent rulings made by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) – the decision-maker behind Le Mans and, by extension, the World Endurance Championship.

In recent years, it has launched a new class – LMP3 – and refettled the LMP2 class. Both of

these have a similar philosophy, that being the sole inclusion of chassis built by four approved racecar constructors, and one spec engine.

Now, it’s been made clear that spec engines won’t be a part of this new LMP1, with freedom of choice when it comes to the internal combustion engine that will join a powerful kinetic energy recovery hybrid system in the powertrain. However, not much was said about the cars themselves.

I’d like to believe that the ACO would allow manufacturers to build their own chassis, but I do fear that it has looked to America as an inspiration for the new regulations. In America, the sports car governing body IMSA has taken the regulations from LMP2 and allowed OEMs to stamp their own identity on the cars.

Manufacturers can plug their own engines into the cars and drape unique bodywork over the pre-existing chassis. This concept has proved pretty effective and has drawn entries from Acura/Honda, Cadillac, Mazda and Nissan.

Modified LMP2 cars from the likes of Mazda rule the roost in America

That is, admittedly, a solid proof of concept for the regulations, which are known as ‘DPi’.

However, these vehicles are still very obviously prototypes, and they look about as close to a road-going car as a Cessna light aircraft does to a jumbo jet.

Now, if I were involved in the decisions, I’d be pushing for a different set of regulations that drew manufacturers to the sport – late ’90s GT1, where iconic machines such as the McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR and Porsche 911 GT1 took to the track and fought for outright victory.

Yes, these regulations spiralled out of control owing to costs, but the new rules are being conceived with cost-capping and budgeting in mind, so the pitfalls of allowing manufacturers completely free rein should be extinguished.

It should be key for the top class of Le Mans to remain eclectic in terms of design philosophy and innovations, which is why a spec chassis situation would never cut the mustard. The new regulations present a window of opportunity to make the front end of a Le Mans grid look varied again, and that’s one they should grasp.

Yes, cars such as the 911 GT1 only bore a vague resemblance to the road cars they were based on. However, they were at least relevant on an engineering level. I just hope that the ACO’s recent flirtation with ‘spec’ racing doesn’t affect the top class of LMP1. Let eccentric manufacturers make something special, and let the world’s top car companies create a new, modern take on the era of insane ’90s hypercars.

WHO IS ADAM WELLER? A self-confessed motorsport addict, Adam is a member of Blackball Media’s talented writing team, providing content for Workshop Magazine, sister title Car Dealer and various other publications and outlets.

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FEATURES.

| COMBINATIONS |

HISTORY’S MOST FAMOUS HYBRIDS It’s not just the automotive world where clever combinations work to deliver a desired result. Check out the worlds of nature and even mythology...

T

o understand hybrids, we must first go back 14 billion years, to precisely three minutes after the Big Bang. Since those first few moments, matter has been mingling, bonding, binding and fusing into hybrids – at first to form atoms, then elements and compounds and the building blocks of life as we know it. In other words, hybrids are as old as time itself.

Of course, when you think of hybrids today you’re more likely to picture a car than some chemical reaction in the nuclear fires of a

supernova, but still, the principle is the same.

Sometimes, two things simply work better together. Petrol and electricity, for example.

Or gin and tonic.

In fact, hybrids are all around us, and even inside of us. Everybody knows that humans are 60 per cent water, which of course is a hybrid.

Look around and you’ll see hybrids absolutely everywhere, from farmer’s fields to far-flung forests, from test tubes to test tracks.

And, as you’re about to see, some of them even changed the world…

ILLUSTRATIONS: BILL McCONKEY

CENTAUR, left Possibly the most famous of all mythological beasts, these half-human, half-horse hybrids were said to worship the God of Wine, which may explain their reputation as boisterous, hoofy drunkards. The story goes that Centaurs were dreamed up by the Ancient Greeks, probably as a reaction to their first encounters with nomads on horseback, who from a distance looked like an allin-one horse and jockey combo with an outside chance in the 4.10 at Kempton Park.

PIZZLY BEAR, left They’ve been romping in zoos since the Eighties, but polar bears and grizzlies rarely meet in the wild, let alone produce crossbreed cubs. In fact, with only a handful of sightings, few believed that pizzly bears existed at all outside of captivity, until somebody shot one in 2006. DNA tests confirmed it was a hybrid: white like a polar bear but with the face of a grizzly, along with brown paws and big claws. Nobody knows for sure what’s bringing them together, although climate change may be causing their habitats to overlap.

TOYOTA PRIUS, far right Believe it or not it’s over 20 years since Toyota launched the Prius, the world’s first massproduced hybrid vehicle and one of the most important cars of all time, up there with the Ford Model T, the original Mini and the McLaren F1. When it first came along, even the iPhone was still 10 years away, and few thought that –

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one day – even supercars would be fuelled by a mixture of petrol and batteries. Today, a world without hybrids seems unthinkable.

FRANKENSTEIN’S MONSTER, bottom left In Mary Shelley’s famous novel – often regarded as the first work of science-fiction – it’s not entirely clear how Victor Frankenstein made his monster, though it was most likely a gruesome hybrid of flesh and bone harvested from graves and slaughterhouses, stitched together and brought to life in a flash of alchemy. What we do know is that his creation was eight feet tall and hideously ugly, yet sensitive and emotional. Or so it said on Tinder.

BLOODHOUND SSC, main picture Hybrid cars are as much about performance as efficiency, but even so, Bloodhound SSC, the 1,000mph car, takes things to a whole new level by combining a jet engine – the sort you’d find in a Eurofighter Typhoon – with a cluster of rockets.

In all, it has about 135,000 thrust horsepower, which is more than eight times the power of all the cars on the F1 grid combined. Even the fuel is pumped by a supercharged, 550bhp V8. Just as well when you consider it’ll need 40 litres of rocket oxidiser for every second of its top speed run in South Africa next year.

CHIMERA EMBRYO In genetics, a chimera is a hybrid organism with cells from two different species. In this case

those species are pigs and people, after scientists injected human cells into an animal embryo. It’s controversial, but by editing animal embryos, you could use them to host human organs for vital transplant operations. Rather than waiting for a donor, you grow a custom organ inside an animal. (Unless it all goes horribly wrong and you get a freaky pork-person with a gammon face and trotters for hands.)

MMA FIGHTING This is a full-contact, hybrid combat sport otherwise known as cage fighting. In the early days it paired contestants with two distinct fighting styles, but modern fighters combine techniques from all sorts of martial arts including judo, karate and jiu-jitsu, along with boxing, wrestling and other ways of giving somebody a good kicking. It has since grown into a worldwide hit, with global championships raising its profile.

PUGGLE Humans have been matchmaking dogs for centuries. But while some are bred for useful reasons like fetching pheasants or sniffing out stowaways, others are designed to fit in a handbag. Or to have a ridiculous name.

Take the Puggle, for example, the comedy offspring of a Beagle and a Pug. There’s more. The list of top designer dogs includes labradoodles, horgis, cockapoos and schnoodles. Even bulldogs and shih tzus have shared a bone or two.

TREE OF 40 FRUIT The Tree of 40 Fruit is an arboreal artwork created

by American art professor Sam Van Aken, who grafts buds from various fruit trees onto a single ‘stock’ tree. Over several years, the stock tree eventually grows branches from its different donors, each bearing a unique fruit, including peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines and cherries.

So far he’s planted 16 of these hybrid trees in seven US states, which in springtime blossom pink, crimson and white. Must be quite a sight!

LEXUS LS500h, above left In the not-too-distant future, every car will feature hybrid or electric tech. Already though, carmakers such as Lexus and Toyota have hybridelectric versions of almost every model in their showrooms. Lexus in particular is leading the way when it comes to petrol-electric hybrids.

Its new LS500h is an executive saloon with limo-like luxury. It’s soothing and quiet when you need it to be, but also capable of proper performance with very low emissions.

All this is thanks to the world’s first multi-stage hybrid system featuring a 3.5-litre V6 working together with clever electric motors.

The best of both worlds? That’s what hybrids are all about, after all.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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CLUB. The right to a refund is confusing us...

Q

We are slightly confused about the 30-day right to a refund that consumers are entitled to under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Does it mean that if any repair we carry out fails to rectify a particular fault, we are obliged to refund the customer within the first 30 days? n The Judge delivers his verdict: The short answer is no, you are not obliged to provide a refund. The initial right to reject within 30 days of delivery only applies to goods, not services.

If a repair fails to remedy a fault, or more precisely if the repair is not performed with reasonable care and skill, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives the consumer entitlement to two remedies: repeat performance and price reduction.

Repeat performance is the initial remedy. It means remedial repair within a reasonable time and without causing significant inconvenience to the customer.

Any necessary cost will met by the trader and cannot be charged to the customer.

If repeat performance fails to address the problem, then the consumer may claim the right to a price reduction. The reduction may extend to the full amount of the price paid.

The Act does not state that there can only be one instance of repeat performance.

It remains to be seen how the courts will address a situation where, say, a sensor is replaced, the car is returned to the customer, the customer then comes back and complains of the same fault and on further investigation it transpires the fault was with the control unit and not the sensor.

The garage replaces the control unit swiftly while the customer is waiting but the mechanic leaves some wires loose. Arguably, reconnecting the wires will not put the customer at significant inconvenience overall and the entitlement to a price reduction would not arise.

26 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

HE’S ON THREE MONTHS’ NOTICE – BUT WORKSHOP BOSS WANTS TO GO NOW

O

ASK THE JUDGE: Ian Gardner, sales manager at automotive legal experts Lawgistics, explains what to do if an employee gets a new job and wants to make his or her move promptly.

ur workshop controller handed in his notice which is three months. However, he has requested to leave before the notice period ends. How do we handle the request? n The Judge delivers his verdict: This is a frequent occurrence. The employee may not wish to work their full notice period if their new employer has asked them to start as soon as possible. From a legal perspective, any employee who leaves before their notice period has expired will be in breach of contract. When this occurs, you will not have to pay them for any period of notice they don’t actually work. In practice, there is not much you can do to prevent the employee

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from leaving. Suing for breach of contract is costly and difficult as you would need to show that the company has suffered a real financial loss from the employee not working their notice.

A reason why most employers consider allowing the employee to leave early, is if the employee’s heart is no longer in the job.

Whilst they may be attending the premises each day, their productivity could decrease.

Potentially, an employee who has been refused to leave before the notice ends, could make deliberate errors or go on sick leave for stress which would be difficult to disprove.

If the employee puts in the request, have a discussion with him or her and find out how much sooner they wish to leave.

More than £400 off braking training The price of a Pagid Professional Academy brake training programme is normally £1,000 but Workshop Club members can book their place for £599. Take your braking knowledge or that of your team to the next level for this special Workshop Club price.

Just quote ‘Brake Training 2017’ in the promo code box when registering your interest. Find out more and register your interest here: pagidprofessional. co.uk/training/braking/

It could be that you end up negotiating one or two weeks but not the full extent of the notice period.

If you are not able to accommodate the request at all, explain to the employee the reasons why, such as a shortage of staff or high work demands.

If you do reach an agreement with the employee, confirm the new departure date in writing and state the decision was voluntary on the employee’s part and mutually agreed.

This will help to provide evidence if at a later date the employee makes allegations of unpaid wages or unfair dismissal.

You could use the opportunity to review all your contractual notice periods to ensure they are appropriate.

£100 off your motor trade insurance With 25 years of industry experience in the world of commercial vehicle insurance, Plan Insurance Brokers is the expert for the UK’s professional road users. Motor trade insurance is vital to keep your business moving, whether it’s your own vehicles or customers’ cars that you’re moving about – even if a customer’s car is involved in a fire or theft while in your care. Club members can receive an exclusive £100 discount on their motor trade insurance through Plan Insurance Brokers.

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A longer length of notice would be appropriate for senior or complex roles which are difficult to recruit for. But for positions which are easier to fill, a shorter length of notice would be appropriate.

Statutory notice will be dependent on the length of service of the employee.

This is the minimum legal notice that can be given. If the employee has been employed continuously for one month or

more, but for less than two years – one week’s notice will be applicable.

If the employee has been employed continuously for two years, then one additional week’s notice for each further complete year of continuous employment, up to a maximum of 12 weeks, applies.

For example, if an employee has worked for six years then the employer is entitled to six weeks’ notice.

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The software can help manage supplier and customer details, help you keep on top of your costs and ensure that your business is running as smoothly and as profitably as possible.

Workshop Club members are eligible for a 10 per cent discount on their first year of a Dragon2000 software subscription – and they get the free Vehicle Health Check app too.

As part of your membership, you will have a free telephone consultation with Lawgistics worth £100. You will also be signed up to Lawgistics’ basic membership package worth £95, have 25 per cent discount off Lawgistics products, get access to guidance notes and document templates and enjoy a discount off membership upgrades – £100 off the Small Business pack and £250 off the Professional membership pack – to better suit your needs.

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| 27

PRODUCTS. Laser Tools Balance Shaft and Oil Pump Alignment Kit How much: £117.82 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This kit from Laser Tools is designed to be used on the BMW 1 Series (2012 to 2016), 2 Series (2014 to 2016), 3 Series (2012 to 2016) and 4 Series (2014 to 2016), X1 (2011 to 2015), X3 (2011 to 2017), X4 (2014 to 2017) and Z4 (2011 to 2017).

Laser Tools Star Bit Set How much: £84.58 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This 11-piece universal joint star bit set from Laser Tools is set in a tamper-proof format. The box contains bits with diameters of a quarterinch and three-eighths of an inch. The sockets are manufactured from chrome vanadium, while the bits are made of silicon steel.

DeWalt DCGG571M1 Grease Gun How much: £305.00 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk This DeWalt grease gun is designed for performing routine lubrication applications up to twice as quickly as with a manual tool.

It has an output pressure of 10,000 PSI (690 bar) and a flow rate of 147g per minute, making it ideal for clearing clogged fittings, while its one-metre hose can access hard-toreach areas with ease.

28 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Ryobi One+ Cordless Inflator How much: £59.99 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk The Ryobi One+ features a dual-function inflator/deflator, providing high-pressure inflation for tyres. It also has simple controls with an automatic shut-off function at any chosen pressure, as well as a digital pressure readout for accuracy.

Laser Tools Balance Shaft Alignment Tool How much: £67.51 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This balance shaft alignment tool is designed for use on Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat and Lancia vehicles fitted with the 0.9-litre Twin Air petrol engine. It allows for correct alignment of the balance shaft, which is necessary when removing or replacing the timing chain.

Laser Tools Flywheel Locking Tool How much: £67.06 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This device can be used to lock the flywheel via the starter motor aperture of Hyundai and Kia models fitted with 1.1-litre, 1.4-litre, 1.5-litre, 1.6-litre and 1.7-litre CRDi diesel engines. It ensures the crankshaft is locked to allow the crankshaft pulley, clutch bolts and flywheel bolts to be removed and torqued without moving the crankshaft.

New for you Clarke CHT436 Battery Terminal and Bearing Puller How much: £9.59 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk This handy little tool from Clarke simplifies the removal of smaller bearing gears and pulleys on electric motors and alternators, etc, as well as making it easier to work on tight-fitting vehicle battery terminals.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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GARAGEFOCUS .

COURSES RUN BY EURO CAR PARTS’ EURO ACADEMY HAVE PROVED INVALUABLE

German efficiency and ambition – plus a generous dose of passion AMS AUTOMOTIVE

A

s you sit in the reception at AMS Automotive, you are struck by two things: firstly, how much the interior exudes quality and secondly, how passionate everyone in the business is about their work. The passion of Tariq Karim, director at AMS Automotive, and his team has been vital to the success of the business.

A self-confessed petrolhead, Tariq loves highperformance German cars. Since 1995, Worcesterbased AMS Automotive has specialised in the customisation and enhancement of BMW, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles, with the capability to service all makes and models. A major benefit of this business model is that while local customers are drawn to the company’s honest and exceptional service, Tariq can also attract and retain some of the best repairers in the business by giving them the opportunity to work on exciting projects that utilise the latest tools, equipment and processes.

In January 2018, AMS Automotive moved to new premises in Worcester and already its stateof-the-art, three-ramp facility is busy. With an MOT bay currently being installed, there are some exciting expansion initiatives on the horizon.

These plans have been accelerated since the firm joined Euro Car Parts’ Autofirst Network – the fastest-growing UK network of quality independent garages. The move is considered a key part of AMS Automotive’s expansion strategy, with the company attracted by discounted training rates, being part of a nationally recognised scheme and the ability to access closer supplier partnerships.

Tariq said: ‘Attracting new customers, investment in training, equipment and partnerships with suppliers is crucial for our success as a business. We work closely with

“

We take the time to explain the technical background behind each diagnosis.

30 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

The team at AMS works on the latest cars and uses the most recent equipment

our partners to make sure that we understand everything we fit and recommend.

‘On modern cars, most jobs involve using a diagnostic machine to reset the sensors. As a result, the industry is more reliant upon specialist equipment than ever before. It is essential we have access to the latest tools and equipment to continually exceed customer expectations.

Autofirst gives us this.’

A DIVERSE CUSTOMER BASE AMS is also proud of its customer base, the majority of whom are women. This success has largely been attained through digital marketing.

The repairer has an active presence on Instagram and Facebook and shares images of the latest projects in the workshop.

Google reviews have also been hugely important for the business, with Tariq encouraging all customers to leave a review.

According to Google, AMS is currently the highest-rated workshop in Worcester – something Tariq is delighted about.

He said: ‘As a business, we are proud that we currently attract a high proportion of female

clients; they make up almost 65 per cent of our customer base. What’s more, we have high retention rates for female customers, who keep returning and trusting us with their vehicles. We have achieved this because we don’t sell people things they don’t need. We send video quotes to each of our customers and we make sure that we take the time to explain the technical background behind each diagnosis. That way, they have complete visibility on any work we carry out and understand why repairs need to be completed.

‘IMI-accredited training through Euro Academy is also great for the CV, but we want our people working on cars with the latest technology every single day to demonstrate their implementation of the training. By positioning ourselves as a top-end workshop, our team works on the latest cars and utilises the most recent equipment. We have an oscilloscope and have recently invested in a Snap-on Verus Pro. With a touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity, the Verus Pro will print a report for the customer outlining what work is needed on the vehicle. This reporting and transparency is part of what enables us to build stronger relationships with our customer base.’

AMS Automotive also runs a series of BMWfocused events and participates in others such as the Vmax200 at the Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome.

· For more information on the benefits of being an Autofirst Network garage, contact your local Euro Car Parts branch or visit www.autofirstnetwork.com

PRODUCTS.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

ON TEST

Aircat Air Hammer

This is a useful tool that can smash its way through seized components pretty effectively, says Craig Cheetham

T

here are certain jobs around the workshop where an air hammer really comes into its own. Seized balljoints, heavily seized exhaust components and welded-on body panels are just a few of the things that it can really speed the process of removing, providing you don’t mind damaging them during the process.

Connected to a compressor, the air hammer will use internal air pressure to effectively smash its way through seized components, or those that need shocking apart.

The Aircat 5100-A-T is a medium-duty tool with a high-quality metal valve, meaning it’s both secure and easy to mate with an air compressor.

Furthermore, its ergonomically constructed trigger is shrouded in shockproof rubberised material, which absorbs vibrations and makes the hammer easy to guide and hold, without fear of it vibrating too hard in operation.

It’s fairly quiet, too.

The speed is adjustable via the trigger, while the quick-release chuck allows you to change the blade quickly. It also cuts power while the chuck

is loosened, meaning you can’t accidentally power it up midway through changing a blade.

The set available from Euro Car Parts comes with four separate blades, with one specially designed for pulling open ball joints.

We used it for a job we needed to do with a Rover 45, in which the keys had gone missing and the doors were locked. We had a replacement door lock and had been able to get into the car via the tailgate, which was conveniently unlocked, but the only way past the metal security baffles that protected the locks was to use an air hammer to smash them apart.

We found the tool very light and easy to use in operation, but the large-ish chisel ends made it quite difficult to attack our door shields with precision. It did the job, though, taking less than 10 minutes to break through the metal barrier and allow us access to get into the driver’s door lock barrel and change it.

In a workshop environment, it would be the difference between an hour’s labour and an afternoon’s, as Our Kev found out to his detriment this month (see p42).

If he’d had one of these handy, he’d have been in there like a shot.

The set comes in a tough plastic case, which itself feels pretty unburstable, but we found the blades had a tendency to spill out if the case was dropped, while the chuck mechanism was a little fiddly.

Overall, though, it’s a good air hammer that’s reasonably priced, and certainly a handy thing to have around the workshop for those tough jobs that hand tools and penetrating oil aren’t tough enough to deal with.

Aircat 5100-A-T Composite Air Hammer Rating: HHHHH Where from: omnipart.eurocarparts.com

Euro Car Parts is the UK’s No. 1 supplier of car parts. Go online to omnipart.eurocarparts.com WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 31

FOCUS ON

SHELL & GEELY

END OF A JOURNEY BUT GREAT SHELL & GEELY

W: bit.ly/Shell-contact

SHELL and Geely Automobiles have signed a partnership sealing the two firms’ collaboration in developing future technologies.

The motor oil firm has worked with the Chinese car company for 11 years, developing lubricants to work with its vehicles. The official partnership solidifies their ability to work closely together for many years to come as the industry is faced with more stringent emission regulations and changes to technology.

The day of the agreement also marked the end of ‘Challenge 100 Degrees – Geely Goes Global’, powered by Shell. This saw a fleet of Geely Boyue SUVs, using Shell Helix Ultra oil, drive from Xi in China to Goodwood, stopping at key locations across Europe for the two companies.

Huibert Vigeveno, executive vice-president of Global Commercial at Royal Dutch Shell, said: ‘Today is a special day.

It’s the end of a journey but it also marks the partnership of two great brands. Today we celebrate what brings these brands together. This trip marks the culmination of an 11year partnership between Shell and Geely. Since 2006, our partnership has grown to become increasingly significant. It’s a mutually beneficial international relationship.’

He added: ‘This is a demonstration of the value that Shell, as an energy company that has an international footprint with broad and diverse interests and capabilities, can bring as a strategic partner to its customers in the field of energy transition that is rapidly changing the future of mobility.’

An Conghui, president and chief executive of Geely Auto Group, added: ‘I’m very proud to be at this location, with such a great motorsport heritage, and to celebrate the end of a great journey.

‘This is a great opportunity. Geely is the automobile leader in China, but we want to be the world leader.’

While Geely is a relatively unknown name in UK households, with no cars bearing its badge currently on sale in Europe, it’s still a big player globally. Most recently, in January 2018, the company bought a majority stake in Hethel-based Lotus Cars.

The brand also owns Volvo Cars and has been a major driver in the new platforms for the Swedish manufacturer, with many technologies from Geely feeding into the latest

product line-up. A car that’s owned by few but used by many in the UK is the black cab, and Geely also owns LEVC – the London Electric Vehicle Company.

When it comes to new technologies, Geely is also at the forefront of future mobility with its brand Lynk&Co. This car brand focuses on changes to mobility and car sharing.

All of these brands and technologies, also including Proton, all-electric performance brand Polestar, and Geely’s own vehicles sold in Asia, mean there is a huge amount of research and development taking place. For Shell, this opens up a wide range of possibilities.

At the partnership event, representatives from Shell explained that this agreement allows both brands to develop to keep up with even more stringent emissions regulations.

The companies have already been co-developing transmission fluids specifically for hybrid and electric transmissions as part of Geely’s strategy for green energy, as well as other bespoke lubricants that reduce CO2 emissions for both Geely and Volvo cars.

The Chinese Boyue cars arrive at Goodwood

“

This is a great opportunity. Geely is the automobile leader in China, but we want to be the world leader.

AN CONGHUI

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Geely and Shell have signed a‘Strategic Collaboration Agreement’

The Duke of Richmond welcomes Shell and Geely to Goodwood

PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE Who are Geely?

Geely was set up in 1997 in China. Although the name might not mean a lot in the UK, you might recognise a few of its subsidiaries!

Geely Automobiles Geely’s own cars are sold in Asia and Russia, which is why they’re relatively unknown in Europe. The cars are known for their great quality and durability.

Volvo Volvo was purchased by Geely from Ford in 2010. It has been a large driving force in the new generation of Volvos that have been made on the latest platform.

Lotus At the beginning of this year, Geely bought a controlling stake in Lotus Cars and Proton. Although Proton won’t be

sold in this country, Lotus now has a new CEO from the Chinese company.

Lynk&Co Lynk&Co is a new brand created by Geely to explore future mobility. The company launched with the 01 – a car that was shareable, autonomous and electric.

London Electric Vehicle Company This company produces a car we’re already seeing on the streets of London – but you’ll have to listen carefully to spot it! The LEVC produces an all-electric black cab that’s just begun deliveries.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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ACADEMY

of Automotive Skills

34 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

FOCUS ON

AUTOLOGIC

GROUNDBREAKING BMW G & I SERIES UPDATE FOR AUTOLOGIC! AUTOLOGIC

T: 01865 870060 W: AUTOLOGIC.COM

AUTOLOGIC’S module replacement, programming and configuration software provides independent workshops with the ability to program individual control units, making this a key tool for any workshop.

Autologic has always been ahead of the game when it comes to BMW diagnostics and a new software update has been released for the G & I Series platform vehicles, allowing diagnostic and programming functionality.

This update was released on both Blue Box and AssistPlus Pro on June 13.

Following a recent update to add 17 new models of the F-series BMW and Mini models, we are pleased to announce that we have released G & I Series to our module replacement, programming and configuration software. This major enhancement will provide customers with additional functionality all the way through to 2018 vehicles.

The update enables the flexibility for i3 and i8 models to program and code all body modules, plus the electrical

machine electronics, convenience charging electronics and the battery management electronics. G1x and G3x now have the full coverage of module replacement, programming and configuration on all control units, providing Autologic customers with a greater ability to maintain and repair these vehicles.

Autologic’s BMW engineering lead, Andrew Taylor, said: ‘We have enabled selective programming for our customers, so they can choose to program or code a single control module rather than having to update the entire vehicle, saving valuable workshop time. To date, Autologic has supported more than 150,000 cars with programming and coding functionality, and additional updates to further enhance

the BMW software coding and programming capability are continuously being developed.’ · Visit autologic.com or call 01865 870060 for more information.

Monday, December 10, 2018 at The Brewery, London The Workshop Magazine Awards are the gold standard for service and repair professionals and business owners alike.

They give you the chance to demonstrate exactly why you are the best at what you do!

Previous winners include Redgate Lodge, Cedar Garage, Russell Automotive Centre, S & J Garage and Whittles Garage To get involved, call 023 9252 2434 and ask to speak to one of the events team WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 35

FEATURE.

LIGHTING

HELLA EQUIPS A7 SPORTBACK WITH INTELLIGENT LIGHTING FUNCTIONS

Glare-free high-beam capability will allow oncoming road users to be ‘eclipsed’ from the light so they won’t be dangerously dazzled TOGETHER with the vehicle manufacturer Audi, Hella has developed a striking lighting technology for the new Audi A7 Sportback, the headlamps for which are available as LED, Matrix LED and HD Matrix LED with laser high-beam variants. The system uses a new control unit, which takes care of all of the lighting functions, and in addition Audi and Hella have also developed a new interior lighting concept.

Hella’s lighting technology, which is already successfully serving the Audi A8, will also provide the new Audi A7 with optimal road vision, and its glare-free high-beam function will, for example, allow other road users to be ‘eclipsed’ from the light beam, thus avoiding glare. Reliable communication between the front camera, sensors and headlamps is naturally a prerequisite for the HD Matrix LED with laser high beam, so the Hella control unit required for this task controls the headlamps and takes care of all lighting functions, from low to high beams to wiping direction indicators and animations for welcoming and seeing off the driver, meaning only this single control unit is necessary.

Future-orientated control unit enables individual configurations In the Audi A7, eight control unit channels are used for the LED headlamp variants, which means that all 32 light-emitting diodes of the HD Matrix LED module can be controlled individually. In addition, it emphasises the vehicle’s daylight signature that consists of 12 light segments separated by narrow gaps. As soon as the driver unlocks the doors, the headlamps display a light choreography.

The control unit meets the latest standards in functional safety, automatically taking into account headlamp levelling for optimally adjusting the headlamp, for example, thus avoiding glaring other road users. It is also equipped with a ‘fail-safe’ mode, which ensures that sufficient light remains on the road for the driver in the event of an error.

36 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Bringing clarity to lighting with three simple steps WHEN it comes to aftermarket lighting, misconceptions regarding terminology and replacement still remain within the trade, which naturally gives motorists mixed messages and can sow seeds of doubt in their minds.

In order to help tackle the issues, Elta Automotive Ltd, the company behind the newly launched VisionPRO brand of vehicle vision products, has issued the following information.

Upgrade bulbs One of the distinguishing features of the modern vehicle is the white light emitted from their headlights.

Upgrade bulbs provide workshops with a legitimate opportunity to offer their customers an attractive option to modernise the look of their cars, while also improving real-world visibility for the driver.

Where the confusion can arise is with the assumption that upgrade bulbs, such as the VisionPRO50, 150, Blue and Blue+, are 50 per cent or 150 per cent ‘brighter’. In fact, to conform with the necessary E-mark specification for road use – which these bulbs naturally do – their brightness must be within plus or minus 10 per cent of the original equipment bulb.

However, where these upgrade bulbs really benefit

driver visibility is with the amount – plus 50 or 150 per cent – and spread of light they provide on the road up to 75 metres in front of the vehicle.

This extra light, rather than extra brightness, means they can see obstacles sooner and road signs more clearly, making night driving safer.

HID Due to the enormous voltage required to ignite a HID bulb, some workshops steer away from replacing them and refer their customers to the dealer, which is not only costly but completely unnecessary.

As long as the correct protocol is followed, the replacement is no more complicated – or hazardous – than a halogen bulb replacement. In fact, as stated in the Elta TechAssist bulletin, it’s as easy as one, two, three. First, turn off the ignition and remove the key; second, switch off the lights; and third, remove the lighting fuse/fuses to isolate the HID circuit. By following these three steps and replacing both headlight bulbs at the same time, technicians can undertake the work in complete confidence.

For more information concerning VisionPRO or VXPRO, or any of the other brands within the Elta Automotive product range, please call 01675 466999, email sales@ elta.co.uk or visit www.elta.co.uk

FOCUS ON

EURO CAR PARTS

TESTING TIMES FOR LIGHTING – SO QUALITY IS GUARANTEED EURO CAR PARTS

T: 020 3474 0500 W: OMNIPART.EUROCARPARTS.COM

EURO CAR PARTS’ Platinum Plus range was the first in the UK to cover body panels and bumpers under one brand – a genuine alternative to repairers that demand OE quality. In 2014, a comprehensive lighting range was added, and since then the brand has gone from strength to strength, attracting a growing list of big-name automotive and insurance partners.

Aftermarket lights with independent certification have become increasingly popular in the market. To demonstrate that each light from the Platinum Plus range offers matching or improved OEM quality, Euro Car Parts/LKQ Coatings has worked in conjunction with Thatcham to develop the most intensive independent tests in the industry. Each part in the range passes this test before it can be labelled as independently certified.

Some brands claim to have certified lighting but what they actually have is lighting with a TUV Tested label, which is only for the E-Mark (ECE).

This standard will only certify that the photometric performance alone is the same as the OEM part, rather than its complete function and quality.

The Platinum Plus range is different. For each product, the manufacturing facility and the materials used are independently inspected. Then a certified inspector verifies that quality controls are in place at factory and distribution level. Following this, an intensive certification process compares the fit, form, function, photometric performance and material of the aftermarket part with the OEM equivalent.

A trained assessment team then looks how the product performs. When it comes to lighting, a photometric measurement is also taken to ensure that each part has the same light-emitting capabilities as the OEM equivalent.

Finally, each part is measured to make sure it is within the same tolerances as the OEM part, ensuring that fitment time remains the same. If a light passes each of these assessments, it is then clearly labelled with an independently certified mark, both on the light and the box.

Independently certified assessments are undertaken by respected organisations, including TÜV Rheinland, TÜV SUD, Centro Zaragoza (CZ), Thatcham and the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) and NSF International. Importantly for insurers and repairers, the entire Platinum Plus range is British Standard BS 10125-compliant and a Matching Quality certificate is available for any part in the range on request.

lighting, Euro Car Parts/LKQ Coatings is advising repairers to look carefully at what certification covers. For instance, every light with an E-Mark certification will have undergone photometrics testing but it does not necessarily mean that the material, function and fit have also been tested.

The Platinum Plus lighting range is constantly being added

to, and currently covers the UK’s fastest-moving models. Euro Car Parts/LKQ Coatings is so confident about the quality and performance of each of these parts that it offers a lifetime warranty on the entire Platinum Plus range.

For more information about the Platinum Plus lighting range contact your local Euro Car Parts branch.

Independent certification Although other companies may claim that they have certified

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 37

FEATURE.

WINDSCREEN WIPERS

DRIVING VISION – WIPERS THAT REALLY DELIVER VisionPRO range meets the performance, reliability and durability demands of the motorist, as well as the trade’s application coverage and availability requirements.

ALTHOUGH maybe not thought of as being at the forefront when it comes to evolutionary vehicle technology, along with lighting the humble wiper blade is in fact one of the most crucial safety elements in terms of the motorist.

Being able to see clearly in adverse weather conditions is a major contribution to road safety, and with its VisionPRO wiper blade programme, Elta Automotive Ltd provides the complete replacement solution for both factor and workshop.

As part of the company’s VisionPRO – driving vision orientated – portfolio, the wiper range naturally encompasses conventional, flat and hybrid blades and therefore addresses the need from the trade to be able to offer customers both a direct replacement or upgrade option.

However, it also includes a comprehensive range of rear blades, which can often be the missing link in many wiper blade programmes.

Designed and engineered to deliver exceptional performance in all weather conditions, the VisionPRO wiper range delivers the performance, reliability and durability demands of the motorist, as well as the application coverage and availability requirements of the trade.

In more detail, the conventional blades encompass

standard, spoiler and wash-kit options, and feature a wiping edge with a high natural rubber content, combined with a synthetic additive to ensure long-lasting performance.

When it comes to its flat blades, which are engineered to a low-profile design and incorporate an aerodynamic spoiler to aid downforce, the wiping edge uses a premium-quality graphite-coated rubber to ensure smooth and quiet operation.

The hybrid range, however, combines the aerodynamic reduced lift benefits of a flat blade with the even-load distribution wiping efficiency of a conventional blade.

With range and coverage in mind, Elta’s VisionPRO flat blades feature the innovative +FIT adaptor system, which on the one hand provides maximum compatibility from a relatively short range of part numbers, while on the other makes the fitting process fast and straightforward.

However, online fitting instructions are also available by simply scanning the useful QR code on the high-quality and visually powerful product packaging.

As Elta is a certified data provider to AutoCat+, Aldoc and TecAlliance (TecDoc), users of these systems will find accurate and up-to-date application information 24/7 wherever they are, giving further reassurance and added-value benefits.

Packaging redesign means more wiper blades can be displayed TRICO is delighted to announce that it has redesigned the packaging of its Force, Flex, Neoform and Ice ranges.

Brought about in response to customer feedback, the revamp has resulted in shallower packaging that enables garages, factors or retailers to increase the number of wiper blades that can be hung on a display unit.

Trico has also redesigned the artwork for these ranges which, with their logos and branding now aligned across all packages, gives them a coherent and uniform appearance.

The artwork also features new product images and key technical points, as well as a QR code linking directly to the Trico website catalogue, which is also mobile-enabled,

38 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

for easy vehicle look-up. Trico product and brand manager Sam Robinson said: ‘We have redesigned our popular clamshell-type packaging as a direct response to customer feedback.

‘We are well aware that space can be limited in some garages, motor factors and retail stores – therefore, the new shallower style enables our customers to stock more products. There are no changes to the product inside – all barcode and part number information, as well as outer carton quantities, will remain unchanged.’

The new packaging will be introduced as a running change, with Flex estimated to be during July, Force following in August, along with Neoform and finally Ice for September.

From left: Peter Forey, Ian Beckett, Christine Williams, Brian Fernquest, Ian O’Neill, Phil Evans and Nigel Bevan

Trico celebrates 25 years of service with seven employees SIX employees at Trico HQ in Pontypool were presented with engraved watches and a seventh with a Dartington crystal clock by managing director Adam Richards for their 25 years of service.

Adam gave a short speech thanking them for all their hard work over the years.

Phil Evans, from Cardiff, began his Trico career in customer services before being promoted to applications engineer in 1995.

Nigel Bevan, from Nantyglo, joined as quality engineer, then advance product quality planning engineer, before being promoted to senior quality engineer.

Peter Forey, from Aberdare, started off in the warehouse working in goods inwards, before working as production planner in the arm sections of the blades and now, for the past 11 years, he has been supervisor of the packaging department.

Christine Williams, from Blaenavon, who received the engraved crystal clock, worked in the customer services department for 11 years before moving to the finance department as the account purchase ledger.

Ian O’Neill, from Milton Keynes, has worked for the OE side of Trico for the past 17 years as OE director. He previously worked as an engineer before progressing to senior product design engineer then moving over to sales.

Ian Beckett, from Abertillery, has worked in the warehouse for 25 years, starting off as warehouse operator in goods inwards and for the past 10 years has been the warehouse supervisor.

Brian Fernquest, from High Cross, has been a warehouse operator for 25 years. As well as working in goods inwards and dispatch, he also carries out quality checks and invoicing.

Adam concluded: ‘Congratulations to all my seven colleagues on achieving this anniversary with us! We know they have worked hard for this accomplishment and we truly appreciate their dedication.’

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 39

OUR FLEET.

1966 Ford Thunderbird ‘Flair Bird’ No MOT worries for Rebecca – but the DVLA might want to give her car the once-over to allow it to be driven on UK roads

A

lthough nothing has really changed in Thunderbird world apart from some fettling (sunbathing) since the weather has warmed up, I feel like we’re getting somewhere all of a sudden.

Why is that? Well, since May 20 passed, you’ll have noticed that cars as old as mine don’t need an MOT any more.

Actually, cars as old as my Thunderbird didn’t need an MOT anyway – but I thought it would for its first registration in the UK. I don’t think I’m being daft by making that assumption. If my car was 20 years old, it would need an MOT to be registered in this country, but because it’s aged 52, that seems to make it safe.

A friend of mine who imports cars has recently registered a car of his – one that’s more than 40 years old – by sending off a few pictures to the DVLA. However, the fact that my Thunderbird came from America rather than continental Europe could mean it needs an inspection.

From the sounds of it, they’ll come to me to check it over and deliver their verdict, though.

Suzuki Swift Sport Taylor features in a new video with Ryan as cameraman and presenter...

Model: 1966 Ford Thunderbird ‘Flair Bird’ Owned by: Rebecca Chaplin Engine: 6.4-litre V8 390 Bought for: £4,250 Mileage: 24,048 Money spent this month: £0 Highlight of the month: The prospect of a small financial fillip as I continue my quest to get the car back on the road.

Not having to splash out on an MOT means there’ll be a bit more cash in the parts coffers to get my T-Bird into the best condition possible.

I have a new lightbulb on order and you never know, next month you could be biting your fingernails with me as I wait nervously for a decision from the DVLA. The next few weeks could be nerve-racking...

THIS month has seen the first ‘kind of’ upgrade done to Taylor — aside from the addition of an eBay-bought window sticker with the kanji symbols for Suzuki.

I say ‘kind of’ because I’m not exactly talking about a stage 3 turbocharger kit here.

An air filter was needed for a video feature we were working on at Workshop HQ — and it seemed like a prime opportunity to give my Swift a modest upgrade.

A quick phone call to K&N saw the arrival of a high-flow panel filter about a week later, granting me the ability to add maybe one or two extra brakehorses to Taylor.

OUR WHEELS...

WE LOVE CARS AT WORKSHOP AND HERE’S THE PROOF. WE’VE WRITTEN ABOUT THEM AND EVERYTHING...

40 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

VW TYPE 3 FASTBACK

FORD FIESTA XR2

SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT

FORD THUNDERBIRD

by Rebecca Chaplin Head of editorial, @believebecca

by James Baggott Chief executive, @CarDealerEd

by Ryan Hirons Staff writer, @RyHirons

by Rebecca Chaplin Head of editorial, @believebecca

The Type 3 is suffering from the summertime blues as Rebecca lavishes most of her attention on her T-Bird (see right and above).

The paintwork is holding up incredibly well after Ted’s detail, James is pleased to report. It’s just a little bit dusty now.

Taylor has been treated to a new air filter courtesy of K&N (see above).

The paper filter it replaced looked worryingly dirty, mind . . .

The T-Bird will be primped and primed soon for a possible inspection by DVLA officials in the coming weeks (see above).

MG Metro Turbo Christian is on a bit of a deadline with the next MOT on his car just weeks away – so a few preparations are in order

A

house that is even more needy than the Metro means righting at least some of D821 ACJ’s wrongs has taken a back seat of late, but there’s been a little bit of progress. Of sorts.

A chat with the garage that replaced the head gasket was reassuringly positive and they’re happy to guarantee the work should it have blown again. When I previously brought it home, plenty of white smoke sent alarm bells ringing, but before calling in the professionals I thought I’d give the Metro a chance to redeem itself.

Surprisingly, getting it started after two months proved painless and, with the outside temperature at a balmy 27 degrees, I somewhat cruelly left it idling to see what would happen.

After a few minutes, the temperature needle was on the climb, but there was no smoke other than that which indicated it was probably running a bit rich. Even with the temperature needle going well beyond halfway, there was no sign of the expected white cloud and, just as I nearly bottled it by cutting the increasingly hot engine, the fan kicked in to limit my tally of murdered MG Metro Turbo motors to one embarrassing oily mess in 1998.

So with the head gasket seemingly in better health than first thought, I rolled out the homebrewed, grease-gun-style hydragas pump to literally give the rear suspension a lift.

That was the plan, but although I’d had good results with it before, this time it wasn’t playing ball and the Metro’s deflated rear end refused to rise. I’m leaning towards the pump being the

issue, but it’s another thing the garage can check.

Unfortunately, that’s going to be sooner rather than later, thanks to an MOT that can be measured in weeks away rather than months. I can’t say I’m optimistic about a pass either, the test not only being stricter than ever, but at the very least I know the windscreen washers are kaput. Which wouldn’t be so annoying if it wasn’t one of the things the Metro failed on last year...

Model: 1986 MG Metro Turbo Owned by: Christian Tilbury Engine: 1.3-litre, four-cylinder Bought for: £680 Mileage: 67,996 Spent this month: £0 Highlight of the month: Discovering the head gasket might still be in one piece.

Now, changing an air filter on a regular car is a fairly simple task — pop the bonnet, open up the airbox and swap it out. That wasn’t the case here, however, and I wish I’d researched it a bit before committing to the cause rather than using the power of assumption.

Having negotiated the plastic engine cover, I found the airbox, only to discover it was wedged in pretty tight at the back of the bay with very little room to manoeuvre out the paper filter.

Had this been any normal filter change, I’d have been a little irritated — and with cameras rolling, it soon became a pretty stressful affair.

Eventually, with the power of sheer force and

a second pair of hands — followed by some clever editing for the footage — the Swift’s paper filter was free, and I can’t say I was prepared for how filthy it proved to be.

I was under the impression that the filter was changed with each service, but it looked like this particular unit had been put in dirty when the car was new and still hadn’t been changed in its eight-year lifespan. Concerning, to say the least.

But that didn’t matter right now, with the small task of putting the new, cotton-based filter in its place. This proved a little easier — partly thanks to the thinner design of the new component — but still required a bit of force.

Eventually, it was all in place, filming was done, and Taylor was breathing better than ever before — I swear that the 1.6-litre VVT is sounding a bit throatier, too.

Lesson learnt: Find a YouTube tutorial before committing to a mechanical job next time.

SUBARU LEGACY GT-B

BMW 330d TOURING

MG METRO TURBO

Model: Suzuki Swift Sport Owned by: Ryan Hirons Engine: 1.6-litre petrol Bought for: £3,995 Mileage: 33,056 Money spent this month: £0 (Thanks to K&N) Highlight of the month: A breath of fresh air for the Swift.

PEUGEOT 605 2.0 SLI

PEUGEOT 205 GTi

by Jon Reay Multimedia manager, @JonReay

by Jack Evans Features editor, @jackrober

by Christian Tilbury Staff writer, @Christilbury1

by Tom Wiltshire Staff writer, @mctreckmeister

by James Baggott Chief executive, @CarDealerEd

Floppy wing mirror syndrome came back this month, which meant Jon had to spend two hours taking it all apart for the second time...

Belfort has spent another month basking in the sunshine of the work car park. Jack wishes he had been outside a bit more too...

The Metro’s engine might not be as sick as first thought, but now Christian’s got an upcoming MOT to worry about (see above).

A brief fiddle under the bonnet seems to have diagnosed the cause of the sticky clutch afflicting Tom’s car. Thankfully, it’s an easy fix.

She starts! After the 205 had been sat for a little bit too long, James popped in to the lock-up to see her and fire her up. End of report.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 41

OUR KEV.

OUR MAN ON THE INSIDE HAS HIS SAY ON THE GARAGE BUSINESS...

We managed to get a handle on a pretty tricky situation W e’ve all had our moments where a simple job has turned into something far more difficult than it should have been. My latest involved a Honda Civic and a sticky door handle.

The car came in for its MOT and failed on one thing only – the driver’s door couldn’t be opened from outside or inside the car.

This struck me as a little unusual – it’s not uncommon to find such a fault on Civics of that particular vintage (it was a 1999 model year), but usually it’s one linkage or the other that breaks, meaning you can at least still get the door open in order to get at the handle’s innards.

However, on discussion with the owner, I soon discovered that the problem this time around was partly down to negligence – the interior door handle had packed up months ago and he’d been getting in and out of the car by rolling the window down and opening the door with the external handle.

Then, one day, that had packed up too and the door was jammed shut.

The job wasn’t too much of a disaster, though, as by carefully levering the external handle off the door, I was able to reach in with some pliers just far enough to reach the linkage and pop the door open.

A few phone calls later and I’d found a complete secondhand door handle from a local breaker, so I dispatched our apprentice, Joe, off to collect it and set about taking the old linkage out myself – if Joe got back before late afternoon, I was hopeful we’d have the Civic mended and back with its owner in time for close of business.

I’d removed all the linkage rods, leaving just the latch tumbler in place, and decided that now was as good a time as any to make myself a cup of tea, so I offered to put a brew on for the lads. Kettle suitably boiled, I called them over for a tea break only for Dave, one of my best and most trusted mechanics, to emerge from a van he was working on behind the Civic.

He couldn’t squeeze past the Honda’s open door though as he’s quite a big lad, and I only got as far as ‘DON’T CLOSE THE BLOODY D….’ before I heard the latch gently click into place. We all looked at each other in stony silence.

What had been a simple fix had now become something of a challenge, as although I’d got the interior door card off, I’d removed all of the rods and levers with which to turn the latch back into the open position.

We tried all manner of approaches – picking

at the latch gently with a lock-picking set, wiggling a screwdriver down into the mechanism and even trying to shock it open with a piece of wood and a rubber mallet, but the door was holding fast and tight. This was a car built in the early days of anti-burst door locks, and it looked like Honda’s engineers had taken their brief very seriously.

Short of any further options, other than smashing the entire latch to pieces with a big drill (known in the garage as ‘Daddy’s Little Helper’), we went for the roundabout route of removing the (luckily) bolt-on front wing and then unscrewing all the door hinges from the A-pillar.

When the owner came to get his car at 6pm I had to come clean, and I lent him the works van to go home in, along with a reassurance that I would only be charging him an hour’s labour for the job, as it was our fault that it had taken much longer.

We were there until 8pm that night. With the wing off, we removed the door and supported it on a trolley jack, with Dave holding it as far out of the way as he could while I got into the latch mechanism itself with an L-shaped screwdriver. I then had to cut through the latch with bolt cutters, but luckily we had a replacement door latch handy – Joe drives a Civic, so we had to commandeer the apprentice’s car as a donor vehicle to finish the job and send him back to the scrapyard the following day for the parts to mend his own vehicle.

We got the job done of course, and it all worked perfectly once we’d finally got it all back together, but the only person going home with a smile on his face that evening was Joe the apprentice. With his car off the road minus a door latch and the works van on loan to the customer, the only option I had was to chuck him the keys to my classic Jaguar to get himself back to his girlfriend.

And after a day like that, a sleepless night worrying about the Jaguar was the last thing I needed!

WHO IS OUR KEV? If we told you, we’d have to kill you... What we can say is he’s been around for longer than he cares to remember so certainly knows his stuff...

42 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

”

I’d removed all the linkage rods, leaving just the latch tumbler in place, and decided that now was as good a time as any to make myself a cup of tea...

SUPPLIERS GUIDE.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WORKSHOP SUPPLIER, YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS OF SELECTED COMPANIES HERE AA Certified Programme

Aftersales Software

AA Certified Garage Network

eDynamix

WORKSHOP Magazine is proud to publish the contact details of some of the key suppliers of products and services to the automotive repair industry – from components and parts providers to companies specialising in garage equipment, web design, online solutions and even legal advice for when a transaction goes sour. Keep an eye on this space each month as we include more and more leading suppliers.

W: garageguide.theaa.com/workshopmag T: 0808 278 6607 E: sales@garageguide.theaa.com Info: Join our 500 garages already benefiting from our Certified Programme through an enhanced listing on the Garage Guide, referrals from our Patrols and BRC work.

Join us in this unique opportunity to be inspected to our standards and use AA branding, highlighting to motorists your commitment to deliver excellent customer service.

Approved Schemes

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Legal & Compliance

Parts Suppliers

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Lawgistics

Blue Print

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Febi Bilstein

Progress Recruitment Solutions

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An indispensable resource

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Approved Dealer

W: rac.co.uk/getapproved T: 0330 159 1111 E: dealernetwork@rac.co.uk Info: Join over 300 used car and van dealers across the UK who enjoy a higher profile, larger footprint, more leads and increased profitability by becoming an RAC Approved Dealer.

We set high standards of the kind expected from the RAC brand to create an excellent experience for customers and unrivalled benefits for dealers.

W: gemco.co.uk T: 01604 828500 E: sales@gemco.co.uk Info: GEMCO is the UK market leader and your one-stop shop for the supply, delivery, installation, training, calibration and maintenance of garage equipment. With the largest comprehensive range of equipment brands available for both car and commercial vehicle workshops, GEMCO provides top-quality garage equipment products and services to car and commercial vehicle workshops.

W: dragon2000.co.uk T: 01327 222 333 E: sales@dragon2000.co.uk Info: Dragon2000 supplies garages and car dealers with a multiaward winning Dealer Management System, time and efficiency monitoring and integrated websites for online service bookings.

Includes free APPraise mobile app for all users – for sending personalised VHC images & videos to customers’ phones to help increase upsold work and customer trust.

W: febi.com T: 01977 691100 E: enquiries@febiuk.co.uk Info: As part of the Bilstein Group, Febi Bilstein supplies a range of more than 25,000 different articles for all popular European vehicle models. From steering and suspension to rubber, metal and electrical, Febi Bilstein provides OE-matching quality components with first-time fitment and long service life. For quality, choose Febi Bilstein.

W: nebulasystems.com T: 01280 816333 E: sales@nebulasystems.com Info: Nebula Systems specialises in the development of advanced technologies for the automotive and future mobility industries. We make vehicle data and systems more accessible so that a vehicle’s health, status and utilisation can be monitored, analysed, diagnosed and maintained, faster and more effectively, anytime and anywhere.

W: pro-align.co.uk T: 01327 323007 E: enquiries@pro-align.co.uk Info: Dedicated wheel alignment specialists, supplying, supporting and servicing the world-leading Hunter brand nationwide: Hunter aligners – Fast, accurate, reliable, unlocking business opportunities, delivering major income stream and rapid ROI Road Force balancer – A new service very few workshops deliver Tyre changers – Easy service perfection

W: lawgistics.co.uk T: 01480 445500 E: sales@lawgistics.co.uk Info: The motor trade’s leading legal firm, giving help and advice to our members and the industry in general. Passionate about fairness under the law. Our legal team are there to protect your interests. Not anti consumer, just pro trader. Don’t miss our advice, which is published every month in Workshop Magazine. See pages 26 and 27 for The Judge’s contribution to this month’s issue.

W: progressrecruitment.co.uk T: 01603 717187 E: info@progressrecruitment.co.uk Info: Progress Recruitment Solutions provide specialist recruitment services for all automotive roles across the UK. Their experienced team will work with you to find the right candidate and offer a bespoke service tailored to meet the individual requirements of your business.

W: edynamix.com T: 0845 413 0000 E: enquiries@edynamix.com Info: eDynamix offers web-based applications providing a connected and simple-to-use platform in which dealers can manage a customer throughout the service lifecycle, including service plans, electronic vehicle health check, repair and finance plans, proactive follow-up, online bookings, MOT cleanse, VIDEO1st, aftersales surveys, and automated confirmations and reminders.

W: buttsequipment.com T: 01302 710868 E: info@buttsequipment.com Info: Butts of Bawtry is literally a ONE STOP SHOP for the garage or workshop. Offering a comprehensive range of Quality Garage Equipment from leading manufacturers, backed up by our team of trained and certified service and repair engineers. From a trolley jack to a complete workshop installation, Butts have the answer.

W: straightset.co.uk T: 01909 480055 E: info@straightset.co.uk Info: Straightset is the UK’s leading independent garage equipment company, providing best-in-class design, supply, installation and service of car and commercial workshops for 30 years. We carry a vast range of quality equipment carefully sourced from top manufacturers within the EU and US and offer one of the most comprehensive aftersales services in the market.

W: blue-print.co.uk T: 01622 833007 E: adl-blueprint.bpic@bilsteingroup.com Info: As part of the Bilstein Group, Blue Print supplies OEmatching quality vehicle components, with strong Asian and American coverage. With more than 23,000 different parts in its range, from braking and clutch components to filtration, Blue Print covers a huge portion of the vehicle parc. Want to get it right first time? Think Blue Print.

W: IndependentGarageAssociation.co.uk T: 0845 305 4230 E: enquiries@rmif.co.uk Info: The Independent Garage Association is the largest and most prominent representative body in the independent garage sector. We are the voice of the industry in matters arising in UK and EU Government, and we help independent garages to thrive in all aspects of their business by offering advice, information and services.

TO HAVE YOUR DETAILS INCLUDED HERE CALL 023 9252 2434 AND ASK FOR WORKSHOP SUPPLIERS GUIDE LISTINGS WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 43

FINANCE PLAN Provide customers the opportunity to spread the cost of red work concerns identified through iVHC over 6 or 12 months, with no deposit, while having the repair fixed on the day.

ACTIVE DIGITAL RECEPTION (ADR) Capture key information at service check-in such as service book and locking nut key locations, damage recording (including image evidence capture) and more. Allow service advisors to rebook red & amber work at check-out.

DATA REPORTING Full, data rich reporting helps fully analyse performance by dealership, advisor and technician.

ONLINE BOOKINGS Provide convenience to customers by allowing them to book VHC work now due directly through the Online Bookings platform.

INJECTION OF PREVIOUS CONCERNS Inject previously unsold red or amber work concerns automatically into the new health check as a mandatory inspection.