Workshop Magazine Issue 20

WORKSHOP AWARDS: GET IN THE RUNNING FOR A GONG – AND CELEBRATE WITH US!

ISSUE 20 | MAY 2017

£2.50 | WORKSHOPMAGAZINE.CO.UK

CATERHAM SPECIAL

SEVEN UP We go behind the scenes at the manufacturer making sports cars in a time-honoured fashion INVESTIGATION NEW PRODUCTS

Four pages of great innovations to make life easier

Dodgy data that could jeopardise your business

INTERVIEW

Mopar chief on Fiat Chrysler’s best-kept secret

6-8 June 2017 NEC Birmingham

The UK‘s leading exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and supply chain

250 EXHIBITORS NEW FOR 2017

See over 800 quality exhibitors.

Network with new and existing suppliers at the event which will be 70% bigger than 2016, including exhibitors from the UK and abroad.

Choose from aftermarket seminars delivered by industry leaders from Frost & Sullivan, the IAAF, the IMI and the NTDA. Topics will cover industry trends, advanced IT and connectivity, business management, skills training and future drives.

Experience our new Workshop Training Zone, hosting talks and live demonstrations from the likes of Frank Massey, James Dillon and Andy Crook covering new technologies in diagnostics and connectivity, battery technology, diesel engines, ADAS, tyres, and hybrid and electric vehicles.

Find out more at www.automechanika-birmingham.com

Product categories include: »

Parts & Components

»

Garage Equipment & Tools

»

Consumables

»

Accessories

»

Wheels & Tyres

USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER FREE NOW AT REG.BUZZ/APRIL11 02 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Automechanika Birmingham has been licensed to Forest Exhibitions Ltd by Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH

In association with

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

EDITORIAL HEAD OF NEWS & FEATURES REBECCA CHAPLIN rebecca@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @believebecca

CONTENTS. 18

Mopar: An impressive operation looking to raise its profile in Europe

22

PRODUCTION EDITOR DAVE BROWN

dave@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @CarDealerDave

NEWS EDITOR JACK EVANS

Workshop Magazine Awards: Get involved with our great new scheme – you could be a winner!

jack@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @jackrober

STAFF WRITER DARREN CASSEY

darren.cassey@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @DCassey

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT SIMON DAVIS

simon.davis@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @SimonDavisNZ

HEAD OF DESIGN GRAEME WINDELL

graeme@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @graemewindell

42

Our Kev: Rust has returned – even though many of us thought we’d seen the last of it

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER JON HICKEY

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

ACCOUNT MANAGER TOM ADAMS

tom.adams@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @_WorkshopTom

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 John Bowman, Darren Cassey, Ian Gardner, Jon Reay.

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.

30

New products: Four pages of the latest gear for workshops

Welcome

24

Caterham: The famous manufacturer that likes to do things differently

IT’S fair to say that the last edition of Workshop Magazine caused a bit of a stir.

Was it because of snapper Jonny Fleetwood’s stunning photography? The fabulous features we wrote last month? Or perhaps the round-up of the best products of the past year we assembled for inclusion?

All of those deserved their places in the mag, of course, but by far and away the biggest talking point was the launch of the inaugural Workshop Magazine Awards, sponsored by the IGA. We are very excited about the awards here at Workshop Towers – and we want you to get involved.

Details of all the categories that are available for nomination or entry are published on pages 22 & 23 together with the form you’ll need to complete to be in with a chance of picking up a gong.

If you are successful on our awards night later in the year, you can be sure that any trophy or certificate you take home will prove a fantastic marketing tool that will help draw new customers into your business and

encourage existing clients to keep coming back. So don’t delay, enter today. We really do want to hear from as many of you as possible!

Elsewhere in this edition of Workshop Magazine, there’s plenty of great reading material for you to get your teeth into as usual.

My colleague Jack Evans has visited Caterham Cars in Dartford, Kent; I’ve been finding out all about Mopar, often described as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ best-kept secret; and we have another useful helping of advice from our friends at Lawgistics.

A four-page new products special will help get you tooled up for the summer months and Our Kev explains why he thinks rust is making a comeback.

If there’s something you think we should be reporting on or investigating, we’d love to hear from you. In the meantime, enjoy the issue.

Rebecca Chaplin, Head of News and Features WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 03

NEWS.

A CLASSIC REMASTERED THE eagerly awaited Mini Remastered is to make its UK public debut at The London Motor Show in May. The second model to be made by British coachbuilder David Brown Automotive will take pride of place at the event alongside the manufacturer’s debut car, the classically-inspired Speedback GT. The highly exclusive Mini Remastered is based on a classic Mini and is reborn into a city car for modern living, making it ideal for London life.

The car boasts a reconditioned 1,275cc 78bhp/123Nm engine and a four-speed gearbox, whilst the chassis and body panels are brand new and deseamed, boasting perfect shutlines.

404| |WorkShopMagazine.co.uk WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk WorkShopMagazine.co.uk| |05 5

NEWS.

THE GARAGES WHO PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK WITH DODGY DATA INVESTIGATION A fifth of all workshops in the UK are using out-of-date and unfit-for-purpose software that is putting both them and their customers at risk. It’s an alarming situation, but what can be done? REBECCA CHAPLIN reports.

C

ounterfeit technical data might seem like a cheap alternative which will offer all of the same information as the genuine article, but there will be huge gaps in what’s available – and the extensive negative repercussions are often overlooked.

From its work with trading standards, experts at Autodata, the UK’s leading supplier of technical information to the automotive aftermarket, estimate about 20 per cent of garages in the UK are using out-of-date and unfit-for-purpose software that is putting both them and their customers at risk.

Companies such as Autodata provide software with instructions and technical information, equipping any garage with everything they could need to know about a car when it comes into the workshop. However, those fraudulently copying old versions and producing bootleg CDs to sell to garages at bargain-basement prices are doing more harm than good.

James Legate, technical liaison assistant manager at Autodata, explained: ‘Using unlicensed software is an unknown entity.

‘The sellers of this sort of information tend to be criminals, so they’re not what you would call trustworthy. The garages who are paying money for this sort of software are leaving themselves open to unregulated purchases.’

Using software such as this can easily put computers and devices at your garage at risk, but it also means risking damage to customers’ cars – not to mention your own business.

‘Sometimes the discs that people purchase can be ripped off the internet, and the sellers don’t even realise what it is they’re passing on to the

06 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

These CDs are the genuine article – but data is now updated online rather than in disc format garages,’ said Legate. ‘This can include things like viruses and trojans, which on a very basic level can have an effect on productivity in the workshop because these things tend to slow PCs down and cause all sorts of strange problems.

‘In a more serious way, we’ve had instances where the virus which has been installed unwittingly has managed to delete the entire accounting software that a garage had on its PC.’ The work that companies such as Autodata do with manufacturers to keep their products

up-to-date means that the technical data is constantly being revised. That means that anyone loading fake data onto a machine could be using information that’s years out of date and potentially even dangerous.

Legate confirmed: ‘The biggest issue is that the data will be out of date. The newest or most modern software which you can currently buy illegally would be from 2014. It’s three years out of date and there have been 65,000 updates since then, so it’s not a small volume that we’re

talking about here. That can the customer’s more frequently, it was inefficient lead to dangerous things, such warranty.’ to continue to update them. These as tightening torques on wheels, In this case, the days technical data is accessed timing belts and the intervals being customer had to online and updated constantly. incorrect. These can obviously lead foot the bill but ‘The last CDs went out of the to disastrous consequences for mistakes such door a while back, but you still The sellers of this sort We take our relationships the end customer and you need as these can get counterfeiters who will of information tend to with the manufacturers to think about your duty of care result in essentially just change the be criminals, so they’re very seriously and we to them. work being label,’ said Endean. not what you would call keep everything up to ‘Not only that, from a missed and ‘It’s not very sophisticated, business perspective, if a timing garages losing but if you write 2017 on it then trustworthy. date on our systems. belt change is required at a customers. people just assume it’s 2017.

JAMES LEGATE TOM ENDEAN different mileage – for example if it That said, there are ‘If it’s a CD it’s certainly not real. was at 60,000 miles but it’s now being some garages unwittingly buying Even if it was a real CD it would have shown to be changed at 40,000 – that is work unreliable products believing they are genuine. timed out and stopped working, so if any CD is garages could be charging the customer for but Autodata group marketing manager Tom being sold and it’s still working, it’s not genuine.’ they are missing out on.’

Endean added: ‘They believe that they’ve got the He continued: ‘We take our relationships with Legate added: ‘We’ve had a situation where right information and it’s not until something the manufacturers very seriously and we keep a customer went to a garage to get their car goes wrong that they discover that they’re in a everything up to date on our systems. serviced. The customer had a relatively new rather sticky position.’

‘If you’re relying on information that’s out-ofvehicle but the information the garage was using Although it is thought that most garages will date and you cause damage to a vehicle, you are was counterfeit and out of date. be aware if they are using counterfeit technical then liable, because you’re not using trustworthy ‘This was only raised as an issue when the data, if you are unsure, there is a very simple information backed up by what the manufacturer customer called the manufacturer because there way to tell if you’ve been sold a dud. Autodata, suggests. You could cause £4,000-worth of damage was an issue with their car. The manufacturer like others providing software such as this, have to a vehicle because you’re using technical data called up the service history and found a critical moved away from CDs. that’s out of date or just errant or has bugs in it. part of the service had been missed, invalidating That’s because as updates were taking place ‘The buck stops with you, the garage.’

”

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WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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NEWS.

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technical representative understood their business needs.*

Add AC servicing to your list of services with the Koolkare Blizzard Pro Fully automatic tapless model

Koolklean system included as standard

http://diagnostics.snapon.co.uk techsales.uk@snapon.com • (01553) 692422

08 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Clocking on the increase, new figures reveal ‘Several reasons’ why dishonest practice is increasing

T

he number of cars on UK roads showing mileage discrepancies has risen to one in 16, according to new figures from automotive data experts HPI. The figure stood at one in 20 cars in 2014.

The practice of clocking takes place when drivers look to deliberately defraud second-hand car buyers when the vehicle is sold on.

Commenting on the apparent increase in the practice, Barry Shorto, head of industry relations at CAP HPI, said: ‘There are numerous reasons why clocking is on the up: the continued development of technologies to alter digital odometers; increasingly easy access to this technology via the internet; and similarly, the ease of access to mileage-adjustment services online, some of whom will behave legitimately, others less so. The increase in mileage-related finance arrangements such as PCP and PCH may also be a contributing factor.’

HPI, the UK’s leading authority on vehicle checking services, estimates that used car buyers now have a one in 16 chance of purchasing a vehicle with a mileage discrepancy, with the practice costing motorists more than £800m every year. Shorto, pictured, added: ‘The message to clockers is clear – it’s only a matter of time before they are caught and brought to justice. HPI remains committed against clocking as well as raising awareness of the value of its National Mileage Register.’

An HPI Check includes a mileage

check against the National Mileage Register as standard, now with more than 200 million mileage readings.

HPI also confirms whether a vehicle is recorded as stolen with the police, has outstanding finance or safety recalls against it, or has been written-off, making it the best way for consumers to protect themselves from criminals looking to make a fast, but fraudulent, profit.

Shorto added: ‘Our valuation data conclusively shows the potential cost to dealers and motorists of the clocking problem.

‘With clockers able to add thousands of pounds onto the value of a car, unsuspecting buyers stand to lose out, as do dealers.

‘That’s why we advise retailers and consumers alike to conduct a vehicle history check to spot a mileage discrepancy before they buy.

‘It can be almost impossible to tell a clocked vehicle just by looking at it, which makes a vehicle history check an even more vital form of protection for buyers. A clocked vehicle could be hiding serious levels of wear and tear, especially if it has been previously used as a high-mileage private-hire vehicle.’

Register (NMR) checks and investigations have grown by over a third in the last five years.

Barry Shorto concluded: ‘Not only should dealers make conducting mileage investigations an integral part of their business process, they need actively to promote the fact to their customers that these checks have been done.’

NEW PRODUCTS SPECIAL: PAGES 30-33

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

LEEDS:

AutoRaise – the vehicle repair industry charity – was delighted with the overwhelming success of the third Industry Showcase event, organised

by Alton Cars. The Leeds bodyshop offered a warm welcome to more than 400 visitors on the day and received 137 applications for apprenticeships.

AutoRaise is committed to tackling the skills shortage in the vehicle repair industry and works to present it as a genuine career option for young people.

| TESTING |

BVRLA urges change to MOTs for some vans DUNDEE:

A recently-opened compound for fire engines was targeted by thieves after aerial drone footage of the premises was posted online. The culprits struck twice, firstly on March 26 and again on April 3. Items stolen in the first break-in included generators, saws and power drills, while vehicle batteries were grabbed the second time. The workshop at the premises is fitted with seven inspection pits, a parts store and three hydraulic lifts.

THE British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association is urging the government to bring forward the date of the first MOT for some vans from three years to one year after registration.

In its detailed response to the Department for Transport’s consultation on the future of the MOT, the trade body supported the government’s plan to extend the period for the first MOT for new cars from three to four years but opposed the same extension for class 7 vans (weighing 3,000 to 3,500kg). The BVRLA recommended that the date of the first MOT test for these large vans should be cut to one year after first registration, to address any potential safety considerations.

| TRICO |

New addition to wiper blade range TRICO, a world leader in wiper blade technology, has announced a new addition to its latest wiper blade range extensions.

The new range will include four blade lengths all featuring the brand new 19mm Push Button FZ connection system.

Part of the complete Trico Exact Fit range, the new FZ connection is unique to applications such as the Lexus NX 2014 onwards, Toyota Mirai 2015 onwards, Toyota Prius 2016 onwards and Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport 2017 onwards.

WALSALL:

More than 100 new MercedesBenz Sprinters have been bought to be converted into protected personnel carriers for police forces across the country. Specialist vehicle converter MacNeillie, based in Walsall, will take apart and rebuild the long-bodied, high-roof Sprinters to create secure and durable publicorder vehicles. The project involves more than 30 police forces and agencies, which have bought the vans for an unspecified figure.

SOMERSET:

A tyre business in North Somerset has gained new owners.

Coombe Garage Tyres, Nailsea, has been acquired by Hampshire-based Micheldever Tyre Services. Bristol-based law firm Roxburgh Milkins advised on the deal. Jan Wedlake, of Coombe Garage Tyres, told the website Insider Media: ‘We are delighted with this result for the next stage of our business and Roxburgh Milkins’ support has been invaluable.’

| V-TECH |

Five-year warranty offered on MOT bays SOUTHAMPTON:

Forty years of work went ‘down the drain’ when JS Autos, a servicing and repair workshop, was hit by fire. The roof of the business collapsed, cars were destroyed and windows smashed during the drama. Almost 80 firefighters from across Hampshire were needed to help extinguish the flames, which also spread to other firms. Owner of JS Autos, Jhalman Rai, told the Southern Daily Echo: ‘It’s 40 years of business down the drain.’

GARAGE equipment specialist V-Tech is now offering a five-year warranty as standard on MOT bays.

V-Tech was set up to supply handheld diagnostic systems as demand took off in the early 2000s.

Since then, it’s grown rapidly to become a national supplier and installer of a wide range of garage equipment.

The company now offers a complete range of customer care services, from planning assistance and CAD workshop design through to installation and aftersales care. Service and maintenance is carried out by V-Tech’s own national fleet of engineers.

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NEWS.

Brexit ‘could lead to huge increase in cost of vehicle parts and servicing’ British automotive aftermarket is dependent on free movement of components and any change could disrupt the supply chain

F

ailure to reach a post-Brexit agreement to protect free trade could lead to a massive rise in the cost of vehicle parts and servicing, according to an investigation by an online service booking company.

Enfield-based Servicing Stop, which has 1,500 garages in its network, says the automotive industry is already fearing a post-Brexit Britain and the possible impact on the cost of vehicle production. It says the car servicing and repairs market will be the first to suffer, as 80 per cent of all parts in British cars are imported from overseas, amounting to £12bn.

Every vehicle is made up of thousands of components, each of which can potentially cross our border with Europe up to five times as they proceed through the various stages of

the car-manufacturing process, said the firm.

These manufacturing stages take place in a number of locations throughout the continent, and should a tariff be imposed post-Brexit, the cost of car servicing and repairs would become unaffordable to thousands of people.

Should trade restrictions come into force following Brexit, 10 per cent tariffs could be imposed on all exports and imports, which, according to a PA Consulting report, could add as much as £2,370 to the cost of every car sold in the UK. As the cost of production rises, the price of individual parts will go through the roof, said Servicing Stop.

Chief executive Oly Richmond, left, said: ‘Of the £15bn-worth of components in British cars, only £3bn are produced in this country. This means

80 per cent of parts are imported which, without free trade, will put an end to cheap services and affordable repairs. There is now a massive risk in the industry, a fear that production will potentially move offshore as a way of avoiding tariffs, and the implication on UK servicing providers would be massive.’

The entire industry, including manufacturers and servicing providers, is backing a trade agreement in a bid to preserve free trade and prevent production costs increasing by thousands of pounds per vehicle.

Richmond added: ‘The British automotive aftermarket is wholly dependent on the free movement of car parts across borders, and any change could severely disrupt our global supply chain. Post-Brexit tariffs would increase the cost of car parts, which would subsequently increase the cost of car servicing and repairs. Car ownership could become unaffordable for a lot of people.’

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10 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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NEWS.

Introducing the new standard in tyre tread measurement The TreadReader™ Hand Held Scanner and App from Sigmavision

3.8

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Word of mouth still a great way to win business Welsh and Scots most likely to recommend a good garage

V Say hello to a lightweight and easy to use laser scanner that puts the most accurate tyre measurement technology in your hands.

• Colour-coded, 3D scans build customer trust and retention, to increase tyre replacements and wheel alignment sales.

• Unique and patented technology delivers fast, accurate tyre measurement, even on wet and dirty tyres.

• Operates with smartphone app, or software API for integration into workshop and EVHC systems.

Visit sigmavision.com today and find out how you can join the tyre measurement revolution.

ehicle owners in Wales and Scotland are most likely to give the name of their local garage to family and friends, according to research by The Motor Ombudsman.

The study by the automotive dispute resolution provider asked consumers who have used a franchise dealer or independent garage that is accredited to its trading standards approved code, a series of questions about their visit – including whether they would recommend their local garage following work having been carried out on their car.

The reviews left by more than 179,000 respondents revealed that drivers in the southern Scottish counties of Berwickshire and West Lothian, as well as those resident in the Welsh areas of Cardiff, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, are the most keen to share good experiences with others.

The results also showed that individuals living in Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland look to spread a positive message, whilst 98 per cent of participants polled in Guernsey and on the Isle of Man are happy to do the same.

Nationwide, 93 per cent of franchise dealer customers would

12 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk sigmavision_89x271mm_Aftermarket ad r6.indd 1

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make a recommendation, which rises to 99 per cent for those who have visited an independent business.

Furthermore, female motorists in the UK and those aged over 65 are the most effective communicators when it comes to advising relatives and acquaintances as to where they should take their car for a service or MOT. Conversely, the 26 to 39 age group are the least inclined to pass on advice about a business that delivers good work and service.

The latest poll also highlighted that accreditation to a Chartered Trading Standards Instituteapproved motor industry code of practice remains very influential in the decision-making process of consumers, with more than eight out of 10 people saying it’s a key factor.

In the UK, thousands of businesses adhere to the Motor Ombudsman’s Service and Repair Code.

Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: Word of mouth remains a powerful source of business for many garages up and down the country.

‘A high standard of service and workmanship is what motorists expect, and our service and repair code provides the guidelines to achieve and maintain this.’

WORKSHOP POWER: HAVE YOU MADE YOUR NOMINATIONS YET? Who are the suppliers who go the extra mile for you? Who are the ones that let you down? It’s time for you to have your say in the survey that’s crucial for the service and repair industry – and your views could really change things for the better in future

H

ave you had your say yet in the Workshop Power Awards? If not, why not do it today? We’d love you to take part in our great survey of suppliers who work with the service and repair industry – and the companies who are most highly regarded can look forward to a glittering awards night at the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth later this year.

Last year’s ceremony was a fantastic occasion – and if our trophy winners looked happy as they picked up their awards, they had good reason. We said that our aim was to make the Workshop Power Awards the largest, most comprehensive and most talked-about event of its kind in our industry – and we’re well on the way to doing that.

process, we’ll have an accurate idea about the suppliers who are at the top of their game, those who are simply average, and those who are, well, not so hot and could do better.

Last year’s winners included CitNOW (Product Innovation of the Year) and Draper Tools (Hand Tool Supplier of the Year).

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 they receive.

Can I say what I really think?

Yes you can. 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 we 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 as we have said, we’ll hold a glitzy award night to celebrate the achievements of the top performers, which this year will take place on September 28 at the Spinnaker Tower.

Give us your honest views – in confidence If you go to the URL at the bottom of this page, you’ll see questions about suppliers in categories ranging from motor factors large and small to garage cleaning product supplier.

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, 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 complete confidence so feel free to give your opinions with no holds barred.

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

So, how do I take part?

The 2016 awards night was a great success

Go to workshoppower.co.uk to fill in the questionnaire online. Nominations close on August 24, 2017. 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 – and making this year’s Workshop Power Awards night the success it deserves to be. Let the great survey begin!

Fill in the survey online today at workshoppower.co.uk WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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NEWS. | NETWORKING EVENT |

Automechanika Birmingham will have a truly international flavour AUTOMECHANIKA Birmingham opens its doors at the NEC from June 6-8 for the second time, and will be a truly international automotive networking event for the aftermarket and supply chain.

Last year’s event proved highly successful for the 250 international companies who attended and managed to secure deals with UK distributors, and, for this reason, the number of international companies has increased to 400 for the 2017 event.

The exhibition will be 70 per cent bigger than in 2016, hosting over 800 exhibitors, 50 per cent of whom are from 35 countries around the globe, gathering to showcase their latest products and new technologies.

The exhibition will boasts national pavilions from the Czech Republic, India, China and Taiwan. Each country pavilion will have a vast array of companies covering parts and components for the automotive aftermarket or supply chain.

Outside the national pavilions, there will be significant representation from countries

| STATISTICS |

Car production hits a 17-year high – SMMT EXPORTS continued to drive British car manufacturing in March, as demand rose 10.6 per cent in the month, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

A total of 170,691 cars were built in the UK in March, up 7.3 per cent, with overseas buyers ordering more than 76 per cent of output.

Overseas demand also helped push overall production to a 17-year high in quarter one, to 471,695 units – an increase of 7.6 per cent. This helped offset a decline at home, with demand down by 4.3 per cent in the quarter.

Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT, said: ‘UK car manufacturing is accelerating thanks to billions of pounds of investment over the past few years.

‘A large proportion are the latest low-emission diesels and it’s essential for future growth and employment that we encourage these newer, cleaner diesels onto UK roads and avoid penalising consumers who choose diesel for its fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.

‘Much of our output goes to Europe and it’s vital we maintain free trade between the UK and EU.’

14 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

such as Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland and France. On show will be products in categories ranging from garage equipment, tools, consumables and accessories to raw materials for the supply chain and more.

Among many others, significant international brands due to be present include Liqui Moly, Petronas, Arnott Europe, Nippon Pieces Services, Schmidt Metal Group and Sash Lubricants.

Simon Albert, event director, said: ‘This high number of international exhibitors proves the UK’s motor industry is strong and truly open for business.

‘We are delighted to see that major international automotive supply companies want to develop working relationships with the UK and we look forward to delivering a must-attend event for the automotive aftermarket and supply chain in June.’

Across three days, Automechanika Birmingham offers the opportunity to network, learn and discover new products while making deals for the following year.

Servicing Stop appoints new operations director Expanding firm ‘continues to ramp up its product development and marketing efforts’

A

fter three years of massive growth, Servicing Stop Ltd has added Mark Boothroyd, right, to its management team.

Boothroyd, the company’s new director of operations, joins from Reed Elsevier, more recently known as RELX Group. He has more than 30 years of experience working as an account manager, managing director and head of business development for companies such as Bupa, Parkwood Healthcare and Bausch + Lomb.

CEO of Servicing Stop, Oly Richmond, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome Mark to our growing team. He joins three new PPC and PR executives that we’ve recently added to our marketing team as we continue to ramp up our product

development and marketing efforts.’

The recruitment coincides with significant expansion of the company, with growth rate figures hitting 100 per cent for the last three financial years. Customers have opted for the online car service provider in their masses, attracted to the free collection and delivery service offered by the company, as well as very competitive MOT and service prices.

Servicing Stop has paid more than

£60m to its growing network of more than 1,500 garages.

To meet increasing demand, the company has recently initiated a new recruitment drive as it looks to add extra businesses to its UK network.

Richmond added: ‘Due to rapidly increasing demand, Servicing Stop is currently looking for new garages to join our network. Joining Servicing Stop is completely free. We’ll take care of the admin and pay you for the servicing. You can take on as little or as much work as you like.

Join us and see the work roll in!’

The company was founded in 2008, appearing on BBC’s entrepreneurial television show Dragons’ Den in 2009 where the founders, brothers Oliver and Toby Richmond, received offers from three of the Dragons.

| TYRESAFE |

Drivers encouraged to share tyre tales TYRESAFE is asking those who have suffered as a result of a tyre-related incident and are willing to share their story to participate in its #ItHappenedToMe campaign.

Tyre-related incidents account for more than 1,000 casualties on Britain’s roads annually. Regular checks by vehicle drivers will help reduce this and the hundreds of thousands of breakdowns caused by tyre issues.

By sharing their stories, those who have suffered a tyre-related incident will encourage other road users to carry out this essential routine vehicle maintenance.

Those willing to participate can share their stories with TyreSafe across its social media channels.

| INVESTMENT |

New purpose-built bodyshop opened LEICESTER-based Sturgess Motor Group has opened a new purposebuilt bodyshop, vehicle preparation and logistics centre, situated on Coventry Road, Broughton Astley, Leicester. The premises will be used for preparing new vehicles, as well as providing new facilities for the group’s accident repair workshop, which relocates from Aylestone Road.

The centre will give the group more space for these operations, better facilities and newer technology, and will allow for the company’s future growth.

| DESIGNS |

Brake Engineering updates its packaging BRAKE Engineering has updated its packaging for its extensive range of calipers, with the new design set to be rolled out across all products.

The packaging aligns with the new Brake Engineering branding, bringing together the highly recognisable colour scheme with the fresh, new imagery, ensuring customers continue to benefit from high-quality products under the Brake Engineering brand.

Improvements have also been made to the board thickness and strength, further protecting the products within.

All of Brake Engineering’s products will benefit from the new packaging.

The right equipment can keep customers’ cars cool (and banish nasty smells) With summer on the way, it’s time to get air conditioning systems working as they should

W

ith summer on the horizon, cars are getting hotter and airconditioning becomes more of a necessity than an option.

However, a vehicle’s air-con does, over time, become less effective – meaning that when the sun breaks through the clouds, your customers’ cars won’t be as cool as they could be.

That’s where air-con replenishment comes in. Machines such as the Snap On Koolkare Blizzard Pro offer all-in-one air conditioning servicing.

With a range of features, the Blizzard Pro has been designed with technicians in mind, and as such provides a simple, hassle-free operating procedure designed to get the job done and reduce headaches.

Because it is a fully automatic recovery and recycling unit, you can

by JACK EVANS @jackrober leave the machine running and then carry on elsewhere – taking away one more hassle from the workshop.

You may have struggled to rid a car’s interior of a nasty smell, no matter how many products you throw at it, too. Perhaps you’ve bought a used car, only to later find out that the previous owner had smoked in it and given it that noticeable odour.

This is another problem that can be solved by car air-conditioning machines. Designed to eliminate any bad odours that have managed to get into the car’s air system, they are a simple way of getting rid of any nasty smells. While topping up a vehicle’s air con, they can be programmed to

cleanse the car’s ventilation system at the same time – taking away the bacteria that cause bad smells.

The Koolkare Blizzard Pro has this feature incorporated into it, meaning that it’s a one-stop shop for air-conditioning updates.

Of course, these machines do need a little maintenance.

Ensuring that they remain toppedup with refrigerant is paramount, as it’s only when this is done that a car’s air conditioning can be effectively replenished. Stockists such as BOC can provide a full range of refrigerants as well as hydrogen and nitrogen leak-testing gases for any vehicle and any machine.

Designed to meet all current legislation, they’re the ideal choice for companies looking to keep their air-conditioning machines in tip-top condition.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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NEWS. | CONGRATULATIONS! |

Dedicated and professional, Martyn is rewarded for 30 years’ service A DEDICATED member of staff at a South Tyneside-based motor dealer has been rewarded for three decades of loyalty.

Martyn Tinmouth, 55, from Hutton Henry in County Durham, works as a warranty administrator within the service department at the Jennings Ford Direct dealership in Newcastle Road, South Shields.

His career in the motor industry began at the age of 17 when he embarked on a threeyear apprenticeship programme. His initial goal was to become a qualified mechanic.

Following completion of his apprenticeship, Tinmouth spent an additional two years studying towards a higher tech certificate at the former Wearside College in Sunderland.

He said: ‘I always liked messing around under the bonnet of cars and enjoyed learning about all of the different parts and how they worked. When the time came to leave school, it just had to be motor-related.’

It was in 1987 that Tinmouth decided he wanted to exchange his overalls for a

| GSF CAR PARTS |

Trade evening is a big success in the sunshine GSF CAR PARTS has hosted another successful trade evening for garage customers, this time at its Milton Keynes branch. The event attracted around 70 independent garages.

Supporting suppliers included Schaeffler, Delphi, Banner, ZF, Brembo and Mann+Hummel, all offering the latest technical know-how. The GSF Sealey tool van also made an appearance, prompting a large number of orders from technicians.

‘The Milton Keynes event was the first trade night of the season, following on from the success of last year’s events,’ explained Emma Tiernan, GSF regional sales director.

‘We had a number of suppliers who were on-hand to present technical talks, prize draws and giveaways. The sun was shining and everybody had a great time.’

Guests were also treated to food and drink, with a barbecue proving popular.

GSF area manager Ash Rogers said: ‘These events help us to really show our customers what we’re all about. It gives them peace of mind to know that we’ve got close working relationships with the big manufacturers and suppliers.’

16 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

shirt and tie to take on a more customerfacing role as a service receptionist and started working at the Jennings Ford Direct dealership. Within a few years, he was promoted to warranty advisor – the same role he holds today.

To mark the three-decade loyalty achievement, group service and bodyshop manager, Brian Johnston, presented Tinmouth with his loyalty certificate and vouchers.

Johnston said: ‘It was an absolute pleasure presenting Martyn with his well-deserved loyalty vouchers. I have worked closely with him over the past 30 years and he has always been a dedicated, conscientious and highly professional member of the service team at South Shields.’

u

Brian Johnston, right, presents Martyn Tinmouth with his loyalty vouchers

eDynamix joins line-up of great exhibitors at CDX17 Not long now till huge automotive expo! It will be held at Silverstone on Tuesday, May 23

T

here are just a couple of weeks to go to CDX17 – and eDynamix has joined the line-up of exhibitors at the huge automotive expo set to be held at Silverstone on May 23. eDynamix offers fully-integrated web-based applications designed to provide a simple, yet effective platform in which dealers and workshops can manage customers throughout the crucial service lifecycle.

The company continually develops new and innovative ways in which businesses can increase productivity and profitability while at the same time improving customer retention.

They understand that maintaining and growing customer loyalty

Get your FREE CDX tickets at cardealerexpo.co.uk and satisfaction is paramount to any business, so are consistently improving ways in which software systems are utilised within the motor industry to help dealers deliver the best possible service to their customers. eDynamix will join dozens of other exhibitors at the huge CDX expo, which will fill three huge halls.

CDX will also feature our famous Women in the Motor Industry session; the Social Media 200; and keynote talks from Google, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The Live Stage will see dealers,

franchisees, independents, car supermarkets and manufacturers discussing the automotive industry.

The Discovery Zone will feature companies new to the world of exhibiting while the Car Dealer Theatre will be bursting with news of new innovations.

Rebecca Chaplin, head of news and features at Workshop Magazine, said: ‘We are getting really excited about CDX! It is going to be bigger and better than ever and although it is aimed at car dealers to a large degree, there will be plenty to interest professionals from the service and repair industry. I look forward to welcoming Workshop Magazine readers to Silverstone on May 23.’

Focus on eDynamix, p37

| AGREEMENT |

Fuchs in new deal with VW Group FUCHS Lubricants has announced a major new deal with Volkswagen Group UK to become the lubricants supplier for Trade Parts Specialists’ (TPS) Quantum range of oils. The agreement follows an exhaustive tender process and sees Fuchs, the world’s largest independent lubricant manufacturer, take over from Castrol.

The Quantum oil range has consequently been completely refreshed in what has been described

by The Volkswagen Group as ‘the most important product launch in TPS’s 10-year history’.

Russell Kenyon, Fuchs automotive director, said the company was proud to have been appointed by TPS.

| INVESTMENT |

Aftercare on offer for Peugeot owners SUNDERLAND dealership Town Centre Automobiles has expanded its services to become the only approved Peugeot aftercare sales provider in the city. The new purpose-built facility is at the dealership’s Ferryboat Lane site.

Dealer principal Chris Sopp said: ‘This investment highlights our commitment to offering unrivalled service and aftercare for Peugeot drivers in Sunderland.

‘We look forward to welcoming local residents and businesses to utilise our new service.’

| TRICO |

Useful videos will help technicians TRICO, the world’s leading windscreen wiper blade developer and supplier, has uploaded a number of useful step-bystep fitting videos for technicians on its own YouTube channel.

With nearly 60 videos and 10,000 views, the channel is proving popular.

The videos include common issues technicians or consumers have in fitting particular wiper blades and a 30-second video for common queries.

Trico product and brand manager, Sam Robinson, said: ‘We hope the short videos prove useful to our customers and consumers.’

To view the videos, type in Trico Europe on YouTube.

£234 an hour: The highest cost of labour in the UK More than three-quarters of drivers have no idea of the rate they are paying, says Motoreasy

T

he maximum cost of an hour’s work for a garage mechanic now stands at more than £230, according to a nationwide study published by automotive service and repair start-up Motoreasy.

Overall, the UK average labour rate – combining main dealers, independent workshops and fast-fit outlets – is £67 an hour.

Analysis of 6,000 garages from across the UK found that, on average, Surrey is the most expensive place to have work done to a car, with an average hourly rate of just over £81.

At the other end of the scale, Scottish county Selkirkshire has the cheapest average at £49.69.

The highest individual hourly labour rate of £234 an hour was found at a prestige sportscar manufacturer’s dealership in Reading. The cheapest, offered by an independent workshop in Manchester, was just £36.

The list of the top 10 most

by JOHN BOWMAN john@blackballmedia.co.uk expensive regions of the UK is dominated by areas in the south, with London the second-most expensive place for labour rates behind Surrey.

Meanwhile, the list of the 10 cheapest regions features mostly Scottish and Welsh counties, indicating a north/south divide.

Franchised workshops are generally more expensive, with an average UK labour rate of £99 compared with an independent garage average of £56.

Despite the ever-increasing cost of service, maintenance and repair work in garages, Motoreasy said it found that more than three-quarters of motorists (77 per cent) admitted they had no idea how much they paid for an hour of labour.

More than three in five (62 per cent) of the 2,000 motorists quizzed

said they didn’t shop around to get the best price before agreeing to work, while nearly a third (31 per cent) didn’t even check the final bill before paying.

Female motorists were said to be worse than men for not checking what labour rate they are paying, with more than four in five women admitting they didn’t know the hourly cost at their regular garage.

Duncan McClure Fisher, the founder of Motoreasy, which was launched last year to be a conciergestyle service for motorists and which operates a national network of approved garages, said: ‘Today’s drivers don’t have the time or, in many cases, the knowledge to make absolutely sure they are getting the best price from garages.

‘It’s not made any easier by the fact that the cost of labour differs so vastly across the UK. Even so, anyone spending money should at least understand how much they are paying and for what.’

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 17

FEATURES.

MAN ON A MISSION

Mopar has come a long way since the name was coined 80 years ago. Now its head of service, parts and customer care is on a mission to change what’s become a global parts business into not only a successful customisation brand but a world-class servicing operation too. REBECCA CHAPLIN reports.

18 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

“

Dealers think that aftersales is boring but that’s not right.

SANTO FICILI

M

opar is sometimes thought of as the forgotten child of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles family.

Perhaps a better way of describing it would be one of its ‘best-kept secrets’.

But even though the profile of Mopar might not be particularly high in the UK, it works with every single one of the cars produced by the manufacturers of the FCA group.

This year, the parts and customisation company is celebrating its 80th birthday and can look back on a distinguished history working to improve the performance levels of a very wide range of vehicles.

The word Mopar is an abbreviation of ‘Motor Parts’. The company started out as an American enterprise, producing anti-freeze for Chryslers, but in 80 years the brand has transformed itself dramatically. Now it serves more than 150 markets around the world and has 500,000 products and parts available in its stores.

At the Geneva Motor Show recently, we caught up with Santo Ficili, head of Mopar service, parts and customer care for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He’s working to make the brand as well known in Europe as it is in the US. ‘Mopar is a business that started 80 years ago in the US. This year is a special anniversary,’ he confirmed. ‘Everyone knows the brand in the US and we’re trying to do the same in this region. In the Middle East too, everybody is aware of Mopar, but it’s not like that in Europe.

‘We’ve written a plan and we call it the ‘‘Mopar Master Plan’’. We’re trying to work to touch all of the points of contact with the aim of improving the loyalty of our customers. In doing this activity we want to develop the brand.’

To find out how Mopar went from being an antifreeze producer to stocking, developing and fitting parts for all FCA cars, it’s worth taking a quick look at the history books.

After its introduction in 1937, the Mopar brand quickly began to stand for more than just antifreeze. The company made a name for itself alongside the muscle-car era of the 1960s, cementing a legacy on the streets and at the dragstrip that by the decade’s end would have owners referring to their vehicles as ‘Mopar’ cars.

If you were to say Mopar in the UK today, you’d find it’s still a word that resonates with classic American car fans.

Over the past decade, Mopar has transformed into a global service, parts and customer-care brand for all FCA vehicle owners. In 2008, the Mopar Express Lane service, offering fast oil changes and more, was introduced at dealerships, with more than 1,000 operational today in the United States, and more than 1,750 open in 20plus countries around the world.

Near Turin, home to FCA’s headquarters, in the village of Volvera, is the Mopar parts centre. This is where the brand has really been making a name for itself, priding itself on offering a massive range of parts WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 19

FEATURES.

and delivery around the world in just one day.

‘Our biggest challenge is to be ready on time. The result is 100 per cent success.

When you go to a workshop or dealer, you need parts immediately available,’ said Ficili.

‘That’s our objective and it’s not easy. In our warehouse in Volvera we have 98 per cent of all parts available, so we are able to distribute parts in a day globally. The bigger part of our business is Europe, but we’re able to distribute parts to wherever you want.’

Ficili isn’t just interested in recognition within the business though. Mopar’s warehouse is proud to have achieved World Class Logistics certification for eliminating waste.

When it comes to parts, it’s not all about what’s standard for Mopar. Harking back to its distant modifying history, Mopar is developing its customisation offering too. The developments it is currently working on aren’t about performance though, but alterations to personalise a car, change its style or improve its off-road abilities.

At the Geneva Motor Show, the customised Jeep Wrangler ‘Mopar One’ was on the firm’s stand, demonstrating exactly what the brand is capable of when it comes to customisation and creating a complete car.

Ficili explained: ‘We are trying to offer customers a car from our brands with personalisation. The Wrangler is the first time we’ve done that.

‘Now we have a car with specific suspension, steering wheels, wheels and tyres. A customer can now buy this car.

There is also a kit called Mopar One, but you can add a long list of other accessories.’

When it comes to customisation, the company now has more than 7,000 products to offer. When looking to develop a new customisation option for an FCA car, whether that’s a Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler or any other marque within the group, Mopar works carefully to make sure everything goes smoothly.

‘We work together. We have inside Mopar a key account manager who is working every day with the brands. We consider the needs of the customer in terms of customisation.

‘These can vary drastically.

As you can imagine, they have to work on different cars

Santo Ficili wants to raise Mopar’s profile in Europe

20 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Mopar’s warehouse in Volvera, Italy, contains 98 per cent of all the necessary from a Jeep Wrangler to a Fiat 500. We also produce functional accessories.’

Parts is the core business, but workshops are also critical to what Mopar does and how it will drive business in the future.

Ficili has a plan, one that he wants to share.

‘We want to build the brand by doing what we do every day in the workshop, but talking to the customer through our workshops. We have a very big call centre in Milan, Italy, where 500 people work,’ he said.

‘Our core business is the distribution of parts. It’s the most important business inside the business, but there is another important activity. We are the reference point for all of the workshops that are servicing FCA cars.

‘We are teaching people how to fix the cars.

‘We’re trying to talk with the dealers because currently they are always thinking about how to sell more parts. That’s not what we want, so we’re

trying to change. Our aim is to think about how we can serve the customer better. Then we can also sell parts, but as a consequence of finding out what they need. Loyalty from our customers is so important right now. That’s the problem that this industry has.’

One of Mopar’s initiatives is to introduce a programmed app in every workshop, so that when a customer arrives, the service adviser will welcome them with the software and create a file for that particular customer.

‘We want to serve the customer,’ said Ficili.

‘With this tablet you can follow a process, so when you are in front of a customer, you can ask what they need from you at that particular time.

‘They might say they need an oil change, but at the same time you can look at their car on the screen and help them understand what you can do – avoiding losing time. This also helps us to be extremely clear with customers about what we can offer and what we will be doing to their car, as well as looking professional.’

He continued: ‘Taking this path isn’t easy, because in aftersales you can find a whole range

parts for FCA group cars. It’s an impressive – and extremely efficient – operation

of people. We’re trying to educate our workshops.

‘Dealer principals are also more likely to go into the showroom than into the workshop. The loyalty of the customer, though, is built via the workshop and not the showroom. So we’re trying to change the behaviour of our dealers.’

Ficili’s ideas about how to improve service in the workshop aren’t just theory, as he is keen to explain. ‘What I’m saying isn’t from a book, this isn’t something I’ve studied but something I’ve lived,’ he said. ‘At the beginning of my career I worked for 10 years in a garage, so this is my personal experience I’m working from. After that

I went on to work as a sales manager too and I held a lot of other positions.

‘What I really think from this experience is that the most important relationship is the one between the workshop and the customer – I believe this more than 100 per cent.

‘Aftersales is more important than the sale of the car. You can’t just sell cars. Dealers think that aftersales is boring because the workshop is dirty and the customers are angry, but that’s not right.

‘That time with the customers is where you can change their opinion.

‘This is where you build relationships.’

THE MOPAR ONE

THE Mopar One is a customised Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. It’s the first example of what Mopar can do when customising a complete car and getting it type-approved.

It’s been given a Blue Chief livery, which is a tribute to the iconic 1977 Jeep Cherokee Chief, and the Mopar One accessory pack for complete customisation, which is guaranteed by the manufacturer and type-approved for sales in Europe.

This became available to order from March in Jeep dealerships and includes two-inch lifting kit, anti-roll bar and 17-inch by 8.5-inch Performance Gladiator black alloy rims, Hankook Dynapro 265/75 R17 oversized tyres, front and rear mud flaps, black fuel cap and distinctive Mopar badge.

By using the Wrangler configurator on the official website of the Jeep brand, users can view the list of accessories at leisure and add the Mopar One pack to their online configuration.

The car can either be bought already customised or, alternatively, customers can choose to add the Mopar One kit to their Wrangler.

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NEWS.

Is yours a wonderful workshop?

You could be an award winner!

We’re looking for great garages, top technicians and super specialists to honour at a glittering ceremony later this year

I

s your workshop among the best of the best?

Do you have a star performer in your team? Is it high time you and your staff claimed some well-deserved recognition for your efforts?

Well, here’s your chance to shine, have a great night out, and maybe pick up an award that will prove invaluable for marketing and promotional purposes. As we reported last month, 2017 is going to be the year of the inaugural Workshop Magazine Awards – and it’s going to be the most glamorous night of the year for workshop professionals.

That’s right, we’re looking to recognise the best and brightest businesses and individuals who are working in our industry.

The Workshop Magazine Awards – sponsored by the IGA – 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!

As it’s the first year of the awards, it’s an occasion not to be missed. The setting for the ceremony is The Brewery in London, where, on Monday, December 11, those in the running for our trophies will be treated to a champagne reception, threecourse meal and musical entertainment.

We’re delighted to announce that our host for the evening will be none other than motorsport legend Johnny Herbert.

If you’re triumphant on the night, we’ll pull out all the stops to give you the credit you deserve, with extensive coverage of the event in our magazine.

Check out the panel below and you’ll see the categories you could be nominated in.

To be in the running, you’ll need to put yourself forward or be nominated by a colleague, supplier or customer. It’s as simple as that. Then you could be on your way to some well-deserved success!

Read on to find out more...

AWARD CATEGORIES Car of the Year

Independent Garage of the Year

There may well be other Car of the Year awards out there but this one will be unique as it will be influenced by service and repair professionals. Which car do mechanics enjoy working on the most? Which cars are easy to get parts for and which are the most straightforward to maintain and put right when things go wrong? Those are some of the criteria that will be considered here.

Lifetime Achievement Award

We’ll be looking for a big hitter in the service and repair sector who has been involved for many years, having enjoyed a long and distinguished career of note. Judging will be based on the nominations we receive, along with supporting statements.

Outstanding Achievement of the Year

This special award looks to recognise the personality in our sector who has achieved something truly remarkable, whether it’s a one-off act that really made a difference or a consistent effort that truly deserves this prestigious accolade.

Product Innovation of the Year

We’ll be looking for a great new product introduced to our industry over the past year that has proved to be a boon for

Five regional champions will be crowned in this category.

There will be awards for Scotland; Northern Ireland; Northern England; Southern England and Wales. Our winners here will have undergone a rigorous judging process involving analysis of feedback websites and mystery shopping.

the garages and workshops of the UK. If it saves time, boosts business, and is clever and convenient, it could be our winner.

Workshop Manager of the Year

We’ll be looking for brilliant bosses who have really made a difference in their workshops. If they have driven growth in their department; helped turn around a struggling business; or introduced innovation and new ideas to help things run smoothly, we want to hear more!

Technician of the Year

Brilliant with brakes? Excellent with electronics? That’s what our winner in this category will need to be. We know there are thousands of talented technicians out there – we’ll be looking for the best of the best. Nominate yourself or a colleague you know and respect.

Independent Garage of the Year (Overall Winner)

One of our five regional winners will take the overall crown and become our Independent Garage of the Year for the whole of the UK. This really will be something to shout about!

Specialist Garage of the Year

Do you focus on a particular marque or model, or perhaps cars from a certain country? Are you a specialist in your field? And is your business thriving and well thought of by its customers?

We’re looking for operators who are efficient, technically competent and well organised to lift this particular trophy.

Trade Tyre Retailer of the Year

We’ll be looking for favourable online reviews, a user-friendly and responsive website, and easy availability of leading makes of tyres. Great customer service, the option of mobile fitting and great aftercare will all be part of the mix too.

TO SPONSOR AN AWARD CALL THE WORKSHOP TEAM ON 023 9252 2434 22 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING DETAILS TO ENTER BY POST My name:.............................................................................................................................................................

Preferred contact telephone number:............................................................................................................

My email address:.............................................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................................................................

The category/categories I’d like to enter and nominee(s) are:................................................................... .............................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................................................................

My reasons are:................................................................................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................................................................

Want to enter for more categories? That’s fine – just photocopy this form.

Please send your form (or forms) to Workshop Magazine Awards Nominations, Blackball Media, Haslar Marine Technology Park, Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 2AG. If you’d like to send supporting information, that’s fine too.

PLEASE NOTE – CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES: SEPTEMBER 30

Classic Car Restoration Garage of the Year

With the definition of the word classic seemingly expanding to include more makes and models than ever before, the number of operators in the field has grown too. Companies who really know their onions, and are prepared to go the extra mile for their customers, will excel here.

Workshop Website of the Year

Gone are the days when a homepage containing just words and pictures was enough to cut the mustard. That allimportant and crucial information still needs to be there, of course, but customers these days expect much, much more.

Social Media User of the Year

Social media may be a dark art to some, but used effectively, platforms such as Twitter and Facebook can really help build a business and take it to the next level. Using social media can be an amazingly effective form of marketing too – and we’ll be looking for the best practitioners.

MOT Centre of the Year

MOTs are the foundation upon which many a successful workshop is built. Of course, the rules and regulations mean everyone should adhere to the same standards, but there is

still room for the best to stand out. As with other categories, we’ll be looking for great customer service, user-friendly websites and general all-round excellence.

Fast Fit Centre of the Year

Fast-fit centres occasionally attract negative headlines but we know they do plenty of work that is top-quality and fairly priced. Their websites tend to be strong, with investment from national companies behind them, but which fast-fit centre is the best of the best?

Apprentice of the Year

Do you employ a youngster who is a possible star of the future in the service and repair industry? We’ll be looking for someone who is just taking their early steps on the career ladder but who already shows bags of promise and potential, is keen to learn and willing to help.

Motor Factor of the Year

This one is for a supplier to the industry. Motor factors are invaluable one-stop shops for everything a workshop could need, from parts to tools to consumables. We’ll be looking for a company that really delivers – and we mean that quite literally! Quality products and efficient service will be key when the judges look at the entrants in this category.

Manufacturer Warranty Scheme of the Year

The best warranty schemes provide genuine peace of mind and turn promises into action when things go wrong. The factors the judges will be taking into account here include the duration of the warranty; the level of cover provided and any additional benefits that exist.

Most Reliable Car

The judging in this category will be based on our research into the least repaired / recovered cars over a 12-month period leading up to our judging process. We’ll be comparing actual numbers to the overall parc of each model to get a totally accurate picture, analysing data from multiple sources to ensure our winner is truly deserving. One thing’s for sure, the winner of this category will be shouting about their success.

Equipment Supplier of the Year

Ramps, tools, protective clothing… there is a lot to consider for any new workshop before the first car even comes through the doors. And of course, existing businesses may well be looking to upgrade and update their equipment on a regular basis. This is bound to be a hard-fought category – but who will take home the gong?

TO NOMINATE FOR AN AWARD FILL OUT THE FORM TOP RIGHT ON THIS PAGE WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 23

FEATURES.

Caterham Cars remains a breath of fresh air in an automotive landscape crowded with concepts such as autonomy, traction control and sixway adjustable electric seats. Pared back and simplistic, they represent a bygone era when cars really were cars.

But how have these vehicles – first imagined by Colin Chapman 60 years ago this year – remained so popular almost two decades into the 21st Century? We headed to the company’s main manufacturing site in Dartford, Kent, to find out. CEO GRAHAM MACDONALD gave our reporter Jack Evans a guided tour.

CATERHAM’S PHOTOGRAPHY: JONNY FLEETWOOD

24 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 25

FEATURES.

T

aking people back to how motoring started and putting smiles on their faces – that’s what lies at the heart of iconic manufacturer Caterham Cars.

Originally built as the Lotus Seven, the modern Caterham line-up is based around variants of the Seven – a two-seater, lightweight sports car with a range of engines.

It goes from the Seven 160 powered by a 600cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine to the 620R, which uses a supercharged 2.0-litre Ford engine and can hit 60mph in 2.79 seconds – around the same as the famous Bugatti Veyron. Caterham is punching high and can back it up with cars capable of offering serious performance.

All the cars are built in Dartford, Kent, and an impressive amount of attention to detail is lavished on each and every vehicle.

Engines are sourced elsewhere but are carefully examined, tuned and reworked to ensure they’re as good as can be.

The Caterham factory is a veritable treasure trove of engine parts, spare wheels and everything in between. The cars lie at the core of the operation, though, and Caterham recently changed from line assembly to cell assembly, meaning that each technician is assigned their own car, and once it’s completed they put their nameplate on the chassis.

The average build time of a Caterham is around 40 hours. However, the more powerful models in the range – the supercharged 620, for instance – take up to 50.

Of course, it’s widely known that Caterham cars are available in kit form – we’ve even built one ourselves, as featured in issue 18 of Workshop – and chief executive Graham Macdonald showed us the process that occurs before the kit is shipped to the customer.

We’re immediately distracted by a loud drumming noise in the workshop, however.

‘What you heard just then was the machine putting the chassis number directly on the car – they all come to us in blank aluminium,’ Macdonald tells us. ‘They’ll then have different exhaust holes drilled, depending on which engine is due to go in – twin outlets are for the most powerful versions. It then goes off to paint and will come back for what I call “safety critical” fitting – looms, brakes and fuel pipes, etc – then sent to the customer for final assembly.’

Indeed, Macdonald himself is one of those who have chosen to build the car. ‘I built my own Academy car,’ he confirms. ‘I thought, “I’m going to do exactly what my customers do and build my own.” I actually got a spare bit of the warehouse here and built it there.

‘Everyone says to me, “You must have had help”, but I genuinely did it all myself after work in the evenings – though I would get the engineers in the next morning to check whether I’d done everything right. I had a little guidance, for sure, but physically I did it all myself.’

Core elements of the car, such as the fuel lines, brake pipes and pedal box, are fitted before delivery, while the remaining parts are packed and labelled so that the building process is made

26 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

a little easier. Caterham reckons that building your own car at home should take between 80 and 100 hours – although a technical team is just a call away should anything prove too tricky to fit. Once assembled, cars are tested then declared road-legal – simple.

Back in the factory, we see the cars split at the end of the initial assembly line – those that are destined for customers to build themselves are sent off, while those due to be assembled in the factory are assigned a technician.

The new cell system of building should mean that cars are built more efficiently, though there has been a change-over period to deal with.

‘The younger ones who have been used to just building certain bits of a car have got to learn the whole thing,’ Macdonald tells us.

Indeed, there are a fair few young faces dotted around the workshop. Caterham cars remain very much hand-built, something that their buyers – varied as they are in their particular needs – are most keen on.

‘We have the buyers who have always wanted a Caterham, those who initially buy a lowhorsepower model and then run it for a year and think to themselves, “Actually, I want a bit more power” and so they’ll change it,’ Macdonald explains. ‘Then we have those people who use cars as toys, and will buy a car for use on the track and chop and change between models.

‘Finally, we have the polishers. They’ll keep the car for years, bring it out on sunny days and polish it – but it’ll never see rain. The cars will be kept in almost pristine condition. It’s everyone to their own after all – and we love them all.’

Despite rising costs – ‘being a small manufacturer, we don’t have the same buying power as larger ones, and while we try to retain the costs, we do find that they go up’ – people keep returning to the Caterham name time and time again. The popularity of the brand is at an all-time high. Its limited-edition Sprint, for instance, sold out almost immediately, while customers are walking into dealerships and happily joining the end of a multi-year waiting list just to get their hands on one.

‘I think we’re doing a pretty good job so far, and we’ve got an order book that is full to February 2018, so we’re almost 12 months forward and yet it doesn’t seem to be denting demand, customers are still ordering cars.’

He adds: ‘It’s almost seen as a positive thing.

People think, “Wow, I need to get my order in quick.” It’s a great position to be in – we took over 600 orders in 2016, and we only built 504 cars.’

Many customers are choosing to part with big bucks on some of Caterham’s fastest cars. ‘We sell a lot of 620s – and they’re £50,000 cars. There was a week when we sold four of these, and a quarter of a million pounds-worth of sales in one week for us is a big deal.’

Motorsport remains at the heart of Caterham, with a range of series taking place each year. ‘We have six series and nearly 200 racers – so we’ve got a real amount of competition. The way it works with a ladder system means that all you have to do is keep upgrading your Caterham

Caterham cars are now built in‘cells’ rather

An example of a technician’s nameplate

“

It’s about fun and enjoyment – that’s what the product is all about. than on an assembly line, with the technicians each assigned their own vehicle

The Caterham’s basic layout hasn’t changed much since the 1960s – testament to the car’s iconic status race car. You keep the same car for four years.’

Each racing series offers something different, with entry-level Academy races giving people the chance to enter competitions with similarly matched racers.

Top of the series is the Seven 420R, offering drivers more speed than any other Caterham race.

‘We have customers who want to race, those who want to track and those who just want to potter around – they’re really varied.’

How does Macdonald think a Caterham should be treated, though? ‘It’s about using them. If you’ve got a car like this, you need to use it. Whether it’s a Caterham or a classic car, it shouldn’t just be sat in storage.’

We can’t help but agree with him. He’s not been one to shy away from using one of his cars

ENJOYING A GLOBAL REACH 60 YEARS AFTER LAUNCH THE Series 1 Lotus Seven was launched in 1957.

Praised for its lightweight approach to driving, it was immediately popular, both on road and track.

It was offered as a kit so that drivers could avoid new car tax. Their lack of creature comforts and safety equipment meant that they were a hit with Sunday drivers, as well as with those who wanted to be able to take their cars on to a track.

Caterham Cars, at the time a key Lotus dealer, bought the rights to continue construction of the Seven after Lotus announced it would be discontinuing the model.

Caterham’s factory, offices and showroom remained in the town of Caterham in Surrey until 1987, when it

moved to its current location in Dartford, Kent. It retained a small showroom in the founding town, but this was moved to Crawley, West Sussex, in February 2013.

Now, Caterham cars are available across the globe.

There are official dealerships in Germany and Belgium, giving people on continental Europe the chance to get their hands on the much-praised two-seater. It’s also possible to buy a Caterham in Australia and Japan – although kits are only available to UK buyers.

In addition, there are six dealers in America, stretching from Washington state and California (which has two) in the west to New York in the east by way of Texas and Michigan.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 27

FEATURES.

The average build time for a Caterham car is around 40 hours but it can take up to 50 hours to complete one

GETTING IT RIGHT EVERY TIME

Workshop news editor Jack Evans, left, with Caterham Cars CEO Graham Macdonald

Sticky semi-slick tyres are fitted to‘R’ models of the Caterham

28 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

CATERHAM Cars uses engines sourced from elsewhere. In the early days, the vehicles used Rover engines, but nowadays those from Ford and Suzuki are preferred.

The base 160, from which the Sprint takes many of its fundamentals, is powered by a turbocharged 660cc Suzuki engine, for instance, while the large 270 is powered by a 1.6-litre Ford unit.

The largest engine on offer is a 2.3-litre Ford Duratec plant found in the CSR. With 260bhp, these cars have a top speed of 155mph and can hit 60mph in just over three seconds.

Skilled technicians extensively rework each unit, removing pistons and heads so that they can develop more power and match the character of the car appropriately. The gearboxes are also fitted on site, each one lifted and bolted on to the engine.

It’s a crucial part of the overall build, and one that Caterham obviously prides itself on getting right each and every time.

The engine technicians (you can see them at work in some of these photos) have a huge amount of experience, reflecting their many years of service with Caterham Cars.

Aftersales remains a big part of the process too. At the side of the Dartford plant is a large parts storage area, allowing owners to easily replace components.

They can be found via Caterham’s website – a new six-speed gearbox is £3,750, for instance, while a hinge for the side screens is just 53p.

It’s all available should you need it.

as a daily driver, either. The little two-seaters are notoriously exposed to the elements, with the plastic roof letting in gusts and gales when travelling at speed. ‘I drove it back to Crawley from a track session recently and chanced it with the weather. Then, in rush hour, it started raining. While that’s fine when you’re doing 60mph on the motorway, when you’re sat in traffic the car starts filling up! I managed to dive into Gatwick South terminal – underneath the monorail – and was just about able to raise the roof.’ He’s certainly practising what he preaches!

The idea behind the Caterham entry-level Academy racing series is that drivers are able to pitch up, race and drive home all in the same car.

Macdonald said: ‘We still have a number of our competitors drive into the race track, race the cars and then go home – the cars will also happily run on the same set of tyres for the entire season.

Depending on how many track sessions you do, you may need a second set, but in theory they’ll last you a whole season.’

Each area of the workshop reveals hidden gems, with every bay kept meticulously tidy.

There’s a place for everything and everything is in its place – it’s instantly noticeable that people are proud of what they do and where they work.

However, how has a company that relies on traditional mechanics and building techniques adapted to the modern motoring world?

Macdonald has an answer for that, too. ‘Our aim as a team here is to try our very best to comply with legislation as it changes to ensure that we can keep this the very best that it is.’

With autonomous assistance at the forefront of modern car safety, Caterham seems content with using the technology of the past – but that isn’t a bad thing.

Not only is the company adapting to legislation, it’s adapting to customer demand, too. Whereas 20 years ago Caterham cars would have been built to a relatively strict format, today the company can tailor each vehicle specifically to the needs of the buyer – something reflected by other manufacturers.

McLaren, for instance, has its in-house customisation brand MSO, while Aston Martin has recently launched Q. Caterham’s own is called its Signature Scheme.

This new area for Caterham was recently celebrated with a partnership with Harrods.

The Signature Series offers buyers a wealth of customisation options, including a range of different interior leather selections as well as varied nose cone choices and dashboard trims.

You can even have the car’s rollover bar trimmed in leather.

M Engines are tuned to perform at their best

acdonald leads us to one particular car, finished in a deep burgundy colour. Its owner has specified a full titanium exhaust system as well as carbon race seats. Further through the workshop lies another bespoke car, this time with its tubular chassis painted yellow and its dashboard trimmed in race-spec Alcantara. Not just any old two-seater, then. It’s part of the way

that Caterham has adapted to modern customer needs, and it’s a system that is obviously working well with its bulging order books. Caterham has an average annual output of around 500 cars, meaning that the little Dartford plant has to work very hard to meet demand.

As the year reaches its mid-point, it marks the middle of Caterham’s 60th-anniversary celebrations. The Sprint was released at the start of the year as an opening, so how will the company close its year? With another limitededition model, according to Macdonald. ‘We’re in the planning stages for something set to come out at the end of the year – the Goodwood Revival Festival most likely – to form a bookend.

‘We’re still planning what to do exactly, but we know we’ll be celebrating the end of the anniversary at Goodwood.’

The classic racing event is a big deal for Caterham. ‘We always have a stand at Revival. I like it almost more than the Festival of Speed, I think that the way that everyone dresses up and the way that the classics battle it out on track is really good.’ The Seven Sprint was revealed at the last Revival event and, by the sounds of it, we’ll be seeing a new car at the next one. It, much like the Goodwood Revival, harks back to a bygone era, one not troubled by airbags or traction control.

There’s one thing that remains at the heart of Caterham Cars, however, and that’s fun.

Macdonald feels the same, telling us: ‘It’s about fun and enjoyment – that’s what the product is all about. All right, the car is lightweight and has a great power-to-weight ratio too, but actually, what we want to get over to our customers is that it should be fun.

‘We try to get back to the basics of what driving is all about. Caterham cars bring you back to how motoring started – and it can’t help but put a smile on your face.’

From the very start of the building process, when the metal arrives in the factory for assembly and stamping, to the end, which sees fully-built cars sent off to customers, a sense of workmanship is very noticeable. There’s an amazing range of ages too, varying from new starters keen to get working to old boys who have seen the company change and grow.

There have been many British car makers producing hand-made vehicles through the years.

Always keen to impress, many have failed to last.

However, Caterham is different. It would appear that it’s going from strength to strength, avoiding many of the pitfalls that usually accompany small-scale, low-volume manufacturers.

Now with 60 years behind them, Caterham Cars still hold dear the original ideals set by Colin Chapman. Despite changes in legislation, they remain lightweight and – most importantly – exhilarating to drive. As the best companies do, Caterham is adapting to the times, refining its building process and offering a more personal experience than ever before.

With a brimming order book, customers queuing up to get their hands on a model and a thriving motorsport series, the future looks bright and fun indeed for Caterham.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 29

PRODUCTS. Armor All interior wipes

Armor All has released a new range of products for cleaning the inside of cars. Firstly, the dashboard wipes help protect the dash from harmful UV rays. Then there are the glass wipes, which remove all kinds of dirt from the inside of the windows. Finally, the leather wipes preserve the quality of the upholstery.

Clarke petrol pressure washers

New for you

Clarke has brought out a new range of heavy-duty petrolpowered pressure washers designed for use by garages, fleet operators and contractors. Each model has a protective steel frame, compact storage abilities and large tyres for increased stability. The hose and lance are adjustable, delivering up to 260 bars of pressure, and the machines also come with a detergent pick-up hose and filter. The devices can draw water from a barrel, making them useable in remote places.

4-PAGE SPECIAL

Laser Tools HGV nut remover sockets

Laser Tools has released a set of sockets designed to deal with the tricky task of removing damaged or rounded-off nuts and bolts from HGVs. The equipment securely grips the damaged components, allowing them to be extracted quickly and easily.

The set contains six ¾” drive sockets, in the sizes of 27mm, 30mm, 32mm, 33mm, 34mm and 36mm. They are manufactured to withstand repeated use in tough conditions, and are finished with manganese phosphate. Supplied in a case for easy storage, the set also comes with a hard chrome-plated punch bar so that the nut can be removed from the socket after extraction.

30 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Bartec TAP200 tread and pressure reader

Bartec’s new TAP200 device allows for fast and accurate readings of tyre tread wear and pressure. A colour-coded warning system is in place, indicating and recording the wear pattern via three points of measurement. The tool is also capable of reading tyre pressure so incorrect inflation or slow leaks can be identified. This benefits the customer in ways such as lower fuel costs and maximised tyre life.

Exol Taurus FS 5W-40 oil for JCBs

Exol’s new Taurus FS 5W-40 has been designed with JCB’s Ecomax T4i and Dieselmax T3 engines in mind.

The fully synthetic oil’s main specifications include API CH-4, CF, and ACEA E2. Taurus FS 5W-40 emphasises performance at low temperature and lessens wear in cold weather. It is manufactured from cautiously selected base oils in order to earn the ‘W’ grade. The product is available in a range of quantities, from 25 litres to 205 litres, or even full tanks.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 31

PRODUCTS. Laser Tools ratchet brake piston spreader

Laser Tools’ new ratchet brake piston spreader is designed to make changing brake pads easier by allowing the user to press back all kinds of pistons, be they single, dual or quad. The pistons don’t bind as they are being kept parallel and are pushed straight back into the clipper bore. The ratchet handle can rotate through a full 360 degrees, allowing for a choice of angle.

Laser Tools timing chain splitter and fitter kit

The Laser Tools timing chain splitter and fitter kit allows its user to separate and reassemble the timing chains found in engines of cars from manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and Jeep. The kit includes tools for link removal, assembly and swaging, ensuring that everything needed for the job is present.

OEM reference numbers are cross-referenced to guarantee the correct components are used on different engines.

32 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Gunson Trakrite camber bar and digital inclinometer

Gunson’s new Trakrite camber bar and digital inclinometer offer exceptionally accurate measurements. The bar provides a solid metal base, ideal for mounting camber gauges, and is very easy to use. When it is attached, the inclinometer – which is powered by a 1.5V AAA battery and turns off following five minutes of inactivity – displays the camber angle on an LCD screen.

Comma Oil Manista hand cleaner

Comma Oil has updated its Manista hand cleaner in order to be more environmentally friendly. The micro beads previously used in the product have been replaced by a biodegradable formula. Comma says that the product will be just as effective at removing oil, grease and dirt from its users’ hands as before. The new cleaner is available in pack sizes of 700 millilitres, three litres, 10 litres and 20 litres.

3M print wrap films and textured décor overlaminates

3M has announced a variety of new wraps and décors. New comply adhesive and micro technology mean that across the range are a variety of features such as optimised initial tack, fine-tuned slideability and easy liner release. As well as a cornucopia of new features, 3M is also releasing a selection of more colours for its wrap film series 1380, including glossy navy blue, glossy sapphire green and matte black.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 33

CLUB.

RULES ARE THERE TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE

W

ASK THE JUDGE: Ian Gardner, sales manager at automotive legal experts Lawgistics, explains why the correct procedures must always be followed.

e have been asked if it is wise to allow a customer to drive their car into a workshop, rather than insist that a member of staff does it for them. While the modern vehicle workshop is often more akin to a surgical operating theatre than to the grubby, scrap-laden hovels of years ago, it is still an environment full of hazards.

A franchised dealer will have to present to both the manufacturer and the customer, a wellordered, smartly laid out workshop with excellent facilities for repair, diagnostics and the health of those working within.

Employers are governed by a raft of H&S legislation to safeguard the employee from exposure to unnecessary risk when using power tools, carcinogenic substances or just carrying out their routine work. Such regulations of course apply equally to an invited visitor.

However, no matter what safety measures are dictated by law or regulation, it will always ultimately fall to the man at the coal face

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to heed the rules and stick by them. For the employer, here lies the paradox. He may cajole and incentivise his staff to obey those rules, but unless he stands over them, sooner or later, a member of staff will try to short-circuit the prescribed way to complete a task.

At Lawgistics, we deal with a steady stream of cases where our clients require advice and assistance arising from ‘a recent workshop incident’. The consequences of not following the rules can range from amusing to tragic.

For instance, on one occasion, we had to advise on the embarrassing case of a Citroen 2CV that was driven on to a ramp by the customer instead of the mechanic.

Regrettably, the customer appeared to have little idea of either the width of the car or the ramp and drove clean off the edge! With two wheels in the central trough and two hanging over the side, the mechanics in the workshop decided the best way to recover the car (and its owner’s dignity) was to lift the car manually back

into position. Unfortunately, the rescue plan failed to take account of the way the car was assembled. With a man on each wing and one on each door, the customer watched in horror as each wing in turn was ripped from its rusty mounting, so that the entire weight of the hulk rested on the doors. Ultimately, the doors also parted company with the collapsing car.

Fortunately, the injuries that were suffered were offset by the hysterics that followed.

This incident began with the wrong decision to allow the customer to drive their car on to an unfamiliar ramp and was then compounded by a series of further mistakes.

The lesson is clear – make sure your staff know the rules, stick to them and always encourage others to do so. Also, deal with your customers carefully and if in doubt, do not permit them to enter the workshop. Always check your insurance cover to be sure you CAN allow a customer into the workshop. In the end, it will probably be cheaper and certainly safer!

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One free month of additional support

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’s 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/

Autologic produces a successful fully integrated vehicle diagnostics support system. AssistPlus is a tablet containing diagnostics software, a PDF viewer, web browser and YouTube application to allow you to investigate vehicles, along with a full vehicle history on the device recorded against VIN. An on-board camera allows you to capture video and stills. Club members signing up to Autologic Assist will receive a month of additional support on top of their first year.

£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.

TO JOIN GO TO WORKSHOPCLUB.CO.UK OR CALL 023 9252 2434 AND 34 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Does home laundering pose a threat to my employees?

D

o you supply protective clothing to your employees?

If so, requesting staff to take it home to be washed could expose them to hazardous substances.

The laundering of personal protective equipment (PPE) is covered under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.

Regulation 7 states: ‘Every employer shall ensure that any personal protective equipment provided to his employees is maintained (including replaced and cleaned as appropriate) in an efficient state’. Whilst the regulation does not state home laundering is forbidden, you first need to decide if it’s wise to go down that route and take into account any potentially hazardous substances that the

TRACK ROD REMOVAL TOOL KIT (4 PIECE) STOCK No. 42397 equipment or clothing might have come into contact with.

If you believe home laundering poses no risk, then you can include the requirement in contracts of employment.

Whilst there is no legal requirement to launder or pay for the costs of cleaning uniforms, this differs to PPE. Employers cannot charge or cause charges to be made to employees in relation to health and safety requirements. n If you have a dilemma that’s

giving you nightmares, an issue that’s keeping you awake, or a dispute that won’t go away, simply send an email to TheJudge@ lawgistics.co.uk and you may see your problem dealt with here.

Discount on software & free health check app

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Dragon2000’s dealer management system is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use products on the market.

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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SEEING IS BELIEVING • 69% of web traffic will be video based by 2017 • 78% of consumers are now using video as part of their on-line research • 64% of them are more likely to buy a product after watching a video • 87% of viewers said that video had a positive impact on their perception of a brand • A combined total of 18 billion videos are watched on Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat every day

£45

PER DEPARTMENT, PER MONTH

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36 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

FOCUS ON

EDYNAMIX

SERVICE PLANS THAT DEALERS CAN MANAGE THEMSELVES EDYNAMIX

T: 0845 413 0000 W: EDYNAMIX.COM

SERVICE plans are a key profit opportunity for dealers and a hugely important way of retaining customers.

One man who certainly believes this is Iain Nickalls, director of eDynamix – and Workshop Magazine caught up with him recently so he could tell us why this is the case and how workshops can benefit from getting involved with his company. ‘eDynamix was formed in 2010 by myself, Velizar Dimitrov and Sean Booth,’ explained Nickalls. ‘Sean’s got four Volkswagen dealers in the midlands, called Parkway, and we worked closely with him for a number of years, extracting data from his DMS and creating reports.

‘In 2009, he asked us to create a service plan system, because he’d had demonstrations from other companies in the marketplace at the time. He saw a lot of gaps and he didn’t like what was being sold to him. He asked us to create him a very simple service plan system, which we did.

‘He ran with it for six months and went up the league within the Volkswagen network for service plan sales to very near the top. Suddenly, we had other Volkswagen dealers asking how he was doing it. He showed them the system that we’d created and there was a lot of interest in it, so Sean, Velizar and myself took the decision to create eDynamix.’

Nickalls knew that he wanted eDynamix to be, above all else, usable. His intention was to create a system that gave dealers full control.

‘We started with the idea of making the service plan system very user-centric, very usable, giving all of the controls to the user, rather than relying on third parties to manage the customer. At the end of the day the customer belongs to the dealer rather than the company who’s providing the software.

‘The idea from the very outset was to provide a system that is user-friendly with all of the functions embedded to allow the dealer to manage its customers. At the end of 2010, we launched the commercial offering of our service plan system into Parkway and it got off to a flying start. We quickly started bringing dealers on board from other connections that Sean had within the network.

‘We developed the system further in the next couple of years, bringing in things like the live online amendment. If, for example, the customer’s doing higher mileage, the dealer can amend that, which modifies the next service date and all of the future payments, which you couldn’t do at the time with the other systems in the marketplace.

‘We started developing a few USPs that dealers really bought into. Some very big dealers came across to us really quickly. The loyalty and the retention from these customers buying these service plans grew because of the value in these plans that they’d never been able to build in before. Customers could see what they were actually buying from these dealers, rather than not knowing what was included.’

Nickalls emphasised the fact that service plans create loyal customers and provide plenty of upselling opportunity.

‘If you use a service plan at point of sale, be it a new or

used vehicle, you just about guarantee that they’re going to come back to your dealer for all their servicing requirements, but it also allows the upsell of items identified on that day during a health check.

‘That makes the sale of those items far easier because the customer has nothing to pay on the day of the visit.

‘So, Parkway has got 35-40 per cent of its customers on a service plan now, so it knows that it definitely has 35-40 per cent of their customers coming back into its workshop.

‘In the third year of using the service plan system, Parkway had to put in an extra MOT ramp at all four of its sites, the reason being MOTs can go anywhere from a main dealer to a Fred in a shed, but now, because it was building MOTs into service plans, it was getting far more throughput. It’s now into year six of the service plan system and saying it actually needs to add yet another ramp into each of the sites.’

Nickalls said that there are many reasons why eDynamix stands out from its competitors, but there were two key points he highlighted. ‘One is that we provide a system that allows a dealer to manage its own customer. We don’t operate a support call centre because we don’t need to – the system provides all of the functionality at the front end.

‘This allows a dealer to manage its customer and change

their plan depending on their requirements or their driving style, cancel a service plan or see what’s available in the fund.

‘Our system is completely and utterly based on front-end, dealer-facing information.

‘Secondly, we’re constantly developing the system. We listen to feedback and add bits – not features that we assume a dealer needs, but what dealers are actually telling us they need and what they would like. It’s about building in the ease and convenience for the consumer and the dealer, so we’re constantly developing.’

“

We don’t operate a support call centre because we don’t need to – the system provides all of the functionality at the front end.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 37

FOCUS ON

DPF FLASH CLEANING

CHECK OUT THE CLEAN MACHINE – AND CLEAR THAT BLOCKED DPF T: 01270 500 888 W: DPFFLASHCLEANING.CO.UK A DPF (diesel particulate filter) is a device installed in modern diesel vehicles with the purpose of preventing waste matter from entering exhaust gases. While DPFs are beneficial to the environment, they do require a certain amount of maintenance.

Simon Bebbington set up DPF Flash Cleaning, a company that specialises in maintaining these devices, when he realised there was a problem with the way most garages attempted to remove the waste that builds up inside them.

‘They call it regeneration,’ said Bebbington. ‘It involves getting the car up to a certain temperature and trying to force the waste through by revving the engine.

‘It may work for two weeks, it may work for two months, but you cannot possibly clean out that filter without actually cleaning it out, it just doesn’t work.

‘When you’re doing the regeneration, it’ll clean the

digester enough to put an engine light out, but there’s a certain amount of carbon that’s still in there and it builds up again over time. You’re not getting rid of the carbon in there.

‘In years and years of doing this job, we saw between 50 and 70 cars a month and we kept getting cars coming back with a DPF blockage. It’s an ongoing problem, so I thought there’s got to be something we can do about this.

‘If you replace it with non-genuine DPF, which is a cheaper way of doing it, they just don’t work, but a genuine DPF can cost anything from about £1,000 to £2,500. I scoured the internet and found this company in Milan. This guy out there had actually built his own machine after years of having this problem. I went out to see the machine, he showed me how it worked and we had one shipped over from Italy.’

Having acquired a piece of technology specifically designed to solve the exact problem he’d been searching for a solution

to, Bebbington went about creating the perfect business model for it.

DPF Flash Cleaning offers collection and delivery throughout the UK, with the process taking only a couple of hours. Alternatively, customers can bring the device in themselves and Bebbington’s team can have it turned around within the hour. Service costs £175 plus VAT, making it more than £800 cheaper than replacing the device.

It is slightly more expensive than the regeneration process, but the success rate is far higher.

‘We put the DPF on to the machine and it gives us a reading, so we know whether it’s blocked or not,’ said Bebbington. ‘If, for any reason, the DPF is not blocked, we can instantly abort the process, so we don’t have to charge the customer for doing it and we’ll just return the DPF to them with the readings, free of charge.’

Watch how it works at dpfflashcleaning.co.uk

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t. 01270 500 888 w. dpfflashcleaning.co.uk e. info@dpfflashcleaning.co.uk

Don’t replace it, clean it

If it can’t be cleaned, we don’t charge

38 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

SUPPLIERS GUIDE.

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

Welcome to your essential guide to leading suppliers

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.

Our guide to the industry’s must-have partners follows on from the success of a similar resource in our sister publication, Car Dealer Magazine.

This automotive repair, service and maintenance industry version will become just as indispensable.

Keep an eye on this space each month as we include more and more leading suppliers.

Diagnostic Equipment

Aftersales Software

Approved Schemes

eDynamix

RAC Approved Dealer Network

Garage Equipment

Garage Equipment

Garage Equipment

Butts of Bawtry

GEMCO

Pro-Align

Garage Equipment

Garage Management Software

Legal & Compliance

Straightset

Dragon2000

Lawgistics

Parts Suppliers

Parts Suppliers

Trade Bodies

Blue Print

Febi Bilstein

IGA

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: paul.bates@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 nearly 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.

Approved Dealer

W: rac.co.uk/getapproved T: 0330 159 1111 E: dealernetwork@rac.co.uk Info: Being authorised to use the RAC name as a badge of quality creates strong consumer confidence and increases profitability.

As an RAC Approved Dealer, you have access to one of the UK’s most respected motoring brands. There’s a range of RAC-backed products and services at your disposal, as well as a customer reach of more than 8 million RAC members to promote your dealership.

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.

Nebula Systems

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 34 and 35 of this issue for The Judge’s contribution to this month’s issue.

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

| 39

OUR FLEET.

BMW R1150GS Shouting, wall kicking and anger – James’s attempts to get his bikes running didn’t go entirely smoothly...

I

f further proof were needed that I should take any tools I own, wrap them in a leadlined box and throw them ceremoniously off a ferry into the Solent, then this latest disaster was it. What I had planned to be a busy weekend undertaking two very simple mechanical tasks to get my bikes running soon turned into a monumental cock-up – and as garage professionals, I tell you this only so you can laugh at my stupidity.

An upcoming stag do and an idea to ride from Gosport to Newquay meant I needed to get at least one of my two bikes working. And by working, I mean sort the batteries out. I have a habit of leaving my bikes for long periods of time without any action then expecting them to work when I want them to. Obviously, they never do.

I had both bikes – a Ducati 998 and a BMW R1150GS Adventure – plugged into trickle chargers, having purchased more new batteries than an Ann Summers regular in the past few years. But unfortunately I’d forgotten to turn the Ducati’s on, and the lead attached to the BMW was faulty.

First up it was the Duke’s turn for attention.

Having purchased a new battery online, with the help of a friend I prised the fairing off, located the old dead cell and stuck in the new one.

Carefully tightening the bolts back up and the fasteners for the fairing, the first thumb of the starter did nothing.

It was at this point we read the instructions and noticed the acid needed filling first…

Process repeated, battery in place and it was all systems go – first prod of the button and everything. In my excitement I jumped on and went for a ride. The following flat tyre and rescue by the RAC from a local pub isn’t worth going into, but needless to say I was glad to tuck the Ducati back into the garage.

Super unleaded everywhere... at this point, James decided to call in some professional help The following day, buoyed by the ‘success’ of the previous evening, I decided to tackle the BMW alone. I suspected the trickle-charging cable that plugged into a socket on the bike was the culprit so swapped it for the crocodile clip option in the packet. This worked, so my plan was to add the eyelets cable so that it was easy to charge in the future. A simple job, you’d have thought…

First I needed to hinge the fuel tank up. The GS’s battery is hidden under the 35-litre tank and requires a bolt to be removed to gain access.

Bolt located, I slowly undid it but then lost grip, dropping it into an impossible-to-retrievewith-fat-fingers gap.

Obviously at this point I thought employing the help of my six-year-old daughter and her less podgy fingers was a good idea – but as soon as she touched it, the bolt cascaded further down into an impossibly inaccessible gap like a rubbish 2p slot machine. Some 30 minutes later, I finally managed to get it out, so pressed on.

With the tank hinged up, the battery terminals were far easier to attack, so I slowly removed the negative bolt but then – ting, ting, ting… it also dropped into the bowels of the engine, and this time to a location I couldn’t see. Cue shouting, wall kicking, swearing and anger. A wave of calm, a look at the engine – then more shouting, more wall kicking and some tool throwing for

good measure. When I finally composed myself, I attempted to search for the missing bolt. I removed a side pod, the air box, but still nothing.

As I attempted to hinge up the tank to search further, I yanked a bit too hard – cue two fuel lines rupturing and 30 litres of super unleaded dumped all over my jeans, my shoes, my arms, the bike and the garage floor. I screamed, I yelled, I may just have sobbed, and then my wife arrived with buckets, bowls and a tub, all of which filled up fast with highly explosive liquid.

Covered in fuel, I refused to give in and took most of the bike apart to find the offending bolt.

Eventually I grabbed it out, Operation-style, with a magnetic screwdriver. I sort of managed to put the bike back together but it was clear I’d broken the fuel lines. I finally admitted defeat and called my mechanic. He laughed and said he’d sort it. Why I tried in the first place I’ll never know. One day I might just learn.

Model: BMW R1150GS Adventure Owned by: James Baggott Engine: 1150cc Bought for: £8,500 Mileage: 42,765 Spent this month: £0 Highlight of the month: Washing petrol out of my clothes.

OUR WHEELS...

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

40 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

FORD FIESTA XR2

VW TYPE 3 FASTBACK

NISSAN ELGRAND

FORD THUNDERBIRD

by James Baggott Chief executive, @CarDealerEd

by Rebecca Chaplin Head of content, @BelieveBecca

by Andy Entwistle Blackball Media MD, @CarDealerAndy

by Rebecca Chaplin Head of content, @BelieveBecca

I went into the Workshop mag lock-up to look for a charger cable (see bike disaster above). And yes, the XR2 was still there...

Nothing is ever simple. It seems an oil leak from the gearbox is steadily getting worse and my driveway is unfortunately bearing the brunt.

Bertha is safely, er, berthed at Workshop Towers but managing director Andy has been a bit too busy to do much with her just yet.

Ford parts should be easy to obtain, especially when the engine is the same as a Mustang’s – but I’ve had to search stateside for items I need!

Subaru Legacy GT-B

Nissan 200SX

Jon is glad to have some help on hand as he attempts a tricky task

It was love at first sight when Darren travelled to Somerset to bag this beauty

I RECENTLY decided it was about time the Legacy had an oil change. This is part of the joy of buying a car whose service history is in another language – I’ve no idea how old the stuff floating around in the sump is, who put it in there, or whether it’s Castrol 10w40 or just a particularly viscous batch of soy sauce.

After much Googling, I decided that I’d go completely over the top and throw in £50 of Fuchs 100 per cent synthetic ester-based stuff – hoping that if I treated the engine to some luxury lubrication, it might treat me to the luxury of not lunching itself any time soon.

With the car up in the air and axle stand positioning checked by an appropriate adult (Workshop Mag frequent face, Sean Tubby), it wasn’t long before a few litres of murky old oil were out, and the drain plug was safely back in with a new crush washer.

The oil filter seemed to have other ideas, though. Whether it hadn’t been given a smear of oil around the rim when it was installed, or had just been over-tightened, it wasn’t keen to come out without a fight – and so a fight with a removal tool (and Sean) it got.

New oil in and having seemingly avoided causing any damage to the car or myself, I think we can chalk this whole experience up as a win – particularly as the car feels much better for it.

Power delivery is less lumpy, and it seems much keener to rev than it did before.

Model: Subaru Legacy GT-B Blitzen Owned by: Jon Reay Engine: 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol Bought for: $460 + shipping + tax (£2,300-ish total) Mileage: 81,251 Money spent this month: £50 Highlight of the month: Carrying out my first oil change (with a bit of help, admittedly).

SUBARU LEGACY GT-B

I’VE been a bit obsessed with Nissan ‘S-chassis’ cars for more than a decade, ever since I was working at Tesco and a cashier colleague of mine bought one on the cheap.

In the intervening years, these front-engined, rear-wheel drive coupes from Japan became icons of the drift scene. Increasing popularity and the fact many were wrecked by spotty teenagers re-enacting their favourite scenes from The Fast And The Furious meant prices went up while I remained skint.

I’d all but given up hope of ever owning one of these legendary cars, when out of nowhere a near-stock S13 appeared on eBay and I knew I had to have it. To find one of these cars that didn’t look like someone had walked into Halfords and said ‘I’ll take it all’ was rare. (I intend to keep it as ‘factory’ as possible.)

So on a cold Saturday morning I made the two-hour journey to Yeovil where the car was parked up to check it over.

As pathetic as it sounds, it was love at first sight. I composed myself so as not to look too eager, then the owner left me alone to inspect it.

The ad said there was almost no rust, but these old Nissans are notorious for it so I must admit I was sceptical.

However, as far as I could see, there was nothing major, so after a quick drive I parted with a large wad of cash and took the keys.

A later trip to a friend’s garage allowed me to inspect the underneath and while there’s

BMW 330D TOURING

MG METRO TURBO

definitely been some treatment – which essentially means someone’s covered it up – it’s in impressive condition.

Naturally for a 23-year-old, there are some niggles. One of the engine mounts is shot so I’ve sourced some uprated replacements from Driftworks for a little over £200 – but that’s for next month’s pay packet.

More worrying is a slight hesitation in performance under load – apparently I didn’t drive it hard enough in the test drive. It was quite obvious from about 3,500 revs on full throttle – seemingly as boost came in – but was mostly fixed by putting the cat back in the exhaust. Strange. Now it’s only noticeable at high revs in third gear and above.

The engine itself feels absolutely sweet, so I’m not too concerned – yet. It’s just a case of chasing the problem to find the cause.

Once that’s sorted I’ll be over the moon with the purchase. This really is a JDM unicorn, and I couldn’t be happier to have my name on the V5.

Model: Nissan 200SX Owned by: Darren Cassey Engine: Turbocharged 1.8-litre inline-four Bought for: £3,750 Mileage: 131,000 Spent this month: £4.50 (Lightbulb!)

Highlight of the month: Driving home in my very own unicorn.

NISSAN 200SX

PEUGEOT 205 GTI 1.9

by Jon Reay Multimedia manager, @JonReay

by Jack Evans News editor, @jackrober

by Christian Tilbury Staff writer, @Christilbury1

by Darren Cassey Staff writer, @DCassey

by James Baggott Chief executive, @CarDealerEd

This month marks the Legacy’s (and Jon’s) first official oil change, albeit with a little help from one of Workshop’s tame mechanics…

Belfort has been treated to a major spring clean. The mechanicals remain an issue, but who cares when the car’s so shiny?

An impending house move has taken all of Christian’s cash and time, so the Metro’s return to the road has been foiled again.

The honeymoon period is coming to an end and it’s time to sort out the minor engine problem.

Hopefully it won’t be too pricey.

Matt The Mechanic still has my pride and joy. There’s been quite a big bill predicted. I’m in hiding as I don’t fancy coughing up...

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 41

OUR KEV.

OUR MAN ON THE INSIDE SPILLS THE BEANS ON THE GARAGE BUSINESS...

Why has rust made a return?

It all comes down to money...

S omething has started to make quite a comeback in recent years, and it’s something that us MOT testers don’t like very much. The scourge of cars of the 1970s and 1980s – rust – is back with a vengeance, and it has started to attack in stealth mode.

The reason behind this is vanity.

Styling has started to take precedence over sensible design, meaning more and more cars are fitted with sill covers, to the extent that whenever I MOT a car fitted with them, I always advise that ‘sill covers prevented full inspection of the vehicle’s structure’.

Some owners get quite grumpy about this as they believe it blots their vehicle’s copybook, but as a tester I need to ensure I fully cover myself. If, for example, a car turned out to be dangerously corroded on inspection after a serious traffic accident, then by not advising it, I could get into trouble. And the picture you see on this page is all you need to know to see why.

The car in question is a 2002 Jaguar X-Type, and the image is of the back of the offside sill. That round thing you can see through the hole is the rear subframe mounting point, which is clearly significantly weakened.

The owner of this particular car couldn’t believe it when I told him that not only had his car failed the MOT, but that it probably wasn’t an economically viable repair.

The sill on the other side was holed, too, albeit not as badly, while at the front of the car the outer sills and lower bulkhead were also crusty, to the extent that if I’d whacked them a bit harder with the MOT man’s toffee hammer, they may, too, have gone through.

Realistically, the Jaguar needed around £1,000-worth of welding, and that was just what I could find. I’d bet you my last fiver that behind the plastic sill covers, there were more horrors awaiting unexposed.

‘But modern cars don’t rust!’ exclaimed the owner, pointing out – not incorrectly – that the visible bodywork of his car was highly polished and pretty much immaculate.

Indeed, in every area apart from the chassis, the Jaguar was in terrific condition for its year. A clean and unworn interior, unmarked alloys and a great service history indicated it was a car that had been well cared for, so it was hardly surprising the owner was crestfallen when I broke the news. That’s why I took the photos. Once I’d shown him the pictures, he accepted its fate.

In fairness, a few years back, a 15-year-old car would have been well past its use-by date anyway. Back in the ‘halcyon days’ of simple-to-maintain classics, you were lucky to see a decade before they succumbed to terminal corrosion. And

there were some cars that were worse than others. Minis, Metros, Fiats and any Japanese models from the Seventies or Eighties spring instantly to mind, along with the very first Mk 4 Ford Escorts, which were held together with all the integrity of a Christmas cracker.

Back then, we were happy to accept it. But in the current era of much improved paint quality, galvanised panels and cars that are much more likely to end up in the knackers’ yard as a result of mechanical failure rather than corrosion, it’s a shock to the system.

Not least because, in the 1990s, cars were so well protected from corrosion (with notable exceptions such as the Ford Ka, Mercedes C-Class and Nissan Micra K11) that we started to believe rust was a thing of the past.

Indeed, look at any 1990s Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat or Volvo that you see on the road today, and while the interior may look as if it has been attacked by a pitbull, the bodywork will inevitably be rot-free.

So why the change? Why is it that cars of the 2000s are rotting out, when their forebears were so resilient?

Simple. It comes down to money. In the Nineties, car makers were so determined to up their game in the quality department, ostensibly to take on the Germans (who, time has told us, weren’t as good at rust prevention as their reputation suggested) that they made their cars too good, and people stopped replacing them. And that makes no business sense whatsoever.

The X-Type is a great case in point. If the team that engineered the car had rounded off the sill covers, or fitted a simple rubber or plastic seal to prevent water ingress between the plastic ‘sill’ and the metal one, then the dirt and moisture trap that ultimately leads to the cars being eaten alive wouldn’t even be there.

But to do that would mean that 15-year old X-Types such as the seemingly immaculate one I refused an MOT to would go on forever, such is the quality of the engineering elsewhere. And then people wouldn’t buy new cars any more.

A cautionary tale, then. If you’re in the market for an older used car, appearances can be deceptive. Make sure you stick your head (and your fingers) into the grubby bits, as it could save you a lot of money in the long run…

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 and has a fund of stories to tell...

42 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

”

In the Nineties, car makers were so determined to up their game in the quality department, that they made their cars too good.

Try Autodata now at www.autodata-group.com

IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY MORE WORKSHOPS TRUST AUTODATA Comprehensive and trusted access to technical information for service, maintenance, diagnostics and repair.

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B161

B239

B33

B193

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136 manufacturers - 32,000 models - 550,000 technical WorkShopMagazine.co.uk procedures | 43

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© Copyright and database rights: Autodata Limited 1974-2017.

Terms and conditions

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Application status

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Copyright notice

2

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6 (15 Nm + 90 ) 12

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R64

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B30

21

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• • • • • •

Turn crankshaft clockwise until crankshaft keyway at 12 o’clock position 1 .

Ensure timing mark on RH bank exhaust camshaft adjuster positioned as shown 2 .

Remove RH bank timing chain tensioner 3 .

Remove RH bank tensioner rail and guide 4 & 5 .

Remove RH bank timing chain.

Remove bolts of RH bank camshaft adjusters 6 .

Slide RH bank camshaft adjusters forward 2 mm.

Compress RH bank camshaft coupling chain tensioner plunger and turn 90 ° anti-clockwise to lock plunger 7 .

Remove RH bank camshaft coupling chain and camshaft adjusters as an assembly.

Turn crankshaft clockwise until crankshaft keyway at 5 o’clock position 8 .

Remove LH bank timing chain tensioner 9 .

Remove LH bank tensioner rail and guide 10 & 11.

Remove LH bank timing chain.

Remove bolts of LH bank camshaft adjusters 12 .

Slide LH bank camshaft adjusters forward 2 mm.

Compress LH bank camshaft coupling chain tensioner plunger and turn 90 ° anti-clockwise to lock plunger 7 .

Remove LH bank camshaft coupling chain and camshaft adjusters as an assembly.

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Optional upgrade of odour filter to odour filter plus

3

2

5

K12-II

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•

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Every 150000 miles or 120 months

•

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Every 120 months regardless of miles/km

Important

Warning: Engines with variable valve timing: Mark camshafts, camshaft sprockets, camshaft adjusters and related camshaft drive system components (as applicable) with chalk or paint prior to removal or dismantling to assist alignment on installation.

Renew

Cabing filter, odour (if fitted)

4

K129

Removal

FINAL ITEMS CHECK

Open all Valve timing procedures

ENGINE BAY OPERATIONS

4

30A 30A

2

B153

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VEHICLE HALF RAISED

Every 24 months regardless of miles/km

1 3

4

30A

3

K20

B30 Mass air flow (MAF) sensor

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14

20

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VEHICLE FULLY RAISED

Choose additional service:

«

ws

Air conditioning deodoriser (hrs) 0.10h

1 3

F16

7,5A 7,5A

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Air conditioning check (hrs) 0.20h

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4

F24 F40

2

el

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F2

70A

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37500 miles 36 months

X28-I

F6

150A

F1

Wiring150A diagrams

HIDE

Settings

Range Rover Evoque

hgn

Timing chain

Support

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