Workshop Magazine Issue 26

TOP TECHNOLOGY: WHY FUTURISTIC HYBRID IS IN POLE POSITION

ISSUE 26 | NOVEMBER 2017

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L A T N E M IT’S ELE ers) nk bo bit le litt a nd (a h itis Br of st be e th s ’ at th g Design and engineerin

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What happened when we tried Nissan’s driverless GT-R

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CONTENTS.

EDITORIAL HEAD OF EDITORIAL REBECCA CHAPLIN

rebecca@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @believebecca

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PRODUCTION EDITOR DAVE BROWN

dave@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @CarDealerDave

FEATURES EDITOR JACK EVANS

jack@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @jackrober

SENIOR STAFF WRITER DARREN CASSEY

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

STAFF WRITER SIMON DAVIS

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

HEAD OF DESIGN GRAEME WINDELL

graeme@blackballmedia.co.uk Twitter: @graemewindell

A night to remember! Eight pages of coverage from our second annual Workshop Power Awards

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Workshop Magazine Awards: Get your tickets for the best Christmas party in the industry!

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The Judge delivers his verdict on the problems you have sent in

Our Kev: Another crazy scheme that could put our safety on the roads in jeopardy

ADVERTISING

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New for you: Three pages of latest gear

SALES MANAGER JON HICKEY

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

ACCOUNT MANAGER MICHELLE SEARLE

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FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION finance@blackballmedia.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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Our Fleet: Jon’s feeling a little flat...

Welcome

16

THIS month in Workshop Magazine, we’re taking a closer look at some of the new technology that’s making its way on to our roads.

Polestar – Volvo’s performance and now electric brand – has introduced its first standalone car with keyless entry operated with your phone.

The car features plenty of other technological advancements too, and you can find out more by turning the page. Developments like these mean garages need to prepare themselves for when futuristic models start arriving with you for mechanical, electrical or even just general service work.

If you’re looking to change any of your suppliers at the moment, maybe we can help with our Workshop Power Awards section, which starts on page 22.

We recently held the exclusive awards ceremony at the top of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, and I was privileged enough to hand out some of the trophies to our delighted winners.

I’ve got to say a huge thank you to every one of

A visit to Elemental: Incredible craftsmanship – and incredible cars our readers who completed our survey. Without your opinions, the awards would simply not exist!

The team who produce Workshop magazine have absolutely no say in the outcome; it’s all about the way you scored your suppliers.

Elsewhere, we’ve got a special feature from one of Britain’s boldest brands, Elemental, on page 16.

Our reporter Aidan Rennie-Jones was lucky enough to get behind the wheel of the company’s incredible machine and you can read all about his experiences.

Still haven’t got round to organising your Christmas party yet? Why not let us do the hard work for you and celebrate the festive season in style at the Workshop Magazine Awards in London on December 11? You can find out how to join us on page 10.

Enjoy the issue.

Rebecca Chaplin, Head of Editorial WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 03

NEWS.

FUTURE VISION:

POLESTAR 1

The Polestar 1 is the first model from Volvo Car Group’s electric car performance brand.

We’re taking a look at its intriguing features to find out what the brand thinks is the future of motoring. Tristan Shale-Hester reports.

Powertrain

Although Polestar has confirmed that all of its future cars will be fully electric, the company’s first model is in fact a hybrid. The 1 is fitted with Volvo’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder Drive-E petrol engine, which produces 377bhp.

A further 215bhp comes from two electric motors, taking the total power output up to 592bhp.

04 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Phone-as-key

Polestar is utilising a new technology called phone-as-key. It pretty much does what it says on the tin, allowing the driver to download a mobile app and use their smartphone as a car key. Additionally, the owner can share the virtual key with other people they want to allow to drive the car.

Subscription

One of the most interesting things about the Polestar 1 is actually the way customers purchase them. Instead of going to a dealership, people who want to buy this hybrid GT car need to go online and sign up to a flat-rate monthly subscription, lasting two or three years. At the end of the subscription, Polestar takes the car back, refurbishes it and sells it as a used vehicle. Orders are now being taken for delivery in 2019.

Driving modes

Platform

Grid

Instead of a traditional front grille, the Polestar 1 has a grid, designed to house sensors for the car’s various pieces of technological wizardry. It’s accompanied by two different sets of stylish light strips at the front and rear of the vehicle.

Due to the 1’s hybrid set-up, Polestar has been able to give it two distinct driving modes. Firstly, it can be driven in fully electric mode, in which the engine is switched off and the car draws all of its power from the two electric motors, which power just the rear wheels. The vehicle can achieve a range of approximately 93 miles in this mode. Alternatively, both the engine and electric motors can be used simultaneously, with the petrol unit providing power to the front wheels, as well as acting as a generator.

The 1 is a 2+2 grand tourer based on Volvo’s Scalable Platform Architecture, but around 50 per cent of the car’s platform has been built from scratch by Polestar’s engineers. It’s also the first car to be fitted with Öhlins Continuously Controlled Electronic Suspension advanced chassis technology, which significantly improves the driving dynamics. The carbon fibre body means the car is extremely light, has excellent torsional stiffness and a low centre of gravity. In addition, the double electric rear axle enables torque vectoring, allowing for maximum speed and grip in the corners.

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NEWS. | SERVICING |

NEWS ROUND-UP.

What’s been making the headlines at workshops around the United Kingdom?

BOLTON:

A state-of-the-art workshop and MOT testing area will open as part of a new £8 million Jaguar Land Rover dealership in Bolton. The 5,700 square foot scheme will house the Farnell JLR team who will relocate from their existing site in Farnworth when the project is complete. Farnell Jaguar Land Rover is part of Vertu Motors plc and Vertu group property director Andy Johnson told the Business Quarter website: ‘We’re very pleased to be getting work under way at our new Farnell Jaguar Land Rover site in Bolton.’

STOCKTON:

A dedicated employee who has worked for the same firm for 25 years has been rewarded for his loyalty. Martin Small, 43, from Stockton, is celebrating a quarter of a century at Jennings Ford in the town. Working as part of a 15-strong team, his role in the busy aftersales department entails carrying out services, MOTs, maintenance work and repairs to customers’ vehicles.

To mark Small’s milestone, Paul Barker, workshop controller at the dealership, presented him with a loyalty certificate and vouchers.

RUGBY:

Following hot on the heels of Revive! West Lincs being runner-up in the Lincolnshire Business Awards, Revive! head office in Rugby has been named as a finalist in the Business of the Year category for the 2017 Coventry and Warwickshire Awards. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner to be held at Coombe Abbey on November 28. Managing director Mark Llewellyn said: ‘We’re on a roll! Revive! is going from strength to strength. Winning awards is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to excellence.’

OXFORD:

Two brothers who have worked at their family’s garage in Oxford since the early 1970s are retiring.

Alan and Paul Howkins are leaving Howkins Garage – but the business will continue with a new owner. Alan, 70, who has been in charge of the firm since 1992, told the Oxford Mail: ‘It really is the end of an era for us. The family name has been on this site since my great-grandfather moved to a house nearby in 1898 – that’s a connection going back about 120 years.’

Motorists happy to pay a bit more to garages they trust DRIVERS in the UK are happy to pay more when getting their car serviced at a garage they deem trustworthy, according to new research by the AA Garage Guide.

The study of 16,772 motorists by the AA’s MOT, repairs and car servicing garage finder revealed that a quarter (26 per cent) of drivers paid more to visit a garage they trusted when they last serviced their car, while 22 per cent went out of their way to visit an accredited garage.

However, 11 per cent struggled to anticipate how much they might be spending, saying they were unsure of how much a service should cost.

Meanwhile, a further nine per cent were stung by unexpected charges during their most recent service.

A small number of drivers felt this naivety was taken advantage of, as four per cent believed they had been overcharged and three per cent believed they had been charged for non-existent problems.

Yet when it comes to finding a benchmark for reasonable prices, drivers appeared to be at a complete loss, as just nine per cent took the time to shop around or compare costs.

Olli Astley, director at AA Garage Guide, said: ‘An independent quality and standards accreditation, such as AA’s Certified Garages scheme or an IMI accreditation, is a solid indicator of good customer service and proof of a garage’s commitment to delivering high-quality service.’

| SELECTION |

Cayenne tyres are from Bridgestone BARNSLEY:

Autosupplies Chesterfield Ltd has acquired Barnsley-based motor factor Butlers Automotive. The acquisition is the first of its kind for Autosupplies. Butlers Automotive has been trading in Barnsley for more than 40 years but in the past year has suffered the tragic loss of both its owners, Philip and Nicollette Parkin. David Clarke, Autosupplies managing director, praised Butlers’ staff for their professionalism during a difficult period and added: ‘We are delighted to have secured Butlers Automotive’s future and can’t wait to get started.’

BRIDGESTONE has been selected

by Porsche to be a supplier of tyres for the third-generation Porsche Cayenne. The Dueler H/P Sport which is being fitted to both 19 and 20 inch wheels was fully developed at the Bridgestone European Technical Centre in Rome. The tyres will be produced in Poznan, Poland.

This is a notable return for Bridgestone as an OE fitment on Porsche. Christophe de Valroger, Bridgestone vice president, OE Europe, said: ‘We are very proud to have been selected.’

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| 07

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NEWS.

Why part-worn tyres are ‘a false economy’ Consumers are warned about products which are often sold illegally

T

yreSafe has spoken about its concerns over the roadworthiness of partworn tyres – leading to negative publicity for garages who deal in them.

It says that part-worn tyres may appear to be the cheaper option for consumers but that several studies and investigations by TyreSafe and trading standards have highlighted significant concerns.

Ninety-three per cent of partworns inspected recently have been sold illegally with more than half having safety-critical faults.

However, with the current economic climate leading many motorists to seek the cheapest

means to maintain their cars, partworns, often advertised with low price tags, may seem appealing.

Drivers are reminded, though, that the lifetime cost of buying used tyres is actually higher, at £6.33 per mm compared with £5.32 for a new tyre. TyreSafe says that the false economy of buying part-worns in addition to the uncertainty over their safety is further highlighted by the ‘poor quality of service and expertise’ of those fitting the tyres.

Jahmel Hamilton-Alexander from Buckinghamshire, pictured, is one motorist who has suffered as a result of buying part-worns.

He said: ‘My MOT was looming and I needed to replace the tyres

quickly so I went to a partworn dealer.

The tread was OK so it went through the MOT but then one started to deflate. I was having to pump it up every few days so I went back but I was not greeted in great fashion.

‘After it was removed, it was clear it had had an illegal repair, which made it dangerous but they wouldn’t do anything about it.

‘In fact, I ended up having to go through trading standards and getting a county court judgment to get my money back. That took two-

and-a-half months. No amount of money is worth risking your safety – my family could have been in that car when the repair failed. I won’t buy part-worns again and I wouldn’t advise anybody else to either.’

Part-worn tyres can be sold with 2mm tread depth, which leaves just 0.4mm – half the thickness of a bank card – before they reach the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm.

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| 09

AWARDS.

THE ENTRIES ARE IN – SO IT’S NOT LONG UNTIL PARTY TIME! Are you planning a Christmas party?

Right through the year, our readers have been voting for the unsung heroes of the automotive aftermarket – and now their moment of glory is approaching.

A

s you must be aware by now – and if not, where HAVE you been?! – this year, we are proud to launch the Workshop Magazine Awards.

Although the deadline for entries has now passed, you can still get involved by coming along to the glittering ceremony to see us hand over the gongs and enjoy a fabulous Christmas party!

Trophies will be awarded in a variety of categories. We’ll be honouring the Classic Car Restoration Garage of the Year, the Technician of the Year and the Independent Garage of the Year, to mention just three of those included.

Why not join us? You don’t have to be up for a gong to meet the Workshop Magazine team and enjoy what is sure to be a fabulous seasonal celebration. The venue we have chosen is The Brewery in Chiswell Street, London.

It’s an amazing place that oozes class and sophistication and is simply stunning. We know our guests will love it there – and it has hosted the Used Car Awards, organised by Workshop’s sister title Car Dealer, for the past five years.

So what can you expect if you secure tickets to the best party in the automotive aftermarket?

Well, guests will be treated to welcome cocktails and wine, then we’ll take our seats for the first half of the awards. Celebrity host Johnny Herbert will do his stuff, after which it’ll be time for a delicious three-course dinner prepared by The Brewery’s award-winning chefs.

Following that, we’ll announce the final winners, then it’ll be time for dancing, with the night topped off by a disco. There will be plenty of time to enjoy the company of industry colleagues and get busy with some networking in a relaxed yet stylish environment.

As we have mentioned in previous editions of Workshop Magazine, there are two things we are particularly delighted about as we look forward to the awards: the fact that our host for the evening will be the motorsport legend Johnny Herbert, and also that the IGA have given the awards their backing as our headline sponsor, with director Stuart James saying the organisation is ‘thrilled’ to be involved.

Join us at The Brewery on Monday December 11 for the Workshop Magazine Awards!

They’ll be hosted by Johnny Herbert Enjoy a three-course meal with a free bar (beer and wine) And dance the night away with our fab disco Johnny Herbert

You’re guaranteed a great night at the inaugural Workshop Magazine Awards in December

HURRY – TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST ! TO BOOK YOURS, CALL (023) 9252 2434

10 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

NEWS.

Schaeffler employees donned a variety of headgear

| PAGID |

Higher safety levels for all brake discs PAGID has implemented a higher safety standard across all of its brake discs.

The subsidiary of TMD Friction is now ensuring that all discs it offers for passenger car models meet ECE R90 standards, going above legal requirements.

The R90 specification applies to all brake discs manufactured after November 2016. An independent body measures geometric parameters, chemical composition, design, microstructure, mechanical properties and key dimensions on all discs in both lab and real-world conditions.

In addition to this, Pagid tests all of its brake discs extensively during development and before release.

| AUDATEX |

More advanced software released AUDATEX has launched a more advanced version of its vehicle damage assessment and estimate software. Audaenterprisegold 4.0 has been designed to improve the efficiency of vehicle damage assessment and communications for insurers and workshops, using its wide data coverage to ensure an accurate and consistent estimation and accident repair.

There are now a number of new features, such as a repair optimisation tool with an Audagraphics screen, allowing customers to create and save customised repair parameters.

| GSF CAR PARTS |

Famous customer hails transformation GSF Car Parts’ Smethwick branch has received an investment boost in stock and signs, impressing one well-known customer in the process – Tim Shaw, the presenter of long-running rescue and restoration TV series Car SOS, who’s been sourcing spares from Smethwick to help mend his current crop of cherished classics.

‘The building has been transformed, it’s a big improvement,’ said Shaw.

Branch manager Adam Brindley added: ‘We’re delighted with the results of the upgrade and we’ve already seen a boost in business.’

Hat’s the way to increase mental health awareness!

Schaeffler staff join fund-raising effort to boost the coffers of the charity Ben

S

taff at Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket (UK) joined fellow members of the industry in raising money for the automotive charity Ben – by wearing wacky hats to work to promote awareness about the growing potential for mental health issues to affect colleagues both at work and at home.

Employees based at the company’s Minworth and Hereford offices delved into their wardrobes and cupboards to find hats for the occasion on Friday, October 13, before making donations to the notfor-profit organisation.

Schaeffler’s Twitter page was crammed with photos from the day, including one of technical trainer Alistair Mason, who went one

by JOHN BOWMAN john@blackballmedia.co.uk step further with the inclusion of an inflatable ghetto blaster, and a picture of warehouse administrator Chelsey Wigmore, right, who didn’t think one hat was enough!

Schaeffler shared the images with other members of the automotive industry on social media by adding the hashtag #HatsOn4MentalHealth, which trended on Twitter.

Ben partners with the automotive industry to provide life-changing support for its people and their families to make a positive difference to their lives.

It says that every one of the 800,000 people working in the industry may one day need the care of its volunteers.

Why limit yourself to one hat?!

VW’s free servicing offer extended to the end of 2017 VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles has extended its free servicing offer until the end of the year after it proved popular with customers.

The ‘Working With You’ scheme allowed owners of its commercial vehicles to claim up to two free services between July and October

2017, and has now been extended until the end of this year ‘to give van operators what they need and maximise uptime’.

The two free services can be claimed on any model that was bought with VW Commercial Vehicle Financial Services, including the

Caddy, Transporter and Crafter.

The offer comprises one interim service and one full service, covering customers for up to two years or 20,000 miles of routine servicing.

VW says this scheme reduces vehicle downtime and ensures fleet vehicles are well maintained.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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NEWS.

Technicians undergoing thorough training

| PERFORMANCE |

Dealerships raise aftersales game DEALERSHIPS in the UK saw improved performance in aftersales during September, according to autoVHC. The electronic vehicle health check provider says there was an average increase of eight per cent in the number of cars being brought into dealership workshops, rising from 267 to 289 in September. The sample of 500 dealerships also showed a 17 per cent rise in vehicle health check completion, with an average rate of 205, compared with 175 in July.

The average invoice for a health check was £61, meaning aftersales departments saw an increase of £1,830 in profits. Amplified across the 1,900 dealers in the UK, this equates to an additional £9 million.

Chris Saunders, business unit director at autoVHC, said: ‘Previous data revealed a poor start to Q3, with dealerships missing out on a significant amount of work. The latest figures, however, are far more encouraging.

Service departments seized more of the opportunities presented to them.

‘The generation of additional revenue is a welcome outcome where profits are concerned, especially given fears of a slowdown in vehicle sales.

‘Moreover, it demonstrates that aftersales departments are placing a greater focus on ensuring processes are carried out effectively.’

12 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Ford’s UK dealers seeking 1,000 new technicians Recruits will support sales growth of advanced next-generation models from the Blue Oval

I

ndependent Ford dealers across the UK are recruiting 1,000 technicians with cuttingedge software, electronic and electrical skills to reflect the rapid evolution of the manufacturer’s product range.

Ford of Britain says they are needed because the launch of the technologically advanced all-new Fiesta as well as the planned introduction of new electric and hybrid powertrains combined with the ongoing Transit sales success is stimulating a surge in demand.

Responsible for complex diagnostics and repairs, master technicians, the highest ranking, can earn up to £45,000 a year.

The new positions are available nationwide for existing trained technicians, technically competent mechanics, trained armed forces technicians and apprentices.

In addition to working at Ford dealerships and workshops, technicians can also join Ford’s new Mobile Service Programme, providing maintenance work on site for fleet customers.

by REBECCA CHAPLIN @believebecca Andy Barratt, chairman and managing director of Ford of Britain, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to join the UK’s biggest network, representing the country’s favourite car and van brand.’

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – the UK’s automotive trade body – recorded 2016 as the busiest year for workshops and garages in the UK. Alongside the increase in demand, an Auto Retail Network report highlighted European-wide shortages of specialised technicians.

Comprehensive training up to master technician level will be provided free to the new technicians at the state-of-the-art Henry Ford Academy in Daventry, which is partnered with The Motor Ombudsman, the organisation responsible

Leah Catton

for raising industry standards and improving best practice in aftermarket servicing.

Leah Catton, 19, an apprentice technician at the Sandicliffe Ford dealer in Nottingham who started her Level 2 apprenticeship at the Henry Ford Academy last year, said: ‘My passion for engineering began during trips to the British Touring Car Championships when I was younger. Visiting the pits and talking with engineers sparked my interest.

‘I had just begun my Level 2 Light Vehicle Maintenance Course when I was made aware of the apprenticeship scheme at the Sandicliffe Ford dealership.

‘Every day is different, and with support from my mentor I’m already involved in complex computer diagnostics and maintenance tasks. Meanwhile, I’m continuing my formal instruction at the Henry Ford Academy.

‘I want to make the most of my training and work in the racing scene – preferably in BTCC, where it all started for me.’

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WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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FEATURES.

PART 2:

COASTING ALONG WITH TOP BEACHES AND NEW FRIENDS

Mechanics Andy Gove and Sean Tubby are biking around the globe on Honda Africa Twins and the tale of their epic journey is unfolding here in their own words.

After ‘conquering’ Germany and Austria, it’s onwards from Hungary...

O

Budapest to Constanta Andy Gove

ur roads between Hungary and Romania were mostly motorways, and while highly functional they were mostly uneventful. We made our mileage and ate a flat across our oncehemispherical rear tyres (mine more than Sean’s because apparently it’s constructed out of the same material used to make pencil rubbers).

We chose to ride to Deva, a good point to stop for the night, where we found a secluded little place by the river. It was a great spot until the next morning where, it turned out, we had set up shop in the centre of the local getaway for the entire town. It yielded groups of barbecueing families pumping repetitive string-based Romanian music from their car door speakers.

Nonetheless, they showed no more than a slightly amused passing interest and were quick to help as I tried to ride out of the uneven terrain but folded under the pressure of so many eyes, over-balancing to drop Florence on her side yet again. Yes, I said again, and I’m well aware of the count.

Hitting the motorway, we settled in to chew out some more mileage but were quickly forced off it owing to the fact it stopped existing – apparently it’s still under construction. After some hair-raising moments on the poorly signposted roads, although perfectly resurfaced, the road joined back to a motorway that we used to chew up the last 80 miles into Bucharest.

We spent the night here, sampling the delights of a local micro-brewery. The temperature is now up in the 30s, with the cold and damp climate of Austria a distant memory. Chasing the sun further, we set off to the coast and to Constanta.

We decided that all four of us could use a break (Sean, myself, Flo and Barb) so we carried out some minor repairs. This included a ‘new’ delivery nozzle made from cable ties for Sean’s bike and some carb fettling on mine.

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Fun and excitement at the wheel of the Kübelwagen We realised that the gorgeous beach had a number of bars dotted conveniently along its sandy stretch, so we took the opportunity to carry out a bar crawl before taking a dip in the sea and then stumbling to the final stop for an extremely large pizza. We’ll stick to the coast road until Turkey as the beaches are something else – and why the hell not...?

T

Bulgaria. The coast Sean Tubby

his one goes out to all of our new friends in the small coastal village in Bulgaria, the name of which we’ll keep quiet, as requested, to preserve its idyllic beauty and untouched, unmolested scenery.

We didn’t plan to stop here, we just rode until we were tired and needed a place to sleep.

Heading towards the beach from the coastal road, we camped up, sat in our chairs and cracked open some cheap beer (around £1.20 for two litres). About half an hour later, an old-school Toyota Land Cruiser rocked up into the nearby car park: enter, Steffi. She is trying to track down some of her friends in their car and wanders over for a chat. Three days of laughter, embracing an entirely different lifestyle and meeting a solid bunch of people ensued.

We were invited by Steffi (a student of sports management in Germany) to accompany her family and friends to the beach. The beach we were told to meet everyone on was a nature reserve and the local beach of choice – and for obvious reasons: it was stunning.

We were then invited to pitch our tents in the garden of Steffi’s parents, Albena and Dimiter.

Feeling a little taken aback by the offer, we were unsure at first, but decided why not? Go with the gut feeling – something that will hopefully stand

A novel approach to hotel parking...

A beach somewhere in Bulgaria

Mamma mia! Tucking into a giant pizza after an exhausting day on a beach bar crawl us in good stead for the rest of this trip. We were taken from our camp spot along some of the worst roads we had ridden on yet. It was a mess, but brilliant at the same time. Let’s just say the Hyperpro suspension was given a good workout.

Upon entry to their village, we saw a VW Type 181 (Trekker, or Kübelwagen, as it is often referred to). I’ll come back to this later...

We became part of the crew, no questions asked, and they made us feel like we had known them for years. Our first beach party began with 17 people bundling into three cars. Steffi’s brother, Peter, was behind the wheel of the Land Cruiser. He hacked it down the ‘roads’ that led to the secluded beach. I was blown away by the fact that this vehicle was handling the terrain, as it looked impassable. Even more surprising was looking behind me and seeing Alex in his Seat Marbella (Fiat Panda), casually manoeuvring his city car up a rocky 18 per cent incline with wheel ruts pushing half a metre deep. As the drum

and bass pounded my ears and the thud of rocks smashing the underside of the Toyota could be felt, I nervously looked at Peter and he smiled and said, ‘It’s OK’. And it was.

After returning at 6.30 in the morning, the next day was a late starter. In the early afternoon we were greeted by Kalina. I had expressed an interest in the Kübelwagen the night before and she informed us that her father was outside with it and wanted to take us for a drive. Everyone who knows me will appreciate the excitement that followed.

We were driven out to the ruins of the old village and the church that had once stood on the cliff side, and looking over the edge we could see what was left of it. Steffi and Kalina kindly translated her father’s words as he explained the history of the area.

The keys were then handed to me and a Second World War helmet placed on my head.

Being cautious at first, I drove along the village

That’s living all right! roads and was quickly told I was driving too slowly. I hit the gas and the Kübel flew up the track with no effort at all. The sound of rocks beating the floor pan apparently wasn’t an issue. The 1,500cc motor pulled like a train, with various-sized chunks of debris pinging out from under the wheels. I jumped out and Andy took the wheel with the same excitement I had.

It was perfect.

We decided to stay another night and repeated the beach-based mayhem for a second time.

Lengthy discussions with George, an engineering teacher also studying in Germany, regarding autonomous cars and electric vehicles were aplenty. We called it a night at 4.30am and drove back to the village with the stereo maxed and Kid Cudi’s Pursuit of Happiness blasting from the speakers. Bliss!

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FEATURES.

SWING LOW, SWEET ELEMENTAL...

Aidan Rennie-Jones finds out just what makes this solidly British road-legal track day car tick – and discovers how much fun it is to drive.

H

eading through the Hampshire countryside, I was full of excitement and fear. I was about to drive an Elemental Rp1 – a track day car that makes a Ferrari look slow. With a 0-60mph time of just 2.7 seconds, it’s a race car designed for the road.

As the country lane wound round towards my destination in Hambledon, I spotted the vehicle in question parked right outside a large barn.

Getting out, I introduced myself to Guy Colborne, the man behind the Elemental’s wild design.

As soon as I approached the car, I knew it meant business. Everything was fabricated from carbon fibre, including the lightweight tub.

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Leaving it for a moment, I walked inside the barn and found a small team of just six people working on the cars. One thing was apparent from the start and that was how incredibly passionate about the Rp1 everyone was who worked there. However, none is more passionate than the man behind the brand, John Begley.

Having worked for McLaren, he was inspired to build his own car as a sort of hobby. It quickly became apparent to Begley, however, that this was more than a hobby, and in 2012 a motorbikeengine-powered prototype became a limited production car.

That vehicle was refined and developed into the carbon-fibre monster you see here.

The powerplant in the car that we drove was a 2.0-litre turbocharged Ford engine producing an eye-watering 320bhp. That might sound quick, but not within supercar-beating territory.

However, when you bear in mind that the Rp1 weighs just 580kg, you soon understand how capable the car is.

As I walked through the factory with Begley, I was amazed at the level of craftsmanship that went into creating each piece of the car. From the framework to the suspension, everything has been thought out thoroughly. Despite this level of precision, though, the early cars are still test mules, with Begley tweaking and changing things to make sure that every detail is perfected.

Interview

Guy Colborne Design manager

“

The motorbike idea is where the shapes for the tub come from.

GUY COLBORNE What’s so remarkable about the car is how solid it feels. This is thanks to the bonding process of composites, including carbon fibre, which are sandwiched together before being vacuum packed so that the shape remains permanent. It’s so solid in fact that the cockpit meets FIA standards – meaning it is a literal racer for the road.

The entire car is based around a central carbonfibre tub, with tungsten-welded steel subframes mounted to either end.

I walked to the back of the building and was soon looking at a host of amazing things. In an Aladdin’s cave of clutter, I was shown the first Elemental prototype and it was surprisingly

different to the actual finished car. The engine wasn’t a Ford unit but a Honda Fireblade motorbike engine with a chain driving the rear wheels. The tub itself was wider, chunkier on the edges and not made of carbon fibre but an assortment of metal and resin.

There were several other prototype tubs lying around and it became clear very quickly that Begley likes to explore every possible part of the design and consider how things could be manipulated differently for a better piece of engineering and design.

For example, there are no doors on the Rp1 as it is a one-piece tub. However, people do need to be able to get in and

What was your idea behind this design?

We always had the idea of this central tub. The first thing I noticed was the driving position, too. The visual idea is you centre everything on the driver and passenger, with the feet-up position, which nobody else can do outside of racing cars because we’ve got such a different packaging system with the way we have an underfloor diffuser and the fuel tank.

The very first meeting I had with John and [cofounder] Mark [Fowler] when they asked what I thought the car should look like, I drew the lines above the rear and front fender, and they thought it was great, which from my perspective was a weird experience, as normally designers want to tweak it. It seemed to work and was the idea we took forwards.

Another thing we wanted to put in from the idea of a Formula One car was the idea of this Coke bottle shape. It gives the car some haunches, making it look athletic and light.

Something else that I played about with in the early sketches and wanted to do was give the car a spine. So that’s what I did, and it runs from the front of the car to the tub and then over the back.

I also decided to put the exhausts in the middle. I was driving to work one morning, when I worked for Ford, and in the summer you would see guys on Ducati motorbikes going by and I love the look of them with this very high-mounted exhaust pipe. So I wanted to have the exhaust high up. And the motorbike idea is where the shapes for the tub come from.

How did you come up with the design for a flat centre console?

I’d love to think that it was my idea, but it was in fact our finance director and project manager Jeremy [Curnow] who came up with it. One day he came over and just waved a control panel from a photocopier at me and said ‘We could do this’ and I thought why has nobody else done that before? So it’s one of those things that makes the car a little bit more bespoke.

You take all the knowledge you’ve gained over the years you’ve had as a designer, from creating parts for Ford Transits or Vauxhall Astras and Focus coupe cabriolets, and think ‘OK, how did I do this?’ You’ve got that thing on how to be clever, how to be smart.

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| 17

FEATURES. Interview

John Begley CEO of Elemental Tell us about the prototype It really didn’t do a lot because we soon moved on. Once it was built, it was driven around someone’s garden and then that was about it. It was intended to be used in the 750 Motor Club’s class for cars with motorcycle engines, which is why it’s got a motorbike engine, but by the time we got to that stage we’d progressed further – so we basically gave up.

What was the engine in this original project?

The original car had a Honda Fireblade engine, and as I say, the original project was quite light-hearted and it was just a weekend hobby. Mark Fowler and I used to sit down at lunchtimes and just do a few doodles and that’s how we created this. It goes, and it goes quite quickly, but it doesn’t really look like anything in particular. To make it look like something, you have to use moulds and patterns, and if you do that, you can remove unwanted parts and retain this laminar structure in the middle.

How long would it take to fully build a car?

It’s only really a few days or a week. That’s putting it comfortably – we’ve actually managed to do one in a day but that was not a fun day! It was horrible – it was when we were trying to get cars ready for Goodwood.

Some things take a little bit longer.

You can stick them together quickly, but you’ve got to make sure the quality is there. After an aluminium one there was the third one – the first proper one, with a car engine and the sequential gearbox.

The bike engine was only there because it was the racing class we wanted to have a go in, but once we started considering torque, emissions regulations, and so on, it made sense to change to a car engine. It’s a Ford ‘classic’ engine in this one, but now we use the EcoBoost.

The gearbox is a Hewland six-speed sequential box, which allows flat upshifts, so you don’t have to lift off the throttle. The solenoids are as close to the actuator as possible to allow for snappy gear changes.

Where possible, the car is engineered so that set-up changes in the suspension can be made independently – for example, you can change the camber without affecting the toe.

Is it true that you can change the car from right- to left-hand drive pretty quickly?

Technically, yes, it’s just a matter of assembly, but to be honest, I’d rather do it in my own time with a drink!

Do you make everything?

Much of the car is made by us: the tub, the body and so on.

We make sure we source from top suppliers for the things we don’t make. The brakes are from Alcon; the wheels are from Team Dynamics. They were the best choice for us, as you essentially spec the wheel yourself, so instead of being compromised by having to design the suspension to fit the wheel, the wheel is designed for what we want.

The Ford EcoBoost engine is more or less left as is, but

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we do change the sump. We wanted to get the engine down as low as possible, and the standard sump didn’t allow that. We also do our own maps on the engine. We have our own lightened flywheel and a small 7¼-inch dual-plate race clutch.

We have our own exhaust, and our engine map is on a Life Racing ECU, which has a performance advantage over the standard unit. It has to talk to everything: the traction control, wheel speed sensors, the gearbox and so on. It does so very well.

You only need the clutch for pulling off in either forward or reverse, and that’s it.

In fact, with the gearbox there’s also an automatic mode, where it will change up at the optimum number of revs. You can keep your foot to the throttle and it can do all the work for you if you choose.

And what about the wood underneath?

The plywood is simply there as a sacrificial item. It protects the tub when going over bumps or kerbs. It has a layer of protective coating. It’s easy and cheap to replace – we can do a carbon one, but that’s a far more expensive solution.

We do go through the planks!

How long has it taken the project to get to the point you’re at now, and when did the company start up?

Well, it depends what you’d call starting. The concept started some time ago, but the company has only been around in earnest for a few years.

From this first car to what we have now, it has been a number of years. They’re always developing, but unfortunately there’s not too many of us, so it’s hard work. There’s a good reason other companies have so many people doing tasks. We don’t, so that does slow things down a little bit.

How many have you sold so far?

Four or five. Our target is somewhere in the 20s while we ramp up and develop the project, as well as learning what needs to be improved as we put miles on these cars. We are doing very well with reliability, but the old cooling system wasn’t as efficient as it could be, so we’ve engineered a new system.

We recently took them to Silverstone and they did several hundred miles of ‘on it’ driving with no problems whatsoever. A good day is a boring day, in that respect!

Are any other models planned?

We were wondering about calling these different names. You could argue that the old two-litre is ‘Rp1’ and the EcoBoost is ‘Rp2’, but we decided not to. So there are different versions, but they’re not going to be named differently.

The next real change is the windscreen that we’re designing, which could be retro-fitted to any of the old cars, too. We were looking at making it removable, but it seems that the demand is for them to be one way or the other, so that’s what we’re going with.

Great attention to detail is paid out of the car relatively simply, so to find out how people fitted in the car they had a day of getting drivers of all sorts of shapes and sizes to sit inside and get comfortable.

This proved very positive, as it showed Elemental that people needed more room for their arms. The thick edges of the cockpit were therefore filed down and a ridge formed to accommodate a driver’s arms. It works a treat, too, allowing you to turn the wheel without any arm contact on the tub.

Having met design manager Guy Colborne on my arrival, I discussed with him how he came to work for Elemental. His enthusiasm was infectious. Having worked on cars such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra in the past, designing the Elemental was a breath of fresh air for him, he said.

He went through his inspirations with me

Each Elemental takes about a week to make – but it can be done in a day!

A 2.0-litre turbocharged Ford EcoBoost engine produces 320bhp to give an exhilarating, exciting drive of a lifetime and how he wanted the car to have a spine running up the entire body of the car – one of my favourite aspects about it. It’s so different and unique, setting it well apart from any other car on the road.

You get inside the cockpit, hunkered down into a sort of cocoon made entirely of carbon fibre.

It’s very race-focused, unfussy, uncluttered and just perfect for the car. Even the centrally located control panel is simple. Colborne explained that it was actually a photocopier control panel that inspired the way that it looked, and it suits the car perfectly.

So, what’s it like to drive then? In a word – astonishing. The second you push the pen-like wooden key into the dash and press the starter button, all the engine sounds are unleashed. The gearbox is a sequential one operated with paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

In first and reverse gears you use a clutch, but after that you simply flick a paddle and the gear changes are instantaneous. This is thanks to the system using compressed air, which adds to the fantastic technical elements of the car.

The driving position is completely different to anything I’ve ever driven – or, indeed, am likely to drive again. You sit just as Lewis Hamilton does in his F1 car, with your legs slightly higher than your torso. Quite simply, this gives you the most perfect driving position.

The Elemental accelerates savagely – so fast, in fact, that 0-60mph takes just 2.8 seconds. This is thanks to the very light body weighing just 580kg – that’s more than 300kg less than the weight of a Lotus Elise: itself no heavyweight.

The experience of speed is so far from your conventional car. It’s incredibly fast and yet you only realise it when you look at the speedo. The

body feels rock-solid and you feel so connected to the road and chassis that your focus is on the road rather than the speed.

There’s a huge amount of grip generated through corners, and the suspension copes extremely well with bumps, although speed humps have to be taken with caution because of how low the car is.

If I were to sum it up, I’d say it’s one of the most exciting, adrenalin-pumping cars I’ve ever driven. Every sense was tingling and my concentration levels were maxed out, as were my surprise levels at how easy it was to drive. It’s a phenomenal piece of design, and completely different to any car on sale today.

A racer for the road, it’s a driving experience you never forget. Best of all, it’s entirely British designed and built – and that’s something to be really proud of.

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| 19

FEATURES.

NISSAN’S GT-REMOTE CONTROL Simon Davis takes to the track with a Nissan GT-R that has been set up to be driven using a PlayStation 4 controller

W

hat sort of images are conjured up in your head when you hear the words ‘remote-control car’?

Chances are you’re probably thinking of a small, plastic, battery-powered children’s toy that can hit a top speed of 10 to 15mph. A 542bhp Nissan GT-R with a top speed of 196mph would probably be the furthest thing from your mind.

However, that’s exactly what JLB Design has gone and built, and I was lucky enough to have a go with it on track at Silverstone.

Called the GT-R/C, the life-size remote-control car was developed to celebrate the release of Gran Turismo Sport on PlayStation 4 (PS4) and to mark 20 years of Nissan’s involvement in the game’s franchise.

Based on a 2011 Nissan GT-R R35, the GT-R/C is operated using a PS4 controller that relays steering, throttle and braking inputs to a microcomputer that then transmits them to the car’s on-board systems.

James Brighton, the man behind JLB Design and the GT-R/C, said: ‘The GT-R/C presented some unique challenges and a number of engineering firsts for us.

‘We had to ensure the robotics would operate effectively during fast acceleration and deceleration as well as high-cornering G-forces, deliver realistic and reassuring control of the car at all speeds, and maintain a robust connection between the car and the controller over variable distances.’

It’s all very impressive technology, and made for one of the most bizarre driving experiences I’ve ever had.

Sat in the passenger seat of a Nissan Qashqai with PS4 controller in hand, I tailed the GT-R/C on a small loop circuit at Silverstone.

One of the first things I noticed was how

20 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

“

This was oncein-a-lifetime, truly epic stuff.

It has brought my two worlds together in a way I never thought possible JANN MARDENBOROUGH

Inside the specially modified GT-R responsive the PS4 controller was. Moving the joystick even slightly prompted an immediate reaction from the GT-R/C, even at low speeds. The throttle was similarly responsive.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a case of all power or no power, so I was able to get the car up to about 25mph in a smooth fashion, but didn’t dare go any quicker.

Driving one car from the passenger seat of another vehicle really messed with how I perceived things such as speed, depth and positioning. One of the more hair-raising examples of this was when the tail car accelerated to keep pace with the GT-R/C. As I felt these forces acting on my body, I instinctively removed my finger from the throttle button on the PS4 controller, leading to a few narrowly avoided bumper-to-bumper collisions.

I can imagine that explaining to an insurance company how such an accident took place would make for a rather entertaining phone call.

While I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the GT-R/C, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the incredible example of remote-control engineering was rather wasted on someone who by no means had the confidence to really put the metaphorical pedal to the metal.

Luckily, Nissan had called on GT Academy racing driver Jann Mardenborough to put the GT-R/C through its paces at Silverstone a few days earlier, which he did from the cockpit of a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter.

For those of you who aren’t aware of what GT Academy is, it’s a driver discovery development programme that turns amateur gamers into professional racing drivers.

Put simply, it takes people with exceptional talent on the Gran Turismo racing game and trains them up to do the same thing in real life.

Mardenborough is one of the programme’s most successful racers and has competed in the LMP2 class at the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours with

Jann Mardenborough, left in our main picture, controls the GT-R from a helicopter, above

JLB has done a great job of making sure everything works well Ligier-Nissan. With PS4 controller in hand, he was able to get the GT-R/C around the Silverstone National Circuit in 1:17:47, at an average speed of 76mph. Mardenborough also took the car up to a top speed of 131mph – some way off my rather pathetic 25mph best.

‘This was once-in-a-lifetime, truly epic stuff. The GT-R /C has brought my two worlds

together – the virtual of gaming and the reality of motorsport – in a way I never thought possible,’ Mardenborough said.

‘The response from the car when using the controller was far more engaging than I thought it would be. JLB Design has done an incredible job at making everything respond really well.

‘Steering, acceleration and braking were all intelligently configured, allowing for controlled application so I could really get a feel through the corners and hold it steady down the fast straights.

‘Driving a full-size, remote-control GT-R to 131mph at Silverstone while chasing it down in a helicopter was an unforgettable experience.’

Brighton added: ‘It’s testament to Jann’s unique skill set that he was able to master the vehicle’s operation in a very short period of time while delivering some truly impressive lap times.’

This isn’t the last we’ll hear of the GT-R/C, however. Next year it will tour round primary and secondary schools to promote future careers in science, technology, engineering and mathsrelated subjects.

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| 21

NEWS.

EVERYONE’S A WINNER! Y

ou’ve got the power – and you’re not afraid to use it! Once again, hundreds of readers took part in our annual Workshop Power survey – and the companies who came out on top enjoyed their moments of glory during a glittering ceremony at the top of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.

Workshop Power is the poll in which the readers of this very magazine are invited to assess

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the suppliers of products and services to the automotive service and repair sector.

In the weeks leading up to the deadline for entries, we were inundated with completed survey forms. Readers were extremely keen to tell us who their favourite suppliers are, and which are the products they love the most.

They gave marks out of 10 in categories such as ‘Garage Cleaning Product of the Year’, ‘Battery

Supplier of the Year’ and ‘Best Customer Care’.

All marks awarded and comments made were completely anonymous, giving our thousands of readers the chance to say what they really think of the partners they do business with.

In the event of a tie in the number of marks received in any category, the winner was decided on the number of positive comments made.

The trophies were handed over by the hosts

PICTURES: MAL HAY

for the awards evening: James Baggott, founder of Workshop Magazine and CEO of its parent company, Baize Group, and Rebecca Chaplin, head of editorial and Workshop Magazine editor.

Chaplin said: ‘It was a fantastic evening and James and I thoroughly enjoyed handing over the awards to the winners.

‘We were also very pleased that Workshop Power shone a light on the automotive

aftermarket in general.

‘The companies who work in its supply chain are vitally important for the UK economy and do sterling work supporting garages and workshops all over the country. Very well done to all of our winners on the night.’

Now turn the page to find out who won what!

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| 23

NEWS. Battery Supplier of the Year

Diagnostic System Supplier of the Year

Winner: Yuasa

Winner: Autologic Diagnostics

Highly commended: Bosch Highly commended: Exide

Highly commended: Bosch Highly commended: Snap-on Ian Douglas, left, and James Douglas collect Yuasa’s trophy from James Baggott

THE first trophy presented on the night of the Workshop Power Awards was the one for Battery Supplier of the Year. James Baggott pointed out that the tasks of supplying and fitting replacement batteries were everyday staples for countless workshops. He also said that as a classic car owner, he saluted the hard work of the companies nominated in this category, adding: ‘You have certainly got us back on the road a few times this year!’

Batteries are just as important to the owners of new cars, he added. After all, more demands are constantly being made of batteries, including air-con, powerful headlights, huge touch-screens... not to mention complicated start-stop systems.

Our finalists received praise from the readers of Workshop Magazine for constantly developing their products to ensure they offer top-quality solutions to the garage industry. Our winner was Yuasa, with Bosch and Exide highly commended.

Steven White, left, and Damon Howes are presented with the trophy by Rebecca Chaplin

WORKSHOPS would be completely lost without diagnostics and finding a system that’s simple and works well can make all the difference to a garage. We know that in all walks of life there are people who get tech and people who don’t – so the usability of these products is also vitally important.

Our winner in this category is a company that makes a huge difference to businesses across the country every day, thanks to a fantastic fault-fixing programme. It was a huge well done, for the second consecutive year, to Autologic Diagnostics !

Its AssistPlus product came in for particular praise from the readers of Workshop Magazine. AssistPlus provides comprehensive diagnostics, easy access to support services as well as simple viewing and sharing of vehicle information.

Our highly commended winners in this category were Bosch and Snap-on.

Trade Insurance Supplier of the Year

Suspension Product Supplier of the Year

Winner: Aston Scott

Winner: Euro Car Parts

Highly commended: Bollington Insurance Highly commended: Portmore Insurance

Highly commended: Monroe Highly commended: Moog John Cook, centre, and Jem Emirali, right, with Workshop Power Awards host James Baggott

Suspension components are among those supplied

by Euro Car Parts from its network of branches

PAYING for trade insurance is not something that most garages particularly enjoy – but they can’t really avoid doing so! After all, trade insurance is an absolute must.

If you’re running a workshop business, it will cover everything from property and personnel, to customer cars in your care.

Our winner in this category was highly praised in every area, from the insurance product itself to the customer service it offers garage owners.

Those present at the Workshop Power Awards were asked to put their hands together, for the second year running, for Aston Scott, a company that employs highly experienced staff who are committed to learning everything there is to know about their clients, so they can deliver bespoke insurance and risk management solutions.

Highly commended were Bollington Insurance and Portmore Insurance.

IF YOU have customers who are complaining that their car’s ride is getting more and more uncomfortable, it could be down to an issue with the suspension, which may have been damaged or simply worn over the years.

On its website, Euro Car Parts points out that the suspension arm and suspension joints in particular can take a real battering trying to negotiate uneven roads and debris, and any damage to these parts can make the ride very bumpy indeed.

Damage to the suspension arm and suspension joints should be looked at promptly.

Euro Car Parts are the UK’s number-one supplier of parts and accessories, including those that improve the suspension of your car. Their product range and levels of service in this important area saw them lift the trophy in this crucial category, although no-one from the firm was with us on the night. Monroe and Moog were highly commended. Well done all!

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Filter Supplier of the Year

Lubricants Supplier of the Year

Winner: Mann-Filter

Winner: Total UK

Highly commended: Crosland Highly commended: K&N Engineering

Highly commended: Carlube Highly commended: Rock Oil A selection of MannFilter products

Rebecca Chaplin with Ross Murdoch, left, and John Nash, representing Total UK

THE unsung heroes of everyday engine life, filters are vitally important, even though they keep a relatively low profile. After all, you can’t see them, you can’t hear them – and yet they permanently achieve the highest levels of performance.

With their cleaning function, filters are crucial to the smooth running and lifespan of modern engines – a high level of quality is therefore essential. However, the quality of filters cannot easily be seen from the outside since differences are not easy to identify.

It is more important that you focus on certified top quality and high levels of safety.

With Mann-Filter, you get original equipment quality every time – and the readers of Workshop Magazine demonstrated their faith in the company by awarding it the Filter Supplier of the Year title for the second year running. Highly commended winners were Crosland and K&N Engineering. Well done to everyone who featured in our top three!

OILS and other lubricants are among the most frequently-used consumables in workshops.

Vehicles couldn’t survive without them and low-quality lubricants can result in poor fuel economy and drastically shortened component lifespans. Issues like those can in turn lead to unhappy customers.

Our winner in this category is one of the biggest names in lubricants, boasting huge sponsorship deals in the world of motorsport to not only keep teams going but also keep their own operation running smoothly. Marketing such as this makes a huge difference on the front line, when garages want to upsell to a more premium oil – and our winner in this category has certainly achieved that.

Guests at the 2017 Workshop Power Awards were asked to put their hands together for Total UK. Highly commended winners were Carlube and Rock Oil. Well done to all three!

Recruitment Agency of the Year

Tyre Supplier of the Year

Winner: Autotech Recruit

Winner: Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services

Highly commended: InAutomotive Highly commended: Perfect Placement

Highly commended: Blackcircles Highly commended: Oak Tyres Andrew Sly, left, receives Autotech Recruit’s award from James Baggott

RECRUITMENT is a factor that is often overlooked but without the best staff, any business will struggle. Every good garage needs good people – your reputation depends on having the right team working for you and representing you. It’s not just about quality of work, but attitude – particularly in customer-facing roles.

Guests were firstly asked to put their hands together for our highly commended winners... InAutomotive and Perfect Placement.

Our winner was praised for finding the best people for the job exactly when our readers needed it and being extremely helpful in every situation.

It’s a business that specialises in temporary technical staff for the motor trade and it’s retained its title for the second year in a row. The winner of the Workshop Power Recruitment Agency of the Year is Autotech Recruit!

Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services’ website

OUR winner in this category, for the second year running, is a leading supplier of tyres in Hampshire, having built its reputation on providing excellent service and the greatest range of leading brands, including Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone and Dunlop – all at the best prices, guaranteed.

As well as being the number-one supplier of tyres, the company also offers MOT and servicing for all makes and models of car.

Unfortunately, no-one from our winning firm was able to make it to our awards night, but our winner in this category was confirmed as Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services! Survey respondents were full of praise for its product range and great customer service. Well done also to Blackcircles.com and Oak Tyres, our highly commended winners. A good effort all round!

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 25

NEWS. Software Product of the Year

Product Innovation of the Year

Winner: Autodata

Winner: ClickMechanic

Highly commended: Audatex Highly commended: eDynamix

Highly commended: Autodata Highly commended: CitNOW Neil Brooks, left, and Rod Williams were very pleased to receive the Autodata trophy

James Baggott presents ClickMechanic head of operations Richard Utting, left, and cofounder Andrew Jervis with the award

PEOPLE outside the automotive aftermarket often forget how technically-based it has become, so this category is a critical one. So much of a workshop’s functionality relies on reliable and up-to-date software these days, covering booking systems, job management, data entry and payroll.

And it’s crucial that your software is simple to use, particularly for those who will have done their training in the more analogue days of the service and repair sector.

This category proved extremely competitive with hundreds of Workshop Power survey respondents keen to have their say. Our highly commended winners both scored extremely well – so it was a big ‘well done’ on the night to Audatex and eDynamix.

The winner of the Workshop Power Best Software trophy was, however, Autodata, and Rebecca was only too delighted to hand it over. Good work!

SUPPLIERS to the workshop sector are constantly innovating, using advancements in technology to make brilliant new products. That technology can be incredibly valuable, but needs to be easy and straightforward to operate. After all, technicians and their customers are already very busy people!

Our winner in this category was ClickMechanic, a company that’s bringing trust, transparency and convenience to the car repair world. It offers a clever app that says it ‘books you more work, manages your bookings and helps you build trust with customers’.

So well done to them – and also to our two highly commended winners in this category: Autodata and CitNOW. All three companies received rave reviews in this year’s Workshop Power survey, but it was ClickMechanic who took top honours – and it wasn’t the only success they enjoyed during the evening as you can see on these pages!

Extra Mile Award

Garage Cleaning Product of the Year

Winner: ClickMechanic

Winner: Demon Shine

Highly commended: Aston Scott Highly commended: GSF Car Parts

Highly commended: Euro Car Parts Highly commended: Kärcher Another award for ClickMechanic!

James Baggott with Richard Utting and Andrew Jervis

IN THIS category, the readers of Workshop Magazine can vote for any business that they feel does that little bit extra to make their experience better.

After all, service and repair professionals are always going to appreciate the supplier who really does go the extra mile to make sure their needs are met.

Quite a few companies received nominations in this category … but one name kept cropping up and in the end had more mentions than all the other firms put together!

It’s a firm that celebrated an important landmark of one million quotes earlier in the year, and works tirelessly to bring more business to workshops every single day.

The company in question – which won three awards during the second Workshop Power Awards – was ClickMechanic. A huge well done to them. Congratulations were also due to our two highly-commended winners, Aston Scott and GSF Car Parts.

26 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Rebecca Chaplin presents the trophy to the duo representing Demon Shine: Tracey Bolger, centre, and Linzi Rockett AS THE age-old saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so good cleaning products – whether for a garage itself, or customers’ cars – are an important aspect of any workshop’s operation.

Our winner in this category was a company that understands that its professional customers have their own unique cleaning tasks. And they are also well aware that cleaning is a necessity that there is often little time for.

Providing brilliant products that help save precious minutes, while delivering solutions that are easy to use, our winner in the Cleaning Product of the Year category was Demon Shine. Our two highly commended winners were Euro Car Parts and Kärcher – so well done to them. Kärcher were the winners in this category last year but were pipped to the post this time around! It’s still a great achievement to be in the top three, though.

Best Customer Care Award

Hand Tool Supplier of the Year

Winner: Total UK

Winner: Snap-on

Highly commended: Andrew Page Highly commended: GSF Car Parts

Highly commended: Draper Tools Highly commended: Franklin Tools Rebecca Chaplin with Ross Murdoch and John Nash once again, representing Total UK

Mark Ost from Snapon receives the trophy from James Baggott

THERE were lots of nominations for the Best Customer Care Award in this year’s Workshop Power survey... and all those present on the night of our ceremony definitely had their eye on this one. As we all know, customer care is key to repeat business, with bad experiences putting people off brands regardless of the quality of the product itself.

Our guests at the Spinnaker Tower were first of all asked to put their hands together for the two highly commended winners in this category – Andrew Page and GSF Car Parts.

However, our top performer was some way ahead of the others when the survey results were scrutinised and analysed. It was praised by our readers for always being available, having extremely helpful staff and being fast to resolve any problems. And we know it’s a company that scores on the product front too, as it had already picked up the ‘best lubricant’ gong. The Workshop Power customer care winner for 2017 was Total UK.

ALL garages need to have a firm grip on their hand tools. They really are the staple of any workshop, with many service and repair professionals preferring the feel of a hand tool to the speed – and perceived risk – of a power tool.

To be successful in this category, a company needs to provide the best range of tools made of high-quality materials to good tolerances – and importantly, at the right price.

Guests at the Workshop Power Awards were firstly asked to put their hands together for our two highly commended winners… Draper Tools and Franklin Tools.

Like our winner, they are both widely renowned for the exceptional quality of the products they supply, not to mention the wide ranges of options available and great levels of customer service. But pipping them to the post, and the winner of the Workshop Power Hand Tool Supplier of the Year 2017, was... Snap-on!

Power Tool Supplier of the Year

Best Tech Product of the Year

Winner: Snap-on

Winner: ClickMechanic

Highly commended: Bosch Highly commended: Makita

Highly commended: Autodata Highly commended: Traka Mark Ost from Snap-on with Rebecca Chaplin

MARK OST from Snap-on didn’t get much time to reflect on his company’s success in the Hand Tool Supplier of the Year category!

No sooner had he taken his seat after collecting the trophy, than he was asked to return to the stage to pick up the corresponding award in the power tools category.

When they were telling us about power tools in the Workshop Power survey, our readers said they were looking for precision first time and products that were simple to use. Snap-on, a company with more than 100 years of experience, came top of their list.

Again, as our readers mentioned, it’s a company that has the right variety of tools and equipment so that you can use the right product for each job.

Congratulations were also due to our two highly commended winners in this category: Bosch and Makita. Well done to all three!

And that makes three!

Messrs Baggott, Utting and Jervis are reunited for another trophy handover THE modern workshop relies on technology as much as the cars it has to deal with. Tech solutions can range from workplace connectivity and online help manuals to more handson devices such as diagnostics readers and remap tools.

Our winner in this category – with representatives from the company invited to the stage to collect an astonishing third award! – helps garages to be more efficient and offer a better service to their customers. It’s a service that literally connects more workshops to customers every day online and continues to grow in numbers all the time – proving that even the garage industry isn’t immune from consumers’ desires to buy online.

Guests at the Workshop Power Awards ceremony were asked to put their hands together for... ClickMechanic! Autodata and Traka were worthy runners-up so well done to all three companies.

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NEWS. Small Motor Factor of the Year

Large Motor Factor of the Year

Winner: The Trade Parts Specialists

Winner: Euro Car Parts

Highly commended: CCC Complete Commercial Components Highly commended: North Down Motor Factors

Highly commended: Andrew Page Highly commended: GSF Car Parts

The Trade Parts Specialists picked up the coveted gong as Small Motor Factor of the Year

OUR winner in this category repeated its success of last year – and it was a pioneer when it was launched in 2007. It was the first trade operation to be totally owned and run by an automotive manufacturer – Volkswagen Group. This means it can offer the ultimate trade experience delivering Volkswagen Group Genuine Parts to its customers daily.

Every TPS Centre’s extensive stock is maintained by the Volkswagen Group and is dedicated to meeting the needs of local trade customers. The company is still growing and evolving and to date there are more than 75 TPS centres throughout the UK. No-one from the company was available to celebrate with us on the night, sadly, but we’ll make sure the team at The Trade Parts Specialists get their trophy. Well done, too, to our highly commended winners in this category, CCC Complete Commercial Components of Welshpool, Powys and North Down Motor Factors. Top stuff!

Euro Car Parts was voted Large Motor Factor of the Year for the second time

WITH more than 200 branches nationwide and 130,000 parts available, Euro Car Parts is probably justified in claiming that it’s the UK’s number-one supplier of car parts! The company proudly says on its website that it offers service parts at very competitive prices with free delivery across the whole of the UK. The firm specialises in all major car parts – brake pads, blades, batteries and bulbs – and every car-maintenance essential you can think of, with everything available online.

The readers of Workshop magazine certainly seem to be impressed by the company’s offering, voting Euro Car Parts the Large Motor Factor of the Year for the second year running. Unfortunately nobody from the company could be present on the awards night but we’ll make sure they receive their trophy.

Worthy highly commended winners were Andrew Page and GSF Car Parts.

Manufacturer Innovation Award Winner: Hyundai – Hyundai Workshop Automation

p Nick Tunnell, left, Hyundai aftersales director, and Hyundai national aftersales commercial manager Ben Sargeant are presented with the award by Workshop editor Rebecca Chaplin

28 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

HYUNDAI UK’s innovative ‘Workshop Automation’ system took top honours in the Manufacturer Innovation category.

Hyundai Workshop Automation is a fully embedded and digital, modular system that combines the key workshop processes into one simple, intuitive solution, using the latest technologies.

Starting with one of the industry’s quickest online booking systems, with full integration to menu pricing for more than 15,000 maintenance and repair operations, Hyundai Workshop Automation facilitates a seamless customer journey, enhanced transparency, workshop loading and improved customer communication.

With number plate recognition alerting the service team to a customer’s arrival, the detail of their previous visit enables a more personalised welcome.

The tablet-based interactive check-in aids the identification of fully costed scheduled and additionally authorised work, with added transparency for customers through progress tracking either in the dealership or through

their smartphone. The integration of an automated, paperless quality check with full traceability helps to reduce repeat repairs, identify training needs and enhance Fix Right First Time.

An instant customer feedback and ongoing post-visit communications mean that the system continues to work for the dealer even after the customer has left.

Rebecca Chaplin, editor of Workshop Magazine, said: ‘Hyundai’s ‘‘Workshop Automation’’ system has been winning lots of praise for its simplicity.

‘We know from talking to our readers who use it, that the time it saves them is invaluable, and means that they can focus on fixing vehicles. While this category was hotly contested, it was clear that the innovative nature of this system was far superior to anything else in contention.’

Nick Tunnell, aftersales director at Hyundai Motor UK, said: ‘Hyundai Motor prides itself on its continuous evolution and innovative spirit, so we are delighted to be recognised for our efforts in creating such a unique solution.’

THE NIGHT IN PICTURES

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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CLUB.

ARE WE TO BLAME FOR THIS WARRANTY CLAIM CONFUSION?

Q

ASK THE JUDGE: Ian Gardner, sales manager at automotive legal experts Lawgistics, has some advice about dealing with a tricky customer

I am being sued by someone who is claiming I failed to make a warranty claim on their behalf.

The customer had purchased a car from a dealer and it had a knocking sound, so he brought it to us for a diagnosis. We traced the issue to the steering rods. We contacted the warranty company on the customer’s behalf who advised us that the warranty had not been activated by the supplying dealer and no claim could be processed.

Four weeks later, the warranty company contacted us and advised that steering rods were not covered under the warranty, information we passed to the customer as a courtesy although we had not heard from him during the intervening four-week period.

A week or so later, the customer returned to us and said a third party had diagnosed a problem with the steering rack, which was covered under his warranty

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and that he wanted us to contact the warranty company on his behalf and tell them of the problem.

We agreed to contact the warranty company and inform them of the customer’s required change to his claim, which we believe we did.

We heard nothing further until we received a letter demanding we repair the car free of charge because the warranty had expired and that this was our fault! n The Judge delivers his verdict: It seems unlikely that you had a duty to the customer to ensure his warranty claim was addressed before the expiry of his warranty. He had not left his vehicle with you and it does not appear he intended for you to carry out the work on his behalf, given you had not diagnosed the fault with the steering rack – a third party had.

It seems he asked a favour of you which you agreed to do, although with hindsight you ought not to have done this. Ultimately, your customer’s warranty claim was his responsibility. You had no relationship with the warranty

company, had not accepted instruction to repair the car, and no consideration in terms of remuneration had been agreed.

You were not to know the customer would not chase up the matter until such time as the warranty had expired and you do not explain whether there were any circumstances in which you could have reasonably predicted this.

The customer may pay for the repairs and then instigate proceedings against you for the loss he has incurred in having to pay for work he believes would have been covered under the warranty had it not lapsed due to your supposed negligence.

In this eventuality, you will need to submit a defence to the claim and comply with Civil Procedure Rules in order that the claimant does not obtain a judgment in default which can be costly to set aside. A surprising number of people end up with default judgments against them and if being taken to court is not a process you are used to, we cannot stress enough the importance of acknowledging the documentation in a timely manner and of attending the hearing in person if you can.

More than £400 off braking training

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 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 30 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

What you need to know about face-fit testing

Q

What is a face-fit test and is it necessary? n This is a procedure which identifies whether a seal is made between skin and mask.

This is required for all respiratory protective equipment (RPE) used in the workplace.

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require that, where appropriate, suitable RPE must be provided and to achieve suitability, it must fit the wearer properly, as determined by a fit test.

Staff must undertake a face-fit test to check that the RPE is appropriate.

It is good practice to repeat the testing periodically and it must be repeated if different RPE is used or there is a change to the user’s face e.g. facial hair, weight gain or broken nose.

Inspectors visiting workshops may ask to see certificates for face-fit testing.

There are two types of fit test dependent on the type of RPE in use.

A qualitative fit test is a simple pass or fail test and is based on the user’s assessment of whether or not they can sense a test agent. If the user can

5W SLIMLINE COB LED RECHARGEABLE INSPECTION LAMPS STOCK No.65395 (blue), 65410 (green), 65413 (orange) sense the test agent, then the seal is inadequate and so it’s a fail. This test is not adequate for a full-face mask.

A quantitative fit test provides a numerical measure of the fit. This is called the ‘fit factor’. Requiring specialist equipment, it can be used to assess both full- and half-face masks.

All fit testing must be carried out by a competent assessor. See the HSE’s accreditation scheme for further details. n Got a problem at your workshop?

Send an email to TheJudge@ lawgistics.co.uk and you could see it dealt with in a future issue of Workshop Magazine.

Discount on software & free health check app

Free legal advice plus discounted membership

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.

ADDITIONAL SMD LED ON THE FACE PLATE TRANSFORMS THE LAMP INTO TORCH 3 CYCLE SWITCH ALLOWS HALF/FULL/TORCH FEATURES RECHARGEABLE LI-ION BATTERY PROVIDES A 450 LUMENS INSPECTION LIGHT AND 250 LUMENS TORCH FITTED WITH INTEGRATED MAGNET AND PIVOTING HEAD, ALLOWING THE LIGHT TO BE USED IN ANY 360º POSITION

Dragon2000

SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR TEAM

SUPPLIED WITH MICRO USB TO STANDARD USB CABLE AND 3 PIN APPROVED USB CHARGER

Strength in Quality WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 31

VIS IT SA GE W ND M W .GOW C Members of the Garage O EMN Equipment Association A P T C AR ME O K .C S CH O TA .U ND ANE K D1 X 0

W ®

®

Facebook: GEMCO Sales & Service Twitter: @GemcoEquipment Twitter: @GemcoEquipment LinkedIn: GEMCO Sales & Service Youtube, Facebook & Linkedin: GEMCO Sales & Service Youtube: GEMCO Sales & Service

Experts in the Garage Equipment Industry Experts in the Garage Equipment Industry

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call 01604 828 600 | email sales@gemco.co.uk | visit www.gemco.co.uk 32 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

10498

ESTABLISHED IN 1985 | PART OF THE STENHØJ GROUP

ESTABLISHED IN 1985 | PART OF THE STENHØJ GROUP

10442

PRODUCTS.

X

Laser Tools Flexible Lock Ratchet Set

New for you

How much: £47.71 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This low-profile flexible lock ratchet set from Laser Tools has 80 teeth and features a quick-release mechanism. It’s made of fully polished chrome vanadium and comes with a low-profile adaptor with a push lock.

Clarke Engine Diagnostic Fault Code Reader How much: £125.99 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk This engine fault code reader from Clarke is essential for automotive servicing. It connects to the vehicle’s ECU via the diagnostic link connector and lets you retrieve vital engine performance data, pinpointing any issues that require attention.

Clarke AWD1 Automotive Wheel Dollies How much: £53.99 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk This set of two automotive wheel dollies is designed to be placed under the wheels of vehicles, allowing them to be moved around workshops with ease. They are made of heavyduty steel and have a load rating of 500kg per dolly.

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PRODUCTS.

Laser Tools Hose Clamp Removal Tool How much: £19.44 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This tool allows you to remove the special clips found on coolant and air hoses on European cars. It features a two-position head for easy access and is compatible with cars from manufacturers such as BMW, Citroën, Dacia, Fiat, Ford, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volvo.

Turbo Technics Vibration Sorting and Flow Rig How much: £26,400 (inc VAT) Where from: turbotechnics.com The Turbo Technics Vibration Sorting and Flow Rig has been designed with small workshops in mind. The machine uses a combination of high-speed balancing and vane flow testing for vehicle turbochargers. It uses Turbo Technics’ computer-controlled measuring system technology, along with high-level in-house engineering capability, for core balancing and variable geometry turbocharger calibration.

34 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

Laser Tools Chain Adjustment Hook Wrench How much: £24.26 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk The Laser Tools chain adjustment hook wrench has a 125mm jaw. Suitable for use on bikes made by Ducati, MV Agusta, Triumph and Honda, it has an overall length of 340mm and features a soft grip handle.

Clarke CFTP12 Oil and Diesel Pump How much: £32.39 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk

Laser Tools Mercedes-Benz Cam Hold-Down Bars How much: £96.02 (inc VAT) Where from: lasertools.co.uk This device holds down the bars on Mercedes-Benz 3.0-litre V6 diesel engines found in models such as the C-Class, E-Class, G-Class, M-Class, CLA, CLK, GLE, GLK and GLS, as well as some variants of the Sprinter, Viano and Vito. The bars hold the camshaft in the head with the cam cover removed.

Clarke CW1D Floor-Standing Parts Washer

This device is powered by a 12V car battery and provides a fast and clean method of removing engine oil or diesel without the need to go underneath the vehicle. It features an inlet and outlet hose.

How much: £119.98 (inc VAT) Where from: machinemart.co.uk The Clarke CW1D provides a simple way of cleaning parts that are covered in oil, grease and dirt. Its internal pump circulates cleaning fluid and delivers it via a flexi-firm nozzle. The device has a 45-litre tank capacity.

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AN EXCITING NEW RANGE OF LUBRICANTS FOR THE AFTERMARKET

A GUARANTEE OF QUALITY FROM A RELIABLE BRAND www.elf.com

01977 636302 36 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

lubesorders@total.com

A brand of

FOCUS ON

TOTAL

TOTAL LAUNCHES NEW AUTOMOTIVE TRADE RANGE OF LUBRICANTS TOTAL

E: LUBESORDERS@TOTAL.CO.UK T: 01977 636302

TO CONTINUE its strong sales growth in the UK, Total is to launch a new automotive aftermarket trade range under its iconic Elf brand.

The Elf Sporti range will be introduced to complement Total’s existing premium range of Quartz lubricants to offer core ‘meet the requirements’ statements for key independent aftermarket needs at competitive prices.

The current top-tier Quartz range will remain to offer customers the benefits of manufacturer recommendations and partnerships as well as a wide variety of formal manufacturer approvals allowing garages to upsell or increase their profits on service work.

In launching the new Elf Sporti range, clients now have access to six new lubricants, which offer a guarantee of quality that customers expect from a reliable global brand for more price-conscious customers.

Using high-quality base oils and raw materials, the products will keep engines clean and maintain their performance without the need for the cutting-edge Age Resistance Technology employed in the Quartz range.

To meet the market needs, the range will offer products for a variety of OEM specifications. The full range includes: • • • • • •

“

Using high-quality base oils and raw materials, the products will keep engines clean.

Jackie Stewart

Sporti 9 C3 5W-30 Sporti 9 A5/B5 5W-30 Sporti 9 Long Life 5W-30 Sporti 9 5W-40 Sporti 9 C2/C3 5W-30 Sporti 7 A3/B4 10W-40

Elf Sporti is available now from Total for bulk, 208-litre barrels and 20-litre packs, five-litre packs and one-litre packs.

ELF SPORTI: a guarantee of quality from a reliable brand In 2017, Elf celebrates its 50th year anniversary. Since 1967, Elf has been recognised as a competitive, innovative and successful brand of lubricant and in 2000, Elf bolstered its position by becoming a brand of Total.

Elf has a long heritage in motorsports covering numerous successful partnerships with teams driven by Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill amongst many others.

• To find out more about the new Elf Sporti range, please call 01977 636302 or email lubesorders@total.co.uk. Alternatively, please contact James McKnight, Aftermarket Sales Manager, Total UK, on 07714 452051 or james.mcknight@total.co.uk.

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38 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

FOCUS ON

CARLUBE

AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE ENGINE OIL MARKET CARLUBE

W: CARLUBE.CO.UK

ENGINE lubricant performance can have a significant influence on an engine’s ability to achieve its fuel efficiency goals. These benefits can be achieved through a combination of lower viscosity grades and performance additive systems.

The application of these new advanced additive technologies has allowed passenger car vehicles on the road to use lower viscosity lubricants such as 5W-30.

With the introduction of Euro VI emissions limits, the pressure on vehicle manufacturers to improve fuel economy grew, leading to the increased use of 5W-20, 0W-20 and 0W-30 lubricants in the latest engines.

To meet these demands from engine manufacturers, Carlube is introducing several new products into the range to keep the brand at the forefront of the engine oil market.

A Carlube 0W-30 meeting Ford WSS-M2C950-A has recently been introduced into the range. This is suitable for use in the latest Ford diesel engines widely used in the current Mondeo models. As Ford has about a 15 per cent share of the passenger car market in the UK, this is a key addition.

In addition to the above, another 0W-30 has also been introduced. This is for VW Group vehicles requiring a more fuel-efficient VW 504.00/507.00 lubricant.

This product is also backward compatible with most vehicles requiring the 5W-30 VW 504.00/507.00 product.

Using a 0W-30 instead of the 5W-30 will improve fuel economy due to its superior cold-start performance.

Carlube is adding three further 0W-20 grades to the range for the latest VW Group, Volvo & Jaguar Land Rover vehicles.

The demand in the marketplace for these three grades is now becoming significant and it will continue to grow as more new vehicles enter the market.

Carlube is also one of the very few lubricant blenders in the market to introduce a 0W-30 meeting the BMW LL-12 FE requirements. The introduction of grades such as this show Carlube’s commitment to offering one of the highest levels of market coverage.

It is not just market coverage that Carlube excels in, it also has a number of formal approvals from vehicle manufacturers to demonstrate the quality of the products in the range.

Carlube Triple R 5W-30 C3 has been approved by Daimler to MB 229.31, 229.51 & 229.52. Mercedes-Benz blue engines require the use of an MB 229.52 oil to deliver optimum fuel economy performance.

Carlube Triple R 5W-20 ECO-flo C5-F has been approved

by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) for use in some of its most fuelefficient engines. (Approval ST JLR.03.5004.)

Carlube is working on adding further passenger car engine oil approvals.

The Carlube Triple T range was introduced in 2016 for use in heavy-duty diesel engines. It also covers several applications in the light commercial vehicle sector. Again, this range has several approvals from commercial vehicle manufacturers such as Volvo, Renault Truck, Mack and Scania.

W: TETROSYL.COM

T: 0161 764 5981

“

Carlube is introducing several new products into the range to keep the brand at the forefront of the engine oil market.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

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OUR FLEET.

VW Type 3 Fastback

Model: Volkswagen Type 3 Fastback 1600E Owned by: Rebecca Chaplin Engine: 1.6-litre Bought for: £3,500 Mileage: 92,963 Money spent this month: £95 Highlight of the month: Putting the new battery in.

Suddenly it’s Problem Central with the car that had been oh so dependable.

E

verything just got a little worse for the Type 3. I thought the Thunderbird was my nightmare car and the Mini was the one I can’t think about for the moment, but although the Volkswagen had a few problems it was reliable, German and always started.

As you may remember, the day before I was supposed to take it for its MOT test the battery gave up. That actually seemed like it would be a simple fix, so off I popped to Halfords to pick up a new one.

Everything appeared to be back on track, as there was the instant whir of the CD player kicking into life, so I jumped into the front seat to turn it off, panicking that it had been draining it.

If I haven’t mentioned before, the battery for the Type 3 is under the rear seat. Each and every component is so neatly packed into this car – there’s that German efficiency again.

The flat four-cylinder engine is packed under a removable panel in the boot. If you know what a standard air-cooled engine looks like

The battery is under the rear seat on a Camper or Beetle, you'd expect to see the large round dog housing that directs the air across the engine. However, this has a different set-up to accommodate the space and it’s also fuel injection, which adds a whole extra layer of complications (or at least problems).

In the front, the fuel tank lies flat under the bonnet directly in front of the driver. Again, efficient, however not particularly safe. There’s

also the spare wheel tucked right at the front and this is hooked up to the washer jets, supplying the air pressure they need. You’ve guessed it: efficient but not really a long-term solution. It’s easy to all of a sudden run out of pressure or go to change your wheel and find the spare is already flat!

By putting the battery under the rear seat it does make it more accessible than it would be in the engine bay. If you know Volkswagens, you'll know it would usually be to the right and basically in the wheel arch.

However, the bench seat isn’t really designed to be removed. It does come out but it needs some serious encouragement, as it's crammed perfectly between the curved bodywork.

After quite a bit of struggling I try to start the car. It’s flooding and it won’t turn over. Now I've got some new parts to fit and – fingers crossed – they’ll fix the problem…

OUR WHEELS...

WE LOVE CARS 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 editorial, @believebecca

by Andy Entwistle Blackball Media MD, @CarDealerAndy

by Rebecca Chaplin Head of editorial, @believebecca

There’s still no word from Matt the Mechanic on the whereabouts of a new fuel tank, so the XR2 is currently missing in action.

It's been a pain this month but I’ve finally got those bits that I needed and I’ll be back on the tools before you know it.

This month, Bertha has been turned into a removal truck. Fortunately, it has the capacity to move the belongings of a seven-year-old!

Big steps are being taken, with a date in mind of next spring to have everything sorted, so there’s plenty of pressure to get it fixed!

BMW 330d Touring

Subaru Legacy GT-B

Poor Belfort isn’t feeling the love – in spite of being kept in running order.

It’s time for a change of rubber all round – if only Jon could find somewhere...

A

s my role here sees me in a different car nearly every day to review, Belfort doesn’t usually get a whole lot of attention. It’s sad, but there’s only one way to describe the Touring – unloved.

That’s not to say it hasn’t been looked after.

Indeed, the battery is hooked up to a natty solar charger to keep it topped up, and the tyres are all well inflated. Neither of these sound particularly ground-breaking, I’ll grant you, but it means the car does start and run at the turn of the key.

So what does the future hold? In truth, I’m at a little bit of a crossroads.

The car needs money spending on it to bring it back up to standard – a decent service is in order and the passenger-side window remains broken.

However, once that’s done I’m faced with having to either keep the car and use it, or replace it for something that's perhaps just a little less reliable and day-to-day, but more interesting for the occasions when I do get behind the wheel.

But first, the E46 needs fixing. It’s not a huge list of issues, thankfully, but are just niggly enough that they tumble down my ‘to do’ list each and every week.

Hopefully I’ll muster the energy to get them sorted soon – as it really doesn’t sit well with me having a perfectly usable car being, well, unused.

Model: BMW 330d Touring Owned by: Jack Evans Engine: 2.9-litre turbocharged diesel Bought for: £2,600 Mileage: 147,230 Money spent this month: £0 Highlight of the month: Finding out that the 330’s arches have remained mercifully rust-free.

SUBARU LEGACY GT-B

Those tired tyres needed replacing – and fast

W

ell, it was fun while it lasted.

I was hoping to squeeze a bit more life out of the set of fairly respectable-looking Toyos that the Subaru rolled off the boat with, but this month the front right tyre decided that enough was definitely enough.

By the looks of it, a change was well overdue too – deceptively legal on the outer edges they might’ve been, but in the six months I’ve been driving it around, one had somehow worn down to the cords on the inside. Oops.

So with space saver bolted on, it was time to hunt out a new set – and, being the impatient sort of human being that I am, get them fitted that day.

The usual fast-fit suspects weren’t much help, and Etyres were only willing to turn up for a sizeable same-day surcharge – and only had some faintly rubbish rubber in stock.

Thankfully, there was Protyre (aka Micheldever). They seem to be the only fitters to have woken up to the 21st century, and were more than happy to take a same-day online booking for down the road – so brownie points (and £362 for four Pirellis) go to them.

Still a bit worried about the monumental

BMW 330d TOURING

MG METRO TURBO

wear to the inside edges, I chucked them another £35 for a wheel alignment check too – hoping they’d tell me it was shonky geometry that’d caused it, rather than me flying over my road’s speed bumps at 30mph twice a day.

But no, everything was largely in check, so I’ve only got myself to blame for my tyres’ (slightly) premature demise. Lesson learnt – though to be fair, a decent set of rubber isn’t the worst thing to be spending money on, is it?

In other expensive news, I’ve finally got around to throwing the keys and timing belt parts at someone with a little more at their disposal than my £15 Aldi socket set. It’s all sorted apparently, but we go to press before I can collect it – so fingers crossed that’ll be the end of the mysterious whining noise (and my monthly 300-word whines about it).

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: 82,014 Money spent this month: £397.21 Highlight of the month: Discovering that my space saver still works.

NISSAN 200SX

PEUGEOT 205 GTi

by Jon Reay Multimedia manager, @JonReay

by Jack Evans Features editor, @jackrober

by Christian Tilbury Staff writer, @Christilbury1

by Darren Cassey Senior staff writer, @DCassey

by James Baggott Chief executive, @CarDealerEd

A nasty surprise leaves Jon £400 lighter this month, as detailed above – but it’s all in the name of safety.

Despite being maintained, Belfort isn’t getting nearly enough use, and a less practical replacement is tempting – even a Proton Jumbuck.

A fat profit on a set of old alloys means Christian’s about to throw more good money after bad on the Metro. New turbo it is, then...

Commitments have left the 200SX neglected. I plan to take it off the road for the winter, so a long goodbye drive is needed.

After a summer of getting her up together I’ve tucked the GTi back under a blanket in the lock-up while winter passes.

WorkShopMagazine.co.uk

| 41

OUR KEV.

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

Wait four years for first MOT? Another hare-brained idea!

L ast month, I raised the issue of MOT exemption for cars over 40 years. But now, it seems, the government is cooking up an even more hare-brained scheme, which is to extend the period before a car has its first test to four years, rather than the current three.

Okay, so I do run a garage, and you could argue that my concern is that this will reduce the amount of work coming in. But for one thing – we charge £45 for an MOT, nine quid less than the official government rate. It takes me about 45 minutes to conduct an MOT test properly.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that one man on one job for 45 minutes to make £45, once you’ve added in the cost of licensing, training, emissions-test equipment, software and government fees, is hardly great business sense, especially when the average garage hourly rate round my way is £65 an hour for labour only. We charge £50 an hour, and as a result we’re stacked out.

The other counter argument is that the MOT test is a good way for garages to bring in business. If the car fails, there’s a good chance that the owner will leave it with you to carry out the necessary repairs. That’s fair enough, but we would be busy enough without MOTs and aren’t exactly short of work to go round.

My concern is simple. Four years is way too long for a car to be on the road without being looked at by a professional, especially as we live in a culture of never lifting the bonnet these days. I saw the perfect example of it yesterday.

We had in, for its first test, a ‘14’-plate BMW 3-Series Touring. A nice car, clean and well-presented. The owner assumed the test would be a mere in-and-out formality.

But with the car in the air, it soon became apparent this wasn’t going to be the case. Both front tyres were worn on their inner edges almost right through to the canvas, but with the outer tread not looking too bad, the owner simply hadn’t noticed. The brake pads were borderline, too – I passed and advised them, as they were only just over 1mm thick.

Imagine, then, if you will, what this might mean. The BMW we had in for its test had just shy of 60,000 miles on the clock, meaning it had covered 20,000 miles a year. This time next year, it will be touching 80,000. If we bring in four-year testing, that’s 80,000 miles without ever having to be legally

taken to a garage for a safety inspection. Regardless of a car’s age, a lot can go wrong in that period – and can you imagine what state that BMW would have been in a year from now?

Sure, today’s cars are better built than ever before, and not so long ago, 80,000 miles was a reasonable life expectancy for a car, with 100k a milestone achievement.

These days, most cars are good for 150-200,000 miles without major drama, but that doesn’t mean they’re immune from defect-related accidents.

There are elements of the MOT test that I’m sceptical about. Emissions, for example, are subjective. You bring down the level of one pollutant and replace it with another. There’s no escaping the fact that anything with an internal combustion engine is effectively a fire on wheels, and from fires you get smoke.

Measuring percentages of hydrocarbons and all that jazz baffles me, as you can usually see or smell if a car is chucking out too much muck.

But there are other elements I’m passionate about.

Brakes, lights, steering, suspension, tyres and windscreen wipers all contribute directly to our safety and security, as much in brand new cars as they do in older ones.

There’s no excuse for driving around with any of them in defective condition, but, similarly, we’re not all mechanics, meaning that some people, such as the BMW owner, are clueless as to the danger they present.

Indeed, you can easily wear out a set of tyres and brake pads in less than a year if you drive your car hard.

Let’s consider, then, another option. Rather than pushing the first MOT test back to four years, maybe we should bring it forward to just one year?

That way, we can be sure that all of the cars on our roads are regularly inspected by professionals even if, as in my case, it means we’ll be picking up a smaller hourly rate rather than generating additional income…

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

”

Brakes, lights, steering, suspension, tyres and windscreen wipers all contribute directly to our safety and security, as much in brand new cars as they do in older ones.

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 30 and 31 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

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ACADEMY

of Automotive Skills