GW Views Feb 2018

The digital home for independent garages Issue 1, February 2018

Scrapped 4-1-1 MOT plans applauded as “common sense prevails�

Reviewed:

The turbocharger people

BTN Turbo is the only UK supplier of all major turbocharger brands. Technical helpline available for diagnostic information on 01895 466663 or www.btnturbo.com.

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Scrapped 4-1-1 mot plans applauded as “common sense prevails�

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Reader review: EDT auto transmission machine

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GW columnist, Paul Robbie on customer communication "Tyre hotel" boosts sales and customer retention for Nottingham independent News in brief................5 Gone to the polls.......11 Reader reviews..........21

32 44

Reader columnists....32 Brand newS.................36 Your garage................42

Comline air, oil, fuel and cabin/carbon filters deliver crowd-pleasing performance to customers in more than 40 countries worldwide. With over 1800 references covering all popular European, Japanese & Korean vehicles, Comline is your first choice for filters.

For more information visit www.comline.uk.com

Institut de la Filtration et des Techniques SĂŠparatives

4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Independents show support for campaign to better protect roadside technicians

Petition to introduce new safety rules attracts 11,500 signatures

of roadside operatorS

I used to be an RAC and AA Patrol man and absolutely hated the risk involved with working on motorway hard shoulders and live lanes of duel carriageways. There is only so much your van will do parking in a fend position. I had to leave due to the stress and nightmares.

Steve Page on Garage Wire.

FULL STORY 5

PROTECTED ENGINE THANKS TO THE TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION SOGEFI DIESEL3TECH™+

Sogefi water separation technology Diesel3TechTM+.

Thanks to the addition of a new hydrophobic or coalescence layer ensuring water separation up to 99%, removing drops as small as 10 microns, avoiding dangerous corrosion to the fuel injection system.

This technology meets the requirements stan-

dards on new generation EURO 6d engines, compatible with a variety of applications and with the most recent developments, including Bio-diesel and high pressure fuel injection systems of the latest generation (up to 2500 bar).

The advanced filtration technologies Sogefi are chosen by the global OEM.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Ford 1.8TDCi: timing chain or timing belt?

Workshops remain unaware that Ford’s 1.8 TDCi Lynx engine can have two high tenacity timing belt systems

We had one go a couple of weeks after the upper belt was changed. It snapped the camshaft and the pistons were married to the valves. We phoned Ford and explained the problem, as we thought it was a chain. They told us that they couldn’t be sure which it was meant to have.

Mark Taylor on Facebook.

POWERS 1998-2013

FULL STORY 7

A GROWING SENSE OF THE FUTURE

Technology with Vision

Smarter vehicles are becoming increasingly sensitive. Many are fitted with intelligent OE sensors and electronics developed by HELLA for a better, safer drive.

Rain/Light Sensor Camera Sensor

Temperature Sensor

Intelligent Battery Sensor

Oxygen Sensor

Crash Sensor Accelerator Pedal Sensor Wheel Speed Sensor

MAP Sensor

Long Range Sensor

Oil Level Sensor

Throttle-position Sensor

Mid-Range Radar Sensor

Air Mass Sensor

MAKE THE CONNECTION Advanced Driver Assist Systems (ADAS) and smarter vehicle technologies demand smarter diagnostic and calibration tools only from Hella Gutmann Solutions.

The future is here. The future is HELLA For more information contact Customer Service on 01295 662400 or email hella.sales@hella.com

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NEWS IN BRIEF

New MOT inspection manual to be introduced in May to reflect testing service changes Manual to come into force from May 20

This needs publicising in the mainstream media, otherwise testers will get the blame. The test is changing and many more items will be a failure.

Eddie Lincoln on Facebook.

New manual for class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles

New DEFECT CATEGORIES: DANGEROUS MAJOR MINOR

FULL STORY 9

CHAMPION WIPERS.

STORM FORCE WIPER PERFORMANCE.

Great premium quality wipers with flat, hybrid and standard blades covering 98%* of the vehicle park.

Yes, we put our wipers to the test in our European R&D centre.

And in the most demanding places. And in real-life situations.

In short : they meet stringent standards and match OE design and technology. Plus, you need to be extremely creative to find a car that our range doesn’t cover. That’s why we are Champion.

Discover Champion on www.championautoparts.eu

* Source: FMPI/TecDoc

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VIEWS IN NUMBERS

May 2018 MOT changes

36% 31.5% 18.1% 14.4% believe some support the of the changes changes are “for the worse�

ARE UNDECIDED said they are unaware of any change

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Changes to the MOT as part of the European Union Roadworthiness Package are to be introduced on May 20, 2018.

The more notable changes include new defect categories, lowered emissions limits and exemption on a rolling basis for unmodified cars over forty-years-old.

FULL STORY 11

VIEWS IN NUMBERS

Video evidence of vehicle faults

39.8% 37.5% 15.9% 6.8% have “just say they have believe they started” to offer been doing it don’t have time it as a customer “for a long time” servicE

don’t currently show video evidence but SAY THEY want to

Video is now a normal part of our day at In Town Automotive.

One of the common complaints we heard from our Tech’s was that too much time was spent waiting for service advisors to become free in order to show and explain faults with vehicles and repairs required. The use of video has completely eradicated this delay.

As with any change you have to fine tune your own process in the beginning but now neither myself, the advisors or the technicians could do without it.”

Kimberley Dorr of In Town Automotive, service manager.

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5-7 June 2018, NEC The UK’s leading exhibition for the automotive aftermarket

How efficient is your garage?

In association with

Register using code GAR for your free ticket at www.automechanika-birmingham.com

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

Move your business forward with skills training, product demos, the best deals on equipment and tools and stacks of business advice ... all for free. Late night opening on Wed 6 June just for garages – until 7pm. Register free today.

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SURVEY: Workshop organisationOVER

Expensive equipment is treasured in a cabinet SAY

claim their workshop is “an organised mess”

5%

say they can “never find anything” and 7 per cent say it goes wherever they can find space

44% 5% have considered fitted workshop furniture

10%

Meanwhile

keep tools in the tool box on the floor

say workshop aesthetics are important for technicians and customers

didn’t know it was available

33% 18% think it sounds “expensive”

already haVE IT

FULL STORY 14

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HOT TOPICS

Scrapped 4-1-1 MOT plans applauded as “common sense prevails” Industry welcomes government decision to put safety first and maintain the initial MOT test at three years for new cars OUTCOME FOLLOWS

1,970 RESPONSES INCLUDING

WEEK CONSULTATION

Any money saved by an extension to four years would have been outweighed by increased repair bills. This isn’t just theoretical but demonstrable at any MOT station almost every day.

Dale of DM Motors on Garage Wire, Lancashire.

I wonder how much that debate cost the tax payer.

Alan Mills on Facebook.

FULL STORY 16

HOT TOPICS It is an understatement to say that we are delighted that these plans have now been scrapped, which comes as a result of all the hard efforts of IAAF as well as the whole of the industry. From the outset, we’ve vigorously fought these proposals, which threatened not just the aftermarket but more crucially, motorists’ safety.

Wendy Williamson, IAAF chief executive.

This is a great victory for both independent garages and the IGA, after lobbying on behalf of our members with the ProMOTe campaign to maintain the three-year MOT period.

Stuart James, Independent Garage Association director.

We applaud the Minister’s decision to put road safety first. As we highlighted in our consultation to the government around 17 per cent of cars fail their first MOT on their initial attempt, so extending a car’s first MOT to four years could have resulted in an extra 410,000 unsafe cars on the roads and risk higher accident rates.

Martin Gray, CEO at Euro Car Parts.

FULL STORY 17

WE’VE GOT IT ALL IN HAND.

INA Timing belt KITs. Completely original.

INA is the world’s leading producer of belt system components for original fitment.

We also offer the best range of OE content timing belt kits to independent workshops, with all you need for a professional repair in just one box - right down to the last nut, bolt and washer.

Don’t get palmed off with cheaper alternatives that are short on content and quality.

Vehicle manufacturers give INA the thumbs up. So should you. #EngineExperts Visit www.repxpert.co.uk for more information

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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Win Kerax HyperDrive ST-XR Challenge tickets Three pairs of tickets up for grabs with a full day of racing across the BRSCC Club Car Championships

FROM: KERAX MORE DETAILS

Exhaust gas analyser probes from £39 at Prosol Choose from a single probe or three probe kits

FROM: Prosol MORE DETAILS 19

Claim a free TRICO wall poster for your garage Poster designed to help boost wiper sales in your workshop

MORE DETAILS

FROM: TRICO

New hose clamp removal tool Release

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Henn-type hose clamps in seconds with this handy tool

FROM: Laser Tools

Emission Analysers

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READER REVIEWS

5.0

EDT Automotive’s auto transmission machine Graham Lange of Horton Cars in Buckinghamshire has been putting the automatic transmission cleaner through its paces in his workshop for GW You’ll certainly make money out of it…I’d recommend it to any garage.

PRODUCT DETAILS 21

READER REVIEW

Angry Jester Smoke A1 Pro Turbo

Dinedor Cross Garage gives compact leak detector four-star rating thanks to robust build and time-saving benefits

4.0

Thanks to a ten litre per minute smoke flow rate, Peter said the Angry Jester smoke machine “does everything you need it to” and is “well put together”

FULL STORY

PRODUCT DETAILS 22

BRANDS THAT WON’T LET YOU DOWN.

B AT T E R Y T E C H N O L O G I E S P R E V I O U S LY T R A D I N G A S

Europe’s number one battery supplier

WWW.ECOBAT.TECH

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READER REVIEWS

Ring LED ramp light Shirley Garage lights up the job with Ring's new ramp light

5.0

It works brilliantly on our four-poster ramps and is perfect if you're working on the rear of the car.

Matt Rivett, owner of Shirley Garage in Surrey.

FULL STORY

PRODUCT DETAILS 24

READER REVIEWS

5.0

Suffolk workshop claims Carbon Clean to be “genuine profit opportunity” GWTV finds out why Carbon Clean UK’s unique engine decarbonising system is a popular option for independents I must admit that I was sceptical… but I was totally proved wrong.

Roy Baker, garage owner.

PRODUCT DETAILS 25

LESS STOCK, MORE SALES

Suitable as a direct replacement for OE beam blades, and for upgrading conventional blades to beam technology, all of your customers can benefit from the very latest wiping performance with TRICO Flex. And with just 14 part numbers covering 97% of the vehicle car parc, you benefit from increased wiper blade sales from one compact display stand.

The versatile way to increase your wiper blade sales

www.trico.eu.com +44 (0)1495 767700

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ON THE ROAD

Why TMD Friction launched its Textar brake brand for the aftermarket Exclusive interview reveals why the brand was introduced to the aftermarket and how its friction material is developed.

Knowledge gained from the development of the OE part is now being transferred across to the manufacturer’s extensive aftermarket product range

FULL STORY 27

OUR BRAKE PADS MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE...

...BUT THEY DO COME WITH A FREE MERCEDES* Textar is the brand of choice for the world’s leading car manufacturers.

So if you want a car to feel like new fit the brakes it had when it was new.

UK Technical Helpline 01274 854006 www.textar.com *Original Equipment on Mercedes AMG GTS

TMD Friction UK Ltd. PO Box 18, BD19 3UJ. T. +44 1274 854000

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ON THE ROAD

Behind-the-scenes at Shaftec’s Birmingham headquarters In-house remanufacturing capability ensures quality

We really know our business, market and products and I think it shows.

Shaftec director, Tom Curtis.

FULL STORY

PRODUCT DETAILS 29

ON THE ROAD

GW heads to Autoelectro for launch of new "non-exchange" starters and alternators Remanufacturer and supplier complements portfolio with surcharge-free non-exchange parts New range of starter motors and alternators covers 70 per cent of the UK car parc, incorporating the fastest-moving references.

FULL STORY

PRODUCT DETAILS 30

DVSA SMOKEMETER UPDATE DEADLINE 20th MAY 2018 EM2 SMOKEMETER SPECIAL OFFER

£2790

+VAT

...OR JUST £14.50/wk

DELIVERED • INSTALLED • 2018 SPEC

• European Built • UK Developed Software • Wifi + 22" Widescreen Display • Built-in Remote Assistance • Operates Boston’s RBT and other products • Plus much more... (search EM2 on our website)

DON’T LEAVE IT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, ORDER TODAY !

EM2 Package Special Offer Ends 20th May 2018

0800 085 0620 Please call for an Emissions brochure

bostonequipment.com

Visit our website to see the full Boston range & specifications.

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PAUL ROBBIE OPINION

How customer communication can make or break the job your working on now

GW Columnist, Paul Robbie reflects on his experiences and explains why communication is key

We can have all the diagnostic tools that money can buy, all the latest training and a waiting room fit for a king but if there is a failing in communication then all of the aforementioned goes to waste.

FULL STORY 32

Get business advice and hands-on technical training from the most respected names in the industry

HEAR IT · SEE IT · TOUCH IT LIVE GTG Training Academy, Glasgow

Saturday 14th - Sunday 15th April 2018

UNLOCK YOUR FUTURE BUSINESS POTENTIAL

POWERED BY

Live on-vehicle training & demos IMI certified courses The latest technology and know-how Troubleshooting Replacing the latest parts using the best tools, tips and techniques Gala Dinner and lots more...

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Join other forward thinking independent workshops in a fully equipped 61,000 sqft state-of-the-art workshop crammed full of the latest technology, tools and training from OESAA members, associates and other leading industry figures. Where better to build your business than with the people who make the parts the car makers fit!

Be part of this action packed weekend:

m m m m m

...at Scotland’s only LIVE HANDS ON independent workshop training event at the GTG Training Academy in Glasgow on April 14-15 2018.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

OESAA

Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association

OE Suppliers · Our Quality · Your Reputation

Register your interest at www.oe-suppliers.org or call Annette on 01772 201597 for more information

33

CRAIG HARRITY OPINION

Craig reveals the science behind plug in hybrid electrics Plug in hybrid electric vehicles are a common hybrid system that you're most likely to see in your workshop, reports GW columnist and vehicle technician at Philips Garage in Glasgow

The power splitting device is a planetary gear set with six main components that removes the need for a traditional stepped gearbox acting as a continuously variable transmission with fixed gear ratio.

FULL STORY 34

www.dayco.com

Only the right partner gives the right solution.

Poly-V Belt

Timing Belt

Dayco, the full system supplier and partner of choice of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers.

Fit Dayco with confidence and give your customers the aftermarkets OE solution.

35

BRAND NEWS

MOT stations warned of underhand tactics used by suppliers to sell smoke meters Concerns raised with reports of pressurised sales tactics used to sell unnecessary smoke meters FULL to MOT stations STORY

Dayco empowers technicians with training for confident installation

Engine products and drive systems supplier says it's taking a proactive role to ensure FULL parts are installed correctly STORY

Garages failing to inform motorists of choice when it comes to preventative maintenance Workshops that offer a choice of preventative services generate profits in excess of FULL ÂŁ1,000 per month, experts STORY say

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t sa x u e ne Se cha e M

BG Air Intake Service

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• 42 MPG before Service • MPG readings after each fill-up demonstrate long-term improvement

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37

BRAND NEWS

Diagnostic tools for the present and the future Hella Gutmann Solutions details its range of diagnostic tools for independent workshops

FULL STORY

REPXPERT extends course capacity due to high demand Additional places now available to book via the REPXPERT website

FULL STORY

ECOBAT Battery Technologies: complete battery support and advice Range, availability and service at ECOBAT in the year ahead

FULL STORY 38

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Our high-tech precision products are fitted by vehicle manufacturers on assembly lines and by mechanics in workshops around the world. But it doesn’t end there - we also provide invaluable technical data, fitting instructions, training videos and much more on our REPXPERT website.

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And we now also have limited spaces available for free hands-on training courses at our REPXPERT Academy in Hereford. Learn about LuK clutch systems, INA belt systems and FAG bearings, or even take an IMI approved 2CT double clutch course.

Members can register to attend at www.repxpert.co.uk

39

BRAND NEWS

Garages missing out on wiper blade upsell opportunities Experts say rear blades should be changed as often as front but figures show they only account for ten per cent of sales

FULL STORY

Wheel bearing solutions from First Line Wheel hub technology is developing quickly to cater to the ever‑increasing demands of the modern vehicle

FULL STORY

Comline underlines filter range strength A new year but the same focus on quality: the message emanating from Comline Auto Parts as 2018 gets underway

FULL STORY 40

QUALITY YOU CAN TRUST EVERY TIME

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YOUR GARAGE

Enthusiastic 24-year-old ploughs investment into new garage business Jack Alexander tells GW Views how dreams to own his own business came true

I had one sleepless night, just one‌ a week later bookings were solid.

FULL STORY 42

ACADEMY

of Automotive Skills

43

READER EMAIL

"Tyre hotel" boosts sales and customer retention for Nottingham independent How garage owners, Simon Coxon and Debra Hargreaves adopted a European concept to drive sales Admittedly, we stole the idea from Europe‌ why don't more independents open a tyre hotel?

FULL STORY 44

AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & MANAGED BUSINESS

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The digital home for independent garages

SUBSCRIBE Get your garage featured in GW Views CONTACT GW EDITOR MIKE RUFF 46