• Original Turbos Direct make the case for fitting ‘original’ products
• V-Tech announce ‘new spec’ emission Testers
• Handheld tools a hit with factors
• Snap-On Announce Best Price Guarantee For State-Of-The-Art Sun Dga 2500 Combi Gas Analyser
• New Wing Mirror Supplier Takes On Car Industry
• Gemco reps Mondolfo Ferro
• Diagnos.co.uk announce tie-in with Autoservice
Original Turbos Direct make the case for fitting ‘original’ products
Original Turbos Direct sell, wherever possible, new turbochargers manufactured on production lines that are approved by the vehicle manufacturers. Why? …they say it minimises the risk to the installer “…fit and forget!”
It is a consequence, they say, of the fact that modern turbos have been designed to eliminate turbo-lag. This has been achieved by advancements in technology that make modern vehicles more responsive, more efficient and more pleasurable to drive. In making these advancements there is a trade-off; modern turbos require accurate and precise setting and calibration.
Garrett VNT (Variable Nozzle Turbine) turbos and Holset VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) are extremely complex. For example VNT turbos are calibrated and set to 3 decimal places on calibration rigs that are audited by the vehicle manufacturer.
The question is, therefore, can repair and calibration of turbos be consistent with the quality and performance of the original fitted product? …Original Turbos Direct claim the answer is unequivocally …NO!
MOT Workshop Magazine
V-Tech announce new-spec emissions Testers
The Swedish make, V-Tech Opus Combi, is in even more demand as a result from the fast approaching VOSA deadline for the new specification. The VOSA approved, FAST PASS and 2008 compliant emissions gas and smoke analyser is currently available in three purchase options…
Option1 includes a standard five-year warranty with the first-year on parts and labour, with a warranty on parts only for the remainder of the term. Option 2 is a fully maintained lease package that includes a full five-year warranty, inclusive of all calibrations, parts, labour, plus VOSA updates.
Option 3 includes all the benefits of the Option 2, but buyers also get a Hanatech Multiscan diagnostic tool included.
V-Tech Opus Analysers are also available as a stand-alone gas or smoke packages for those MOT stations that would like to upgrade only their gas or smoke.
All packages include state-of-the-art Dell computer package with 19″ TFT screen & laser printer as standard and other advanced features such as fully Smart Card enabled for when the Smart Card systems are implemented by VOSA.
National service and calibrations support are just a few of the V-Tech UK Opus Combi benefits, and is claimed to be the most reliable with lowest running costs in the UK.
Further detail please call: 020 8498 1288
MOT Workshop Magazine
Handheld tools a hit with factors
Gendan’s range of low-cost diagnostic tools have proved a big hit with motor factors in past 6 months, the company has reported. The new retail-packaged tools are reportedly being well received by both the distributors and customers.
Sales of the units have increased over 200%, and as the company continues to source new distributors, it is hoped that this will become the main sales channel for the products.
In mid-2007, Gendan began working with local factors in its home town of Swansea to gauge interest of the new products, and following strong feedback, expanded their coverage across the UK. Almost 30 factor businesses are now offering the products.
With tools retailing at between £52 and £250, distributors have reported they are easy to display on the shop counter or to carry on the deliveryvans. And with the tools being ‘plug-and-play’, the products can be demonstrated without any specialist training.
Company Director, Dean Norman commented, “we’re extremely pleased with the response so far – and our team really enjoys getting out there meeting the buyers. We’ve visited a range of customers from sole traders with a van up to multi-depot regional factors. And what has surprised us most is the popularity of the £52 tool – we thought this might be seen by garages as too low-cost, but we’ve so far sold 10 times as many of these as the other tools combined”.
As the company continues to build relationships with factor business across the country, it would be interested to hear from any businesses looking to expand their current diagnostic tool range, or to venture into diagnostics for the first time.
Gendan can be reached on 08700 420928 or online at www.gendan.co.uk/factor
The Company also provides a growing library of fault code definitions atwww.faultcodes.co.uk (accessible online or by mobile phone)
MOT Workshop Magazine
Snap-On Announce Best Price Guarantee For State-Of-The-Art Sun Dga 2500 Combi Gas Analyser
Snap-on has announced the introduction of a new campaign “Best Price Guarantee” to support sales of the new version of its state-of-the-art Sun DGA 2500 – a VOSA approved MoT gas and smoke diagnostic emissions analyser.
“Our Best Price Guarantee makes enormous sense,” explains Helen Taylor, Marketing Manager of Snap-on Diagnostics. “By the end of January 2009 all garages in the UK have to have replaced their smoke meters to meet the VOSA 2009 specification. With Best Price Guarantee we want to encourage garages to make this investment sooner rather than later and our research shows that some garages are waiting to make a decision because they believe that they may get a cheaper deal at the end of 2008.
“That is why we want to get the message out to customers that if they buy the DGA 2500 now – and if we do lower the price later – then we will credit back the difference to them. It will only be based on cash purchases and only apply to advertised pricing. So if a purchaser sees an advert in the press for less than the price they bought the unit for, then the customer will be able to apply for a refund of the difference in value. Our current advertised price for the DGA 2500 Combi is £5,120 which makes it extremely competitive for what it offers.
“We genuinely believe that our new version Sun DGA 2500 Combi really does bring a new dimension to gas analysers. It has the most advanced graphical user-interface designed to guide the user through every step as well as providing clear information via the high resolution 19” flat screen monitor. The modular design of the system also allows the user to expand and upgrade the DGA 2500 to a complete diagnostic and information system.
“The new version DGA 2500 has been designed to bring today’s garage the latest state-of-the-art in measurement, accuracy and reliability. We believe that the power of its software, its automated legal test procedures and ease of use takes our new version Sun DGA 2500 a generation ahead of the competition. The Snap-on Best Price Guarantee for this very attractive unit is, we believe, the icing on the cake that the UK garage trade has been looking for.”
MOT Workshop Magazine
New Wing Mirror Supplier Takes On Car Industry
Car owners having to replace their wing mirrors are being offered a much better deal thanks to a new business…
Philip (left) and Steven (right) toast the end of their second year in business.
Wing Mirror Man is celebrating the end of its second year in business and has provided a much better deal for thousands of car owners across the UK and Ireland that have had to replace a wing mirror.
Based in Bury, Greater Manchester, Wing Mirror Man provides brand new wing mirrors to the public and the car trade at prices well below those offered by car dealers or car manufacturers.
The business supplies wing mirrors of 29 vehicle manufacturers, covering about 500 car models, and in excess of 2,000 different types and makes of wing mirrors.
Wing Mirror Man has clocked up more than 12,000 customers and over the last 12 months has turned over £600,000 in orders.
The business was started by friends Steven Speed and Philip Seaton in a bedroom at Philip’s home in January 2006.
Due to explosive growth in the first few months of the business, Steven, aged 31, and Philip, aged 26, had to move to new premises.
The business now employs five full-time and one part-time staff.
Said Steven and Philip: “We are giving car owners a much better deal when they need to replace a wing mirror than that offered by car dealers or manufacturers. The difference in price between us and car dealers and manufacturers can be quite startling as the latter have had a monopoly for a long time, where they have been able to charge whatever they wanted.
“The growth of our business in just two years shows that car owners welcome this new competition. “We now supply wing mirrors to customers all over the UK and Ireland.”
For further details about Wing Mirror Man visitwww.wingmirrorman.co.uk
MOT Workshop Magazine
Gemco reps Mondolfo Ferro
Gemco Equipment Ltd: “largest supplier of Tyre Bay Equipment” in the UK
Gemco, as well as selling their own brand of Dunlop Tyre bay Equipment, are also the UK representatives for the Premier manufacturer Mondolfo Ferro.
Mondolfo, which has been selling their equipment overseas since 1965, continue to focus on product development so that their machines always keep abreast of current technology. As their UK representative Gemco are now selling the Aquila AS944 as well as the MT2080 and MT2680 tyre changers.
The Mondolfo MT2680 (right) is a microprocessor wheel balancer with digital displays for passenger car, 4WD, van and motorbike wheels. This machine has been planned, developed and designed throughout to make the operator’s job easier, more convenient and safer: ergonomic shaft position to simplify the placing of weights inside light alloy rims, plenty of room for all the accessories and an extremely quiet, electronically controlled low consumption 24v motor. It is self-calibrating with self-diagnostics.
MOT Workshop Magazine
Racing changes
The AS944 is a super- automatic tyre changer for car, racing and van wheels from 10½ to 26½ in diameter and 14½ wide. Solid and sturdy, it is especially suitable for intensive use; the high quality of the components used makes this machine extremely reliable and with minimum maintenance cost. The turntable is compact and has 2 working positions; the first from 10½ to 23½ and the second from 13½ to 26½. A super RM Assist Arm is available as an additional option or can be retrofitted.
Heavy duty
The new Dunlop tyre changers give the professional tyre shop truly heavy-duty machines that are designed to stand up to continuous intensive use. The DTM190 semi automatic tyre changer with its compact swing arm design also comes with its standard fitting of air filter, regulator, oiler, tyre inflator and soap bucket. Its wheel capacity is from 10½ to 20½ clamped outside and 12½ to 23½ clamped inside.
The addition of the Dunlop assist arm ART320 to the DTM185 automatic tyre changer gives the professional tyre shop the facility to make easy work of changing low profile tyres.
MOT Workshop Magazine
Diagnos.co.uk announce tie-in with Autoservice
Having established their brand globally, Diagnos.co.uk, makers of the highly successful Autologic® system, have announced they are to further strengthen their offering, following a tie in with the XPart’s AutoService centre network.
With the launch of the new MINI in 2001 and sales of more than 200,000 in the UK alone, this comes at an important time for Diagnos.co.uk. A large number of owners bought into the MINI TLC package which provided main-dealer servicing for up to five years. However with many of these contracts now coming to an end, customers still want the high-level servicing but without the high costs often associated with franchise dealer servicing.
XPart has launched a New MINI specialist programme to members of its 240-strong UK AutoService centre network, who, when appointed, will offer a full service and repair facility, using the Autologic MINI system. This replicates the functionality of the tools used by main dealers. The system uses simple touch-screens and provides real-time data, component activation, programming, coding and read and clear fault codes.
Mike Collen, Managing Director of Diagnos says: “We are excited to be working alongside XPart’s AutoService centre network and this will further strengthen our remit to be a market leader in what we do. There is a real gap in the market for MINI servicing and we are only too happy to help fill this.”
About the company
Autologic® diagnostic systems are designed to replicate the functionality of the tools used by the manufacturers’ dealers, enabling independent garages to provide comprehensive servicing in their own workshops, including coding and programming. Software is available for: Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Volvo Porsche and VAG vehicles.
Further information: Tel: 0845 338 1992 Email: info@diagnos.co.uk
www.autologic-diagnos.com
MOT Workshop Magazine
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