NEWS

Bug damage warning

BUG splats on the bonnet of a car can be as harmful as bird poo, new scientific research has shown. Autoglym carried out some studies, showing that acidity levels in some bug splats can match that of bird muck. If left untreated or exposed to lots of direct sunlight, this can eat into the lacquer [...]

	1 in 3 cars a service opp
AUTODATA reckons there is service profit in almost 1 in 3 cars on the road if garages can diagnose it. 30 percent of cars on the road have incorrect front or rear wheel alignment. Owners often won’t know about this until tyres wear prematurely. Now, Autodata has helped firms easily diagnose it, with an updated [...]

	Motor Codes resonates
MOTOR Codes is hitting the mark with UK garage users as 93% say they’d recommend a Codes-approved garage. Over 3700 people were surveyed, on how impressive their overall garage experience was. Findings showed that over 9 in 10 would subsequently recommend the Motor Codes-approved garage they used to friends and family. There will be no [...]

	Audi dealer headcams
AUDI is to fit headcams to its technicians that will allow car owners to watch what’s going on with their motor – live. The Audi Direct Reception system means customers will be given a two-way link with the Audi technician. This means they will be able to talk to them while they work! Owners will [...]

	Drop to double aftersales
SERVICE plan provider EmaC says car dealers should drop the ‘after’ in ‘aftersales’ to boost returns. By taking aftersales selling to core new and used car point-of-sale desks, returns can double, reckons the firm. ‘With around 40 percent of the lifetime value of any customer held in after-sales, it makes great commercial sense to un-tap [...]

		Hybrid death threat
		CAR dealer mechanics are at risk of injury or death if they fail to follow procedures when servicing hybrid cars. The petrol-electric models are packed with batteries, which must be completely isolated, warns the RMIF. Cars must also sit for an hour before work can commence. Otherwise, technicians face a 500-volt shock. It is an [...]
		Read More..

		Booking service update
		DRAGON2000 has announced the latest product-enhancing update for its Service Calendar DMS facility. This, it says, will help increase efficiency for service managers – and increase revenues for dealerships. The changes have been instigated through the current need to maximise service department profits. It is a key area of business for both franchises and independents. [...]
		Read More..

		Online booking launch
		DEALERS are now able to offer an easy online booking service to make routine car servicing less hassle. DCML has rolled out its Online Service Bookings facility. It gives franchised dealer customers a live feed to service appointment availability – which they can then go ahead and book remotely. Cleverly, it also links up to [...]
		Read More..

		Scrap scheme condemned
		RISING repair costs and the closure of aftermarket repair businesses will be side effects of the scrappage scheme. The World Engine Remanufacturing Council has thus condemned the scheme as a ‘serious blow’. As remanufacturing competes directly with the aftermarket business at dealership level, says the body, the result will help car makers at the expense [...]
		Read More..

		Crunch ups home service
		TWO-THIRDS of car owners will try to replace their BRAKES themselves, rather than use a car dealer. And a third will attempt to repair broken gearboxes! In all, over half of all motorists will attempt home car repairs, in an effort to save cash – with 20 percent of car owners considering the repairs ‘quite [...]
		Read More..

		Owners switch to indys
		POSH car owners are switching to smaller independent garages to service their expensive motors. The Good Garage Scheme has just carried out a survey – and discovered that, from searches carried out on its website, BMW tops the brands searched for! Thousands of BMW drivers conducted a postcode search to find cost-conscious garages local to [...]
		Read More..

		Web booking ups profit
		HALFWAY Garage in Thatcham has ‘significantly’ improved income with a new web booking system. The Berkshire garage uses the Webbooker service, which allows customers to book servicing and MOTs online. This means customers can book in cars even when the garage is closed – and ensure there are no clashes. It does this by allocating [...]
		Read More..