Ring: MAGflex for it
Published: 14 January, 2022
Ring’s MAGflex Utility Inspection Lamp is rechargeable and cordless and has an operating time of up to 2.5 hours. It has wide-angled illumination and emits up to 1,000 lumens of white light, with two adjustable magnetic bases and dual hanging hooks. It can be placed under the bonnet, on the underside of vehicles or on ramps, acting as a site light to illuminate a large work area. It also comes with mains and 12V DC charging cables.
www.ringautomotive.com
- New BorgWarner/Delphi Technologies Aftermarket EV offering
Delphi Technologies Aftermarket, through BorgWarner, has launched a new offering for EVs that will enable independent garages to obtain a range of replacement parts, including combined inverter and DC/ DC converters, traction power inverter modules, and onboard chargers.
- Castrol Engine Shampoo
Castrol Engine Shampoo has been launched as a new pre-oil change treatment that is intended to help maintain the efficient operation of petrol and light diesel engines. It aims to reduce harmful sludge deposits by up to 85% in petrol engines. The new product can be used safely in both petrol and light diesel engines, as well as in motorbikes and LCVs. One bottle of Engine Shampoo is effective for vehicles that use 3L to 6L of engine oil. Castrol recommends use at every other oil change, mainly for older and high mileage vehicles. However, it can also be used for new vehicles as a preventative measure.
- Lighting the way
The introduction of Xenon HID bulbs has been one of the biggest vehicle lighting developments of the last 20 years. As they become more common and are no longer restricted to just premium or luxury cars, many more motorists are now benefiting from the crisper, whiter colour temperatures, helping them see road signs and obstacles more clearly. In addition, legislation was introduced in 2012 so new vehicles produced after then would use D3 and D4 references, which do not contain mercury. Ring stocks a comprehensive range of Xenon HIDs, including the new D5 reference.
- London ULEZ expansion to boost EV take-up?
Electric vehicles may be set to get a boost in the capital from late summer 2023, as they become among the small group of vehicles not required to pay £12.50 a day to travel within London’s soon-to-be-expanding Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
It is now confirmed that London’s ULEZ will expand to cover all London from 29 August 2023, and motorists will be required to pay the charge to drive inside the boundary, unless their vehicle is exempt.
- Broadening support on Electric Vehicles
As the number of electric vehicles continues to rise in UK, the opportunity for bodyshops that specifically cater for EVs is also increasing. Enfield-based EV Bodyshops is run by Adam Thurman and his team, launched in June 2021 to take advantage of this growing income stream. At the end of last year, EV Bodyshops gained Nissan GB approval, officially becoming the first ‘electric only’ repairer for the vehicle manufacturer.
On the workshop floor, one of the most common jobs the technicians are performing is high-voltage shutdowns and reinstating the high-voltage system once it is safe to do so. This means employing the right product for the job at hand is critical. We sat down with Adam to discuss how he went about choosing the right technology for his business.
“Prior to opening, we knew in-house high voltage repairs would be on our menu of services, so with my background as a main dealer and working with OEM equipment, I knew exactly what I wanted out of the products we purchased.
“Like any good business we did our own research. However, we were also introduced to asTech’s products and remote services by our distribution supplier. This led to a meeting with the asTech team where I explained what we required and the types of vehicles we were working on. On receipt of their answers, they made me feel comfortable that the asTech solution was perfect for us.
“We use asTech products for all our repairs, which includes pre- and post-repair scans. These enable our technicians to understand any historic errors with the vehicle and help clear any issues or errors caused through an accident or the repair process.
“Our team has benefited from the fact that they have access to IMI trained technicians that are using the latest software, and this allows us to see all the faults that other software is unable to deliver. An example of this is on a couple of occasions the software has highlighted faults that we couldn’t see, which meant we dealt with them and stopped the vehicle being brought back in. This, in turn, ensures customers receive the highest levels of service and a right first-time fix, which is what we aim to offer our customers every time.
“Overall, the knowledge, expertise and technology we have access to through asTech has provided us with the confidence needed to repair the types of vehicles that come through the workshop door each day. In addition, I also believe what we have access to will be an asset to the business because as EV vehicle technology evolves, so will the software we use.”
