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October 1999
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NGK Announces OE Fitment on New Fiat Punto
For the 1242cc 8V Punto, Fiat is installing NGK’s highly successful V-grooved spark plug - BKR5EZ - the first time that V-grooved spark plugs have been used by Fiat in high volume cars. As well as being environmentally friendly, the V-grooved plug has a larger centre electrode to ensure that the target life of 40,000 km is reached. For the 1242cc 16V Punto, NGK has introduced a 12mm diameter plug - DCPR8E-N, this being an evolution of the type DCPR8E successfully used on the Lancia Y. For the 1747cc 16V engine meanwhile, the spark plug to be installed will be the BKR6EKC, that same plug as that being currently used in Fiat Bravo and Brava models. NGK’s OE share in each case will be 50% (10/99) German View on Extended Service Intervals A recent German aftermarket study asked automotive service site owners how they planned to counter the servicing business lost due to extended service intervals. Strategies to counter extended service intervals
68% of franchised dealers expected net decline in aftersales against 58% of independents. This is logical because dealers are being hit first and hardest by the changes in service intervals. As cars get older and the owners more likely visit independent garages the service intervals tend to be driven by other aspects like annual testing and the general pre-Spring service. The survey indicated that independents were more proactive than franchised dealers. In the UK currently it is Peugeot which has the longest service intervals at 20,000 miles for petrol engines. However, the Audi A2 is likely to be launched with a 30,000 mile/2 year service regime on diesel engines. VW owners in Germany already get 33,000 mile/2 year service intervals on diesels and it is more general for diesels to receive longer intervals. In the UK the reverse is the case.(10/99) An AA survey carried out for the Sunday Times has identified that UK motorists are paying up to 50% more for o.e. parts than motorists in other European countries. The AA found that if a motorist was to buy all the o.e. parts needed to assemble a new vehicle. he or she would be paying up to 3 times the value of the equivalent new car leaving the showroom. They quote this as an example of how vehicle assemblers are loading parts prices to promote new car sales as well as retain profits at dealerships. Non o.e. parts were up to 40% cheaper than their o.e. equivalents according to the survey (10/99) Wintercare Package from Vauxhall Masterfit To provide owners of Vauxhall cars and vans up to 10 years old with peace of mind this winter, a special Wintercare offer is being made available from participating Vauxhall Masterft dealerships to detect any potential problems before they become a crisis. A comprehensive inspection of the vehicle’s cooling system to detect any leaks, ensure correct usage of anti-freeze and check the condition of related components is available from Vauxhall for just £37.00 including VAT. The Wintercare inspection includes pressure tests of the complete cooling system before and after individual checks on hoses, clips, thermostat, water pump gasket and fan operation. An inspection of engine and heater radiators and expansion chamber for leaks and obstructions is also carried out and a visual inspection made of cylinder head and block for leaks before the entire cooling system is drained and refilled 50% Vauxhall-approved anti-freeze solution. If the cooling system proves satisfactory, the driver will receive a warranty against the damage a cooling system leak could cause. The warranty includes free AA Home Start, giving motorists the added security of AA assistance at home until April 2000. (10/99) The Speedpart Group has acquired a controlling interest in Bodybits Holdings Ltd, the parent company of Bodybits, the Coventry based independent distributor of car body parts. The company operates 12 branches in central and southern England and supplies car body parts to the body repair trade. According to Speedpart, Bodybits’ founder and Managing Director, Quintin Cornforth will remain with the business along with his senior management team of Yvonne Palmer, Tony ward, Tim Jennings and Colin Hill. He also retains his shareholding. (10/99) Würth to Supply Hyundai Dealer Network
To launch the new business partnership, Würth UK Joint Managing and sales Director Terry Slade dropped in on Premier Autocentres, the Hyundai dealer in Blackfen, Sidcup, to deliver the first consignment of workshop products. Terry (left) is pictured here with patrick Stone, dealer principal of Premier Autocentres. (10/99) Prolek Offers Retrofit Aircon Systems Prolek, Hella’s national network of auto-electrical specialists, is seeking a significant growth in demand for the aftermarket fitment of air conditioning systems for commercial vehicles is a result of a new deal with air conditioning system supplier, Cool Air UK. According to Prolek, who say they were inundated with requests for air conditioning systems during the summer hot weather, the deal will see Cool Air UK supplying their range of air conditioning kits for cars and commercial vehicles to the Prolek network as well as supplying technical information and training to Prolek outlets. (10/99) ACG International Trade Fairs Pte, the organisers of Automech 2000, the Pan Arab/African workshop and aftermarket exhibition, have announced that the fifth edition of the exhibition will take place between 9-12 March 2000 at the Cairo International Conference centre in Cairo, Egypt. (10/99) Wood Sells Paint Technik to Franchisee
Wood now intends to focus on his latest SMART venture, Wicked Wheels, a new franchise business that repairs damaged and corroded alloy wheels at the customer’s own site. (10/99) Magneti Marelli Opens Wolfsburg Facility The official inauguration of Magneti Marelli’s Technical center in Wolfsburg, Germany, was recently held in the presence of local authorities from the Wolfsburg area. Strategically situated close to Volkswagen’s production facilities, the Wolfsburg centre is the sixth technical-commercial facility set up by Magneti Marelli in Germany. The others are located in Munich, Rüsselsheim, Stuttgart, Ingolstadt and Cologne. Key features of the Wolfsburg facility incliude a climate controlled room for the preconditioning of vehicles, a climate controlled cell for the execution of emission cycles and a modal gas-analysis unit for measuring emissions. (10/99) |
NGK Spark Plug Europe
GmbH, has announced that its spark plugs are to be fitted
as original equipment on the recently announced new Fiat
Punto.
Workshop logistics
support for Hyundai dealers throughout the UK has been
entrusted to Würth UK Ltd following the signing of a
partnership agreement with the Korean vehicle importer.
The agreement means that Hyundai dealers will now have
access to more than 7,500 workshop and bodyshop products
held at Würth’s UK headquarters as well as to the
ORSY stock management control system free on loan to all
Hyundai dealers.
Stephen Wood, the
founder of the Paint Technik mobile automotive
refinishing business, has sold the company to Nick
Hughes, one of Paint Technik’s first franchisees.
Paint Technik, which has 130 operators across the
country, was one of the first companies to introduce
Small to Medium Repair techniques (SMART) in the UK.
SMART techniques allow Paint Technik to deal with the
majority of minor bodywork, trim and glass damage at a
fraction of the cost of conventional techniques.