Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[JohnDale]

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/ingear/cars/article1175825.ece

I wonder if anyone saw this article. Can't seem to find the whole article on line but the jist is that on current cars(Merc,Volkswagen,BMW,LR Discovery, Volvo,Vauxhall) it is impossible to change a light bulb,brake pads, battery etc as DIY as the item serial number has to be registered to the ECU which can only be done by the main dealer or by an independent who has spent £8000 on a special reader, a different one for each make. Allegedly this stems from the EUs big boots on our necks in the name of greater fuel economy????
If the vehicle has a tyre pressure monitoring system it must be reset if tyres are replaced at a cost of £200 at the dealers. I can see an increase in unemployment of non dealer staff in the future as independents are driven out of business. From JD in a dark room.
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1958 Ford Zephyr Mk2 Convertible
1976 Ford Granada Ghia.

[D4B]

Hi JD,

yes grim isn't it, but it is never more than a couple of years before the after market catches up with code readers etc made available to the independent garages for all the latest models....

However you wont catch me buying a modern for exactly the reasons
you state

Steve

[peter scott]

Hi John,

I maybe did encounter one aspect of this recently when trying to change a sidelight bulb. I thought it was simple until I discovered that my standard 12v 5w item didn't fit in spite of appearing to be the correct item!

They have changed the bayonet pin positions. Fortunately these bulbs are available on eBay.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Geoffp]

Sounds more like a typical EU scare story from the Sunday Torygraph to me

From EU Regulation 595/2009:

[Inglewood]

An easy way to get huge discounts on main dealer charges is to befriend and then use a bodyshop for routine work. This may seem strange but most bodyshops are able to carry out computer resets etc for around £20- £30.

Often, a failed bulb will show on the dash but when replaced the system should reset itself - although the event will be stored in the vehicle memory it should not show on the dash. Similarly, tyre pressure monitors do reset themselves.

[welshrover]

that is the main reason i will not touch or have a modern car .a load of plastic junk filled with electronics and e.u interference.+''THEY ARE NOT BRITISH''

[JohnDale]

[simes205]

I've changed bulbs, an ECU water temp sensor. EGR valve/thermostat and various other electrical items on my 2006 E91 BMW with no need for any reprogramming.

OBD port readers / programmers can be picked up from Ebay for £100. These can assist you with reprogramming / modifying / deleting anything relating to errors that come up.

[JohnDale]

[ukdave2002]

My modern BMW has the Idrive menu servicing system, our local independent can read diagnostics and reset all the service alerts.

For £14 they will plug diagnostic box in and the read a fault for DIY'ers.

Body shops have to have the diagnostics as they have to deal with airbags, and brake sensors etc.

The manufacturers have an issue with the dealers; in that not so long ago cars needed servicing more often, and broke down more often keeping the service department in business. Dealers are pressuring for any kind of servicing / repair exclusivity, they have to maintain a service department to maintain the franchise, but service revenues have plummeted! so they want (probably have to!) charge exorbitant prices to service the fewer cars that they see.

We can't have it both ways, its a fact that a new car today will need less attention in 150k miles of use than a car of 10 years ago would have, and far less than a car of 20 years ago would have required.
There has been a fundamental change in servicing; put simply, the mechanical bits don't fail because the electronic bits protect them. Cars are also safer because of advances in things like ABS. Maintenance has changed because we have now to maintain the electronics, overall there is a net benefit to the consumer. So for a garage to fork out £10k in diagnostics is nothing, it would either be leased or written down , costing the Garage less than £200 a month, earning its money every day.

My modern has done 70k miles, its had 2 brake fluid changes, 3 oil + filter changes, 2 lots of air + cabin filter changes, 1 set of spark plugs changed at 64K miles!!..period, I could have done all that myself apart from resetting the Idrive service menu!, I have never used BMW dealers to do any of this as they charge £170 for an oil and filter change , my local independent does the same for £32 and uses BMW components so there is no infringement on the warranty.

In 4 years & 70K miles I have spent about £280 on servicing (no repairs needed) by using an independent. That low cost is due to the quality of the build and the engine management system, love it or hate it it has made motoring cheaper, but don't get sucked in to beliving that new cars have to have franchised dealer servicing, its a myth.

Dave