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Journal
Notes from the workshop. Technical pieces for owners who want to understand their cars, plain-English explanations of what we do and why, and the occasional opinion piece. No fluff, no SEO filler.
importsbmwbuyer-guide
Buying a BMW with the N52 engine: four things every owner gets wrong
The N52 is one of BMW's finest naturally aspirated inline-sixes, and most owners under-service it in the same four ways. Here is what to do about each one before the car tells you the hard way.
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transmissionstechnical
DSG fluid exchange: why a drain-and-fill is half the job
Most garages offer a DSG drain-and-fill and call it done. The problem is that a drain-and-fill only replaces around half the fluid in the system. Here is what is actually inside a DSG, why the fluid matters, and why a dynamic exchange is the correct service for most cars.
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importshondatype-r
Honda Type R servicing: what changes between the FN2, FK2 and FK8
Three generations of Honda Type R share a name and very little else. The FN2 is a naturally aspirated screamer, the FK2 is Honda's first turbocharged Type R, and the FK8 refined the formula significantly. Servicing requirements differ across all three.
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how-we-workpricingtrust
How we quote: our pricing, and why you won't get a surprise bill
Surprise bills from mechanics come from a few predictable causes. This explains how we quote, what we commit to at each stage, and what happens if we open something up and find more than expected.
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motcustomer-guide
MOT advisories, translated: which ones mean fix it now
An MOT pass with advisories is not the same as a clean bill of health, but most advisories are not emergencies either. Here is how to read them, which ones to act on immediately, and which ones can wait for your next service.
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