September 2021

 by James Caddy

Booking in with us

Just a quick post to mention we are experiencing a high volume of bookings at present, with our bookings being approx. 2 months in advance.
Last years (stupid) MOT extension combined with amounts of large repair work is pushing our booking times backwards. We are at full capacity and apologise for the cars we’re unable to squeeze in sooner.

If you prefer to have your car mot’d, serviced or repaired with us, please book months in advance to avoid disappointment.

It goes without saying, thank you to all our great, loyal customers for their support!

Book your vehicle in online

Contact us to make a booking

in Burch Motor Works / MOTs / Servicing
 by James Caddy

BMW N47 Diesel Fuel System Replacement

Another BMW 1 Series recovered to us not starting. Cranking over but engine not firing. Vehicle in the workshop on the diagnostics it was clear we had a fuel supply problem causing the engine not to start. On the live data we could see no high fuel pressure inside the rail, before going to the injectors. Suspecting high pressure fuel pump failure we removed the fuel rail to inspect for swarf – small metal parts inside the fuel system.
As expected swarf present in the system causing damage.

Once this occurs it is good practice to replace all components on the high pressure fuel system. Along with throughly cleaning the low fuel pressure side – fuel tank, lines and filter replacement.

Unfortunately new fuel system components would write this vehicle off being several thousands of pounds. However we have great suppliers of used parts (or green parts as they’re sugar coated as) that can supply us with complete used kits of the high pressure fuel system, with a 3 month warranty. Allowing us to repair at a fraction of the cost, keeping this car on the road

Alternative solutions to repair vehicles cost effectively.

Fault investigation and diagnosis

in BMW / Fault Diagnosis and repair
 by James Caddy

Used Engine ECU Cloning Replacement

An Engine ECU – DME/ DDE as BMW call it, monitor and control the running of the engine. Unfortunately these can fail for various reasons. Most common is water damage, however internal faults causing misfires, incorrect sensor readings, or even a non start. This means the ecu requires replacement.

A new unit is usually expensive in the thousands, which can write off some older vehicles. Buying a used unit, you cannot simply plug into the vehicle and expect it to start, as programming and immobiliser codes set in the software will prevent this from being possible.

 

Fortunately we have specialist software & equipment allowing us to ‘clone’ transfer the data inside the original unit into a used donor unit, thus allowing it to be compatible with the vehicle, enabling it to start and run like the original (without the previous running faults).

If your BMW or MINI is at the dealer with an eye watering sum to replace a component. Give us a call to see if we can help

Fault investigation and diagnosis

in BMW / Fault Diagnosis and repair
 by James Caddy

Intake Valve Walnut Blast Cleaning

This very tidy Mini Cooper S with the N14 engine in with us for an intake valve & port walnut blast cleaning procedure. This is to remove the carbon build up around the intake valves that occurs over time. We recommend around every 60,000 miles for a clean. This build up occurs on direct fuel injection engines where the fuel is no longer injected inside the intake manifold which used to wash the valves to prevent this build up from occurring.

A mixture of crank case oil, egr gas on some engines then extreme heat on the valves causes this build up. The driver will notice a drop in performance and rough running, sometimes a misfire when started from cold if the build up is extreme enough to restrict the air flow into the combustion cylinder.

This procedure is the most cost affective way to remove the carbon build up. Eliminating the need to remove the cylinder head to manually clean the valves! This procedure can be carried on various BMW & MINI, Petrol & Diesel engines with direct fuel injection.

Here to help

Walnut blast cleaning

in Performance & Economy Remapping / Servicing
 by James Caddy

BMW & MINI Remote key

If your vehicle requires a new replacement remote key. We are able to provide an aftermarket replacement. Making a saving than ordering a new key from the dealership and having to wait for it to arrive from Germany.

Programmed in house to your vehicle in one day! (BMW & Mini only – Excludes cut key blade)

Please note we are currently booking 2 months in advance at present for all work.

BMW and Mini remote key replacement

in BMW / Mini
 by James Caddy

BMW & MINI FRM Repair

The FRM – Footwell module, fitted to various BMWs & MINIs between 2005 to 2015.

This unit controls the light and window functions on the vehicle.

A known problem with this unit is corruption of the data inside after the vehicle battery has been disconnected or connected to diagnostic equipment. Which then stops communication to the unit. The driver will notice no vehicle lighting or function of the power windows.

A few years ago the only solution was a new replacement unit at around £500, making it a costly repair.
However we have specialist software & equipment that allows us to repair the corrupted data of the original unit, saving the unit and more importantly money, at an hours labour of £72 inc vat. That’s more like it!

So if a garage has reported your FRM requires replacement, please get in touch, we will see if we can help!

BMW and Mini ECU repair

in BMW / Fault Diagnosis and repair / Mini