Car Mechanics

Car Mechanics is the UK's only car magazine with essential advice on maintaining and repairing popular makes and models. It’s an invaluable motoring resource that appeals to both the DIY car enthusiast and the more experienced motor trade professional. Car Mechanics has helped save money for our readers every month since 1958. Each issue includes a wide range of in-depth features written in a clear, straightforward manner: • Readers’ motoring-related problems answered for FREE • Real-life motoring dilemmas from our man in the garage trade • Electronic diagnostics delves inside a different modern vehicle each month to explain its management system • Survival Guide looks at new and used component prices for a particular vehicle • Used Car Focus is an in-depth buying guide on a specific make and model • Service Bay covers a full service with close-up images and comprehensive descriptions • Project cars are a major part of the structure of the magazine as we buy, fix and sell different vehicles over a period of months So if you're into saving money and being a home technician, Car Mechanics will help you out - guaranteed!

Seductive SLK

The Peter Simpson COLUMN

OIL ANALYSIS • Used engine oil hides many secrets, discovers Rob Marshall, as he looks at the latest techniques that let you glimpse into the past and future.

BATTERY CHARGERS • Battery chargers, like mobile phones, have become incredibly sophisticated in recent years. James ponders whether they need to be, and puts twelve to the test.

Tales from the workshop

Mid-life crisis • PART ONE: Our new Mercedes project car is an unusually old one for us, but it shares a lot of mechanical parts – and problems – with similar aged Mercedes-Benz cars. Andrew Everett and Martyn Knowles talk us through our latest project.

Thermostat & timing belt • PART FOUR: Rob Hawkins continues with the task of replacing our Astra’s thermostat housing and timing belt assembly, finding potentially expensive problems along the way.

TOP 50 USED CARS FOR UNDER £10,000

FORD FOCUS

HONDA CIVIC

VAUXHALL INSIGNIA

JAGUAR S-TYPE

RENAULT SCÉNIC

HONDA FR-V

LAND ROVER FREELANDER

HYUNDAI SANTA FE

FORD COUGAR

HYUNDAI COUPE

VOLKSW AGEN GOLF

VAUXHALL ASTRA

LEXUS IS

MERCEDES C-CLASS

FORD S-M AX

CITROËN C3 PICASSO

BMW X3

DACIA DUSTER

AUDI TT

RENAULT LAGUNA COUPE

TOYOTA PRIUS

SEAT LEON

MAZDA6

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

VAUXHALL ZAFIRA TOURER

FIAT 500L

MAZDA C X-5

KIA SORENTO

NISSAN 350Z

ALFA ROMEO BRERA

NISSAN QASHQAI

CITROËN C4 CACTUS

PEUGEOT 508

VOLVO S60

VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN

KIA CARENS

PORSCHE CAYENNE

VAUXHALL MOKKA

JAGUAR XKR

BMW 2-SERIES

MERCEDES A-CLASS

AUDI A3

MASERATI QUATTROPORTE

BMW 3-SERIES

PEUGEOT 5008

FORD GALAXY

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

AUDI Q7

MERCEDES -BENZ C-CLASS

PORSCHE CAYMAN

Dealer ’s Diary • Peter Simpson provides us with an insight into the automotive sales trading world – and beyond.

CM Insider • Ben Hackney-Williams brings you another month of news and reviews from the automotive industry

Tailgate strut mount REPAIR • Using a Rover 75 estate as an example Peter Simpson explains how to make a permanent repair to a stressed part of bodywork that often fails on many older cars.

Synthetic Fuel • As the launch of EVs shows no sign of slowing down, can an alternative technology prolong the life of internal combustion? Chris Randall takes a look at synthetic fuel.

SQUASHLIGHT

Saab...