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!

Zap of power

The Peter Simpson COLUMN

50 COST CUT TERS • Owning and running a private car hasn’t been so worryingly wallet wobbling for decades. The good news, say Alan Anderson and Peter Simpson, is that you can easily claw back some of your hard-earned cash simply by heeding our 50 money-saving tips.

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

UK Garage & Bodyshop Event • The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, presented by Automechanika Birmingham, provides the first opportunity for the industry to meet face-to-face on this scale since 2019 – get hands-on, learn, network and prepare for the fast-evolving landscape of the automotive industry.

Tales from the workshop

Brakes & belt • PART TWO: A better ramp inspection of our 17-year-old SLK has revealed some more problems but some good news as well. Andrew Everett guides us through the second instalment.

Ticking off the jobs • PART FIVE: Rob Hawkins completes several essential jobs on our Astra, then spends a few weeks test-driving it and finding some more problems to fix.

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

Over-the-Air UPDATES

Timing Chain Clinic • Rob Hawkins finds out how to replace the timing chains, plastic tensioners and the guides on Jaguar’s V8 engine fitted to the XK8, XKR and XJ8.

Spring has well and truly sprung • Andrew Rolland tackles a broken front road spring on his 2013 BMW 5-Series.

Peugeot RCZ • The Audi TT lookalike is buttons to buy but do the sums stack up when it comes to reliability and parts?

Your Letters

AWD hot hatch • Rob Hawkins follows independent VAG specialist IVC of Leeds complete a service on a 2480cc five-cylinder all-wheel-drive Audi RS3.

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Diagnostics Doctor

Our Cars

In my Humble Opinion