We’ll Come To You
If you’re stuck at home and can’t leave at all it can be pretty difficult getting things done. Especially if you’re looking outside at your car in the driveway thinking about that scratch you wish you’d taken care of before the ‘lockdown.’
We’ve always helped people get car repairs done, even if they can’t leave their homes, or places of business. In fact every week we go out and give mobile quotes, and right now it seems more important than ever to be able to provide this service.
In fact, you don’t even have to answer the door.
To keep you, and our staff safe we’ve implemented a new operating procedure for our mobile repair units. It’s as simple as leaving your keys somewhere safe on your property where we can collect them, and letting us take care of the rest.
After we’ve collected the keys (from you or your letterbox), we’ll wipe down all the sensitive surfaces that we’ll be touching. These include the steering wheel, gear shift, indicator levers, door handles – inside and out – handbrake, seatbelt.
For your added safety we’ll also be wearing disposable hospital grade gloves, that will be changed for every different car we come into contact with.
For extra peace of mind, we’ll even sanitise things we haven’t come into contact with. This includes things like the passenger’s seat belt, radio, dashboard, petrol cap lever, and boot lever.
Safety is always our number one priority, whether it’s the roadworthiness of your cars bodywork or the cleanliness of the cockpit.
Your car will be safer both inside and out after a visit from one of our repair experts, and what better time to get those dings, dents, chips, and scratches taken care of?
Call us a call on – (08) 8362 7395 and we’ll come out to you and make your car look like it just rolled off the production line.
Clearing The Mist!
Many of us are still at work during these interesting times, and while many of us are working from home, it’s likely that you still have to drive. Driving in the colder months often means reduced/obstructed vision. Here’s a 5-minute fix to ensure safety on the roads.
Now that daylight savings has ended, and the days are shorter it’s highly likely that you’ll be driving around in the dark. Of course this make clear vision even more important.
As the weather cools down you’ll start to notice the inside of your windscreen fogging up far more often as a result of the higher humidity levels inside your car. This is made a lot worse by the build-up of grime you may not notice in the warmer weather.
At the bottom of this page you’ll see an excerpt for one of our newsletters last year regarding demisting. It’s the best, and quickest way to ensure you’re fog free, but you can save yourself (a large part of) the stress of foggy windows with this easy to follow cleaning procedure.
The grime you see on the windscreen is easily dealt with, however there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Firstly you must resist the urge to wipe it with your sleeve or a towel. This simply pushes the grime and moisture around and makes your sleeve wet. Not only is it a very temporary fix, but it can often make things gradually worse.
You should treat your windscreen like any other window, and as such it can be cleaned with run of the mill window cleaner. Easy, right?
Well it is; any spray and wipe window cleaner will work, or even a mix of vinegar and water (1:1), but the key part of the process is making sure the surface is dry.
As we know the “fog” is created by higher humidity inside the car, so you’ll need to reduce this as much as possible.
For the best results use your window cleaner thouroghly and then wipe with a paper towel, chamois, or microfibre cloth. This will reduce streaking significantly.
Avoid using tea towels, or common bath towels as these tend to leave fluff all over your windscreen, and are less efficient at drying.
For the quickest way to demist your windscreen check out our archived newsletter from last July. It the fastest, most efficient, and most effective way to improve the visibility in the cold weather.
Read it HERE
You Wouldn’t Drive With Your Eyes Closed
90% of driver decisions are solely based on what we see through the windscreen. This makes good vision even more important when the weather turns bad. It’s like driving with your eyes closed.
With an estimated 1 in 5 cars driving around with broken, worn, or perished windscreen wipers there is no wonder why accidents spike sharply after the weather gets wetter and the days get shorter.
Skipping, streaking, squeaking, and splitting are all symptoms of damaged wiper blades. A damaged wiper blade can impair clear vision by up to 50% when driving in the rain.
Lack of effectiveness isn’t the only issue that can make things harder to see. If it has been more than 12 months since you changed your wiper blades you could be at serious risk of causing permanent damage to the windscreen. Microparticles of dirt are abrasive on a smooth surface like glass (even toughened automotive glass).
As we drive around in the warmer and drier months of the year we happily cruise around collecting dust, grime, and dirt under our windscreen wiper blades. This paired with the deterioration of the rubber in the hot sun means that when we do use the windscreen wipers micro-scratches begin to form. These scratches can be invisible to the naked eye, yet increase glare significantly in the early morning and late afternoon.
For most cars replacing your windscreen wipers will cost around $30, for larger cars this can be as much as $50. However, if you’ve noticed significant impairment of vision while driving in the rain the price of not replacing them could be a lot higher.
If you’d like to know more about how you can safely change your wiper blades, or whether or not you need to give us a call. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Phone – 8362 7395
COVID 19 Update
Our number 1 priority at DPP is Safety.
During this time of social distancing, isolation, and disinfecting it can be difficult to go anywhere without worrying about the spread of germs.
To ensure the safety of our employees and those we work with we have introduced new sanitation and distancing practices.
When you come in and see us you can be comfortable in the knowledge that:
- We wipe down every surface thoroughly. Including our coffee machine, door handles, countertops, and our bell.
- We maintain minimum social distance requirements, in fact, we often did this before the current pandemic, as it is the nature of the profession.
- We have even wiped down your car keys, and wear sterile gloves when using your car’s instruments and gauges.
We are open, and are ready to help you!
If you have a scratch, dent, or scrape that needs looking at come in and see us, we’re open and ready to serve you.
Give us a call today!
Get It Clean, Get More Money!
How and what to fix, and how much it will change your asking price
In last months newsletter, we talked about selling your car, and the best way to go about it. Preparing your car for sale can be as simple, or as complex, as you choose to make it. Of course, first impressions count when selling or trading a car, and as such having your car look as clean and “new” as possible will significantly increase the likelihood of making the sale.
If you need some pointers on the best way to get your car as clean as possible follow the link at the bottom of the page.
As we go about our daily business, driving to and from work, or doing the shopping, or going for a drive on weekends, it’s not uncommon to pick up minor scratches and dents. Most of these little shopping trolley dents can be fixed fairly effortlessly with the right know-how. Check out the newsletter we wrote last year about these little dents and scratches here – Depending on the age of the car these little scratches can be forgiven although if you want top dollar for your automobile it certainly pays to have them fixed.
Big scratches!
While little dents and scratches can be forgiven serious dents and deep scratches adversely affect the value of your car. Most buyers will use any reason to talk down price, and big cosmetic issues can give potential buyers leverage on price, or simply scare them off entirely.
If you have a car with dents and scratches, big or small, give us a call and let us help, you could see the value of your car increase overnight!
Want to wash your car better like a pro? Check out the Free Guide here
Buying and Selling – How, Where, and Why.
| When it comes to buying a used car there are so many variables to consider, particularly when disposing of your current drive. Last month we covered the lowest cost new cars to consider when buying, however so many of us opt to buy our cars used, and not many of us know exactly what we’re buying when we are buying. When shopping for a used car we are faced with so many different options – How much do I have to spend? Should I buy from a dealer? Should I buy privately? Should I sell privately? Should I trade-in at a dealer? Do I take a risk on a premium car at a low price? While every transaction is different, nearly all of them share common factors. Firstly which car to buy. The car you want and the car you need are seldom the same. If you are buying for a need, as most car buyers are, there are slightly different things to keep in mind. Let’s start with your budget and how you can get the most for your dollar. Often when shopping online for cars based on budget you’ll see low-end makes of car as new as only a few years old, as well as much older premium brands. For example, right now you can buy a 3.8L V8 Mercedes for slightly less than a Holden Barina, the key difference being about 30 years in manufacturing date. With very few exceptions it is likely that the newer model Barina is probably the better buy for the sake of getting you from point a to point b. Typically a car that has been bought more recently will have fewer issues, a more complete service history, and will be easier to repair. While the Barina is unlikely to have the longevity of the Mercedes due to the smaller engine size and the difference in engineering standards, it should still provide you with what you need for the short to medium term, at a reasonable price, with minimal headaches. Trade-in or Sell privately? Your budget for buying your next car can rely heavily on the price you get for your current vehicle. Depending on how motivated you are to move on to your new set of wheels can determine where you should dispose of your current car by selling it privately or whether you should trade it in at a dealer. If you’re looking to move things on as quickly as possible then a dealer is probably the way to go, but keep in mind a car dealer is in it to make money, so it’s highly likely they will offer you well below the market value for your car. If you have a little more time and a little more negotiating prowess you can try to sell your car privately, but that too can have its drawbacks. In the next few newsletters, we’ll reveal the best ways to prepare your car for sale, and the best things to keep in mind when purchasing your next car. |
We’re above average, but for the wrong reason
As it currently stands South Australia is above the national average, but in a category in which we should be last – road fatalities. South Australia is on track to have the worst year since 2007 for road fatalities.
Right now we have lost an average of 10 lives each month on SA roads, compared to last years figure of between 6 and 7 each month. A recent report by the RAA shows “that South Australia currently has a road fatality rate of 5.23 per 100,000 population, placing it above the national rate of 4.67 and significantly above Victoria, which is the state with the lowest road fatality rate of 3.63 per 100,000 population.”
So how can we make our roads safer?
It’s winter (but you’ve noticed that already) and as such visibility can be an issue. Try these easy, and free tips for helping you see more clearly when on the roads this winter.
Demisting your windscreen
You’ve seen it before. You get into the car and within five minutes you can’t see the bonnet due to the mist on the inside of your windscreen. So what’s the best thing we can do about it?
- Turn the heater ON! – by setting the heater to blow directly onto the windscreen you’ll warm the windows to above dew point.
- Turn the A/C ON! – This works well because the air conditioning function doesn’t actually cool the air as much as it removes the moisture from the air. The drier the air, the less fog on the windscreen.
- DON’T hit the recirculate button – You’ll heat the car faster, but you’ll be reusing the “wet” air, making it harder to demist.
- OPEN a window – obviously, if it’s not raining, this will simply speed up the drying process.
Check your blades
Having fresh windscreen wiper blades will ensure you can have the clearest vision possible in the rain. During the warmer months we tend to use our windscreen wipers with very little water. When this happens it’s common to get dust, dirt, and pollen under the rubber which can scratch the glass, making it harder to see.
Lights ON!
Turning your lights on when driving to and from work, not only allows you to see a little bit better, but also more importantly allows you to be seen by other road users. These days most cars are fitted with automatic lights which are activated when a small sensor at the bottom of your dashboard, close to the windscreen is covered, or cannot sense light. To avoid having to manually turn your lights on every time you drive set them to auto. 99% of cars with this feature will turn your lights off when you turn the car off, saving your battery.
Three costly mistakes you could be making!
A month or so ago, we sent you for a small excerpt from a consumer awareness guide we put together to ensure you’re choosing the right repairer for you and your repair needs – available to view by clicking here. It’s very comprehensive, but we know you can get busy and quickly, so we decided to share some of the 13 page guide with you in little bite sized morsels. Hopefully you’re avoiding these…
Not Seeking Positive Feedback
When we are involved in a collision, often the first person we call is a family member, close friend, or significant other. After we settle down a little and have had time to talk to our insurer and are thinking with a level head again we forget to consider the experiences of our friends and family members have had with repairers. It’s more than just the job they do to fix the damage on your car, it’s also the experience they had with the repairer as a business.
Any car repairer worth their salt should be able to provide glowing references from satisfied customers who’ve used their services. If this is lacking then alarm bells should start ringing. If they don’t have testimonials from satisfied customers it could mean several things:
1. They are just starting out in the business and don’t have any satisfied customers yet. Do you really want them learning the trade on YOUR time, money, and precious car? Or…
2. They are too lazy to have arranged some customer testimonials. If they cut corners here, what other corners will they cut when it comes to your car? Or…
3. They are actually not very good at their job and don’t have any satisfied customers who are willing to give a recommendation, because they weren’t satisfied. It goes without saying… steer clear.
A lot can be said by the reviews of people who have been in similar situations as yours. Be sure to check out a repairer’s webpage for testimonials. If they do a great job, and have excellent service they will want to brag about it on their webpage and even their Facebook page.
Choosing Someone With No Accreditation AKA “The Backyarder”
Most of us know someone who “fixes cars.” This is one of the biggest risks you can take with your car and even your safety. A car that is on the road having not been repaired properly is a hazard to the driver, their passengers and every other road user. Aside from that, having an unqualified amateur work on your car can mean having to take your car in to a qualified professional to fix not only the damage caused by whatever accident you were involved in, but also the damage done by the botch job costing you more money and more time.
Choosing a Repairer That Doesn’t Take Pride In Their Work
If you take pride in your car, and want it to look as good as it possibly can, so should whoever is responsible for repairing and restoring it to its best possible condition. If you see a repairer taking photos both before and after they have repaired your car (to ensure they are doing quality work, not necessarily for advertising), they are doing a wonderful job. A professional should take pride in the job they do for you and their other customers. If you search for a repairer on Facebook or online and their page is filled with pictures of the great restorations and repairs they have done you may be onto a winner.
Be sure to check out the work of your potential repairers if you don’t find any, beware. Your repairer should be as proud of your car as YOU are.
Don’t be a statistic!
Easter is looming and as we prepare to eat too much chocolate, and perhaps indulge in the most decadent foods and refreshments our state has to offer. For many of us Easter means one of a few things. If you’re from the hills it’s highly likely you’ll be well aware of the annual race meeting at the Oakbank racecourse, if you’re not one of the tens of thousands of South Australians that journey to the beautiful rolling hills for the break and venture a little further you may be gearing up for a long trip North, and if you have done it before you’ll know how much of a gridlock it can be. Or you might find yourself in the third category; someone trying to avoid those doing the aforementioned.
For those of you that are travelling long distances the obvious issue that can be trouble (big trouble) is driver fatigue. We often think it sets in when driving on open roads with no other cars in sight, however sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on Port Wakefield Road can be just as mentally exhausting especially with bored children in the car. While this isn’t usually something that affects us immediately it can start the trip off on the back foot, leading to a harder drive later on.
Others of us may be celebrating the four-day weekend by enjoying a few beverages. Whether you are enjoying them at a festival, a race meeting, or in the comfort of a private residence be wary of getting behind the wheel or letting others get behind the wheel when they could very well be a danger to themselves and other road users. It’s never ok to drink and drive.
Remember, when driving long distances, or getting stuck in traffic patience can wear thin, and we can make silly mistakes, or bad judgement calls. We can fix all your dents and scratches, but we want you to be safe this Easter, please drive carefully.
FREEWAY Mistakes
The most common freeway mistakes
Every day we see dents, scratches, and major damage to peoples cars. While many of the minor pieces of damage occur in car parks and around our suburban streets, most of the major damage occurs when travelling at high speeds. Having the luxury of being able to travel through the Adelaide Hills, and into the city with no traffic lights, stop signs, and very few delays means a lot of us can live in the country and work in the city without spending 4 hours a day on the road, and those of us who frequently travel on the freeway know how frustrating it can be driving around people who aren’t doing the right thing. Often this frustration leads to accidents. Here are the most common and ho we can avoid them.
The Right Hand Lane
Some people call this lane “the fast lane,” and while it is designed to be there so those who are moving at a higher velocity than others can safely go around them it is not designed to have drivers stay in this lane. Many people chose to ignore the signs that say “Keep left unless overtaking,” and this lack of consideration for the road laws, and for anyone else around them increases the likelihood of accidents immensely. Even if there are very few cars on the road it is still important to keep left, especially going downhill to avoid runaway trucks or emergency vehicles.
While I’m sure everyone reading this is a considerate driver who keeps left unless actually passing someone, there are a few things we can do to be as safe as possible around those less considerate individuals who tend not to care as much about there safety or the safety of others.
Avoid trying to pass on the left – While sometimes this can be used as a last option we have found most blindspot accidents occur when going from right to left, due to the blind spot being on the passenger side of the vehicle. The reason the passing lane is on the right is that it is far safer to overtake moving to the driver’s side as the range of vision is higher.
Avoid tailgating – It’s so tempting to ride someone’s bumper when they are driving at a snail’s pace in the overtaking lane, but this is often the easiest way to get into a collision. Even though they may be breaking traffic laws by being in that lane and obstructing the flow of traffic, the driver that hits a vehicle from behind is in the wrong
Alternatives – Often those who chose to have complete disregard for others fall into a certain category and are in their own world and have no traffic awareness, therefore tailgating is not only dangerous on its own, but also due to the unexpected and sometimes completely random movements of these drivers can cause accidents all on their own, and being anywhere near their rear bumper, or blind spot can spell disaster. When choosing to overtake on the left, be sure to do so after plenty of time in the left lane. For example, sometimes when approaching a car in the right lane at a speed far quicker than they are moving they will move over at the last moment just as you do. A friendly beep can sometimes do the trick. While many people get offended by being beeped at, sometimes it’s the only way to safely navigate around someone. Be sure not to hold the horn down for too long though, this can cause frustration and erratic driving, often resulting in an accident.
If you are being tailgated
Do your best to move out of the way. Often it can be tempting do drive slower due to being harassed by other drivers, however, this can cause a snowballing effect of frustration and sometimes road rage, becoming dangerous for all road users. If you are being tailgated be sure you are going an appropriate speed for your wherever you are driving. If you intend to turn, be sure to use your indicator with plenty of time before your turn – Road law stipulates 5 seconds. This will often cause the vehicle trailing you to give you extra space to turn before you do so.
Be sure to do your best to stay safe out there, but if you need a quick online quote click HERE or give us a call
Balhannah:
Woodside, Woodside North, Lobethal, Birdwood, Mount Torrens, Lenswood, Charleston, Cherryville, Oakbank, Balhannah, Harrogate, Brukunga, Bridgewater, Hahndorf, Mount Barker, Nairne, Littlehampton, Gumeracha, Cudlee Creek, Uraidla, Adelaide Hills, Mount Pleasant, Mannum, Kanmantoo, Wistow, Stirling, Aldgate, Crafers.
Contact us at Balhannah today to discuss your crash repair needs.
Stepney:
Stepney, Magill, Norwood, St. Morris, College Park, Maylands, Kent town, Adelaide, Trinity Gardens, Kensington, Kensington Gardens, Kensington Park, Rostrevor, North Adelaide, Hackney, Evandale, Gilberton, Walkerville, Rose Park, Toorak Gardens, Leabrook, Rosslyn Park, Burnside, Wattle Park, Beulah Park, Payneham, Payneham South, Newton, Marden, Royston Park, Walkerville, Eastwood, Dulwich, Glenside, Tusmore, Heathpool, Vale Park, Parkside, Eastwood.
