Birmingham

Birmingham is the second-most popular city in the UK, located in the Midlands with a population of over 4.3million.

Originally a market town in the medieval period, Birmingham is now an international commercial centre and an important transport, retail, events and conference hub.

A centre for culture, Birmingham is home to the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Birmingham has also played its part in sporting history; home to Aston Villa FC and Birmingham City FC, it was Birmingham resident and Aston Villa director William McGregor who founded the Football League.

Birmingham will also be the host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, expected to take place in July and August 2022.

The most popular cars in Birmingham

Possibly due to the rise in industry and commerce, and its handy functionality in city traffic, the Mercedes A-Class is estimated to be the most popular car in Birmingham, according to data provided between 2012 to 2018 by ownership and postcode.

Close on its heels—and in order of popularity—are the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Qashqai and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Vehicle numbers in Birmingham

There are approximately 3 million licensed vehicles in the Birmingham area, with some of the most popular models including the Mini, Kia Sportage and the Ford Focus.

Fixter garages in Birmingham

There are a total of 49 Fixter garages in the Birmingham area, all ready and waiting to provide you with a fantastic quote for your car service, MOT and a wide range of vehicle repairs.

Fixter garages service the following postcodes and more, in and around the Birmingham area:

• B1, B2, B3 & B4: City Centre, Birmingham
• B6: Aston & Witton, Birmingham
• B10: Small Heath, Birmingham
• B15: Edgbaston, Birmingham
• B8: Washwood Heath, Birmingham

- B13: Moseley, Birmingham

What is a diagnostic inspection?

Modern cars have an onboard computer or Engine Control Unit (ECU). This continually assesses performance, with sensors throughout the car letting the ECU know of issues such as raised engine temperature, low fluid levels or problems with emission levels or the windscreen wipers. The ECU triggers an error once a problem has been found, and the relevant dashboard warning light will flash, but there are hundreds of potential error codes, which only specialist diagnostic equipment can read. So when a warning light flashes on the dashboard, a diagnostics check is needed to assess how bad the problem is, and what may have caused it.

We use state of the art diagnostic equipment

Live data shows multiple readings from across the engine to assess whether everything is working as it should. The equipment can also check and rectify braking systems where there’s an electronic handbrake, and adjust headlights where possible. You don’t need to go to a dealership to get diagnostic testing done. Most garages and workshops will carry out diagnostic testing for nearly all models and types of vehicle.

What happens at a Fixter diagnostic inspection

We charge a fixed fee for diagnostic testing that can be done while you wait. This is usually done within an hour, but if further work is required, it will clearly take more time. Our highly-trained and qualified mechanics will give you a no-charge, no-obligation repair quote if testing highlights issues with the engine or anything else, and talk you in detail through what is needed to put things right.

So next time a dashboard warning light flashes on, don’t pay dealership prices for diagnostic testing. Let us manage it all for you, picking up your car for its testing, and ensuring a fair price and a reliable service.

What happens when my dashboard illuminates a warning light?

The warning light is just the beginning—it doesn’t give the whole picture. There are hundreds of parts in your engine, so the exact nature of the fault may not be immediately apparent.

Examining fault codes to identify the problem

A diagnostic check accurately identifies the fault, avoiding more serious problems that could lead to costly repairs, potential safety hazards or worse damage. With these tests, your car is plugged into sophisticated diagnostic equipment which reads the error codes your car’s ECU has generated to explain the issue in full. Diagnostic checking looks for errors across various vehicle systems, including tyres, engine management, lights, emissions and more.