Penske's BMW Dealership Has a Big Advantage -- The PH2Validator

Online, November 30, 2011 (Newswire.com) - "BMW diagnostics generally depend totally on fault codes," explained Ed Alber, "and we can't always choose the BMW test plan we want to use if a related fault doesn't show. Even if you get a fault--and we see a lot of catalytic converter faults--it's not always that particular item failing."

"The PH2Validator gives us a big advantage with these efficiency faults. And I can choose a PH2Validator test at any time. For example, I had two problem cars--M models--that weren't running warm enough for the OBD2 cycle to complete and I saw that immediately with the Validator."

At United BMW Roswell, a Penske dealership located in Roswell, GA, Ed is one of the repair shop managers overseeing 26 techs who "on a good day" repair 50 vehicles ("we've done as many as 80 cars in a day") with "about one of six being emissions type repairs".

Ed said that all the techs all have access to 14 wifi tablets that access a huge on-site server that contains regularly updated BMW service software and troubleshooting guides. But, "our equipment doesn't do drive cycles and so the Validator is very handy for that."

"This is especially handy with a comeback car or a car with a readiness problem. Our equipment will pull up readiness--it's either ready or it's not--and that's all it does. Using the Validator to double check everything is definitely a big advantage. It does a nice job of clearing out all the faults so you can watch with happens right from the start."

"Overall, I'd say the Validator works well with all our models and years that have OBD2. Our biggest problem cars are usually the motor sport cars which are a little high strung and we'll get these efficiency faults and we're reluctant to always throw a $1500 catalytic converter at resolving a catalytic code. Double checking the fault with the Validator has helped us pinpoint other efficiency faults. If after making an alternative repair, the OBD2 cycle completes then we don't have to replace the catalytic converter."

As for the PH2Validator operating learning curve Ed said, "It took a couple of times to learn the sequence of what it wanted, but I had no trouble after that. It's laid out pretty logically. The more I use it, the more I get out of it. I do like it. I think it's awesome."