Sims Brothers Garage

Sims Brothers Garage We are a friendly, honest, skilled mechanical workshop. We perform Warrant of Fitness inspections on cars, vans, 4WD and trailers.

We perform Warrant of Fitness inspections, diagnostics, competitive repairs and servicing on most vehicles. We service and repair many vehicles, from late-model Mercedes and Toyota to boat trailers and caravans to light commercials and vans.

🔥 My clutch slips going uphill...That was the customer’s concern when this vehicle arrived at Sims Brothers Garage.Once ...
02/09/2026

🔥 My clutch slips going uphill...

That was the customer’s concern when this vehicle arrived at Sims Brothers Garage.

Once we removed the gearbox, the reason became pretty clear! 👀

The clutch had reached the end of its life, with significant wear to the friction material and plenty of heat marking on the flywheel and pressure plate from slipping.

A slipping clutch often first becomes noticeable under heavy load, such as when accelerating up a hill. The engine revs climb, but the vehicle doesn’t accelerate as it should.

Other warning signs can include:
🔧 A high clutch engagement point
🔧 Revs flaring under acceleration
🔧 A burning smell after a hill or hard acceleration
🔧 Difficulty getting the vehicle moving under load

Catching the symptoms early is worthwhile. Once a clutch starts slipping, it generally won't get better!

😳 Well... we weren't expecting to find THAT!This BMW came into the workshop with a pretty straightforward customer conce...
26/08/2026

😳 Well... we weren't expecting to find THAT!

This BMW came into the workshop with a pretty straightforward customer concern: the engine was running rough.

After putting it on the hoist, found a wee oil leak. Something definitely wasn't right...

Further investigation uncovered the culprit: a naturally venting crankcase and a wonky conrod 😬

Yes, the engine was still running.

It's not every day a rough-running engine leads you here, and even our technicians were a little stunned when the cause became clear.

Sometimes the symptoms really don't tell the whole story. 🔧

👉 Swipe across for the reveal.

🔧 A wee oil leak... with a pretty big repair!This Subaru came into the workshop with an engine oil leak between the cam ...
18/08/2026

🔧 A wee oil leak... with a pretty big repair!

This Subaru came into the workshop with an engine oil leak between the cam covers and the timing cover.

Unfortunately, getting to the source of the leak on this engine isn't quite as simple as replacing a gasket.

Engine out. Front of the engine stripped down. 😳

With the engine on the bench, we can properly access the timing cover and cam cover sealing surfaces, reseal everything correctly and make sure the repair is done properly before it all goes back together.

It's a good example of why we don't like guessing when it comes to oil leaks. Finding exactly where the oil is coming from before starting the repair is pretty important, especially when this much work is involved!

Swipe through to see just how far we had to go. 👉

🚨 "It was stopping... until it wasn't!" 🚨 This is why regular brake inspections are so important! 👀🛑 This customer came ...
05/08/2026

🚨 "It was stopping... until it wasn't!" 🚨

This is why regular brake inspections are so important! 👀🛑

This customer came in for a service, and during our inspection, we found something you definitely don't want hiding inside your brakes...

💥 The brake lining had completely separated from the brake shoe and shattered into pieces inside the drum!

👉 Swipe through the photos to see the damage.
What can happen when this occurs?
⚠️ Reduced braking performance
⚠️ Pulling when braking
⚠️ Grinding or clunking noises
⚠️ Damage to other brake components
⚠️ In some cases... a complete loss of braking on that wheel.

The scary part? 😳 Many drivers don't realise there's a problem until it's too late.

🔧 Did you know?
At Sims Brothers Garage, we measure your brake pad and brake shoe thickness during every service. We record the measurements so both you and our technicians can monitor how quickly they're wearing.

This means:
✅ We can keep an eye on brake wear over time.
✅ You get plenty of notice before they reach their replacement limit.
✅ You can budget and plan ahead instead of being surprised by an unexpected repair.
✅ Most importantly, we help keep your vehicle safe on the road.
In this case, a routine inspection found a serious problem before it had the chance to become an even bigger safety risk.

🚗 Your brakes are your vehicle's most important safety feature. Don't wait until they tell you there's a problem!

📞 Book your next service with Sims Brothers Garage and let us keep an eye on your brakes, so you can drive away with confidence.

🌬️🤧 What's hiding behind your dashboard? 🤧🌬️ Believe it or not... every breath you take inside your car passes through y...
04/08/2026

🌬️🤧 What's hiding behind your dashboard? 🤧🌬️

Believe it or not... every breath you take inside your car passes through your cabin filter! 😲

Think of it as your car's face mask. It traps:
🍃 Leaves & debris
🌫️ Dust
🌼 Pollen
🚗 Road grime
🦠 Other airborne contaminants

But just like any filter... eventually it gets blocked up! 😬

A dirty cabin filter can cause:
❌ Weak airflow from your vents
🥶 Heater takes longer to warm up
❄️ Air conditioning doesn't cool as well
👃 Musty or unpleasant smells
⚠️ Extra strain on your blower motor, which can lead to costly repairs
😷 Poor air quality for you and your passengers

❄️ During winter, a clean cabin filter is even more important! It helps your heater and demister work efficiently, so you stay warm, and your windscreen clears faster.

👉 If you can't remember the last time your cabin filter was replaced... it's probably time! 😅

Pop into Sims Brothers Garage, and we'll inspect it during your next service. It's a simple replacement that can make a huge difference to your comfort and your vehicle's heater and AC.

📞 Book your service today and breathe easier!

Times are tough. Keep your vehicle on the road doing the things you need it to do. With Afterpay, you can now pay it in...
02/08/2026

Times are tough. Keep your vehicle on the road doing the things you need it to do.

With Afterpay, you can now pay it in 4 whenever you shop with us.* 🙌

*Afterpay late fees, eligibility criteria and terms & conditions apply. Visit afterpay.com for full terms.

We've got a bit of a blank canvas... 🎨🏁If you've driven past our back wall lately, our old wall has seen better days. Pl...
30/07/2026

We've got a bit of a blank canvas... 🎨🏁

If you've driven past our back wall lately, our old wall has seen better days. Plenty of unwanted artwork has been painted over; it's looking a little tired.

Rather than simply giving it another coat of paint, we're wondering if it's time to do something a bit more exciting.

We're thinking a mural that reflects who we are, our passion for cars and motorsport, and our connection to the Dunedin community.

So, over to you...

💬 What would you love to see on this wall?

Race cars? Classic cars? Local landmarks? Something that celebrates Dunedin? We'd love to hear your ideas.

Who knows... your suggestion might just end up becoming part of our workshop for years to come.

30/07/2026

Well... you couldn't make the timing up. 🔋🥶

We posted about winter battery health a couple of days ago, and this morning our Service Advisor Wendy gave us a real-world example of exactly why it matters.

Wendy was driving her Nissan Leaf **uphill, approaching a passing lane**, when things started going wrong. Warning lights appeared, power disappeared, and suddenly what started as a normal drive to work became a rather inconvenient roadside stop. 😬

And here's the interesting part...

The problem was the 12V battery.

Even an EV relies on a conventional 12V battery to power its electronics and bring the high-voltage system online. When that battery becomes weak, particularly during colder weather, it can cause all sorts of strange behaviour and potentially leave you stranded.

Fortunately, Wendy and the Leaf are both fine, but the timing and location certainly weren't ideal!

🔋 Winter has a habit of exposing marginal batteries.

If yours is getting older, now is a great time to have it tested, preferably before you're heading uphill towards a passing lane! 😂

❄️ Winter is like that one aunt who always drains your energy! 🔋 Don't let your battery get zapped! 📸 This poor battery ...
28/07/2026

❄️ Winter is like that one aunt who always drains your energy! 🔋 Don't let your battery get zapped! 📸 This poor battery came into our workshop recently... Corrosion is like a sneaky villain, causing hard starting, reducing charging efficiency, and shortening lifespan. 💡 Get a quick battery health check at Sims Brothers Garage to avoid those expensive 'I'm-stranded-on-the-side-of-the-road' moments! ✅ Test, clean, and protect your battery today!

🔧 Maintenance Monday: Don't let a cracked ignition lead turn you into a hot mess! 😂 Regular tune-ups can prevent misfire...
27/07/2026

🔧 Maintenance Monday: Don't let a cracked ignition lead turn you into a hot mess! 😂 Regular tune-ups can prevent misfires & poor performance. Sims Brothers Garage, keeping Dunedin moving...and laughing! 🚗

Address

29 Ward Street
Dunedin
9016

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+6434771110

Website

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