What are the opening hours?

Monday 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday 08:00 - 17:00 Friday 08:00 - 17:00

GP Motor Works, 319 West Street, Ferndale, Johannesburg (2026)

02/07/2024

***BMW And Mini Headlights And Taillights For Sale

Various New And Used Headlights and Taillights Available

We have several BMW and Mini Cooper headlights and taillights for sale. There is a mixture of new and used stock but all are in good condition. So if you are looking to replace your car's lights take a look through our inventory below. All items are competitively priced! Please note there are a couple of Mercedes and Renault 5 items as well.

* BMW Headlights

-BMW 3 Ci e46 Coupe head light cluster - L - NEW at R5000
-BMW 3 e46 4door head light cluster - L - 2nd hand L+R available at R1500 each
-BMW 3 e90 head light cluster - R - 2nd hand available at R1950
-BMW 5 e60 head light cluster - L - 2nd hand available at R1950

* Mini Cooper Headlights

-Mini Cooper R56 head light cluster white indicator - R - 2nd hand available at R1950
-Mini Cooper R56 head light cluster amber indicator - R - 2nd hand available at R1750

* BMW Taillights

-BMW 1 e82 tail light cluster white indicator - L - 2nd hand available at R1900
-BMW 3 e36 tail light cluster - R - 2nd hand available at R950
-BMW 3 e46 facelift tail light cluster - L - 2nd hand L+R available at R950 each
-BMW 3 e46 pre-facelift tail light cluster - R - 2nd hand available at R950
-BMW 3 e90 inner tail light cluster - R - 2nd hand L+R available at R700 each
-BMW 3 e90 LED tail light cluster - L - NEW available at R2500
-BMW 55 e39 tail light cluster yellow indicator - R - 2nd hand L+R available at R950 each
-BMW 3 e90 tail light cluster yellow indicator - L - 2nd hand L+R available at R950 each
-BMW X5 e53 tail light cluster white indicator - L - 2nd hand L+R available at R800 each
-BMW X5 e53 tail light cluster yellow indicator - L - 2nd hand available at R800

* Mini Cooper Taillights

-Mini Cooper R56 tail light cluster - L - 2nd hand available at R850

* Miscellaneous Headlights

-Renault 5 headlights L+R available at R750 each
-Mercedes Benz headlight L - 2nd hand available at R1250

Please give us a call to place your order asap.

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/bmw-and-mini-headlights-and-taillights-for-sale/

26/06/2024

***BMW 228i With Intermittent Misfire

BMW 228i Intermittent Misfire Caused By Collapsed Pistons

This BMW 228i was brought into GP Motor Works with an intermittent misfire. Initial inspection indicated the misfire seemed to be switching the injectors off. The compression test showed there was decent compression occurring. However, the leakage test indicated there was blow by past the rings.

The engine was stripped and we discovered one piston was collapsed. We suspect this was caused by overheating at some point. The cylinder sleeves were replaced and new pistons were installed. The new pistons were tested in the block to confirm there were no leaks

BMW 228i Engine Rebuild

Once the head had been reconditioned and returned to our workshop we commenced with the engine rebuild. New timing chain, gaskets, head stretch bolts, new oil and filter, air filter and spark plugs were installed. Once this was complete we commenced with full diagnostic testing. This included ensuring there were no oil leaks, water leaks, as well as no misfires. The diagnostics came up with no identified faults.

BMW 228i Engine Run-in

An engine rebuild of this nature requires careful engine run-in procedures. We carried out the first 200km run-in and then advised the client to continue the process. We advised the car be returned at 1000km's for a complete oil change.

Don't hesitate to contact us for any engine issues you identify.

Remember - if you suspect there is an issue, it is far better to bring your car in to have it checked sooner rather than later - it may just save you as small fortune!

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/bmw-228i-with-intermittent-misfire/

07/05/2024

***Mini Cooper One 3Door Hatch R56 For Sale

Mini Cooper One 3Door Hatch R56 Full Details

Mini Cooper One R56
Immaculate Condition
Engine: N16
Price: R110,000
Odometer: 83,114kms
Colour: White with black trim
Engine: Petrol
Year: 2013

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/mini-cooper-one-3door-hatch-r56-for-sale/

07/05/2024

***VW Golf GTI For Sale

VW Golf GTI 1st Generation - Full Details

We have a new listing:

Previously Owned VW Golf GTI

Inline-four 1800 engine
Silver
130,000 Km's
R140,000

CONTACT US TODAY!

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/vw-golf-gti-for-sale-2/

06/05/2024

***Mini Cooper Troublesome Knocking Noise

Mini Cooper With Knocks On The Suspension

We were contacted by this new client after he had taken his car to the agents only to receive an astronomical estimate to fix the problem. He had requested for them to accurately diagnose and provide a quotation to solve the troublesome knocking sound coming from the left-hand side of the car. He was understandably stressed out when he saw the estimate and then reached out to his warranty company for help. They referred him to GP Motor Works.

Physical Problem Diagnosis

In order to gain insight into the root cause of the knocking noise, we took the car on a road test. Basically, you travel at a very low speed and then sharply apply the brakes. With experience gained from many years - long before computer diagnostics were a thing - we were able to "sense" the almost imperceptible shift in the left hand tyre.

This pointed to the need to physically inspect the various linkages controlling the front tyres. We quickly identified the control arms as well as the control arm bushes were damaged and badly worn. In fact, the right-hand bracket was beyond repair.

These types of problems are caused by potholes, hitting the curb or obstructions in the road, poor road surfaces and severely corrugated surfaces.

Once we stripped out the parts we noticed the engine mountings were worn down.

Both the control arms and bushes were replaced as well as the engine mountings.

The car was taken out for a test drive and the ride was smooth.

Huge Saving On Work Done By GP Motor Works

As mentioned, the client had already been disappointed with the estimate received from the official agents.

In actual fact, the work done to fix the problems amounted to just 45% of the estimate. This represents a huge saving for the client - well he is happy!

Do yourself a favour - contact GP Motor Works for an alternative quotation.

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/mini-cooper-troublesome-knocking-noise/

18/04/2024

***BMW 125i M Sport Convertible Engine Damage

BMW 125i M Sport Convertible Engine Rebuild Due To Oil Sludge Contamination

This client brought his BMW 125i M Sport Convertible in to GP Motor Works because the engine was overheating. Excessive overheating causes significant damage to the engine.

Our initial visual investigation of the oil cap showed evidence of oil and water mixture which is never a good sign. This invariably indicates the head gasket has blown. The head was removed and sent to engineering for refurbishment.

The story got worse when the tappet (valve) cover was removed (photos at the end). The inside surface of the tappet cover and the engine were completely covered with oil sludge and other contaminants. We have seen many cars with this problem at our workshop.

What Causes Oil Sludge?

Oil sludge is a thick slurry which is formed by oxidation as well as contamination of the oil. This slurry is carried around the engine and sticks to the various engine parts. If not removed quickly it tends to bake onto the surfaces.

There are many reasons why the engine oil turns to sludge:

not following manufacturer's oil change schedule
mixing mineral based oils with synthetic oils
topping up with the incorrect oil
using a lower grade, inferior oil
causing the oil to operate out of the specified heat range for extended periods
not servicing your car as scheduled
oil contamination
not checking oil levels on a frequent basis
Water Leaks Found

Once the head was received the engine was rebuilt and new parts were added where necessary. This was followed by a coolant pressure test which showed radiator and heater pipe leaks. These were fixed.

Recommendations

We have written several articles about the importance of oil in your car's engine (refer to list at the end of this article).

Suffice to say the oil can be likened to our blood. When our blood is "contaminated" it causes damage to the blood vessels which leads to blockages and clots and if not detected can be fatal.

From your car's perspective, this happens when you don't ensure your oil is changed on a regular basis. Unfortunately, either way, the cost to fix the problem is expensive!

Arrange an oil check and service and save yourself the cost of an engine rebuild!

This article link:
https://gpmotorworks.co.za/bmw-125i-m-sport-convertible-engine-damage/

Importance of OIL in your car:
https://gpmotorworks.co.za/why-changing-the-oil-in-your-car-is-vitally-important/

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/using-liqui-moly-products-to-improve-engine-performance-removing-engine-sludge/

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/tracing-bmw-and-mini-cooper-oil-leaks/

06/04/2024

***BMW 420i Gran Coupe Boot Shock Absorber Fitment

BMW 420i Gran Coupe Boot Shock Absorber Failure

This BMW 420i was brought into GP Motor Works because the owner had problems with opening the boot and also with the boot locking mechanism was not working. Basically, the boot lid didn't automatically open to the full height and often started dropping closed.

We first checked the wiring to the boot shock absorbers which was found to be perfectly in order. The diagnostic scan showed the boot shock absorbers were faulty as well as the boot lock mechanism was malfunctioning.

Both boot shock absorbers were replaced with new units. A new boot lock assembly was also installed and was correctly aligned.

The boot was tested and operated perfectly!

Get hold of GP Motor Works If you experience any problems with the shock absorber systems on your vehicle.

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/bmw-420i-gran-coupe-boot-shock-absorber-fitment/

02/04/2024

***BMW Z4 With Timing And Idling Problems

BMW Z4 Timing & Idling Issues After Cylinder Head Repair

This is another case of a workshop failing to get the timing set correctly after they completed a cylinder repair on this BMW Z4. Consequently, the client brought the car to GP Motor Works to do the job.

The workshop in question basically got the timing all wrong which caused the vehicle to idle very roughly. There was also no power from the engine.

Our diagnostics pointed to the timing being out of sync. We stripped off the head and commenced the work to isolate the issues. The dual vanos and the timing chain were checked and the timing corrected.

The engine was re-assembled and tested. The road test was successful as the timing and idling were correctly set.

If your BMW or Mini Cooper starts having any timing issues don't hesitate to get in touch with us. This might just save you a lot of money!

Get the job done correctly the first time with GP Motor Works!

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/bmw-z4-with-timing-and-idling-problems/

19/03/2024

***Mini Cooper Cracked Vanos

Mini Cooper With Severe Engine Noise And No Power

This Mini Cooper came from another workshop because they were unable to diagnose the true cause of the engine noise and lack of power.

We began our process of diagnosis. The engine was not idling properly and the engine noise sounded like a timing chain problem. We removed the tappet cover and discovered the exhaust vanos was badly cracked. This is something we have never seen before! we consulted with a number of our industry contacts and they too have never seen a cracked vanos!

Mini Cooper Continual Fault Diagnosis

The timing chain appeared to be in good order. We ordered and installed new intake and exhaust vanos units. The engine was re-assembled but the engine noise persisted. We re-opened the engine and replaced the vanos actuation bolts as well as the vanos solenoid controller and new tappet cover gasket.

The engine noise disappeared but diagnostics indicated oil pressure and installation faults. It showed the timing or camshaft was incorrectly fitted. We replaced the oil pressure control valve and increased the oil pressure. Inspection of the camshaft timing showed it was correctly installed. However, there were still intermittent oil pressure issues and the camshaft installation fault was still present.

We removed the sump and replaced the oil pump. Inserts were installed in the head to ensure tappet cover bolts could be tightened fully to correct torque settings. This solved the oil pressure but camshaft installation issue was becoming stressful.

We physically inspected the camshafts. The intake cam pickup was located with a dial pin. The exhaust cam pickup was press fitted onto the cam. We compared the existing camshaft with one from a different Mini engine. We discovered the existing pickup angle was out by 3mm. We replaced this faulty unit with one from a second hand engine (client approved). The installation fault cleared.

The car was re-assembled and road-tested perfectly.

This was a complex job which required a methodical step-by-step approach to solve all the issues.

Get in touch with us if you feel as if your workshop is not able to solve the problem.

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/mini-cooper-cracked-vanos/

17/02/2024

***BMW M850 XDrive Gear Selector Damaged By Liquid

BMW M850 XDrive Not Able To Select Gears

This client was not able to select or change gears in their BMW M850 XDrive. This resulted in having to get the vehicle towed in to GP Motor Works.

We set up our diagnostic machine and traced the fault to the gear selector switch. We opened up the centre console and removed the selector switch and discovered the whole component was covered in Coke. Unfortunately, the liquid had had dried to a sticky mess.

A new gear selector switch was ordered and installed. The BMW M850 specific code was then programmed into switch.

We were not able to test drive the vehicle because we could not inflate the tyres. Once the vehicle was up on the lift we inspected the rims and noticed three of them were badly cracked. A clear case of hitting potholes at speed. This explained why the tyres were not sealing on the rims. The rims were repaired and the test drive was successful.

Tips On Handling Drinks Near The Centre Console

Liquid near the centre console is an accident waiting to happen. This is similar to dropping your cellphone into water. No-one sets out to do either but it happens. A quick Google search shows just how often drivers and front seat passengers spill drinks on the central console.

Here are some tips which may help in stopping a very expensive mistake.

>Try and use cups which are spill-proof
>If your cup holders are near the centre console don't accelerate or brake hard when the cups are full. These actions will most certainly cause the liquid to fly out of the cup
>Mop up the liquid as fast as you can to prevent it seeping down into the electronics under the cover
>Don't allow any excessively sticky drinks such as sodas, milk shakes or your favourite alcoholic beverage anywhere near the central console

If you do accidentally spill anything on the central console get hold of us to prevent any major damage.

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/bmw-m850-xdrive-gear-selector-damaged-by-liquid/

25/01/2024

***Why Do Your Brakes Squeak

Squeaking Brakes Annoying You?

Brakes start squeaking for a number of reasons. This is because the brake system is a complex set of static and moving parts. As a result, the cause of the noise may be coming from any one of these parts. This article will explain the most common causes of brake squeaking as well as brake grinding.

Brakes Squeaking Noise
Pads are worn down:

The simplest explanation is your brake pads are worn out and need to be replaced. The pad is made of composite material which vary significantly depending on the manufacturer and the price.

Cheaper semi-metallic pads contain higher metal content which at times, can cause high frequency squealing. This is not to be confused with the brake wear indicators which are there as an early warning your pads are almost worn out and need changing. Important to note - the noise is similar so it's advisable to get us to check your brakes for you.

Contamination:

Noises can be caused by a variety of contaminants such as water, dust, debris, condensation and rust. The squealing can occur after driving on dust roads. Also, after driving through heavy rain a thin film of rust forms on the disc surface. In most cases, the noise will be temporary until the contaminants are burnt off the disc surface.

Glazing:

This is a consequence of overheating. In this instance, the heat causes pads and discs to become glazed. Often referred to as a mirror surface. Once this happens, braking becomes difficult as the friction between pad and disc is no longer there. The pads are effectively slipping on the disc surface. The squeaking noise is often confused with the worn pad sound.

Brakes Grinding Noise
Pads completely worn away:

This metal-to-metal friction can happen rather suddenly while braking. Apart from being dangerous, the damage can be extensive with deep gouges being cut into the disc surface. This emits an unmistakable grinding noise.

Overheating:

Often this overheating of the brakes is caused by driving without releasing the handbrake. Travelling down long and winding roads with excessive braking also causes high heat build up on the pad/disc surface. This heat causes the pad surface to become hard and bumpy. This also causes the grinding sound.

Conclusion

In all the scenarios described above we strongly suggest you get hold of us as soon as possible. We are well equipped to test your braking system and advise on the correct course of action.

***Please don't continue driving once you start hearing the squeak or grinding noises. Your lives depend on ensuring your brake systems are in optimal condition.

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/why-do-your-brakes-squeak

22/01/2024

***Mini Cooper Brakes Replacement

Mini Cooper Front and Rear Brake Repairs

One of our existing long-term clients brought in their Mini Cooper to have the brakes checked. One of the reasons is they have saved thousands by coming to GP Motor Works. Another reason is they tend to drive their cars really hard, with very fast acceleration and subsequent hard braking. They are very confident their cars are being cared for so thoroughly at our workshop.

In this case, the Mini Cooper pads on both front and back brakes were worn. We also identified both brake sensors were damaged. New pads and sensors were fitted and the car was test driven.

Contact us and you will discover just how you can save money on your next Mini Cooper service!

We offer services including mechanical, electrical, electronic, suspension, expert diagnostic tests as well as a host of other service requirements for your Mini Cooper....

https://gpmotorworks.co.za/mini-cooper-brakes-replacement/

GP Motor Works

02/07/2024

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Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 17:00