Renowned automotive specialist, OSRAM is reminding technicians not to forget about what they need for themselves this MOT season, as well as what their customers will require.
Alongside the essentials needed in the workshop for an MOT, OSRAM is also urging technicians to look at the tools they will need for MOT season.
Inspection lamps
While carrying out MOT inspections, technicians rely heavily on their inspection lamp to efficiently analyse the vehicle on their ramp.
As every technician has a different preference when it comes to inspection lights, OSRAM’s range provides a suitable option for them all, whether that’s a lamp that attaches to the bodywork of a vehicle, a head torch or one with multiple attachments.
OSRAM’s award winning LEDinspect 3-in-1 inspection light kit has three separate attachments: a standard torch attachment, a thin inspection light attachment; with two hinge positions, which rotate 180° and 230° respectively, and a gooseneck light attachment, that can bend and twist to illuminate hard to see locations across the whole car.
The same handle base is used for each of the three attachments, with all having four lighting modes, high, medium, low and flash. There is a magnet on the handle base for hands free working and the end of the gooseneck light attachment is also magnetic, which is helpful if the user needs to retrieve screws or small objects in hard-to-reach places.
Alternatively, there’s the LEDinspect flexible inspection light, an LED strip light, that can be twisted, bent and contorted into any shape, making the LEDinspect flexible inspection light unique.
It also comes with a stretchable strap with fixing hooks at either end that twist 180o, allowing it to span a wide area, such as under the bonnet, between vehicle doors, across the underside of the car or mounted to the ramp as a site light.
One that allows for complete hands free working, is the LEDinspect flexible head torch. With three light functions, the brightest providing 115 lumens and a low setting providing 50 lumens.
The head torch is similar to the flexible inspection light, in that it’s a flexible and adjustable headband with a strip of LED light. It also has soft pads inside and additionally an adjustable strap for optimal wearing comfort.
Bulbs
With regards to customers’ needs, lights, reflectors and electrics make up 13.3% of MOT failures. According to data revealed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), in 2024*, lights were the fourth most common reason for a vehicle failing its MOT. Therefore, keeping a range of bulbs onsite is a proactive way to assist customers with their MOTs and with 100 years of experience, OSRAM is the brand that can be trusted when it comes to replacement automotive lighting. There are also many profit opportunities when it comes to bulbs, and following OSRAMs motto of ‘Check, Change and Upgrade’, garages will see a good return on sales of bulbs during MOT season.
Xenon (HID) range
There has been a peak in sales of HID bulbs in recent months, so now is the right time to be looking at having a stock of original equipment (OE) quality HIDs from a trusted brand. Due to the spike in HID bulb sales, OSRAM is encouraging technicians to brush up on their HID knowledge, as bulbs that are over five years old may still light up, but the light output will be negligible. OSRAM’s HID range is vast and includes: Xenarc Night Breaker 220 – OSRAM’s brightest, road legal HID upgrade; Xenarc Cool Blue Intense providing a cool white light; Xenarc Ultra Life OSRAM’s most reliable HID that come with a 10 year guarantee and lasts up to four times longer than a standard halogen; and finally the Xenarc Original – the same as fitted by vehicle manufacturers worldwide – excellent, reliable OE quality.
Halogen range
Due to their impressive beam range, performance and longevity, OSRAM’s halogen bulb offering has always been incredibly popular amongst drivers, technicians and retailers.
Similar to its xenon counterpart, OSRAM’s halogen range is impressive, with the Night Breaker 220 that has up to 220% more brightness and up to 150 metre long beam and the Night Breaker Silver offers the driver excellent performance and longevity or for a more modern and stylish look, OSRAM’s Cool Blue Intense is perfect. If a bulb needs replacing, simply ask the customer: “Would you like brighter or whiter lights?” This could lead to upgrade sale that make more profit for the garage with no more work required to install.
For drivers that are looking for a longer lasting headlight bulb, OSRAM’s Ultra Life is the ideal solution and finally in the halogen range, is the Original Line 12V, which is an OE quality product that is tried and trusted by vehicle manufacturers across Europe.
Blades
It is also recommended that there is always a supply of wiper blades handy in a workshop, with the BETTER SIGHT WIPERblade range you can be sure to cover the majority of the car parc, making it a convenient and premium quality range to keep stocked.
The range contains 29 SKUs, which come as single packs and is split into two ranges, multi fit beam blades and conventional blades, both have a third generation nano technology coating, which makes the blade waterproof, robust, silent and streak free, making it the ideal upgrade for MOT season.
The multi fit beam blades consist of 15 SKUs ranging from 14” – 32”, equipped with an aerodynamic spoiler to reduce noise and keep their quality performance at high speeds. They also have a high carbon steel inlay to create a solid connection between the blade and windscreen, preventing the blade from lifting. This range has a secure and easy fit adapter system that covers almost all cars on the road with the adaptors included in the box.
The conventional blades in the WIPERblade BETTER SIGHT range have a vented design to increase downforce and stainless steel construction that is weather resistant with superior anti corrosion qualities. Helpfully these blades have a pre fit adapter that includes five of the most popular traditional arm types, including bayonet, hook 9×3, hook 9×4, pin 3/16” and pin 1/4”. There are 14 SKUs available ranging from 13” to 28”.
