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Category: Training and skills

The unseen service that saves lives: ADAS calibration done properly

Saturday 1st November 2025

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Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) aren’t a fad, they’re now woven into everyday motoring. Parking sensors that chirp at low speeds, through to blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition, up to adaptive cruise, lane keep and automatic emergency braking that can intervene quicker than most humans. At the sharper end you’ll find 360° camera stitching, radar and camera sensor fusion and, on some premium models,  mapping the road in remarkable detail. However clever the badge on the boot, all of these features rely on one uncompromising truth. The hardware must be correctly calibrated to the car if it’s going to behave as expected in all circumstances.

Yes, driverless cars are coming. We’re inching forward with more autonomy and better software over the air. But between today’s reality and tomorrow’s robotaxi sit millions of cars and vans that depend on cameras behind windscreens, radars in bumpers and ultrasonic sensors in mirror housings. A windscreen replacement, a suspension job or a kerb strike can nudge a sensor a few millimetres off axis. That’s enough to move a lane line, slow an emergency response or cause distance control to surge when it should smooth things out. This is not a gadget conversation. It is about the safety of your family in that vehicle.

Are we new to ADAS?

In short, no. At Oldfields, we’ve been able to carry out some ADAS calibrations right here in Leominster, for a number of years, but we’ve been investigating enhanced ADAS solutions. We’re delighted to announce that from January 2026 we’re launching a comprehensive ADAS calibration solution that brings the whole process in-house, end to end. We will follow the correct OE references for targets, positions, ride height and load. We will use quality equipment that is verified and maintained, in controlled lighting on a level floor. Static and dynamic procedures will be completed as specified, with documented pre and post scans, and a road test to confirm the system behaves as expected in the real world.

Shortcuts create risk. Generic settings, guesswork or bargain kit that drifts out of tolerance can all undermine the very systems designed to protect you. Our approach is simple. Use OE data, use calibrated tools, record the results and explain the work.

Why should you do it properly?

There’s a customer experience piece here too. Like choosing a trusted barber or hairdresser, drivers want consistency, transparency and a result that leaves them confident to face the day. We’ll tell you what needs doing, why it matters and what it costs before we begin. ADAS isn’t going anywhere, and neither is our responsibility to keep local vehicles safe, predictable and pleasant to drive. If your car warns, watches or intervenes, proper calibration with the right references and equipment is essential.

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Our team is growing, could you be our next team member?

Wednesday 22nd October 2025

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Are you fed up of not having the right training?

Would you like a personalised training and development plan in our company academy programme?

Would you like nice staff areas?

Does working in a modern, clean, tidy and well equipped (did we say heated) workshop business appeal to you?

Do you feel quality is vital to the customer experience?

Would you like to be paid what you are worth?

Do you want to work somewhere that uses the latest technology to operate?

Do you want to work in a place that uses modern diagnostic tools (and trains how to use them)?

As we are growing into our increased space, we are now recruiting great people to join our multi-award winning team. Our customers and reputation means we are looking for the best and would like to bring in the following talent!

✅ Service Technician (MOT Tester an advantage)
✅ 2nd or 3rd Year Apprentice
✅ MOT Tester (part time opportunity)
✅ Customer Sales Advisor
✅ Car cleaner & driver

If you are looking to step up to the next level in your career, where training and development is considered vital, technology part of our way of operating and being part of the team is equally important, Tim would love to hear from you!

We offer:

  • Competitive rates of pay

  • Monday to Friday working

  • 29 days holiday, rising to 33 (inc bank holidays and Christmas shutdown)

  • An individually tailored training academy programme

  • Outstanding facilities in a nationally recognised Independent Garage Business

For a confidential, informal discussion click to email ➡️ Tim Benson

* Please note, we are not looking for agencies at this time.

Tim will be Speaking at The Garage Hive Blend Conference 2023

Tuesday 22nd August 2023

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Tim will be talking about the topic of planning and working with the end game in mind, what decisions you can make earlier in the business to help work towards your exit goal – whenever or whatever that may be!

“We’ve been using the Garage Hive System to run our business Since August 2020. I’m delighted to have been asked to present at The Blend, because the Garage Hive Community represent some of the best independent garages throughout the UK & Ireland.” said Tim. “If you own or run a garage and are keen to find out more about how other garages operate and continuously try to improve, you should really be there!”

About the Blend 2023:

Garage Hive has organised The Blend 2023 on the 7th of October to gather garage owners and key decision-makers of garage businesses in Birmingham to learn about the garage management software and to expand their views on how to manage their business in the best way possible, as well as to network and build connections between each other to exchange experiences and create a supportive community within the automotive industry.

The conference (9.30 am – 5.45 pm) is filled with many sessions delivered by expert speakers like business development and technical training coach John Batten, HR Specialist Jennifer Webb, Andy Crook industry practitioner, Andy Hamilton from Euro Car Parts, Simon Gurney from Castrol and Mark Strain from GSF Car Parts, fellow garage owners Tim Benson, Matt Cleevely, Tom Cocokings, Alex Lindley with Garage Industry Trends and garage management software experts.

There will be an expo area with known brands like The Race Group and Castrol, 1 Tec Auto Hub, GSF Car parts, Pagid, Micheldever, Vostel, Pichler Tools, Autotech Training, Autogem, Diagnostic Connections and AutoIQ.

You can book your tickets here: The Blend | Garage Hive’s Conference

Oldfields Takes Award for Best Independent Garage Specialists for 2022

Wednesday 31st August 2022

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We are delighted to announce that we have won the SME News “Best Independent Garage Specialists – Herefordshire” for 2022. We’ve had this under wraps until we were officially allowed to reveal this news. The official press release is available is below!

“SME News Magazine has announced the winners of the 2022 Midlands Enterprise Awards.

Now running for five consecutive years, the Midlands Enterprise programme is created to acknowledge and award those SMEs of all different sizes covering a range of businesses and industries that are based within the Midlands. The region is often described as the beating heart of the British industry and is a strong force in opening new avenues and business opportunities to most SMEs. The aim of the programme like every year is to recognise the best SME businesses and give them the exposure that they rightly deserve.

Awards Coordinator Holly Blackwood commented on the success of this year’s programme: “It has been a delight and an honour to organise this year’s edition of the Midlands Enterprise Awards. As always we have endeavoured to highlight those that businesses and individuals who are redefining their respective industries in the region, and acting as pacesetters. I offer my sincere congratulations to all of those who have been listed among the winners and hope you all have a fantastic rest of the year ahead.”

SME News prides itself on the validity of its awards and winners. The awards are given solely on merit and are awarded to commend those most deserving for their ingenuity and hard work, distinguishing them from their competitors and proving them worthy of recognition.

To learn more about our award winners and to gain insight into the working practices of the “best of the best”, please visit the SME News website (https://www.sme-news.co.uk/awards/midlands-enterprise-awards/) where you can access the winners supplement.”

Tim from Oldfields said “It’s great for the team to receive this award. We strive to make sure we have the best service experience for our customers and recognition like this helps to validate what we are doing. We’ll continue to offer the best service possible going forwards!”

Oldfields Garage Services (2022 Winner: Midlands Enterprise Awards) – SME News (sme-news.co.uk)

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Air Conditioning Service & Diagnostics

Sunday 1st May 2022

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We’ve recently added the Newer type, R1234YF Air conditioning gas to our on-site services in time for the warmer weather. We are now able to service re-gas R134A and R1234YF systems.

Whilst we were doing so we took the opportunity to invest in our Air Con Diagnostic capability. To carry out Air Conditioning regas on vehicles, all garages and Air Con centres need to be qualified to handle gas safely and require the F-Gas Certification. Oldfields have taken this a step further and our team are now qualified in Air Conditioning Diagnostics, meaning we now specialise in carrying out correct investigation and testing to get to the root cause of Air Con faults and leaks. We don’t just refill the system if there is problem, stopping our customers from potentially wasting money on re-gassing!

Our air conditioning pricing is as follows*:

  1. Regas for R134A systems (old type gas, up to £500 grams) £79.99 inc vat
  2. Regas for R1234YF systems (newer type gas, up to 500 grams) £145.80 inc vat
  3. Air Con Diagnostic Assessment £95.00 inc vat

If you’d like to book your vehicle in with us, you can do it online here…

*Pricing correct as of 1st May 2022

DPF Doctor Network

Tuesday 1st June 2021

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We’ve been accredited members of the DPF Doctor network since July 2020.

Being Leominster’s exclusive DPF Doctor member we benefit from being part of the UKs leading network of DPF specialists gaining industry leading training and access to the proven DPF assessment process, identifying the root cause of vehicle DPF issues to provide and accurate first time fix.

Click here to find your nearest Accredited The DPF Doctor network member.