https://thompsongm.co.uk/ UK GM servicing, parts and owner advice en Sun, 08 Nov 2026 14:25:01 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/m32-gearbox-bearing-whine-rebuild-costs-2026/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/m32-gearbox-bearing-whine-rebuild-costs-2026/ The M32 six-speed is a decent gearbox with one very well-documented weakness, and by the time most owners notice the noise the casing is already paying for it. Here's how to confirm a bearing fault early, what genuinely causes it, and what a rebuild versus a used box will set you back in 2026. Thompson GM Servicing & Maintenance Sun, 08 Nov 2026 12:31:14 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/vauxhall-opel-diagnostic-tools-tech2-opcom-comparison-2026/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/vauxhall-opel-diagnostic-tools-tech2-opcom-comparison-2026/ You can spend twenty quid on a Bluetooth dongle or over a grand on a genuine-grade Tech2 setup, and the gap between what they can do is bigger than most owners realise. A practical guide to which diagnostic kit actually talks to GM-era Vauxhalls, Opels and Chevrolets in 2026 — and where the sensible line sits. Thompson GM Parts & Sourcing Sun, 08 Nov 2026 12:31:14 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/november-rust-audit-ageing-vauxhalls-underseal-2026/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/november-rust-audit-ageing-vauxhalls-underseal-2026/ Salt season is about to start, and the cars most at risk are the ones still earning their keep. Here is a practical November inspection and undersealing plan for Astra H, Corsa, Insignia and Antara owners who want another five years. Thompson GM Servicing & Maintenance Sun, 08 Nov 2026 08:30:42 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/genuine-vs-pattern-gm-parts-vauxhall-2026/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/genuine-vs-pattern-gm-parts-vauxhall-2026/ Genuine GM parts are not automatically better, and cheap pattern parts are not automatically false economy. The trick is knowing which components carry real risk and which are commodity items. Thompson GM Parts & Sourcing Sun, 08 Nov 2026 08:30:42 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/gm-scrapyard-saves-and-skips-2026-uk/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/gm-scrapyard-saves-and-skips-2026-uk/ Every breaker's yard in Britain is full of cars that were one £200 repair from another five years on the road. Some of them are worth a second chance. These five are, and here are the three you should walk straight past. Thompson GM Parts & Sourcing Sun, 08 Nov 2026 04:32:57 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/astra-h-zafira-b-1-8-oil-leak-fix-uk/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/astra-h-zafira-b-1-8-oil-leak-fix-uk/ A £700 quote on a car worth £1,500 feels like the end of the road — but on the Family II 1.8 it usually isn't. Here's how the leaks actually stack up on the Astra H and Zafira B, what each one costs to put right, and the rust check that decides whether you spend the money or ring the breaker. Thompson GM Servicing & Maintenance Sun, 08 Nov 2026 04:32:57 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/chevrolet-captiva-vs-vauxhall-antara-2026-uk/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/chevrolet-captiva-vs-vauxhall-antara-2026-uk/ The Chevrolet Captiva and Vauxhall Antara are now proper cheap family SUVs, but which one is easier to keep on the road in the UK? We compare shared parts, common faults, petrol-versus-diesel costs and the £2,500 buying reality. Thompson GM Parts & Sourcing Sun, 08 Nov 2026 00:32:39 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/vauxhall-ampera-2026-uk-owner-guide/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/vauxhall-ampera-2026-uk-owner-guide/ Fifteen years after launch, the Vauxhall Ampera is cheap enough to tempt UK buyers but complex enough to punish a bad purchase. This owner-focused guide looks at battery health, Voltec servicing, parts reality and whether GM’s early range-extender still makes sense in 2026. Thompson GM Servicing & Maintenance Sun, 08 Nov 2026 00:32:39 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/gm-parts-cross-referencing-vauxhall-opel-chevrolet-2026/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/gm-parts-cross-referencing-vauxhall-opel-chevrolet-2026/ Pre-Stellantis Vauxhalls are, underneath, Opels — and often Chevrolets and Saabs too. Here's the practical routine for turning one eight-digit GM number into three cheaper alternatives, plus an honest look at which consumables are quietly drying up this year. Thompson GM Parts & Sourcing Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:33:15 GMT https://thompsongm.co.uk/chevrolet-camaro-ss-uk-servicing-guide-2026/ https://thompsongm.co.uk/chevrolet-camaro-ss-uk-servicing-guide-2026/ Left-hand drive, thirsty, and imported by the container-load. The Camaro SS should be an ownership nightmare in the UK — but it's one of the last modern GM performance cars you can genuinely service at home. Here's how to keep one happy in 2026. Thompson GM Servicing & Maintenance Sat, 07 Nov 2026 20:33:15 GMT