Me personally think you'd be daft to get a garage, you'll end up the same as before with staff not turning up then all the stress of finding money every months for wages/garage.....i've gone from garage to owning a mobility shop and having 7 vans on road, i've had it where employees don't turn up i've had £30k vans crashed and employees don't give a shit. i've had vans with damage down side and they don't know how it's happened, then when it goes quiet i've got 7 guys wages to find plus my own. now there is only me and one guy and that suits me, Really hope you're dad gets better soon mate
Sorry to hear about your dad, I hope his treatment works out for him. If I had an EU passport, I would be getting out of the U.K. I don’t see it thriving in the next 20 years. Would Northern Ireland work, that might be a good option as long as it stays quiet.
Bloody hell this was a proper heart wrenching video. I started as a dealer mechanic and then master tech. Worked for a so called specialist and then i decided to go mobile with the contacts i had. Then i was so stupidly busy i opened a garage. It was a family business and consumed everything. 14 years later its just me and my van again. My kids are grown up. The overheads are what kills business in the UK. You sure have a talent. This trade is full of clowns. Head for the sun mate!
The Over Heads Kill the Business if your not Charging Enough or always getting low paid work. There is a massive shortage of Trades People and there’s more wealthy people now than any time on history. If Jimmy wants to set up a garage in England, Ireland or on the f*cling moon - he can do it and make a great living. But it hinge’s on the structure of the Business. Check out the “ Garage Inspector “ . . . That’s where it’s at. If your doing good work the ball is at your feet !
Honest, hard work pays ! In my opinion, what’s made you successful in your field is your likable and honest. I can say that because I have met you personally and valued your opinion. Whichever your direction, follow your dreams Jimmy Always love a backstory
Running a garage will turn you Grey overnight with stress, not to mention the overheads that go with it. My advice, for what it's worth, just keep doing what you do, and if you go to Spain I'll come and work for you part time 😉👍 Follow your heart and good luck to you whatever you choose Jimmy. 🍻
It's a hard one Jimmy. I have been traveling between UK & NZ since I was 17. I am 60 this year with a shoulder injury and I find it hard get back up from laying under a car. A hot climate is not everything we are in a heat wave and I have sunburnt ears and my shirts get wet through in an hour. My kids have adapted to NZ since getting back here in 2019. Life is a journey and none of us know what path to take. Best wishes to you and your family. Jim in NZ.
A great personal video on top of your exceptional technical ones . Thank you so much for posting and sharing. I hope youtube helps a lot with your finances....you deserve it. So good to see a genuinely kind mechanic showing up the incompetent ones. My son is a mobile heavy truck mechanic in Canada. The winters are brutal. I don't know how he copes.
Huge fan of yours Jimmy, I spent 22 years in the army as a mechanic working on tanks. I lost so much self respect as nobody needed me to keep doing it after divorce. I know it’s not easy but it’s also not hard. Keep believing in yourself brother. It was never about the money for me, but like you, you can make a few quid doing something that you just enjoy. Keep on keeping on 👍
A garage would give you better working conditions which you will benefit from, and a vehicle lift so you’re not crawling under cars and vans on cold tarmac in the wind and rain. Good luck to you Jimmy, and a permanent welcome to England 👍
If you decide to switch careers you would make an excellent teacher for apprentice mechanics. You have a humble, yet perfect, way of explaining technical stuff.
Good morning, Thank you for sharing your story and experience; I'm in France and I've been watching your videos for a while, they teach me a lot about DPF repairs. I am retired and have always maintained my vehicles myself. My health no longer allows me to do as much as before, which is why following your videos immerses me back into what I loved to do: mechanics. I wish you great success in your projects, and I will continue to follow your work with interest.
Jimmy, I've been watching almost every vid you've put out and left a 👍on every one. You're a walking tech manual. I'm 64 now and was an hgv mechanic for 30 of those years. I drive 'em now 'cause it's easier to break 'em than it is to fix 'em at my age and the damn arthritis the job has given me. In my opinion Fk the garage, you said in in one of your vids about some charlatans dissing you for passing on priceless info and the pros commending you. Your next smartest move is open a dpf training school, that's how you will improve the car industry as you put it in a big way. Sit down, put a course together, take in real paying customers and also get paid by your students or their employers for teaching them while they fix the dpf jobs under your guidance. A win win for everyone especially you. Take it from me, life's too short and living a life of, "If Only I", is no way to live. A life of regrets is no life at all. Your priceless make good use of it kiddo. If I weren't so old and decrepid I'd work for you 😉
Well Jimmy, I really liked your story. Whatever you decide to do, you are going to have a lot of people following! I have said this before, but I have met many in the Trade that work on DPF's but not one that has your ability. It is a specialist field and one that takes great understanding. Many have said to me over the years that DPF's can't be cleaned properly on the vehicle. I have always said that they certainly can and your videos have proved that without a shadow of a doubt. I'm glad that you found my product and that it has been so successful for you.
top man jimmy , ive grafted all my life leaving skool with no qualifications , and still grafting at 54 , i grew up as a young lad losing my dad at 6yrs old , your dad and your family are priceless, hope your dad gets well soon , it deff gets harder as you get older, what ever decision u do dont give up u tube lol happy new yr ❤️
God bless you. I started as a truck mechanic and was sick of fixing drivers damage every day. I became an owner driver and grew the business. Straight back to fixing other idiots damage. I’ve retired and I’m still not sure what i should have done! Don’t despair you are well respected. On an upbeat note, I fixed my daughter’s evoque thanks to you. The add blue injector totally crusted and I thought that’s too rich, i did a half gallon dilute and touch wood it’s okay. Disco’s and evoques fill next to the exhaust and cook out the water. Is that what this is all about? Love your vids. Stay safe, you’re not alone. Respect to you
Been. Watching you for ages now Jimmy was spray painter went onto having my own sprayshop/garage mum died gave it all up couldn't handle sh**t went got a job with bro in-law work as plant mechanic and now in a happy job I enjoy doing I am mobile and make good money do NOT get a garage its overheads you could be doing without your a inspiration to most us mechanics personally I have learned so much from your knowledge
Hi. Good to see how you've progressed. I've been in the motor trade all my life. Left college with all the qualifications. Went to work for a garage. Went mobile on my own. Then brought a garage. Even though I owned it and had three mechanics the over heads meant I was taking home less than before. Sold the garage and back mobile on my own. 200-300 per day.
Wherever you go and whatever you do you will be a success because you have a drive which is such a valuable asset it is the determination to succeed that makes you that man ,
Jimmy you are a great person. I personally learned a few bits from you. You know that you have mastered the black art of the DPF but you are also kind enough to share your findings with us and that indeed shows that you are a confident mechanic who is not afraid of losing the jobs if he shares his experience. Like the other subscribers mentioned I would choose the liberty of working mobile in the current financial climate. I am sure whatever you choose, You will succeed. Best of luck Jimmy.
I absolutely love your videos. Have massively helped out in several cases. I love how open and honest you are with fixes and known problems. Personally if I was you I'd be looking at staying as you are if you stay in England. Moving home America Spain etc then that's a diffrent world to your customer base you've built up and reputation! Whatever you do and wherever you go never stop being the honest open mechanic you are so famous for 😎👌👌
Hi Jimmy, please may I share my experience with you. It might help. Back in the 90s I was a mobile mechanic that specialised in engine diagnostics, petrol injection systems and a few older cars with carbs. I was a Crypton Approved Technician, with a big oscilloscope machine and exhaust gas analyser on a Ford Transit. I was early to mid 40s. So in many ways, similar to your situation. I ended up moving to the Costa Del Sol to marry a nice young lady. Mobile mechanics almost don't exist in Spain, and I believe that is also true in other European countries. I ended up being a Satellite TV installer and also domestic Air Condioning. Now, 25 years later I'm retired, and still enjoying being in Spain. I think if you moved to Spain, as an English speaking specialist mechanic you would almost certainly have to get a workshop. The rules and regulations here make it very difficult to set up a business. You seem to be an intelligent, capable person who is not afraid of hard work. So if anyone can make it you can. However, be under no illusions. It may be a very bumpy ride for a few years before you get well established. If you want to talk to me about Spain leave a reply to my comment and I will get back to you with a phone number. Best wishes to you for the future. Cheers, Neale
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. My wife and I were both fully retired when we bought a holiday home in January 2003 in Orihuela Costa, southern Costa Blanca. Over the past 21 years we have spent an aggregate of 9 years holidaying in Spain and have witnessed many young British families fail to make a go of things in our area leading to their return to the UK. My advice to Jimmy would be to remain working in the UK/Ireland until he is in a position to retire fully and only then consider a move to a warmer climate. The disadvantages of a move to live and work in Spain are considerable: - 20 years from now your house in the UK will have increased in value by a large amount - a house bought in Spain today will not increase in value by much over the next 20 years - you need to be fluent in spoken and written Spanish to run a successful business there - Spanish bureaucracy is a wonder to behold and stifles business enterprise - almost any initiative in Spain involves the payment of tax/licence fees to the state and/or Town Hall (e.g. selling a car to someone involves needless costs and paperwork)
Stay mobile, I’ve been a mobile mechanic 14 yrs now, I’ve had an mot station and petrol station in the past nothing but aggro, I’m 53 I pick and choose what I do now, no more clutches, or gearboxes or engine swaps for me, I mainly do pre purchase inspections and diagnostics now as well as carbon cleaning and Dpfs etc I like you sold cars for 20 plus yrs until I started mobile in 2010 best thing I ever did, no aggro no screamers, stick to what your doing, you don’t need anymore headaches, ps I love your videos learnt so much about Dpfs since watching them and still learning
Have you thought about franchising or teaching others how to fault find. I find that people (not just mechanics/techs but IT people as well) tend to jump in and start swapping things, replacing things and end up in a right mess with multiple issues, you seem to have that methodical method that gets results efficiently and most important, accurately. Good luck in whatever you do....one life, live it!
You could always invest in the mobile service, things like some sort of quick lift off the back of a wagon so that you can get underneath vehicles easier. Maybe even an awning or a pop up shelter for when the weathers bad etc... There are all sorts of ways to build a custom rig to make the job easier, quicker and more comfortable. I'm in Norway and the weather kills the roads here and I was watching a rig last week which specialised in repairing pot holes... Ya should have seen it, the truck was customised to have everything to hand so they could repair a hole in seconds. The wacker plate was sitting on a little platform at the back, only a few inches off the ground. A quick pull and it was on the fresh asphalt. Everything was laid out in order and exactly to hand. They must repair hundreds and hundreds of holes a day. Best of luck to you, whatever you do 🙂
Your a great person jimmy, i wish i had your skills, i am a bricklayer and your channel is ace to watch 🤝🏼 wish you all the best and great wishes to your dad 🙏🏼
Love your story and it’s funny how one’s life takes you and hope your future goes well, you could do teach or do courses on Dpf cleaning and faults as most training is expensive
Carry on with what you’re doing.. The videos help so many people I’m sure where ever you decide it will be a success! The videos are some of best I’ve seen 😀
kinda similar story to mine, i basically started doing cars when i first got my own ones, then i flipped them a couple of years but my problem with workshops were that i got scammed quite alot that was what actually pissed me off and turned me to literally go buy garage box, get all the tools what i thought i need and now been upgrading overtime step by step and eventually friends with car problems arrived i started helping them out , then they recommended me to another people and so thats how it has been growing as a side job but full time i work with heavy equipment most of the times and incase something happens then i probably turn this car repair into business in case i loose job and i have no other options, but doing it as "hobby" wise if i can call it like that wont burn me actually out.
Jimmy, this is an interesting insight into how you got to where you are now. Being mobile gives you more flexibility plus you don't have the overheads of a workshop. You seem to be in a good place at the moment. I knew you'd accidentally become the "DPF Guru" (some of the best things are never planned). I hope your dad gets well soon.
I'm only watching this now and noticed it's 4 months old. I hope you and your family are OK If you did decide to move back to Ireland I guarantee you will be booked solid within a week. I would be your first customer. Best of luck
Hard start and a heartbreaking story in the mix, Jimmy! Wish you all the best! You are a competent mechanic and should be valued anywhere, but family changes your priorities. On a totally different level, I had a similar problem and found myself at a crossroads at 36 and I ended up deciding for the stability of the family, which was not the most fulfining for my own self.
Hi Jimmy Love your content, you have the motor trade in your blood and clearly have a talent I’m sure you will do well whatever you choose. I got into teaching Auto 20 years ago but still do other bits and bobs. Channels like yours are great to show my students. Unfortunately not many have the work ethics that you have and won’t last long on the tools. Hope your dad pulls through mate enjoy your time with him while he’s around cos you never know what’s round the corner
Fair play, it’s amazing where life takes you, just goes to show if you want to work and willing to work rewards are out there…. I am happy for you and your family may your choices be wise and your decisions be fruitful 👍👍
Come home to Ireland, Jimmy. You'd have all the work you'd ever need keeping mobile. (Cant promise the weather would be good though😂). Best wishes to your dad with his treatment.
Jimmy I hope your dad gets the care and attention he needs to recover, if indeed that's possible!. Doing what you're doing out on the streets is never going to get easier because your getting older. Having a garage could possibly be an advantage for you certainly through the winter months, people coming to you would also cut down on your traveling time, you could even combine the two. Diesels will be around for some time yet! Let's be honest who really has the finances to throw money away on the "E.V. muck" that's out there. Best of Luck Jimmy whatever you decide to do in the future. 👏👍
I really respect your skills, approach to customer care and honesty, this candid revelation on your background was so informative and refreshing. I would say you have to decide to follow your heart or your head! If you get a garage you know deep down that you could become a slave to a business, that would put huge additional pressures on you from overheads, equipment replacement, economies of scale would dictate staff; and you have already endured the issues around finding and retaining the right calibre of people. That all then brings in admin support for H&S, payroll, accounts, ordering etc and then of course pensions, sickness, holidays. That is of course complicated by customers, would you have to take on the servicing work that you rightly have said is covered by so many others prepared to work for a bit of extra cash. Of course you could specialise but would the volumes be there to cover that overhead cost. I know some specialist garages and they all say the customers moan about the cost they have to charge. One friend was telling me he specialises on high end diagnostics/performance/Dyno etc, employs 3 mechanics and 1 admin and he says it costs him just short of £35k per m to open the doors!!!! I think you have found a great niche market, you are in control of your own workload and hopefully reaping the rewards. I get the facilities of a garage would be great but why not explore renting a ramp of an independent garage who might appreciate a few bob towards his costs? Keep up the great work and I hope your dad improves.
Best of wishes to your Dad, really hope hes going to be okay. As a trainee mechanic my self, your videos are absolutely amazing and have helped me so much, my plan in life is to push in some what the same direction of yourself to eventually have my own garage, maybe you could combine your past experiences with it and fix up/sell cars in quiet periods with your garage and maybe still run out in the van to help those in a sticky situation. I personally see this way as a keep your self busy method that should always pay, nothing to fancy. But thats just my idea on things, as for yourself buddy, do what feels best for yourself and keep up the hard work!
Do what your Heart tells you, Blessings to you and your dad. Much respect, if i lived near you i would snap at the chance of a job. Always great work keep it up
Your still young jimmy my son leaves school this year is dying to be a mechanic he already fixes cars with me he would love to be taught by someone like yourself I will keep I touch if you get a permanent garage very reliable young lad
Same mindset as you Jimmy - just don't like depending on needing people to do stuff for me. I've also become an accidental Land Rover mechanic despite our business supposedly being repairing rust. Serviced & repaired one Landrover for a guy who had it in here for welding, he told someone else, they told others - now the place is full of Landrovers & people tell me sod all want to do the hard repairs to them that we do. Go figure. Had 15 employees - that did my head in every day, now it's just me & a good pal who helps out. Prefer that. Same background too - back & forwards between London & Ireland as the Old Lad got contracts in either place. Ireland now the last 2 decades. Good video - much the same thoughts in my own head.
Jimmy go where ever your heart takes you you have been successful doing what you do so well I'm sure where ever you end up you will be successful too but more than anything family will always come first .
The secret with any trade is keeping up with change in technology,Plenty of garages do the basic stuff ,Good fault finding save your customers money so you are adding value to them which means you can charge more,Pick a popular make and specialise in them and you will see lots of common faults they other people miss,There is so much Resource on line,Getting a unit with a ramp would pay in the long term.
Some dodgy mechanics over here in Ireland removing dpf's and remapping and not telling the car owners that this is a modification that renders the car illegal under our current legislation and even if they did no one could notify their insurance provider because the insurance company would have to decline to insure them. Genuine mechanics are not able to solve complex dpf issues usually.....my one claimed after charging €200 euro and solving nothing, that ' you need a specialist as i don't have the time to solve this'......but was unable to recommend one!!.......( just bought a Launch 919e in desperation ). Whatever you and your family decide to do i wish you good fortune. I hope your Dad is comfortable, I'm sure he is very proud of you ....he has a good son. You and Scotty Kilmer make the most interesting, intelligent, coherent and informative vids. Many thanks PS....garages over here full of second hand electric and hybrid vehicles at rock bottom prices
Ha I am 74 and just fitted a new engine in Honda CR-V idtec but I bought it spares or repair now got white dust in in exhaust pipe thick white smoke the dpf looks like new so now changing egr cooler done 106thou spent pounds on it but got to keep going too get money back been omong car since 17yr old a young man at 40ur stick to what u r doing good lad
Hi Jimmy, I never thought that I would move abroad, now I live in rural France, I’m English, I went out with the brexit agreement, for what it was worth. I love it here, it’s hard work at the moment as I’m building my house, soon be finished. Anyway all I can say is live the dream, don’t fade away, live life asap. Take care, love your videos
Thank you for widening the points of views. My VW TDI 2014 had a P2002 in August and I was able to save the DPF using additives. I even had a P0401 (EGR was blocked after first treatment) Well a reagent did open it back and after a slow d'adaptation and 3 other treatments the P2002 erased itself after reappearing after the second Regen. The car runs like new at 283000km. Thank you, you gave me the inspiration to continue searching when my mechanic told me I was losing my time...
Don’t get a garage, stay free, don’t give them any more tax. You’ll be happier, been there got the tee shirt, it’s all a scam, keep your dosh in your pocket, not in the lying cartel of the government’s pockets,Soz rant over, well done keep vids coming.
My grandmother always use to say "things always work out for the best" When I asked why she would say because they always do 🤔 Hopefully you have many more years with your dad ❤
Great video, nice to get a bit of background,, when you came out to my relay in biggleswade to do a diagnostic and change filter,i felt you were an honest fellow, my experience of moving back to Ireland wasn't positive, a very different place to where I left in 1988, wish I had more my mechanic skills, I've a couple or three days free every week, Just changed the diesel atomizer on the relay,😂 bastard job, been in there since the van was built,
a man after my own heart, i served my time as a heavy plant guy in the 70s 4 years, always done my own cars, motorbikes, plumbing and electrics, sadly now i am too old and suffer health issues, i now have to rely on a good friend of mine (a lifelong mechanic) to do my car work. some days i cant lift the tools never mind do the work
Great history of you ,kids go to university don't normally come back anyway find love .Set up a garage off the main motorway in Spain .Plenty of British camper vans about to have DPF problems.Good luck in what you do in the mean time buy a blow up garage tent .
The £20 profit from changing the brakes they probably spending it in smoking some wacky 😂😂😂, that was well funny , on the serious note all the very best for you and your family. And I like your Dream of having a Garage in California Becomes a Reality some time soon
We could do with someone like you here in Ireland 😂Even if you came over once or twice a year (hint hint 😂) Love your videos really helped me sort out a few issues on my Vivaro 👌👌
I’m back in Ireland 18 years now kids were young so primary school perfect age to settle Machanics are few and far between here and earn good money get a small unit work in the warm on your own at your own pace and hours you want to work out in all weather conditions is ok when your young your a great worker who will do well where ever you decide to settle good luck
Cheers jimmy, haha, been there and done it. I could give you a huge story about mobile mechanics and families and the future but I’ll be brief, fixing cars, vans, Plant, trucks etc works for a while but it doesn’t give you a Hollywood living. You have to do the job and be there and make it happen, it’s a constant battle and when you get something good going it doesn’t last, it’s always been the way for grafters, it’s a glass ceiling. Do you do more of the same or do you get out while you’re still young?, I hate to say it but it doesn’t end well for most people. All the best.
I think that’s what your 40s does to you. Throws everything up in the air and makes you question where do you go from here. Or is just by this point you’ve done 20 years odd of something and you fancy a change. I’m still trying to work that one out and I’m well past that point now. Good luck
I'm approaching 50, it doesn't matter where I move or what job i have. As long as I'm happy and my wife is also. I started a new career just over 1.5 years ago. You'll be fine doing the same
good luck to you on whatever you do next jimmy, a lot of overheads running a garage but you would have the advantage of advertising through RU-vid to help with that.
Jimmy you've reached the stage where you've got customers driving miles to see you for your expertise. My perception is you have a growing workload from that. Why would you want the overheads of a premises?
Morning Jimmy, life's about the journey , my only regrets have been not doing something, everything ive done weither its worked or failed ive never regretted, i wish you the best .......
Man of to many skills, follow your dream, chase a place with hot weather. Your hard work and honesty, already have built up your reputation,my opinion find a place and settle, hard to find someone who you can trust to carry on your mobile bussines ..
I love mobile would change for anything 5 star all the way have our good days and bad days and weather nice in summer tho and meeting diffrent coustomers 👍🏾
Launch your new dpf cleaning diagnostic business in a nice warm garage in Dublin employ a mechanic for the dirty work and you'd be a very busy man all day everyday
Good luck, in whatever you do! I was a sparks, for 50 years'... also a builder for 35 of those years'... my son does sparking but, I tried to get him to drive trains, (I KNOW that sounds daft), but I wanted some security, for him!
Hi Jimmy, I use to live in the UK 🇬🇧 myself but hate the cold and left, based in Africa now, my place of birth. My advice is forget about America 🇺🇸 its too far from your customer base and Americans hate diesel vehicles unlike Europeans who actually love diesel vehicles including myself. Spain will be a better choice but don"t forget you will have to deal with climate change, global warming and dreaded heat wave. I'm a DIY guy and I have learnt sooooooooo much about DPF's from you that i'm thinking of starting my own mobile DPF cleaning service here in Africa. Good luck with your decision/choice and keep up the good job of educating us by not being selfish & sharing your experience. Cheers mate!!
