Technical 17 www.aftermarketonline.net MAY 2025 of carrying a spare tyre would also reduce vehicle weight, leading to lower emissions. This advantage is even more significant as EVs become more prevalent due to their increased weight and higher torque. The majority of leading tyre manufacturers offer a self-healing tyre consisting of some sort of sealant layer applied to the inside of the tyre wall. However, challenges exist around storage and end-of-life due to this liner, but alternative approaches are emerging. In fact, self-healing tyres are better described as ‘self-sealing’ as they do not fully restore their original properties after a puncture. With a price premium of around 30% over standard tyres, it can be expected that these tyres remain a high-end option in the midterm, primarily adopted by luxury vehicle owners, with convenience as the main selling point. Self-healing coatings and paints Paint protection film typically consists of a polyurethane wrap that flows into scratches. The film closely resembles vinyl bumper sticker material but is significantly thicker, making it highly durable while remaining nearly invisible. Self-healing properties have made it a popular choice for protecting the paint on cars and trucks. Beyond film, coatings also exist that can be applied to the most damaged areas of vehicles, such as the front bumper, headlights, and mirror housing. A notable example is the BMW iX, released in 2022. The updated electric motor requires less cooling than its predecessors, so the wellrecognisable BMW grille has been repurposed for the iX. It houses camera technology, radar functions, and various sensors, along with a heating and cleaning system, making durability a top priority. To enhance resilience, the grille is coated with polyurethane, which is reported to repair minor scratches within 24 hours at room temperature or in just five minutes when exposed to warm air. Self-healing asphalt Another major source of damage to cars is the presence of potholes and other damage to the road’s surface. Asphalt is typically used for flat surfaces such as roads and car parks, but as the material ages, the top surface wears and degrades. There is a significant need to enhance safety, minimise maintenance, and extend the lifespan of the large amount of asphalt surfaces worldwide. Self-healing methods typically use microcapsules that will release liquid bitumen to seal cracks in the surface. Some proposed solutions require heating equipment for nonautomatic healing, where the induced heating further enhances the flow of the liquid bitumen. With a strong background in advanced materials, IDTechEx provides independent analysis, including technology comparisons, industry outlooks, and key player assessments, offering valuable insights into this promising yet early-stage sector. Visit www.IDTechEx. com/selfhealingmats to find out more. In this issue, replacement car parts pioneer febi focuses on the charger intake hose with quick coupling, febi 180417, to fit Opel / Vauxhall Insignia A 2008-2017, SAAB 9-5 (GR) 2010-2012… Problem The vehicle experiencing lack of power and poor performance when accelerating under load. Engine management warning lamp illuminated. Using a suitable diagnostic tool, the engine control unit may have the following fault codes logged: O P2282 - Air mass meter / malfunction; O P0299 - Charge air pressure / pressure low; O P2458 - Particulate filter regeneration / max. regeneration. Cause Constant hot and cold operating conditions under the bonnet causes the deterioration of the turbocharger intake hose. This leads to the hose splitting, reducing the amount of boost the turbocharger can generate. As a result, the increased amount of unmetered air entering the combustion process causes the vehicle to experience a reduction in performance. Solution Check that the components of the air intake system, such as the air mass meter and boost pressure sensor, are working within tolerances. If fault code P2282 is shown, check the condition of the lower left intercooler/charger intake hose — due to this part being a known issue — and replace if necessary. febi replacement part 180417 is made to the exacting standards of the latest version of the OE hose. Check the condition of the other intercooler/charger hoses and replace if necessary. When the work is complete, the fault codes should be reset from the ECU and the vehicle test driven to check that the engine performance has been restored. Visit partsfinder.bilsteingroup.com for more technical information
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