Farewell Winter: Opel Service Makes Cars and Vans Fit for Spring

• See clearly after the murk of winter: Opel makes special windscreen wiper offer
• From winter to summer tyres: Brand-name rubber, wheel change and storage
• Fitness for campers: Ready for the coming season with the Opel Crosscamp

After getting through the winter, it is now time to make the car fit for the spring. And not just the car – the same goes for the Opel Zafira-e Life van and the Crosscamp Lite and the Crosscamp Flex Opel Zafira Life campers. That means getting rid of road salt residues in the car wash, cleaning the interior and making sure everything works properly. It is worth taking a trip to the local Opel dealer too, to get the windscreen wipers – which are heavily used during the winter – changed and have the air conditioning as well as the filter unit serviced. With the winter tyres and wheels coming off and going into storage, Opel also has special offers for new brand-name summer tyres.

Be nice to your windscreen: Let Opel change the wiper blades

Smearing wiper blades are often the result of the winter season. Ice, salt and dirt put such a strain on the windscreen wipers that even small cracks occur and the windscreen no longer gets clean without streaks. New wiper blades in Opel Genuine high quality ensure a clear view. In Germany for example, Opel Genuine windscreen wipers are now available with a price advantage of up to 30 per cent. The wiper blades made of synthetic rubber glide smoothly over the windscreen, protecting the glass and keeping it clean thanks to optimum contact pressure, even at higher speeds. The aerodynamic shape also minimises wind noise. With the purchase of new windscreen wipers, participating Opel partners are offering a free vehicle inspection.

With temperatures rising again, drivers will be better off with summer tyres in the coming weeks. The harder rubber compound and larger contact area of summer tyres reduce the braking distance on dry roads compared to winter tyres, for example. Ultimately, this increases safety for all road users. Opel dealers in Germany are now making a special tyre-change offer: Opel drivers can buy new brand-name summer tyres at top conditions and if the winter tyres still have sufficient tread depth, the wheels can simply be stored at the Opel partner for the next season. Beforehand, they are professionally cleaned, checked and prepared for storage.

Opel in Germany is also offering all-round inspections that provide additional peace of mind. The experts at the dealership check safety-related items such as the exterior lighting, engine oil level and the windscreen wipers –with guarantees for the inspected parts. The same applies to the inspections for the starter-battery and the air conditioning – a check for the latter is highly recommended with the warmer seasons approaching.

Be prepared: Happy camping with Zafira Life Crosscamp conversions

The Opel Zafira-based Crosscamp Flex and Crosscamp Lite campers deserve additional attention before the summer holidays begin. In contrast to traditional mobile homes, the conversions from the Erwin Hymer Group brand Crosscamp will not have spent the winter in mothballs, instead they will have been used as everyday transport. Nevertheless, after the Crosscamp has been cleaned inside and out, there are certain items that should receive special attention before the first camping outing of the season.

At the top of the “to-do” list, for safety reasons, is an inspection of the integrity of the gas system and its seals. This might also be a good opportunity to check the level of the gas bottle and replace it if necessary.

Before you go: Check that the camping gear works

To avoid potential frustration at the camp site, the technical camping equipment itself should be given a thorough test before leaving home for the first time of the season. For example: does the interior lighting, the auxiliary heater or the cool box work properly? Is the water pump in working order? Is the bike carrier attached securely? Crosscamp owners should also clean the vehicle’s freshwater canister, disinfect it if required and refill it before the first trip.

When the Crosscamp arrives at its holiday destination, it needs to stand in the optimum position. It is therefore important that chocks for the wheels, the charging cable and adapters for plug sockets are not forgotten and left behind in the garage.

What about the condition of the separate battery for the “living quarters”? Before setting off, the vehicle should be plugged into the electrical grid to be independent and even run the cooler and lights off-grid; and while the battery is charging, the family can restock the interior with basic camping equipment such as crockery and knives and forks.

Finally, when all the items on the checklist have been ticked off, it is “all systems go” for the Crosscamp Lite or Crosscamp Flex. Now, all that remains is to choose the destination, make the reservation and hit the road. Happy camping!