The Automotive Expert Limited

The Automotive Expert Limited: keys, diagnostics and ADAS calibration in Basingstoke

The Automotive Expert Limited is a workshop based in Basingstoke (Hampshire, United Kingdom) working in the field of automotive electronics and locksmithing. The company presents itself as an alternative to main dealerships, offering dealership-quality service at competitive prices with coverage in Basingstoke and the Hampshire area. Its technicians are trained and insured, and the firm holds DBS certification and public liability insurance.

Diagnostics and fault-finding services

The workshop uses professional diagnostic tools to scan and reset cars and vans. The system detects faults in the engine, airbag, ABS, immobiliser, body module, central locking, parking sensors, battery and service light, among others. The price indicated starts from £90 per hour.

Car key replacement and auto locksmith

The company describes itself as a specialist in vehicle locksmithing, with replacement, testing and repair of faulty keys. It programs new remote or manual keys, and offers supply of remote key, key fob, key card, proximity or smart key, standard manual keys and emergency key blade; all new keys are cut and programmed to the car or van. It also tests, repairs and reprograms manual and remote keys, upgrades a straight remote key into a flip key, rebuilds or replaces the key blade or ignition or door barrel, and disables lost or stolen keys by removing their coding from the vehicle's computer system and supplying and reprogramming a replacement key. In addition, it supplies new transponder chips, repairs or fixes immobiliser or central locking problems, replaces damaged buttons and covers/shells and retrieves the CAR PASS or PIN code of the immobiliser by EEPROM or VIN. Replacement keys come with a one-year warranty and prices start from £75.

Dashboard and speedometer

In the dashboard area, the workshop programs mileage for new or used instrument clusters, fits and programs new or used dashboards, repairs dashboards with faulty gauges, illumination, buzzer, LCD display and switches, converts km to miles for imported or left-hand drive cars and changes the language. The company states that it only carries out mileage correction for legal reasons. Prices start from £100.

Radio unlocking and decoding

If the battery has been disconnected, has run flat or an incorrect code has been entered, the company retrieves the radio code and can unlock it in about ten minutes while the customer waits. It uses up-to-date decoding tools to unlock radios of all makes, even when incorrect codes have been entered. Compared with dealerships, which can take up to a week to provide the correct code, the workshop obtains it in minutes. It handles CAN Check issues for Alfa and Fiat, PROD MODE for Mercedes-Benz and VIN number for Peugeot and Citroën, among others.

ADAS calibration

The workshop carries out calibration of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) with equipment and procedures compliant with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards. Calibration is necessary after a repair, windscreen replacement or wheel alignment, and affects functions such as lane departure warning (LDW), adaptive cruise control (ACC), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and parking assistance. The company distinguishes between static calibration, in the workshop with targets and specialised equipment, and dynamic calibration, which requires driving under specific road and speed conditions; many vehicles need a combination of both. It offers same-day service for most vehicles and verifies all systems after calibration.

Makes serviced and geographical coverage

The workshop works with most makes, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroën, Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Iveco, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Polestar, Porsche, Renault, Rover-MG, Saab, Seat, Skoda, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen and Volvo. If the make is not listed, the company invites you to ask. Coverage includes Basingstoke, Sherborne St John, Sherfield on Loddon, Tadley, Silchester, Mortimer End, Bramley, Newbury, Thatcham, Kingsclere, Wolverton, Aldermaston, Woolhampton, Oakley, Overton, Whitchurch, Tufton, Andover, Reading, Spencers Wood, Swallowfield, Heckfield, Wokingham, Bracknell, Lightwater, Odiham, Upton Grey, Hook, Hartley Wintney, Yateley, Sandhurst, Camberley, Fleet, Frimley, Farnborough, Aldershot, Farnham, Winchester, Micheldever, New Alresford, Four Marks, Alton, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh and Southampton, in the counties of Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey.

Vehicle collection and delivery

The company offers free collection and delivery of the vehicle from the customer's home or workplace when in Basingstoke and surrounding areas. If the repair requires more than one hour after dropping off the vehicle at the workshop, the team can take the customer to their home, work or rail station within the Basingstoke area at no cost. For emergency call-outs, it provides the phone number 0747 5112577.

Corporate details and reviews

The Automotive Expert Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with number 12409370 and VAT GB383070307. The company states it has more than 185 satisfied customers and five-star reviews, and is accredited as an authorised reseller and member of an industry association. Among the published testimonials is one from a customer who highlighted the speed and reasonable price of cutting a new key for a Honda Civic compared with a dealership.

Location and contact

Phone: +447475 112577 · Email: info@theautomotiveexpertltd.com · Hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 17:30; Saturday 08:30 to 13:00