Opel "Before and After" — Why Your Car's Year Matters
For a long time Opel belonged to the American GM group, and its engines and components were one set. After the move to Stellantis (the former PSA), current Opels switched to platforms and engines shared with Peugeot and Citroën. This is neither good nor bad — it is simply different engineering, and the approach to it differs.
For the owner this means that the weak points, the schedule and even the logic of choosing parts differ between a 2018 Astra and a 2023 Astra. We establish this straight away by the year and platform and service accordingly.
| Opel generation | Platform / engines | What we watch |
|---|---|---|
| GM era (Astra J/K, Insignia, Corsa D/E) | 1.4 Turbo, 1.6/2.0 CDTI | Chain/belt by engine, DPF and injectors on the CDTI |
| Stellantis era (Corsa F, Astra L, Mokka, Grandland) | PureTech (petrol), BlueHDi (diesel) | PureTech belt condition, DPF and AdBlue on the BlueHDi |
| Electric (Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Combo-e) | Stellantis EV platform | Traction battery, charging system, electronics |
GM-Era and Stellantis-Era Engines — What We Watch
On the GM-era engines (1.4 Turbo, the 1.6 and 2.0 CDTI diesels) we give attention to the cooling system and the chain or belt by the specific engine, and on the diesels — the diesel particulate filter, the injectors and the EGR.
On the current Stellantis engines there is a point worth knowing: the early petrol PureTech used a wet timing belt running in oil, which could degrade over time and contaminate the lubrication system. So on these engines we pay particular attention to the belt's condition and the cleanliness of the oil system, and propose preventive work where needed. On the BlueHDi diesels we monitor the DPF and the AdBlue system. The exact picture comes from diagnostics on the specific car.
Opel Van Service and Repair — Movano, Vivaro, Combo
Commercial Opels are technically related to the vans of the alliance partners: the Movano is built on the Renault Master platform, the Vivaro on the PSA platform (a relative of the Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy), and the Combo Cargo on the Berlingo and Partner platform. We know these platforms well, and parts for them are available.
We service the Movano, Vivaro and Combo Cargo, as well as the electric versions. A lift with an 8-tonne capacity lets us take a loaded or heavy van. We carry out scheduled servicing, chassis and brake repairs under load, diesel work, diagnostics, bodywork and respraying. For companies and fleets we can agree on scheduled servicing.
Electric Opels — Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Combo-e
Opel offers electric versions of its popular models — Corsa-e, Mokka-e, Astra Electric, Combo-e — on the Stellantis platform. This is technology with a traction battery, power electronics and a charging system. As a garage with hybrid expertise, we confidently diagnose the high-voltage section, and also handle brakes, suspension, bodywork and electrics. The scope of work on the traction battery is determined after diagnostics. For model specifications and technical data, see the official Opel website.
