Bosch Expands MAF Sensor Line – Shop Owner Magazine

Bosch has expanded its line of Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensors, with new features that the company says will benefit distributors, retailers, installers and motorists throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

MAF sensors, also called Hot Film Meters (HFMs), measure the amount of air entering an engine and report that data to the Electronic Control Module (ECM), which adjusts fuel mixture, ignition timing and other parameters accordingly. MAF sensors play a critical role in maximizing engine performance and fuel economy while minimizing exhaust emissions. Bosch is a major supplier of MAF sensors to OE automakers worldwide, and as such, the company says it is well-positioned to offer OE fit, form and function to the aftermarket as well.

The newly expanded line, with nearly 30 new part numbers, now features more than 120 part numbers covering popular vehicles in operation (VIO) in North America, including domestic, Asian, and European models. This new coverage, available through distribution channels immediately, will help assure distributors and retailers that they will not miss sales due to gaps in coverage, Bosch says. In addition, this coverage will help assure repair shop owners and technicians that they can find the OE-quality part they need, quickly and reliably, from their regular supplier of Bosch products, the company adds.

Bosch is supporting this line with new-generation cataloging, which includes quarterly electronic catalog releases, 360-degree online imaging, and ACES/PIES compliant buyers/stocking guides.

At the same time, Bosch engineers are preparing to introduce into the aftermarket new-generation HFM7 MAF sensors. Expected to be available in early 2013, new part numbers will be announced that incorporate new design technology that makes the sensors more responsive, more precise and more durable, Bosch says. These new sensors, based on technology that Bosch currently offers to the OE automakers, have the unique ability to provide either digital or analog input to the vehicle’s ECM. As such, they will be direct replacements for domestic and European vehicles as new as the 2012 model year.

“The new MAF sensors we’ve introduced in the past few months, as well as those to come in early 2013, represent a major expansion of our MAF sensor line in the aftermarket,” said Jarod Adams, group product manager, Gasoline Systems for Robert Bosch LLC. “The expertise we gain as an OE supplier of MAF sensors and other engine management parts and systems allows us to offer the most advanced and reliable products for aftermarket installation. This newly expanded line of MAF sensors will allow distributors, retailers and service personnel to better meet the needs of their customers.”

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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