CUSTOMER CARE.

Take care of your car, and your car will take care of you – particularly when the time comes to sell it. Opel Car Care products are formulated with top producers to deliver a product ideally suited to your Opel. So, to get your car looking its best and optimally retain its value visit your local Opel dealer today and take a look at the complete line of Opel Car Care products.

1. Opel guarantees that your new car will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 24 months (following delivery or the first registration, whichever occurs first).

2. This warranty guarantees repairing and substituting parts for your new car at no charge within these time limits by an Opel dealer or an Opel Authorised Service Operation. Replaced part becomes the property of Opel.

3. What does it take to have a warranty repair carried out? You must present your request to the Opel dealer or an Authorised Service Organisation along with your Service Booklet containing the New Vehicle Warranty and Opel International Service Certificate (completed and signed by the delivering Opel dealer).

4. This warranty does not apply to normal wear and tear.

5. This warranty shall not apply if the original cause of a defect stems from:

  a. External mechanical or chemical influences

  b. Improper handling of the motor vehicle

  c. If the owner is aware that the motor vehicle has been repaired or serviced by a third party

  d. If parts have been installed, or modifications have been made that are not approved by Opel

  e. If Opel's instructions have not been adhered to or the prescribed checks stipulated in the Service Booklets have not
      been made

  f. If the owner of the vehicle failed to immediately claim and repair a defect which was already apparent during vehicle
     delivery or immediatelyafter it became apparent as specified in item No.3.

6. All warranty claims expire at the end of the 24-month period specified in item No. 1. Defects reported but not corrected during the warranty period remain valid until the defect is eliminated.The warranty period for any such defect ends two months after the last rectification when Opel, an Opel dealer or an Opel Authorised Service Operation states that the defect has been rectified or that there is no defect.

7. Owner claims against the delivering Opel dealer are not affected by this warranty.

Be prepared – before you ever get into your vehicle

It is helpful to have an "accident kit" on board, consisting of chalk, paper, pen and a camera if possible. Your car papers should contain several copies of the data sheet from your insurance policy. An emergency triangle and usable first aid kit are mandatory.

Stop as quickly as possible and remain calm

In most cases, all persons involved in an accident must remain at the scene of the accident until all required duties have been performed. Failure to do so may result in a heavy fine and can jeopardise your insurance coverage.

Control traffic

First turn on your 4-way hazard lights. Then carefully place your warning triangle at an appropriate distance away from the accident and towards oncoming traffic (i.e. on highways at least 100 metres). In the event of a minor accident in city streets, mark the cars' positions if possible and move them to the side of the road out of traffic.

Provide first aid

As directed if someone is injured, care for them at once and ensure that the police and an ambulance have been contacted. The accident services will want a description of the accident scene and details on the injured.

The police

In some cases where damage is minimal (e.g. a minor car park lot collision, a paint chip caused by the door of a neighbouring car, etc.) it is not necessary to contact the police. And they may not even come if called. They should be contacted, however, if directed by national law, someone is injured, or if a significant infraction of the law has occurred.

Secure evidence

Evidence must not be removed or destroyed until the cause of the accident has been determined. Write down the names and addresses of those involved in the accident and any witnesses (they are obliged by law to provide this data). Record licence plate numbers and insurance details. Make a sketch of the scene of the accident. Record what happened. Take pictures if possible and secure any other relevant evidence.

If someone involved in the accident leaves the scene

He or she is obliged to leave behind their name and address and to report the incident to the police. If any individual left the scene for any reason, such as to take an injured person to the hospital, they are required by law to report back with the police and the other persons involved in the accident as soon as possible.

Be careful of what you sign

Never sign a statement admitting guilt. This could go against the terms of your insurance contract. The same applies to signing contracts with a wrecker service. Be sure that you receive a guaranteed price – in writing if possible.

Properly adjusted mirrors: a clear advantage

The rear-view mirror is your vehicle's primary mirror. It should be adjusted to show everything but the blind spots. That generally means both sides of the rear window (i.e. its 'C' pillars). The side mirrors should be adjusted to show only the blind spots. That way, when a passing car disappears from view in the rear-view mirror, it will still be visible in the side mirror.

Most drivers set their mirrors so that the sides of their vehicle are visible. But it is more useful if the field of view of each outside mirror is moved outward about 15 degrees from the position where it shows the side of the vehicle.

Sometimes, proper mirror adjustment is not enough. Your local Opel dealer has rear-view mirrors specifically designed for towing and wide angle, panoramic mirror units, particularly helpful for drivers with limited mobility. Visit your local Opel dealer today, and improve your hindsight.

Good fuel economy – clean air, smaller petrol bills

A responsible driving style can reduce fuel consumption and exhaust pollutants – without the need of technical assistance. For maximum fuel consumption, avoid:

• High rpm driving
• "Race car" starts
• Frequent braking
• "Floor-boarding"
• Allowing the engine to warm up – regardless of the outside temperature

For maximum fuel consumption, do:

• Shift gears as soon as reasonably possible
• Allow the car to coast forward whenever possible after stopping before accelerating
• Turn off the engine if forced to stop for 50 seconds or longer
• Remove roof racks and odds and ends from the boot of your car if they are not required
• Check your tyre pressure on a regular basis. Even half a "bar" too little pressure can increase your petrol consumption by as much as 5%
• Car pool

Whenever possible, take public transport, ride your bike or go on foot.