French Vehicle Specialists
Expert mechanics equipped to handle the maintenance needs of your Peugeot, Citroen or Renault
Why choose Dodson Automotive?
Cars are a big part of our lives. We rely on them to get us to important places safely and stress free. That’s why you need a mechanic who takes pride in their work. If you need your car running 100% then Dodson Automotive is the place for you.
Fully Equipped
Our workshop has all the tools and equipment to maintain your vehicle in top condition and get you back on the road fast.
Highly Skilled Team
Today’s modern vehicle is complex and constantly evolving. Our team are trained in the latest technology and have a passion for learning and solving all types of automotive challenges.
French Vehicle Specialists
We have a wealth of knowledge, experience and most importantly enthusiasm we are best choice for your Peugeot, Citroen or Renault in Adelaide. We share your passion for French cars and make it easy to maintain and enjoy these fantastic vehicles.
Our Services
Maintenance
Routine servicing and maintenance is our speciality. Using only OEM approved fluids and filters, your car will keep driving like the day it left the showroom. We have access to the manufacturers service schedule so we know exactly what your car needs at every interval service.
Repairs
You can trust we have the parts, the tools and the know-how to get your car fixed and back on track, fast. With an ever growing resource of suppliers, we can locate quality parts to save you time and money.
Diagnostics
The advances of vehicle technology never stops. We keep up by equipping ourselves with top of the range diagnostic equipment. From our multi-vehicle AUTEL scan tool to the manufacturer specific software Diagbox & CAN Clip you’d find at a dealership, we can always communicate with your vehicle.
Tyres
Crucial to keeping you and other road users safe. When your car needs tyres we can be your one-stop-shop. Fitting, balancing, wheel alignments and puncture repairs all in house. We use & recommend Maxxis tyres and offer competitive prices. Ask for a quote today.
Convenience
We are conveniently located on the fringe of the CBD. Easily accessed from the Eastern suburbs via Greenhill road and Anzac highway. There are multiple public transport opportunities nearby, train, tram and buses. If you need a replacement car we have 2 loan cars, Pedro & Colin (Yes they have names!) They are very popular so please consider if it essential for you.
Air Conditioning
When things heat up you need to keep cool. We are fully licensed to maintain and repair your vehicle’s air conditioning responsibly. We are environmentally conscious when handling automotive refrigerants.
Our Story...
William Dodson - Owner & operator
In 2002, Will’s VW type 3 broke down. Frustrated by not being able to fix it himself, he reluctantly took it to a mechanic. After this he decided become a mechanic himself.
As an MTA host apprentice he moved from workshop to workshop until he settled in and finished his apprenticeship with the Peugeot dealer. With his certificate in hand, he went out to learn on other makes and models doing stints at different independent workshops such as a European vehicle specialists and a couple performance/tuning workshops.
After a few years Will took up an offer he couldn’t refuse back at the Peugeot dealer where he could further hone his skills on the latest technology coming out of France. He soaked up as much technical knowledge as possible as he knew the next step would be starting up his own show.
In 2015 Will Dodson took the big step of opening his own workshop. Starting with one hoist and much needed help from his Dad, Tony, it quickly grew to 3 hoists and employing 2 full time staff members.
Since 2018, Dodson Automotive has been located at 15 Maple Avenue Forestville. Our workshop is equipped with 6 hoists and a comfortable reception area. With ongoing support from our loyal customers our business continues to grow an outstanding range of services.
We Specialise in French Vehicles
Owning and maintaining a French vehicle in Australia can be difficult however we have an enthusiastic team to make the experience easier so you can simply enjoy driving your car.
We have a team of mechanics with a passion for French vehicles. We drive them, fix them and learn about them every day. We have Peugeot & Citroen factory trained mechanics with years of experience and we are currently growing our knowledge with Renault bringing the 3 popular French manufacturers under one roof.
We have an ever-growing network of suppliers for sourcing parts. We keep large range of service and technical parts in stock so we can quickly source what’s needed to get your car serviced, repaired and back on the road.
We subscribe to the latest technical information for Peugeot, Citroen, DS & Renault so we are always up to date with diagnostic and repair methods. We run multiple laptops with manufacturer specific diagnostic software such as DiagBox, PP2000, Lexia 3 & CAN Clip.
If you want a mechanic that lives and breathes French cars, This is the place for you.
Will competes in motorsport events in his Citroen C4 VTS running the EW10J4S 2.0l making 180hp. It has been prepared for hill climbs and tarmac rally events.
2019 started off with success at the Collingrove Hill Climb Winter Cup 2019 and claiming outright fastest for his class. He also competed at Willunga Hill Climb posting a 1m40s coming 3rd in his class. Then the big one, the real rally experience of the Spirit Tour in the Adelaide Rally. With Co-driver James Leonard they tackled every turn of the 27 stages over 3 days and brought the C4 home in one piece.
3 track days at The Bend were the only option during Covid 19 lockdown taking on 3 different variations of The Bend circuit, testing different brake pads and finding EBC Yellow to hold up to the heat. Willunga Hill Climb in December finished off the year however mechanical trouble with the gear selector ended the day early.
2021 saw the return of the Adelaide Rally in March. Once again Will & James finished the rally posting respectable stage times which would have placed well in the competitive categories. This encouraged Will to enter the Challenge category for the next rally which was announced to be held again in its normal November date.
Challenge category requires a lot more safety precautions. James could no longer join alongside, so long-time friend Jason De Innocentis jumped at the opportunity. The car now has a full roll cage installed and the boys have been fitted out with full OMP race suits and Bell helmets with intercoms. Jason reads full pace notes to instruct Will of each turn, over 4 days. Jason & Will have completed 2 Adelaide Rallies now. Adelaide Rally 2023 will be held 16-19 of November. Lots of spectator opportunities so come take a look!
Some new modifications for the upcoming rally include an ECU Master EMU Black standalone engine management computer, a full engine build with Wossner high compression pistons, PEC forged rods and Cat Cams performance camshafts, 1000CC injectors tuned for E85 fuel. Existing modifications include, Bilstein suspension, Quaife Trans-X limited slip differential, ACS Extreme heavy-duty clutch, EBC and RDA sports brakes, Michelin Cup 2 tyres and 2 x Sparco race seats. Will has also made the custom exhaust system and custom cold air intake which give the high revving engine all the noise it deserves.
What our clients say
Fantastic service, fixed an issue with a Renault that no one else was able to help with. Thanks Tony and team!
Elle SandypantsSnapped my suspension and refused to pay for a replacement, said "have to pay a premium for us to get it in" Then the other side that wasn't snapped was burred out to the point it is now oval and had excessive movement. Got the work for free, but will cost 4x the amount to replace the parts and will need this job done on those, so out a few hundred dollars. Suppose to be "Specialists" on French cars, I wouldn't take a beater there for a oil change. Commenting on reply: The company never gave a chance to tell them as I was dictated that a replacement was "going to be a premium" so how do you want me to reply to that? You wanted to flog me off and source the part myself, which I did in an evening, where it took you 4 days (to come up empty). And I had to chase that up after being told I was going to get a call. Why would I want you to fix something that you broke? I was content with one of them breaking, but the other you mangled now means I have a huge repair bill over what was initially told. Again, with a young mechanic not knowing that dremeling that part, and didn't ask for clarification is poor form. I will not be contacting you as this is an issue that you wish to sweep under the rug. I have learnt my lesson with this workshop and will not be recommending them to touch any car. I just hope that people that see this review are cautious of this company, and don't fall into the trap that they are "French Car Specialists"
Alex BowyerTook my car to Tony and the team and they did an exceptional job on my 508. After looking for good peugeot service provider, I found perhaps the best in Adelaide. Super fast, super professional and very warm and friendly staff. Fantastic team. I highly recommend Dodson for your french car needs, their knowledge and experience is second to none. Exceptional!
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15 Maple Ave, Forestville, SA 5035
Workshop hours: Monday to Friday 8.15am – 4.45pm
Office hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.30pm
Afterhours vehicle drop off & pick available upon request.