BRM-BODY REPAIR MANUALS - Then and Now - The constantly evolving OEM requirements for repairing collision-damaged vehicles - how I-CAR is positioned to respond

Oct 23, 2026

Upload by Jake

Technical New Zealand report explaining how OEM requirements for body repair manuals have evolved over the last 10–15 years and how I-CAR New Zealand responds. Describes I-CAR NZ’s partnerships with model-specific course development and OEM access to BRMs, alongside the scale of requests handled since 2013. Compares changes using Suzuki and Toyota examples, including shifts in BRM formats, use of symbols and colors, platform coverage, added detail, and specific repair allowances communicated through bulletins.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Technical Report - New Zealand

BRM evolution and OEM requirements

I-CAR New Zealand partnerships and model-specific courses

Vehicle-maker list by production (2021)

Suzuki changes in BRM provision

Toyota BRM detail, TIS coverage, and repair allowances

TECHNICAL NEW ZEALAND REPORT BRM-BODY REPAIR MANUALS Then and Now – The constantly evolving OEM requirements for repairing collision-damaged vehicles and how I-CAR is positioned to respond As I ruminated on the content of the previous Technical Report about the Landcruiser 300, and some of the complexities of that vehicle platforms’ construction, it gave me some inspiration as to what this article would focus on – namely, some of the profound changes that vehicle makers have made to their Body Repair Manuals (BRM’s) over the last 10 to 15 years. I-CAR New Zealand has been in a unique position in that, apart from delivering industry training programmes in various formats over the years, has also been able to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with many OEM distributors in New Zealand. These relationships have enabled us to develop the model specific courses (and updates), specifically targeted at the New Zealand carpark, and which most of the collision repair industry are now familiar with. Vehicle-maker model-specific courses include : • • • • • • • • • • Ford Holden Hyundai Kia Mazda Mitsubishi Nissan Subaru Suzuki Toyota The pinnacle of those partnerships is the almost unprecedented agreement by four significant vehicle makers into the New Zealand market (three of which feature in the top ten of global production), in giving I-CAR NZ access to their body repair manuals. This has been an enlightening process both for ourselves, and the NZ OEM’s in determining and understanding the plethora of written material that is required when repairing newer generation vehicle platforms. TECHNICAL REPORT NEW ZEALAND For the record – the ten largest vehicle makers (by production) in 2021 were: 1. Toyota 2. Volkswagen Group 3. Hyundai / Kia 4. General Motors 5. Ford 6. Nissan (Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance) 7. Honda 8. Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) 9. Renault 10. Groupe PSA (Citroen) 10,466,051 10,382,334 7,218,391 6,856,800 6,386818 5,769,277 5,235,842 4,600,847 4,153,589 3,649,742 I-CAR New Zealand began providing technical assistance to the trade on all manner of subjects relating to autobody repairs around ten years ago (over and above training courses undertaken since the mid-1980s) . With copyright issues becoming a concern, from April 2016, technical assistance was supplied only for Suzuki models,(although some assistance and advice was provided for general collision repair enquiries) . Later that same year Toyota also came on board, with Holden and Ford added in 2017 and 2019, respectively. I-CAR New Zealand have responded to more than 6000 requests since 2013 and has built up an extensive library of technical information over that time – giving accurate insight into the changes, anomolies, differences and similarities that occur in OEM body repair manuals. Lets have a brief look into some of the changes that have taken place with two of the brands that we work with :- SUZUKI :- Suzuki Motor Corporation are a relative late-comer in supplying BRM’s – The first generation, new Swift (2004 – 2010) and the Grand Vitara / Escudo (2005 – 2019) are the only platforms that had a BRM, prior to the introduction of the SX4 . PanelTalk 59 TECHNICAL NEW ZEALAND REPORT Both of these platforms’ BRM’s were very basic and relied heavily on video clips found in the bodyshop CD. In their favour though, was a range of options for sectioning both inner and outer panels across the Body In White (BIW) . 2004 to 2010 Swift front rail :- With the introduction of the SX4 came an all new BRM format that was more in line with other vehicle-makers literature and has since been upgraded with the expanded use of colours and weld symbols for the 2nd and 3rd generation Swift models, as well as the Baleno, new Vitara, new Jimny, S-Cross and Ignis. All BRM’s are still supplied as a bodyshop CD, rather than on-line, as per most other ve

FAQs

What is the main focus of this Technical New Zealand report?

The report focuses on how vehicle makers’ Body Repair Manual (BRM) requirements have changed over the last 10–15 years and how I-CAR is positioned to respond.

How did I-CAR New Zealand support the collision repair industry over time?

It delivered training programs and built partnerships with OEM distributors, enabling model-specific course development and access to BRM content; it also provided technical assistance and advice to the trade.

What changes are highlighted for Suzuki BRMs?

Suzuki is described as a relatively late provider of BRMs, with early platforms relying on basic content and video clips, followed by a newer BRM format with expanded use of colors and weld symbols.

Oct 23, 2026

Upload by Jake