Mike Brewer: Why He and Edd China Fell Out, Net Worth, Career

When a popular TV partnership ends, fans always want to know why. Mike Brewer and Edd China spent 14 seasons together on Wheeler Dealers before China’s departure in 2017. This article separates the confirmed facts from the rumors, showing how Brewer has kept both his TV career and car dealership going without his former co-host.

Current show: Wheeler Dealers ·
Dealership: Mike Brewer Motors (since 2012) ·
Est. net worth: $1.5M–$4M

Six key facts about Mike Brewer, drawn from the most reliable available sources:

Why did Mike and Ed fall out?

The business dispute

• Edd China announced his departure in March 2017, citing disagreements over the show’s direction (Celebrity Net Worth).
• Multiple secondary sources describe the split as a production-disagreement issue rather than a confirmed personal feud (CivicPost).
• Fans widely speculated that a falling out occurred, though neither man has detailed a personal rift publicly (Net Worth Post).

Creative differences

• China later explained that the program’s format had shifted away from the hands-on restoration work he loved (Net Worth Post).
• Brewer, meanwhile, expressed a desire to keep the show moving forward with a new co-host (The Sun).

Edd China’s departure from Wheeler Dealers

• China left after 14 seasons, ending a partnership that had run since the show’s inception in 2003 (Celebrity Net Worth).
• His exit forced the production to find a replacement mechanic, leading to the arrival of Ant Anstead in 2018 (HotCars).

The implication: the split appears to be rooted in professional disagreements rather than a personal falling out, but the lack of direct statements from either party keeps the exact cause in doubt for fans.

Does Mike Brewer still have a car dealership?

Mike Brewer Motors

• Mike Brewer owns and operates Mike Brewer Motors, a dealership specializing in classic and performance cars (The Sun).
• The business opened in Sheffield in 2012 and later expanded with a second outlet in the Luton area (Net Worth Post).

Current inventory

• The dealership lists a rotating selection of sports cars, luxury sedans, and rare imports (The Sun).
• Brewer frequently showcases current stock on his Instagram page, which has over 475,000 followers (The Sun).

Location and services

• Both outlets offer vehicle sales, part-exchange, and, in some cases, restoration services (Net Worth Post).
• Brewer himself remains hands-on, often appearing at the dealerships during promotional events (The Sun).

What this means: Mike Brewer Motors is an active, known entity in the UK car market, and the business helps sustain Brewer’s public profile beyond TV.

Are Edd China and Mike Brewer still friends?

Public statements

• Neither Brewer nor China has provided a definitive statement about their current friendship (CivicPost).
• Some coverage suggests they have indicated they remain friends, while others point to lingering tension (Net Worth Post).

Social media interactions

• Public social media exchanges between the two are rare; there is no recent evidence of mutual support or conflict (Net Worth Post).
• Brewer’s Instagram feed heavily features his current co-hosts and customers, with no mention of China since 2017 (The Sun).

Current relationship status

• The two have not worked together professionally since 2017 (Celebrity Net Worth).
• No public reconciliation meeting or joint statement has been reported (CivicPost).

The trade-off: the lack of clear communication means fans are left to interpret silence as either a sign of ongoing friendship or a sign of unresolved issues.

What does Edd China do today?

Edd China’s solo projects

• Edd China now operates his own workshop, Edd China’s Workshop, where he focuses on custom fabrication and restoration (HotCars).
• He has appeared on other automotive shows and maintains an active presence on YouTube (YouTube).

New television appearances

• China has made guest appearances on shows such as Car SOS and The Grand Tour (HotCars).
• He also fronts his own web series, documenting restoration projects from his workshop (HotCars).

Furniture and restoration work

• Beyond cars, China builds bespoke furniture and has a sideline in custom metalwork (HotCars).
• According to one source, his net worth is estimated at $3 million (Celebrity Net Worth), while others place it at $4 million (HotCars).

The pattern: China has successfully transitioned to independent projects, leveraging his mechanical expertise and television fame.

Who is the new mechanic on Wheeler Dealers?

Ant Anstead

• Ant Anstead joined Wheeler Dealers in 2018, replacing Edd China as the primary mechanic (HotCars).
• Anstead, a former police officer and car restorer, brought a younger energy to the show (HotCars).

Marc ‘Elvis’ Priestley

• Marc Priestley, a former Formula 1 mechanic, later joined the show as a second co-host (HotCars).
• Priestley’s arrival expanded the team concept, allowing for more complex restorations (HotCars).

Current co-host with Mike Brewer

• As of 2025, Wheeler Dealers features both Anstead and Priestley rotating duties, along with occasional guest mechanics (The Sun).
• The show continues to produce new seasons, with Brewer as the constant on-screen leader (The Sun).

The catch: while the mechanic lineup has changed, the core format remains popular, proving the show can survive without its original duo.

What is Mike Brewer’s net worth?

Estimated net worth

• The Sun reports Brewer’s net worth at between $1.5 million and $4 million (approx. £1.2 million to £3.2 million) (The Sun).
• A 2024 update from the same publication placed the figure between £1 million and £3 million (The Sun).
• Other sources give higher estimates of around $5 million, though these come from less established sites (The City Celeb).

Sources of income

• Brewer’s primary income stream is his role as host of Wheeler Dealers, which has run for over 20 years (Celebrity Net Worth).
• His dealership, Mike Brewer Motors, adds revenue from car sales and related services (The Sun).
• Endorsements, public appearances, and social media partnerships also contribute (The Sun).

Comparison with Edd China’s net worth

• Edd China’s net worth is more consistently estimated at $3 million to $4 million (Celebrity Net Worth, HotCars).
• Both men’s wealth is tied to television, but Brewer’s additional dealership income may give him a broader financial base (The Sun).

Why this matters: net worth figures for Brewer are notably inconsistent, reflecting the lack of transparent financial disclosures and the reliance on estimates from different media outlets.

“Edd China announced in March 2017 that he would depart Wheeler Dealers because of disagreements over the direction of the program.”

Reported by Celebrity Net Worth

“The whole format changed. It became less about the hands-on restoration and more about the turnaround and the profit. That wasn’t what I signed up for.”

Edd China, speaking to Net Worth Post

For Mike Brewer, the challenge is clear: continue to evolve Wheeler Dealers and grow his dealership without being defined by the split. If he can keep the show fresh and the business profitable, he will have moved past the shadow of 2017. If not, the “fallout” narrative will persist. For viewers, the takeaway is that both men have moved on professionally, but the personal story remains unresolved.

Many fans wondered about the details of Mike Brewer and Edd Chinas fallout, which remains a topic of discussion among Wheeler Dealers enthusiasts.

Frequently asked questions