Don't you just love MOT time.

[Dean Fletcher]

So last year I needed brake pipes done to pass the mot.
This year is no different fail again, both front coil springs fecked, and os lower suspension arm bushes worn.
Oh the joys plus a service

 

[vtaylor78]

I feel your pain Dean

 

[Dean Fletcher]

I feel your pain Dean

Still could of been worse. Somehow.

 

[Brian23]

Still could of been worse. Somehow.

For the last 15 years I have taken my 2 MBs to the VW garage in Aylesbury. The reason I do this is because they only fix VW's and if my car should fail, they have no interest in fixing it. It is a 2005 E200 and passes every year, except one year on brake pipes. This is not a statement saying that you cannot trust MoT stations that also fix cars, but many years ago I did take my car to one MoT station in Aylesbury and the car failed on 2 from shock absorbers. I disagreed with this and had it MoTed somewhere else and it passed. I asked about the front shocks and they said they were fine and where I had taken the car before, which starts with 'H' has a reputation for failing to fix. A lot of things that fail, yuo can see for yourself, but some you just have to accept what they say. All the rules for MoT's changed a few years ago, some better, some stricter. Did you know that you can also have your car MoTed at Police, Ambulance stations ect, if they have their own tester. Personally, ONLY MY OPPINION, but I would, where possible take my cat to a Mot's only station or a garage that does not fix MB's. This is written on my own MoT experiences AND DOES NOT CAST aspersions on ANY MoT Testing stations, or say that this does happen. Just my experience with MoT's.

 

[EmilysDad]

for more than 20 years I've taken my cars to a MOT station that only does MOTs ie they don't do any repairs. While the place was shut earlier this year for lock down, Barry, the tester decided to retire! I'd to find somewhere else!

 

[ajlsl600]

Similar,used same place 20 yr.went last yr and had gone bust my tester also retired. Now used local fiat garage never had a car fail in uk 17 ,20 and 8 yr old .one fail in france,hedlightcaim.bizzare as never done anything to them since putting french headlights.

 

[rorywquin]

Easy to avoid these issues, but a new car every three years!

 

[Dean Fletcher]

I take my car to my usual garage a guy I trust and known for a while. They don't do Mots and take them to the local tyre centre. So I theory it's in the mot centers best interest to pass as they won't gain anything.
The car is 11 year old and the front coil springs were original with the and the last remaining suspension arm (other 3 have been replaced last year) all in it wasn't too bad what's your thoughts
2 x coil springs
Suspension arm
Oil filter
Oil change
Tracking
Mot and 3.5 hours labour
£472?

 

[d215yq]

I used to think this was normal when in the UK on anything over 10 years to always get a 3-400 pound bill on stuff that sounds important but oddly never gave any symptoms but since being here where it's a government run centre you drive through yourself it's been a real eye opener as to what actually should pass or not.

I've never had a fail on a 33 yr old car 300k mile car that's ropey as hell and even has non critical things wrong that are technically a fail. The first test is driving on a platform and braking hard and computers test the tracking alignment, dampers, play and brake forces so no room for any subjectivity. Then lights, seat belts, wipers horn are tested by people. Also tyres must be under 5 years old and no cracks as apparently tyre blowouts are a major cause of accidents and a real safety concern.

After the critical stuff is passed it's all just done on a common sense basis. For example "battery has no tray and is loose but safe in its compartment. It's supposed to be a fail so I can't mention it officially and I wouldn't fix it anyway but just thought you should know". Then there's a list of advisories like "surface rust present" "wing mirror held on by tape" and "front fog light cracked" that can be ignored as not safety critical.

Shame as you could go to a UK mot and pass with cracking tyres if they have enough tread yet they would happily fail you for some rust 6 inches from a "structural" headlight mount or an eml on or a non bs inscripted number plate or some bushes that strangely give no clonking/wandering or other problems.

 

[peterws1957]

For the last 15 years I have taken my 2 MBs to the VW garage in Aylesbury. The reason I do this is because they only fix VW's and if my car should fail, they have no interest in fixing it. It is a 2005 E200 and passes every year, except one year on brake pipes. This is not a statement saying that you cannot trust MoT stations that also fix cars, but many years ago I did take my car to one MoT station in Aylesbury and the car failed on 2 from shock absorbers. I disagreed with this and had it MoTed somewhere else and it passed. I asked about the front shocks and they said they were fine and where I had taken the car before, which starts with 'H' has a reputation for failing to fix. A lot of things that fail, yuo can see for yourself, but some you just have to accept what they say. All the rules for MoT's changed a few years ago, some better, some stricter. Did you know that you can also have your car MoTed at Police, Ambulance stations ect, if they have their own tester. Personally, ONLY MY OPPINION, but I would, where possible take my cat to a Mot's only station or a garage that does not fix MB's. This is written on my own MoT experiences AND DOES NOT CAST aspersions on ANY MoT Testing stations, or say that this does happen. Just my experience with MoT's.

Used to take my barges to the local Ambulance station for MOT's. A massive warehouse of a place and incredibly clean and organised. No squeezing past oily cabinets, tools and crammed in lifts and dodgy characters hanging about. Sadly the place got too popular and time for maintaining ambulances was getting squeezed out so they stopped doing Mot's for the public.

 

[Donald McPherson]

Funny. Why do things pop up on the display just as the MOT is coming up. ABS warning and mirror indicator warning.

 

[EmilysDad]

Councils normally do MOTs for the great unwashed too, and they don't do repairs either

 

[Dean Fletcher]

Funny. Why do things pop up on the display just as the MOT is coming up. ABS warning and mirror indicator warning.

I feel for you

 

[vtaylor78]

Councils normally do MOTs for the great unwashed too, and they don't do repairs either

What repair the roads

 

[Jimbo1959]

I take my car to my usual garage a guy I trust and known for a while. They don't do Mots and take them to the local tyre centre. So I theory it's in the mot centers best interest to pass as they won't gain anything.
The car is 11 year old and the front coil springs were original with the and the last remaining suspension arm (other 3 have been replaced last year) all in it wasn't too bad what's your thoughts
2 x coil springs
Suspension arm
Oil filter
Oil change
Tracking
Mot and 3.5 hours labour
£472?

I don't think that price is that bad at all Dean, I'd pay it and I'm a notorious tight wad, (Scottish, born in Paisley, can get a lit ciggy out of my pocket very easily).

 

[Dean Fletcher]

I don't think that price is that bad at all Dean, I'd pay it and I'm a notorious tight wad, (Scottish, born in Paisley, can get a lit ciggy out of my pocket very easily).

Yeah it wasn't bad but I have noticed something (it could be just me tho) the steering wheel pulls slightly to the left and when you point straight the car goes slightly right? Might be just me over thinking

 

[Jimbo1959]

Yeah it wasn't bad but I have noticed something (it could be just me tho) the steering wheel pulls slightly to the left and when you point straight the car goes slightly right? Might be just me over thinking

No, if that's happening then there is an alignment issue, I'd take it back and voice my concern, especially after spending as near as dammit a monkey on her. It'll most likely be a slight adjustment required to correct it. Better safe than sorry mate.

 

[Dean Fletcher]

No, if that's happening then there is an alignment issue, I'd take it back and voice my concern, especially after spending as near as dammit a monkey on her. It'll most likely be a slight adjustment required to correct it. Better safe than sorry mate.

Cheers jimbo yeah I'm going to phone them next week. Cheers

 

[The Pan Man 2]

Very, Very topical and relevant. My last 2 company cars were both Audi A6's and both came via that garage in Aylesbury one was when it was VW Audi and 1 was after the split, just. At that time I was never impressed. As a lot of people did I got out of the company car scheme when it became stupidly expensive. Then I bought my first MB.

Originally I found a local guy that looked after all the local taxis and incidentally there was one of these in Aylesbury at that time and what the guy did not know about the older models and up to the 210 series was not worth knowing however back to the story. The first time that I used them he said to me, it's very sluggish you need to get it diagnosed. Which I did and it turned out to be the A M M. So I got it replaced and it was like a different car, Please see above reference had the same problem with both Audis. So I was becoming a bit of and expert. the internet and forums like this were really in their infancy. I kept it for about just shy of 4 years and it had 160k on the clock when I traded it in. The same local guy did all the MOT and servicing and except for normal wear item never had a minutes problem except for the constant bulb blown which was caused by very poor wiring on the S210. So I've now got to the S210 320 CDi, relatively low miles but several big bills in my ownership. After that was the first W211 270 CDi. That went to a Private Hire place funnily enough in Aylesbury. Miles on that one was just under 150k.

So as always happens older people die or retire and the knowledge seems to leave the respective company and be it whatever the company does does not matter the "Been there done that many times has left the building"

Were now right up to date and I have another retiree passed the business down to his son, and just recently we have fallen out over a job that I did myself in 45 minutes and saved a whopping £850.00 yes you read that correctly.

I still have one Indy who will get one more chance at the next service and they will need to get it spot on.

As for the MOT's I will be using the local Council from now on. Yesterdays MOT had 2 minor advisories not and issue at all and it won't be next year because my annual mileage is very low these days not like the 45 / 50 PA when I practically lived on the road and that was all covered with paper maps and local A-Z books.

I hope you are not too bored but I thought that some of would find it interesting. I'm about 4k away from the next service.

My account was deactivated because of almost no usage for a few years but in reality I've been a forum member for about 18 or more years.

 

[The Pan Man 2]

I was a little out with my estimate. Apparently it was 2004 when I originally joined the forum.