Good advice?

[lovali]

A couple people have recommended that as we are not sure exactly what needs doing to our C240 to get it up to scratch that we put it in for an MOT (which it will fail) to get a list of what to do as it is probably the most cost effective way of finding out. Even the mechanic I usually use, who hasn't yet had a chance to get his hand on the car thinks we should do this as he's got lots on at the moment & I want to get the car on the road quickly. He won't get a chance for at least a couple of weeks.

I don't know if this is morally the right thing to do, making a garage waste their time on a sure failure but at the same time I don't know much about the workings of cars so I would like someone who knows to tell me what I need to do & I would really like to find out by the weekend so I can start planning the work.

So, am I getting good advice?

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Get it in, the same price for a test regardless of a pass or fail, it makes no difference to them.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Make sure the tyres are ok, all the lights work, the chances are it will pass.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Oh and a clean inside and out before, nothing ****'s the tester off more than working on a dirty car to start with, give it the best chance possible.

 

[television]

As ellsy above The MOT covers the suspension and steering joints, roll bar bits are advisery for the best part, the condition of the disc and pads, the tyres, brake lines and parking brake, the exhaust and emission, all bulbs and indicators, the last thing is rust that is structural to the car

 

[lovali]

Thanks for your replies.

I spent 3 hours on sunday with the hover getting tiny white dog-hairs off the backseat, then another hour cleaning the dash. A friend had already jetwashed it on saturday to get all the moss off, so it looks all lovely & sparkly. Today I bought a new door-mirror indicator, wiper blades & tyre.

There is no way this one will pass. It makes a 'twanging' noise when you go over a bump. To get the car to drive straight you have to point the steering wheel at 10 instead of 12. What ever else is wrong I can only guess at!

 

[television]

Thanks for your replies.

I spent 3 hours on sunday with the hover getting tiny white dog-hairs off the backseat, then another hour cleaning the dash. A friend had already jetwashed it on saturday to get all the moss off, so it looks all lovely & sparkly. Today I bought a new door-mirror indicator, wiper blades & tyre.

There is no way this one will pass. It makes a 'twanging' noise when you go over a bump. To get the car to drive straight you have to point the steering wheel at 10 instead of 12. What ever else is wrong I can only guess at!

It sounds like you may need just a couple of swivels and may be a track rod joint, not expensive and wear and tear items

 

[arrows180]

Garages use to do a "pre-mot" cheaper than the actual cost of mot and they gave you a list of "to-do's" dont know if they still do.. am i showing my age here?

 

[television]

Garages use to do a "pre-mot" cheaper than the actual cost of mot and they gave you a list of "to-do's" dont know if they still do.. am i showing my age here?

I have the same problem

 

[jberks]

Garages use to do a "pre-mot" cheaper than the actual cost of mot and they gave you a list of "to-do's" dont know if they still do.. am i showing my age here?

I'm sure many still do. I have a mechanic that always does a pre-mot before putting the car in for an official test. He'll sort what he finds then get the test station to rubber stamp it.
If you are aware of issues now, sort them first though. There is no point paying £50 for a sheet stating what you already know. Then when the car is the way you want it, put it in. It may even pass. There are a great many faults that will spoil your enjoyment of the car but wouldn't fail a test - e.g. wheel pointing in the wrong direction. Twangs from the suspension may be annoying but may not be safety related and so still pass. Then again, you don't want to spend money on the minor issues if there is something more serious.

So, if it were me, I'd have a garage pop it on a ramp and ensure there is nothing seriously untoward an give you a list of work that should be done - e.g. rub down and grease the brake pipes, fix the handbrake etc. Then depending on the results, either get the car the way I wanted it, and then get an MOT done or if there are concerns, go for an MOT.

 

[colechelle]

Thanks for your replies.

I spent 3 hours on sunday with the hover getting tiny white dog-hairs off the backseat, then another hour cleaning the dash. A friend had already jetwashed it on saturday to get all the moss off, so it looks all lovely & sparkly. Today I bought a new door-mirror indicator, wiper blades & tyre.

There is no way this one will pass. It makes a 'twanging' noise when you go over a bump. To get the car to drive straight you have to point the steering wheel at 10 instead of 12. What ever else is wrong I can only guess at!

common as muck for the rear springs to break!! where in hants are you??

 

[Splatt]

Hope its not too far from your house to the MOT garage.

 

[lovali]

common as muck for the rear springs to break!! where in hants are you??

In Fleet. Are you local?

 

[colechelle]

In Fleet. Are you local?

couple of junc down, andover!!

 

[lovali]

I've booked for the MOT on Saturday. I just hope there's not as much wrong as I fear. I want to be driving it NOW!!!!

 

[lovali]

Took the car in for it's MOT today & it passed. I think I actually froze with shock for a few second. The only thing they advised was 2 new tyres in the near future. Took myself straight to the post office & got the tax so now I can officially enjoy the open road (or congested, on most of my journeys).

 

[Number_Cruncher]

>>now I can officially enjoy the open road

Now is the time to give the car a good service, and check out what's causing those noises, and get your tyres into good nick ready for winter.

The standard required for the MOT is low, and the MOT is nowhere near comprehensive nor does it remove the responsibility of a driver to be responsible for the mechanical condition of the vehicle.

 

[dave.robbo]

That's good news, lovali, but as number cruncher has said, it's time to spend a little on it, to get it up to peak fitness... Shouldn't take too much!

 

[lovali]

Now is the time to give the car a good service, and check out what's causing those noises, and get your tyres into good nick ready for winter.

The standard required for the MOT is low, and the MOT is nowhere near comprehensive nor does it remove the responsibility of a driver to be responsible for the mechanical condition of the vehicle.

These noises are only what I was told about by the person who collected & delivered it to my house. When I was driving it I didn't hear any noises at all! I think it may have initially been protesting after being sat for so long. I've got it booked for a service next weekend, I've already made sure the fluids are all at the correct levels & am doing the advised work on the MOT this week. Also found out last night that the brakes are good when an unsupervised dog ran across the road. Hopefully that should about cover it.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Good result mate, like I said chances are it would pass!!