Parked for three+ years

[robertjrt]

My W220, S500L, Sept. 2001, 50,000 miles, has been parked for the last three and a half years, apart from the odd drive, a total of 30 miles. The car will need a new MOT, so, what do I need to do to bring the car back to a roadworthy condition? It has not had a service for 4 years.

 

[djb]

many will recommend new tyres along with

oil change ?
may be discs if deep rusted
battery?

 

[television]

If the batteries have not been charged in this time they may need to be replaced, you never know till you have tried to charge them.

If the tyres are cracked on the sidewalls then they will have to be replaced, but if the car has been garaged then they should be OK

Do a few light stops to clean up the brakes, followed by a few heavy stops to clean the rears.

Have the oil changed in the engine and see how the car goes

 

[MercStraight6]

What caused such a wonderful car to be parked up for that long?

Just curious.

 

[124coupe]

I would change the brake fluid and while doing it check the brake calipers and pads are free to move and also the footbrake mechanism is free (I hope the footbrake wasn't on all that time?).

Air filter will probably be shot (or full of spiders).

Ditto a/c filter. A/C might have lost its charge as its seals are lubed by running.

4 year old petrol will have left some gunge around so a can of injector cleaner would be a good idea combined with filling the tank to dilute the old stuff.

 

[tromppost]

ATF and spark plugs if not change at the 48,000 service.

 

[robertjrt]

Mercedes S500L

Thank you for all the advice, Mercedes-Benz want me to come and drive my car away as it is, no MOT even though I booked one there, it was refused.

 

[television]

You can drive it to a MOT station providing you have an appointment for the test.

Has the car been under cover ????

 

[Parrot of Doom]

My W220, S500L, Sept. 2001, 50,000 miles, has been parked for the last three and a half years, apart from the odd drive, a total of 30 miles. The car will need a new MOT, so, what do I need to do to bring the car back to a roadworthy condition? It has not had a service for 4 years.

So long as the tyres are ok and the brake discs are allright, a jolly good blast down a quiet motorway. I wouldn't bother much with the oil or brake fluid, those should be fine. Any problems will soon become apparent.

You can drive to a pre-booked MOT.

 

[bigasotonuk]

As long as you are "insured" for the car you are allowed to drive it directly to and from an MOT test station provided you have an appointment.

 

[C180 Chris]

Just out of curiosity, do you need Insurance on that vehicle to get to an MOT test (will they give it without an MOT or TAX ?)

 

[bigasotonuk]

Insurance is not a requirement for an MOT to be issued. But the vehicle has to be covered by insurance if its driven on a public road to and from the MOT testing station.

 

[mikestrivens]

Just out of curiosity, do you need Insurance on that vehicle to get to an MOT test (will they give it without an MOT or TAX ?)

An MOT and Tax is not a requirement for getting insurance. You can buy insurance over the phone and do not need to provide proof of either. However, if you have an accident without either your insurance claim is likely to be declined.

 

[Cnics]

You are also (providing insurance is valid) allowed to drive the car to and from the place of repair if it is a different place to the MOT station. However, it must be booked in and must be going for repairs that has caused it to fail the MOT.

 

[robertjrt]

Thank you all for your comments. My problem is, if the car fails the MOT and requires a substantial sum to repair, MB will denigh responability and I will have to take them back to Court again, another three years and £30,000+ I expect.

I did book an MOT at MB Chelsea, but, they declined. It also turns out that they are not a MOT station, the cars are taken somewhere else, who knows where?

 

[television]

Thank you all for your comments. My problem is, if the car fails the MOT and requires a substantial sum to repair, MB will denigh responability and I will have to take them back to Court again, another three years and £30,000+ I expect.

I did book an MOT at MB Chelsea, but, they declined. It also turns out that they are not a MOT station, the cars are taken somewhere else, who knows where?

Has the car been left out or has it been under cover

 

[robertjrt]

Parked for years, where?

Where my car has been, I have no idea, MB Chelsea refused my request to inspect it, however after more money spent at the solicitors an agreement to have an inspection was made. Unfortunately, it seems that I cannot have an Independent inspection as the car has no MOT, catch 22.

I did see the car at a distance when an Expert drove it for a report for the Court last year. It took an Order from a Judge for this to happen.

 

[television]

As a service outlet I am duly required by law to look after something that is left with me for repair, If I hand something back it must be in the same condition as it was when I took that article in for repair. Any damage that was not on the item must be rectified before I hand it back, the same applies of cars, and has to be the case

 

[robertjrt]

Roadworthy condition

This is the point I have been arguing with Mercedes-Benz, I want my car back in the same condition it was in when it was recovered to the workshop at Wandsworth, nothing more, nothing less.

Refusing me access to my car, refusal to MOT the car is, I think unreasonable.

Mercedes-Benz tell my solicitor that the car is in the same condition it was back in November 2005, but, you cannot inspect it, we want you to just drive it away.

Where it was parked I do not know, what has been damaged/lost/stolen is also unknown. Once I drive the car away will MB say, well it was fine when you left and you have accepted the car, they have done so before with the body damage.

I have decided to capitulate in the matter of the costs, I will lose many thousand of pounds for something I did not do. (£10,000+)

 

[television]

They cannot by law stop you from seeing the car, it is yours, and you cannot sign any disclaimer without seeing it, that is impossible to do.

Your car has driven into their premises, and it should be fit to drive out, win or loose they owe you an MOT to be able to drive it away

You are not going to be able to sort this on your own, there is too much too the whole thing, if the car has not moved in 3 years there is so much that could be wrong, if the car was standing outside all that time.

I feel like driving up and cast an eye over the whole car