MOT Help - what does it mean?

[320iConvertible]

Any help greatly appreciated, looking at buying a car, a 325i, the following was a failure on the mot last year:-

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

What does this mean?, what repair works should I be looking for, the seller is unaware that I have done a check online, when asked if anything was required on the last mot, he said no, it passed, clearly not. Any help would be great.

[pianist]

It means that the car's body has excessive corrosion in the place where suspension mounting points are, in simple words your wheels might drop out at any moment while you driving or standing still for that matter

My advice look away as if owner lied about such a serious defect there will be plenty more surprises waiting for you unless you are good with welder and want a big headache project for yourself everything can be fixed ;)

[nickso]

Could be a few areas.

Front suspension turrets or more likely by the wording the areas around where the suspension arms mount around the subframe and chassis leg. You will need to get under it and give it a right good poke around.

Look for fresh underseal/paint to see whats been repaired if it has. Sometimes the mot tester will put chalk marks on the area that failed.

[maxfield]

I would imagine it's the front jacking points.

As said above, the MOT tester should put chalk marks on the failed areas!

Ask the owner for pictures if possible.

[Brianmoooore]

I would imagine it's the front jacking points.

Which are absolutely no safety hazard at all.

This! However, if it failed on this, how does it now have a ticket that doesn't show on line?
As pianist says, warning bells should be ringing.

[320iConvertible]

Many thanks for the responses, I checked online Brian and it states it failed the MOT last year on the above mentioned points, the seller is probably not aware that you can do a check online, when I asked him if any work was required on the last MOT, he said no, it didn't need anything, I was expecting him to say welding was required.

[maxfield]

I would imagine it's the front jacking points.

Which are absolutely no safety hazard at all.

This! However, if it failed on this, how does it now have a ticket that doesn't show on line?
As pianist says, warning bells should be ringing.

It's been a while since I've been under an E30 but I'm sure the front jacking are within 30cm of the lolipop bushes?

[pacerpete]

The front floors will be toast (like most) and as the corrosion is undoubtedly within 30cm of the rear most front wishbone mount it constitutes a fail. Any links to the ad ? The turd might be known.

A safe rule of thumb when buying an E30 or any other 25 + year old car is to assume it is scrap until proved otherwise !

[Brianmoooore]

It's been a while since I've been under an E30 but I'm sure the front jacking are within 30cm of the lolipop bushes?

They are, which is why holes in them is a fail, but they, or the metal of the floorpan immediately around them are hardly an important structural part of the monocoque.