The joys of an MOT...

Post Sat May 06, 2006 3:01 pm

Well finally took the 318is in for an MOT to garage which I have used before.

Called me up saying that it is going to fail on rear suspension bushes and rust ..

Went and had a look with them. OK so I knew all the rear suspension needed new bush's but their not split or anything, I doesn't drive badly either....

Then they point to rust on the battery tray, is this part of the MOT? Its not terminal only surface!

Then to a bit (i mean like the size of a 10pence piece) by the gearbox and that the square "jacking points" at the front at a bit of rust around them.

They then told me that another garage might pass it

gave me their location!

Didn't charge me at all which I think was very honest. Going to take it to this other garage on monday...

Anyone else had this experiance?

Post Sat May 06, 2006 3:05 pm

Gwynleym10 wrote: Anyone else had this experiance?

Nope, seems a little odd to me

Post Sat May 06, 2006 3:09 pm

my mate went for an mot yesterday even though his horn wasnt working. they failed him for have dim headlights, but didnt notice the horn. WTF? its all very strange

Post Sat May 06, 2006 3:11 pm

If its a rust hole then its got to be 30cm away from jacking points seat belt brackets and the chassis or something like that. Learnt from work experience

Post Sat May 06, 2006 3:23 pm

maxfield wrote:If its a rust hole then its got to be 30cm away from jacking points seat belt brackets and the chassis or something like that. Learnt from work experience

yea none of its a hole.. just surface rust, well maybe the jacking points need re doing.

The first garage does have those electronc MOT's so maybe its stricter! My old South aFrican 316i passed there with no probs about 2 months ago...

oh well wait for monday!

Post Sat May 06, 2006 3:45 pm

Took my car for an MOT over a month ago, failed on both front shocks for negligable damping, a blowing exhaust, and oi lleak and onme misaligned headlight

took it for a retest today, passed, with an advisory on the headlights and the guy saying it was way high on hydrocarbons but that he would pass me anyway

what a waste of time!

Post Sat May 06, 2006 4:32 pm

My 318iS failed on negligable damping in the front shocks just over a month ago - talked to the garage owner who retested it (instead of the jobsworth who did the first test) and he passed it, writing "replaced front dampers with 2nd hand units" on the test sheet

It all depends who tests it i guess - the owner was of the opinion that unless i was taking corners at 90mph the lack of damping wasn't making the car dangerous...

Post Sat May 06, 2006 6:54 pm

if it's surface rust then they can't fail it. It's rotton bits that fail in critical areas, but they should know it's surface when they test it with an mot hammer! me thinks

Post Sat May 06, 2006 7:05 pm

mine failed for a hole about the size of a 10p on the sill (about 6 inches from the jacking point. also failed on ridiculously low headlamp aim which could only be rectified by fitting second hand lamps (i was expecting that and had already bought some) oh and brake pipes. front and rear. and my accelerator pedal broke so they did that too, and i got them to do master cylinder.

i was quoted 2 days work, i supplied parts, my other half took out the seats and carpet in the back to save labour! in the end only took 7 hours and cost me about Ã‚£260 bargain!

Post Sat May 06, 2006 8:44 pm

behold the golf that was sold by an policeman with 12 months MOT.....

MOT done by "Wonder & Charles"

http://www.clubgti.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90122

Post Sat May 06, 2006 8:54 pm

Its not that bad neil...!

I know I have put a far worse car through an MOT and they have passed. Just shows the real variety of garages!

I remeber reading an autocar magazine from the 1980's and they took this old Lancia around to 6 different garages. It failed in 4 passed in 2 or something! They had an independant inspector and said it should have failed with no questions....

Post Sat May 06, 2006 9:10 pm

Gwynleym10 wrote:Its not that bad neil...!

I know I have put a far worse car through an MOT and they have passed. Just shows the real variety of garages!

I remeber reading an autocar magazine from the 1980's and they took this old Lancia around to 6 different garages. It failed in 4 passed in 2 or something! They had an independant inspector and said it should have failed with no questions....

I'd have walked away from that car-even with battery there you would have seen some of the hole.

certainly seems that there is a helluva variation in what is cosidered "excessive corrosion/play etc" between testers. its really quite crap. ou'll remember all the shit I got told about the touring needing new brake pipes due to "excessive corrosion" -they were COPPER

Post Sat May 06, 2006 9:48 pm

Yep mots seem to have no consitancy, seems like most garages want to charge you for work that doesnt need doing

I remember taking my crx for an mot a few years back and despite me thinking it was sound, they drew up a huge list of fail points.
Told them they were having a laugh, but they were adament
Took it to another garage down the road, paid another test fee and it passed just something silly like a new wiper blade.

Then spent some time laping the ring no probs

Post Sat May 06, 2006 10:02 pm

i always take mine to a garage that i know to be really strict on everything ,they dont let you away with anything.they once failed me because one of my rear seat belts was slightly frayed along its edge.i burned of the threads with a lighter and it passed! i like to have peace of mind that everythings in good condition.i always feel really nervous in the lead up to mot time though.mine is due in 2 weeks and its my first with this car.i reckon the garage i bought it from had a dodgy mot on it so im expecting a few minor problems

Post Sat May 06, 2006 10:09 pm

320Touring wrote:behold the golf that was sold by an policeman with 12 months MOT.....

MOT done by "Wonder & Charles"

http://www.clubgti.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90122

I know absolutly NOWT about GTI's but if the battery was covering the rust holes, how the F is the tester supposed to know! and if it's over 30cm away from a suspension point it doesnt matter in the slightest. (IMO)

Post Sun May 07, 2006 12:31 pm

fuzzy wrote:i always take mine to a garage that i know to be really strict on everything ,they dont let you away with anything.they once failed me because one of my rear seat belts was slightly frayed along its edge.i burned of the threads with a lighter and it passed! i like to have peace of mind that everythings in good condition.i always feel really nervous in the lead up to mot time though.mine is due in 2 weeks and its my first with this car.i reckon the garage i bought it from had a dodgy mot on it so im expecting a few minor problems

Thats one of the reasons why I have used this garage because I got the impression they were pretty strict. It is especially improtant as I do pretty much all the work on the car myself, so its good to have stuff pointed out.

I am planning to rebuild the suspension anyway, just want to do it myself and in my own time...

Post Tue May 09, 2006 10:03 am

Well it passed in the end, the second garage wanted to replace a front brake hose which was bulging under pressure. Could have done it myself but let thtem do it to keep them happy...

Its a bit worrying that the first garage had noticed this....