E30 Zone

My E34 89 525 Was meant to have had it's MOT today, same garage for the last 4 and a bit years same bloke who was tolerant of old cars. Today new young man about 20, first thing he did was start hitting / hammering the underside of my car with a small pointed hammer which in turn gets me thinking "w@nker". After that examination i'm told "no rust for an old one", he then starts the hydro ball joint twister bending and twisting my car with he leaves running with my engine also just running for no reason. With all this going on he then brings out a five foot tyre lever and then starts swinging on the rear beam like a monkey telling me "it's going to need rear bushes" (i had a reciept with this vehical from BMW £1500 to have a suspension rebuild about 50k ago). It was at that point i made it clear to him to move away from my vehical, i will get it done somewhere else i did not have to pay. I feel the way he went about that MOT from the start was just to remove it from the road, i hope he learns tolerance or else very few or just the stupid will be going to that garage, and in the meantime he is going to cost a lot of people money they don't realy need to spend.

These young people have no respect for old cars.

Sounds to me like he was doing his job? How many Mot's have you conducted yourself?


Oh and 50k on an e34's suspension is a lot of miles!

From your description some of it does sound a little heavy handed, however I've noticed MOT's seem to get tougher each Year.
I always hang around to watch the test being done and they always seem to leave the car idling far ages regardless of where you take it.
The "corrosion assessment tool" ( hammer ) was a new one on me when I put my E30 through its first test in my ownership but it just goes with the territory with old cars - as long as they don't actually cause damage with it you have to let them get on with it.

I'm an mot tester and in all fairness all of the things mentioned are part of the correct test procedure. Obviously I carnt comment on the force used with the bar on ur back bushes as this is down to the testers own discretion.

as above, nothing out of the ordinary at all. Personally i'd rather a suspension component broke on the MOT ramps than on the road due to a 'sympathetic' tester.

the engine needs to be up to temperature for the emissions test, that's why it's left running. also needs to be running during brake and exhaust system checks.

you need to pull pretty hard on the suspension components to put anywhere near the same force on as driving hard round a corner, or hitting a bump.

i once had a tester let a bulging front brake hose pass as he felt bad because of the number of faults he'd found so far...

The toffee hammer(corrosion assessment tool) can't cause damage...

Using a lever bar to check the rear bushes, is acceptable..Bear in mind the car is 20 years old, and if a joint or a bush lets go on the road, it could cause quite a mess..

As the other's say no diffrent to my testing, it's a old car need's to be checked. I hate custamers some times LOL think thay know it all

bmw1066 wrote:As the other's say no diffrent to my testing, it's a old car need's to be checked. I hate custamers some times LOL think thay know it all

+1

The CAT (corrosion assessment tool) should only be used once the tester has used their eyes and finger and thumb. They should NOT go round slapping the car for no reason with the CAT.
If he did say no rust then why was he using the CAT

There is only part of the test that the tester must use a bar and that is when the front wheels are jacked.

The bar is there IF the tester wants to check suspension bushes but with most rubber bushes their eyes are as good as a bar. It is not mandatory to use on bar on every bush and every car. If he does use a bar then he cannot cause damage in doing so.

Sounds like he had an ATL (automated test lane) as he had the shaker plates to hand for the front susp and steering checks. They are far better than any bar check. They give a consistent check as well.

I think I know where your coming from,I get the feeling a lot of this was down to his attitude,an "I'm going to fail this car whatever" attitude.
There are these types out there,one being someone I went to school with,he's a bloody nightmare.

I've taken allsorts of sheds & turds to my tester over the last 10 years,his attitude is much better,he will thoroughly test my cars and fail if needed,but instead of saying such things as this car is a write off ,he always just says "couple of jobs needed" or the latest "got a few things to keep you busy"

Whether I pull in a 25 year old hanging R5 or a up together 5 year old Jeep his attitude to each vehicle remains the same.

I'd have probably pulled out to in your position.I don't like attitude.

Took my 20 year old Transit for its class7 test today, and he went made with his toffee hammer, even on my freshly rebuilt steps and sills..

He was very thorough, but it passed with no advisories

Out of interest, was it a proper test "hammer" he was using? i.e. Rubber ended, not a normal metal type?

They should be using one of these if I understand correctly:

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Corrosion- ... aley-H1MOT

Andy

When I had my MOT the guy left the car running for the entire time. Wasted a f*** load of my petrol as these E30's are thirsty little buggers!

When he did the corrosion assessment he only did it by feel and eye.

mine passed with a swimming pool in the rear

jaymos wrote:mine passed with a swimming pool in the rear

F4ck the 'corrosion assessment tool' get in there with the 4 foot pry bar !

pacerpete wrote:F4ck the 'corrosion assessment tool' get in there with the 4 foot pry bar !

Your just sadistic

Incidently,is P40 & several copies of The Mirror pry bar proof?

Ollie_bwoii wrote:When I had my MOT the guy left the car running for the entire time. Wasted a f*** load of my petrol as these E30's are thirsty little buggers!
.

And you owuld have whinged like a bitch if it had failed the emmisisons as the engine was too cold wouldnt you.

Chrsit sake, the MOT is MINIMUM standard. How any car on here fails I have no idea! we are supposed to be fans, we are the people that spend miney on our cars! if however, you view a set of bbs wheels as more importnat that suspension bushes to pass the mot what can I say!

It had a nice warm up before it went for its MOT. Didn't really bother me as it was a step to get it road legal.

Yes, the car does have to be at operating temp for the emissions test. BUT there is absolutely no need to have it running the whole of the test.

There are also implictions with H&S regarding safe inspection of some components with the engine still running plus the issues of noise and fumes within the confines of the garage.

It is NOT good practice to run a car for the full time of an MOT.

hennabm wrote:There are also implictions with H&S regarding safe inspection of some components with the engine still running plus the issues of noise and fumes within the confines of the garage.

You have even the slightest fecking clue what you are talking about? Noise? on a car running in a workshop? Fumes? thats what extraction equipment if for you know. Its actually part of the MOT to lok for fuel leaks when running as well as when not running

hennabm wrote:It is NOT good practice to run a car for the full time of an MOT.

Hey, if your car cant run for 40mins without blowing up or shitting iself. Maybe that says more for your car

OK when was the last time you conducted an MOT?

I've seen the results of testers leaving the engine running during tests. Firstly lost fingers when they stick their hands in to the engine area, forgetting the engine is still running.

Secondly if you are using an assistant it makes it harder for them to hear clear instructions when in the car from the tester below if the engine is left running.
If you are using extraction equipment then I congratulate you because most places I visit have such equipment installed but never use it, especially during MOTs.

Yes parts of the inspection asks for checks to be made on the exhaust, fuel, and braking systems for leaks. If it has PAS the engine should also be running for some checks on that but when all these checks have been done then the engine can be shut down whilst the rest of the MOT is carried in a safe manner.

If you think that this cannot be done, depending on what part of the country you are in, I'll arrange a demo for you.

Rich_W wrote:

hennabm wrote:There are also implictions with H&S regarding safe inspection of some components with the engine still running plus the issues of noise and fumes within the confines of the garage.

You have even the slightest fecking clue what you are talking about? Noise? on a car running in a workshop? Fumes? thats what extraction equipment if for you know. Its actually part of the MOT to lok for fuel leaks when running as well as when not running

hennabm wrote:It is NOT good practice to run a car for the full time of an MOT.

Hey, if your car cant run for 40mins without blowing up or shitting iself. Maybe that says more for your car

Rather than being both rude and ignorant (as usual), can you tell us when you last conducted an MOT test?

Rich_W wrote:

hennabm wrote:There are also implictions with H&S regarding safe inspection of some components with the engine still running plus the issues of noise and fumes within the confines of the garage.

You have even the slightest fecking clue what you are talking about? Noise? on a car running in a workshop? Fumes? thats what extraction equipment if for you know. Its actually part of the MOT to lok for fuel leaks when running as well as when not running

hennabm wrote:It is NOT good practice to run a car for the full time of an MOT.

Hey, if your car cant run for 40mins without blowing up or shitting iself. Maybe that says more for your car

@ Rich!

I'm pretty sure that "Hennabm" knows what he talking about, i have his business card kicking about somewhere, i think it has words like "VOSA Inspector" or similar written on it somewhere, see below:

VOSA is the government agency responsible for supervising the MOT scheme. It does this by:

* authorising MOT test stations and approving MOT testers
* setting standards for testing and requirements for authorisation for the MOT test station and testers
* training authorised examiners and MOT testers
* visiting MOT test stations and carrying out checks to ensure testing standards and facilities are maintained
* giving advice and taking disciplinary action where tests are not being carried out to the required standards
* dealing with appeals and complaints from MOT customers

I may be wrong

Most of us have Rich_W's 'card' marked already

The_Diddler wrote:I'm pretty sure that "Hennabm" knows what he talking about, i have his business card kicking about somewhere, i think it has words like "VOSA Inspector" or similar written on it somewhere, see below:

VOSA is the government agency responsible for supervising the MOT scheme. It does this by:

* authorising MOT test stations and approving MOT testers
* setting standards for testing and requirements for authorisation for the MOT test station and testers
* training authorised examiners and MOT testers
* visiting MOT test stations and carrying out checks to ensure testing standards and facilities are maintained
* giving advice and taking disciplinary action where tests are not being carried out to the required standards
* dealing with appeals and complaints from MOT customers

I may be wrong

He's actually the guy in charge of all the trainers who train you to become an MOT tester so its fair to say he knows what hes talking about when it comes to all things MOT.

Hang on.....so someone actually knows more about MOT testing than Rich_W?

Surely not!!??

Cars NEVER run for the entire MOT test - only for emissions testing and checking power steering and braking systems.

im a tester. as long as the car isnt too noisy, smelly or pissing oil/coolant out or the fuel light is on. i usually leave them ticking over during the test.

a tester should be using his eyes and fingers/thumb before getting the toffee hamer out.

bushes are bushes, if theyre hanging out they want failing, otherwise pass and advise. the mot is an inspection on the day not a will it still be ok in 6 months. it says on the back of a vt20 that an mot isnt proof of roadworthyness!

if things are going to fail, like rusty brake pipes then id be glad they do under safe conditions.
i had a brake pipe fail on an old hyundi coupe in the rollers the other month, the stupid woman was more annoyed that we'd broken her car and she couldnt drive it away. wanted us to fix it free of charge. never mind that it could have failed the next day when some kid steps out in front of her and she claps her foot on the brake!

bss325i wrote:He's actually the guy in charge of all the trainers who train you to become an MOT tester so its fair to say he knows what hes talking about when it comes to all things MOT.

Having done the test recently. (Mitcham) I will point out that anyone that works for VOSA doesnt know fuck all about cars Those who can do. Those who can't teach

If they passing people that are so ignorant as to lose fingers when putting their hands near a running engine what does that tell you! Saying that, they passed a guy on my course that appeared to have never worked on a car in the last 20 years!

Rich_W wrote:

bss325i wrote:He's actually the guy in charge of all the trainers who train you to become an MOT tester so its fair to say he knows what hes talking about when it comes to all things MOT.

Having done the test recently. (Mitcham) I will point out that anyone that works for VOSA doesnt know **** all about cars Those who can do. Those who can't teach

If they passing people that are so ignorant as to lose fingers when putting their hands near a running engine what does that tell you! Saying that, they passed a guy on my course that appeared to have never worked on a car in the last 20 years!

I did the testers course at Mitcham exactly one year ago, and passed. Was your examiner a fat guy with glasses? I cant remeber his name..

Andyboy wrote:Cars NEVER run for the entire MOT test - only for emissions testing and checking power steering and braking systems.

Mine did!

bss325i wrote:

Rich_W wrote:

bss325i wrote:He's actually the guy in charge of all the trainers who train you to become an MOT tester so its fair to say he knows what hes talking about when it comes to all things MOT.

Having done the test recently. (Mitcham) I will point out that anyone that works for VOSA doesnt know **** all about cars Those who can do. Those who can't teach

If they passing people that are so ignorant as to lose fingers when putting their hands near a running engine what does that tell you! Saying that, they passed a guy on my course that appeared to have never worked on a car in the last 20 years!

I did the testers course at Mitcham exactly one year ago, and passed. Was your examiner a fat guy with glasses? I cant remeber his name..

Simon. Did many many pedo jokes!