MOT after being off the road

[krismac]

I have an MOT booked for Saturday, the car has been garaged off the road for a good few months... couple of things:

1. The battery is flat, I will have to jump start the car. If it does not start again at the MOT test station will this fail it?

2. Is there anything else I should do to ensure a pass other than usual checks?

[krismac]

Anyone?

[mccarthy]

can't get the pics at work but i was also worried about rust for my mot last month and as long as it's not within 30cm of a structural point [seat mounting point, suspension mounting etc.] it should be fine.

MOT is just ment to prove the car is safe on the road so not sure a dead battery would make it fail either... but i could be wrong.

[Ian_M]

Well I'm not an expert on this but if you have a dead battery and take it to an M.O.T station... How are they going to test the lights, washers etc...?

I'd assume it would fail.

[krismac]

Good point Ian. I will run the car for 10 - 15 mins then take it on the bypass for 10 - 15 mins on the way to the testing station... hopefully this will charge the battery a little bit

[Daf318is]

I took a car with a duff batt for MOT and it passed fine. They used a booster pack to start it and never even commented!

[asmith88]

the rust will be ok if that is all, as long as it is not structurally dangerous

[krismac]

I think that is all, the car is at my parents so I won't see it now until the night before my MOT.

Need to fix my central locking as currently the passenger door is deadlocked and can't be opened.

All going well i'm then getting a 2.5 engine conversion starting monday, and then new roof the following monday (£598 all inclusive, what do you think?)

[Daf318is]

I think that is all, the car is at my parents so I won't see it now until the night before my MOT.

Need to fix my central locking as currently the passenger door is deadlocked and can't be opened.

All going well i'm then getting a 2.5 engine conversion starting monday, and then new roof the following monday (£598 all inclusive, what do you think?)

Door not opening is an MOT failure........

[asmith88]

598 for the engine/fitted/hood/fitted.

thats not bad

[clarko74]

I think that rust on the bodywork is also an issue if it has sharp edges and the potential to hurt someone. My first e30 had really rotten arches, when I went to get it mot'ed the tester told me that it would fail but that if I covered the sharp edges up with gaffer tape it would be ok, I did and it passed. That rust was much worse than yours though.

[E30Gheko]

I think that is all, the car is at my parents so I won't see it now until the night before my MOT.

Need to fix my central locking as currently the passenger door is deadlocked and can't be opened.

All going well i'm then getting a 2.5 engine conversion starting monday, and then new roof the following monday (£598 all inclusive, what do you think?)

Door not opening is an MOT failure........

+1

Also if the car has been off the road for a while the brakes may have seized up a bit.

[krismac]

Door not opening is an MOT failure...... hence the reason I am fixing it!!

£598 is for the hood and fitting

[ImysE30]

£598 is for the hood and fitting

Bargain

[hennabm]

if the testerv is unable to start the car as and when required he may refuse to test or abort the test.
The corrosion shown if holes is within 30cm of the suspension mounting depending how far it goes. if it is just the lip of the arch then it should be OK except it may be a sharp edge as discussed earlier.
Although looking at the photo, on that alone I say it should be OK.

[jamie325isport]

I think that rust on the bodywork is also an issue if it has sharp edges and the potential to hurt someone. My first e30 had really rotten arches, when I went to get it mot'ed the tester told me that it would fail but that if I covered the sharp edges up with gaffer tape it would be ok, I did and it passed. That rust was much worse than yours though.

lol very true I had the same problem with a old A reg Transit I had. A whole roll of gaffer tape was needed, I think the roll of gaffer tape was worth more than the van though!

[krismac]

Bloody thing failed on headlamp aim too low! sorted it tho now passed and now getting a 325 engine fitted!

[Daf318is]

Bloody thing failed on headlamp aim too low! sorted it tho now passed and now getting a 325 engine fitted!

At least it was only a minor fail - it could have been much worse! Well done on the pass!

[Bikemanjai]

I hate MOT stations who fail on stuff light that instead of making a simple adjustment for you ! Did they mind it not starting or did you running round it seem to do the trick ?

[hennabm]

I hate MOT stations who fail on stuff light that instead of making a simple adjustment for you ! Did they mind it not starting or did you running round it seem to do the trick ?

They are not required to make any adjustments. An MOT is an inspection, not a repair function.
IF they do make any adjustments then it is outside the MOT fee and they can charge what they like fr that adjustment (whatever it is).

[Bikemanjai]

I hate MOT stations who fail on stuff light that instead of making a simple adjustment for you ! Did they mind it not starting or did you running round it seem to do the trick ?

They are not required to make any adjustments. An MOT is an inspection, not a repair function.
IF they do make any adjustments then it is outside the MOT fee and they can charge what they like fr that adjustment (whatever it is).

I guess thats why its good to return to the same garage. That way they are a lot more likely to do any very simple adjustments without any extra charges or waste of time.

I can reccomend a very good one on the wirral if anyone needs one btw !

[Chase007]

I hate MOT stations who fail on stuff light that instead of making a simple adjustment for you ! Did they mind it not starting or did you running round it seem to do the trick ?

They are not required to make any adjustments. An MOT is an inspection, not a repair function.
IF they do make any adjustments then it is outside the MOT fee and they can charge what they like fr that adjustment (whatever it is).

Not with out asking if you want it done first and getting a quote done on paper for you.

[hennabm]

I hate MOT stations who fail on stuff light that instead of making a simple adjustment for you ! Did they mind it not starting or did you running round it seem to do the trick ?

They are not required to make any adjustments. An MOT is an inspection, not a repair function.
IF they do make any adjustments then it is outside the MOT fee and they can charge what they like for that adjustment (whatever it is).

Not with out asking if you want it done first and getting a quote done on paper for you.

What I meant was that it is not within the fee for the MOT and therefore set by the garage. You are quite right that ALL work should be quoted for before agreeing to anything.

[LeonNewton]

wen i get my mot i go to a garage i am frenley with so thay do miner adjustments for free. i know that everyone canot be in this boat but if you see a chance to get onboard do. it is ace.

no really. garages that fale you on things like headlight adjustments wen their not bisey wen it takes f all to put right suck

[krismac]

It took a lot of fiddling to get the headlamp aim right, as the hydraulic adjuster mechanism had failed. So I took the car home as the garage was closing and had to take everything apart and free up the seized adjusters to adjust it manually.