M.O.T test today - anyone else

4720 Views 29 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Jag-Black, Oct 27, 2017

JimC64

Discussion Starter · Oct 18, 2017

Well, that time of year and the X type's M.O.T test is due, well it is in another 3 weeks or so but we'll get her done today to get a picture and see where we are.

I'm just about to have a final check on tyres, lights, fluids etc and then Mrs C taking her to get washed n cleaned inside n out before heading to the testing station

She's kept in pretty good condition so hoping she'll do ok.

Thinking good thoughts but pacing up n down like an expectant father nonetheless lol

How do you guys prepare for your M.O.T's and anyone else got theirs today?

Jim

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DaveHSXZ

· #2 · Oct 18, 2017

I took mine to local garage not longer after I got it. Asked them to put it through an MOT but not officially as just wanted to know what it would fail on as still had 5 months left.
Mechanic said he thought it was likely to pass after a quick look over and suggested he did the full test. It passed with just advisory on rust on brake discs.
So no worries about MOT for 12 months.
Good luck with yours.

JimC64

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 18, 2017

DaveHSXZ said:
I took mine to local garage not longer after I got it. Asked them to put it through an MOT but not officially as just wanted to know what it would fail on as still had 5 months left.
Mechanic said he thought it was likely to pass after a quick look over and suggested he did the full test. It passed with just advisory on rust on brake discs.
So no worries about MOT for 12 months.
Good luck with yours.

Dave, that's great news mate, always a nice result

Well, just double checked lights n fluids ( screenwash topped up ) and all is well, tyres look ok too. Double checked last years test and no advisories other than tyres getting close to limits (tut tut Connor) so nothing working away that could've gotten worse lol.
She's loved n looked after so fingers crossed for a positive result

Jim

Jag-Black

· #4 · Oct 18, 2017

Good luck mate.

I leave cookies with the mechanics when I get a little work done. I believe this increases chances of passing MOTs by a large margin.

All I do for MOT now is make sure the lights and tyres are good, drop the car at the garage and rub my belly and wink at the mechanics as I leave.

JimC64

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 18, 2017

Well, just called and spoke to Brian who does all my M.o.t's for all my cars and the result was ..........

A nice easy PASS

Well chuffed, waiting on paperwork but he didn't mention any advisories but we'll see.....he did say though that he had to re align the headlamps a little but nothing else

We're always quite lucky generally at M.o.t time but then again I find, that the more I do routine maintenance, the more I repair / resolve something as and when it breaks and generally the more care I take

The luckier we seem to get every year lol

I think the next thing for the X type will be a set of tyres as they're getting a little low for my liking, probably around 4mm + or so

Onwards n upwards
Jim

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Ashanti

· #6 · Oct 18, 2017

Congrats on the pass Jim, no doubt all you'll get from Tress is rudimentary thank you.

Pity you ain't got another set of rims, 4mm is more than enough for another summer and you could shod the other rims with winter tyres.

Gets a bit grim north of the border so I'm told.

JimC64

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 18, 2017

Ashanti said:
Congrats on the pass Jim, no doubt all you'll get from Tress is rudimentary thank you.

Pity you ain't got another set of rims, 4mm is more than enough for another summer and you could shod the other rims with winter tyres.

Gets a bit grim north of the border so I'm told.

Thanks Rich, she's actually kinda pleased and the bonus is, the car's washed n shiny and looking good, all with another years ticket on her too.

Tyres- they may even be 4-5mm Rich and it's just me. She'll be absolutely fine, she tootles around at speed limits or less and a careful driver and probably does 5k - 6k per year, if that.

I just prefer to have newer rubber on, especially at this time of year whenever possible and if she's up for it will probably do what we do on mine. I can get Barum Bravuris 3HM for £240 for a full set delivered, then have to be fitted, these are for 225 40 18 and are tried n tested tyre as we've had several sets on various cars for years now.

NT will do a full set for around £301.00 but by the time I apply a few wee discounts I'm down to £280.00
Then the 4mm tyres go on Ebay / Gumtree and are snapped up either for track days or for someone who may be feeling the pinch and uses part worns for around £60 - £80

Means a full brand new set is only around £200 and you can't grumble at that lol......we'll see

And yes Rich, it can get a little grim up here in winter from time to time. That's why we have snow poles on the A9 at around 8 feet high or more, so you can see the road when the snow is bad and drifts lol

Jim

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Henry_B

· #8 · Oct 18, 2017

Great result Jim. :mrgreen:

JimC64

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 18, 2017

Henry_B said:
Great result Jim. :mrgreen:

Thanks Henry, all good for another year

Jim

Winco

· #10 · Oct 20, 2017

My MOT is up next month, but I put it in today in good time.
The car has just come back from a body shop to repair a rear quarter and light after a delivery truck clipped the side whilst I was parked. The damage was to the edge of the panel to the rear light, and the light itself. The truck's insurers were paying. Unfortunately (ahem) there was a deep scratch already on the rear quarter, left, no doubt, by a kid on a bike. They weren't able to blend in over a scratch, and so they had to do the entire panel and blend in over the rear door; (shame!). My tailgate also needed attention - a small rust patch which was subject to a recall claim years ago but which didn't look bad so I never bothered. I also had a couple of dents. So I stripped the tailgate of trim and badges (to reduce labour cost) and asked the body shop to do the tailgate at the same time, whilst they had the paint. £270 for a like new tailgate was good value.
The boy shop had the battery disconnected, and I do find the car needs to be driven around a bit to clear smoke after a battery disconnect. I managed to do a little italian tune up before the MOT but I wasn't confident. Every year there is an advisory on a misting of oil on the rear shocks.
So I was expecting rear shocks and emissions.
Much to my surprise it was front drop links. They were shot, although this wasn't apparent whilst driving. They had only done 13k miles. So the original Jag drop links lasted 230k miles and I only replaced them as a good measure expecting them not to last much longer. One link arm was banana shaped. Cheapo links from the national parts company that has constant offers every weekend.................
Sure enough the advisory on rear shocks. I am sure it is where I waxoyled years ago and there is some overspray mist. Emissions were fine.

Drop links replaced. I return the car in the morning for a retest.

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G

· #11 · Oct 20, 2017

Winco said:
...........Sure enough the advisory on rear shocks. I am sure it is where I waxoyled years ago and there is some overspray mist. Emissions were fine.

Drop links replaced. I return the car in the morning for a retest.

One of my rear shocks on my Passat had dribbles of oil so with the car jacked up I wiped it spotlessly clean immediately before the MoT...it passed with no advisories. (I wiped both shock absorbers clean in case just one side looked a bit suspicious!)

JimC64

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 21, 2017

Winco said:
My MOT is up next month, but I put it in today in good time.
The car has just come back from a body shop to repair a rear quarter and light after a delivery truck clipped the side whilst I was parked. The damage was to the edge of the panel to the rear light, and the light itself. The truck's insurers were paying. Unfortunately (ahem) there was a deep scratch already on the rear quarter, left, no doubt, by a kid on a bike. They weren't able to blend in over a scratch, and so they had to do the entire panel and blend in over the rear door; (shame!). My tailgate also needed attention - a small rust patch which was subject to a recall claim years ago but which didn't look bad so I never bothered. I also had a couple of dents. So I stripped the tailgate of trim and badges (to reduce labour cost) and asked the body shop to do the tailgate at the same time, whilst they had the paint. £270 for a like new tailgate was good value.
The boy shop had the battery disconnected, and I do find the car needs to be driven around a bit to clear smoke after a battery disconnect. I managed to do a little italian tune up before the MOT but I wasn't confident. Every year there is an advisory on a misting of oil on the rear shocks.
So I was expecting rear shocks and emissions.
Much to my surprise it was front drop links. They were shot, although this wasn't apparent whilst driving. They had only done 13k miles. So the original Jag drop links lasted 230k miles and I only replaced them as a good measure expecting them not to last much longer. One link arm was banana shaped. Cheapo links from the national parts company that has constant offers every weekend.................
Sure enough the advisory on rear shocks. I am sure it is where I waxoyled years ago and there is some overspray mist. Emissions were fine.

Drop links replaced. I return the car in the morning for a retest.

Hopefully she sailed on through all A ok now?
Jim

Winco

· #13 · Oct 21, 2017

Retested this afternoon and all OK. Retest fee was waived as well. Another year.....

JimC64

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 21, 2017

Winco said:
Retested this afternoon and all OK. Retest fee was waived as well. Another year.....

Result.....nice one

Jim

Jag75

· #15 · Oct 21, 2017

I’m served my time as an HGV mechanic and apart from our newer cars I have always done my own maintenance.
As for MOT I tend to go OTT as I remove wheels,brake calipers and pads then do a full clean up before re fitting with a smear of fresh copper grease. I also carry out a full underbody visual check and give it a full power wash.

Yes I have had some advisories, even a fail last year from my local Stealer, a separate story.
As for the MoT its a complete sham and should be taken away from garages as no two garages can come to the same result.
Advisories can appear one year then disappear the next even with the same test station carrying out the test.

G

· #16 · Oct 21, 2017

Jag75 said:
......As for the MoT its a complete sham and should be taken away from garages as no two garages can come to the same result.
Advisories can appear one year then disappear the next even with the same test station carrying out the test.

A tester once tried to charge me to adjust the headlight alignment as he said it would be a fail despite me then taking it to another MoT garage who confirmed my lights were perfectly okay.

Jag75

· #17 · Oct 22, 2017

Last year I was charged £760 by Parks Jaguar Ayr for new rear upper arms. The car had only done 42 k and I asked for the old parts to be returned.
Its a long story and already covered on here but I re fitted the original parts and got a pass.
One year on I was about to get the car re tested again and was confident I would get a pass again but unfortunately the car was written off before that test was carried out.
I still have the new upper arms that were fitted a year ago.

Rowley_1812

· #18 · Oct 23, 2017

PASS today with no advisories ... third year running! Happy with that! :-D

Combination of a careful owner and a reliable and trustworthy indy mechanic.

Mind you, not so happy about NOT being exempt from the TfL T-charge.

But hey, if I need to drive to London I'll do it at weekends or after 7pm.

Jag-Black

· #19 · Oct 23, 2017

Zero123 said:
A tester once tried to charge me to adjust the headlight alignment as he said it would be a fail despite me then taking it to another MoT garage who confirmed my lights were perfectly okay.

A lad ad work has similar story. Last years advisories gone, same garage.

Charging for headlight adjustment is pushing it a bit.

I like to see some advisories or I feel they haven't looked properly for my forty quid.

G

· #20 · Oct 23, 2017

You can check the full history (since 2005) of a car's MoTs including the name of the garage, whether it passed or failed and lists all the faults including advisories.

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

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