have i got off light or what

the black fox

the black fox

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Jeff
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the dreaded m.o.t day today ,got a 2 litre mondeo tdci thats been shall we say enhanced a bit ,took it in with fingers crossed ,all it needed was a rear wheel bearing ,cost £140 fitted i also treated it to two new rear tyres as they where near the limit .suppose i got off lightly when i hear some of the horror stories that abound .big weight off the mind though :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:
 
Not too bad I suppose, in my younger days I would have done the bearings myself. I love saving myself a few quid.
 
"got off lightly" - sounds like you were expecting to be told you were driving an unroadworthy vehicle... ;)
 
Just done mine for MOT,one front and one rear wheel bearing,front spring,front brake hose,front wishbone bush,not bad for a 17 year old motor,about £100 for parts and four of five hours work,get another year out of the old jalopy.
 
crofter said:
Just done mine for MOT,one front and one rear wheel bearing,front spring,front brake hose,front wishbone bush,not bad for a 17 year old motor,about £100 for parts and four of five hours work,get another year out of the old jalopy.
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Good price for the parts, actually it is a very good price.
 
I'd probably get the other side done soon too, if one has gone the other aint far behind. My last MOT guy told me I needed new front springs (even thought it passed) cos they had corrosion on them, When I asked if they were broken and he said no he took the huff cos I called him a cowboy. New mot garage next year methinks.
 
frank said:
I'd probably get the other side done soon too, if one has gone the other aint far behind. My last MOT guy told me I needed new front springs (even thought it passed) cos they had corrosion on them, When I asked if they were broken and he said no he took the huff cos I called him a cowboy. New mot garage next year methinks.
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Have heard MOT testers mention corroded springs before and found this. Fourth paragraph down

http://www.partinfo.co.uk/articles/94

David
 
HuntingMartians said:
I am intrigued by this. Do you tell your insurer when you change a tyre?
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No, but "in theory" you are told to inform the insurance bods of any modifications to the vehicle.
I suppose that could mean anything from a remap to twin turbos fitted with nitrous boost and the need for a parachute to be fitted for stopping at junctions:)
 
only if you actually know about them .if something was done by a previous owner how do you know whats been done . errr mr insurance man i think maybe ,possibly ,somethings been done but i don't know what ,bit like buying a second hand camera and saying its a u.k model or gray import when its had 3 previous owners
 
crofter said:
Just done mine for MOT,one front and one rear wheel bearing,front spring,front brake hose,front wishbone bush,not bad for a 17 year old motor,about £100 for parts and four of five hours work,get another year out of the old jalopy.
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at nearing 70 i can't really be assed doing my own repairs these days .
 
HuntingMartians said:
I am intrigued by this. Do you tell your insurer when you change a tyre?
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Changing a tyre, no but changing rim size and hence tyre size afaik yes!

I recall reading that even applying external stickers to the bodywork has an impact on its insurance status. In some situations it may seem daft........but with insurers their ballgame, their ball, don't want to play no insurance!
 
the black fox said:
only if you actually know about them .if something was done by a previous owner how do you know whats been done . errr mr insurance man i think maybe ,possibly ,somethings been done but i don't know what ,bit like buying a second hand camera and saying its a u.k model or gray import when its had 3 previous owners
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Hmmm? I wonder if there have been any test cases/case law because if you are deemed because of a non disclosure to be uninsured that I thought was a criminal not a civil matter. And they say ignorance of the law is no excuse for wrongdoing.

Sorry if this has opened a can of worms but just what is the situation should you ever get caught out?
 
Box Brownie said:
Changing a tyre, no but changing rim size and hence tyre size afaik yes!

I recall reading that even applying external stickers to the bodywork has an impact on its insurance status. In some situations it may seem daft........but with insurers their ballgame, their ball, don't want to play no insurance!
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I am more intrigued as everything up to your original post was about fixing worn parts it seemed. So is a replacement of broken or worn part an "enhancement" as you say. As that is the impression I got from your post.
 
HuntingMartians said:
I am more intrigued as everything up to your original post was about fixing worn parts it seemed. So is a replacement of broken or worn part an "enhancement" as you say. As that is the impression I got from your post.
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The op mentioned that the car had been enhanced, that is what caught my attention especially as he so to speak was relieved that the enhancements did not affect the MoT testing.
 
I took mine to my local garage (used them for nearly 20 years) for an MOT and service the week before last, it passed the test without any advisories but they refused to service it. They rang to say it had done only 880 miles in the last year and didn't need anything, needless to say I will continue to use them.

A most refreshing demonstration of honesty.
 
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It could be argued that such a low mileage might result in excessive condensation build up in the bottom end of the engine. Check for a creamy emulsion under the oil filler cap.
 
the black fox said:
the dreaded m.o.t day today ,got a 2 litre mondeo tdci thats been shall we say enhanced a bit ,took it in with fingers crossed ,all it needed was a rear wheel bearing ,cost £140 fitted i also treated it to two new rear tyres as they where near the limit .suppose i got off lightly when i hear some of the horror stories that abound .big weight off the mind though :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:
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depends how you look at it, two almost bald tyres? So you don't check them much then?

To be honest I would be quite shocked at being picked up on tyres at an MOT they are fundamental to your and others safety on the road.
 
Mr Bump said:
depends how you look at it, two almost bald tyres? So you don't check them much then?

To be honest I would be quite shocked at being picked up on tyres at an MOT they are fundamental to your and others safety on the road.
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Remember the MOT is the absolute most basic checks to a vehicles roadworthyness and you failed.
 
Mr Bump said:
To be honest I would be quite shocked at being picked up on tyres at an MOT
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There's a jump from "close to the limit" to "almost bald", and he's not said that he's received an advisory on it.
 
Alastair said:
There's a jump from "close to the limit" to "almost bald", and he's not said that he's received an advisory on it.
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True but we close to winter and ice and currently lots of rain , doesn't that count?

If your only checks on your car are at an MOT then you are pretty much not doing enough, tyres should be at the very least be given a quick look over once a week and a mental note of how much tread. Also tyre pressures, I know that the tyres on my citroen despite being on for over 25k miles are still very healthy for tread and I expect in about 5k miles (next april) ish to be replacing the front .

If you had 1.6mm of hair on your head would you not consider yourself close to bald?
 
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Mr Bump said:
If you had 1.6mm of hair on your head would you not consider yourself close to bald?
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And now you're quoting the legal minimum after having just agreed that there's no evidence how close the tires in question are to it.

10/10 for both inconsistency and persistence (y) :D
 
Alastair said:
And now you're quoting the legal minimum after having just agreed that there's no evidence how close the tires in question are to it.

10/10 for both inconsistency and persistence (y) :D
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yep indeed, so how much would you consider to be acceptable?

2mm, 3mm?

I replace my tyres at an absolute minimum of 3mm way before a frown from the MOT inspector.

My point was not the measurement at the MOT but more the way the OP approached his car and its safety inspections.

Its a bit like asking a BIKER how they would feel if their bike failed its MOT on anything, most would be horrified that they had not taken enough care and maintenance.

some car owners seem to approach this matter................differently, basically awaiting things to drop off before fixing
 
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People seem to think enhancements can allow insurance companies to inflate prices excessively but a little shopping around and it can make very little difference.
 
foggy4ever said:
People seem to think enhancements can allow insurance companies to inflate prices excessively but a little shopping around and it can make very little difference.
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The insurer I work for adds 10% for each modification for up to 3 modifications, after that, they decline cover.

If you had 3 undeclared mods, and were in an accident, the likely outcome is that they'd pay out, but, re-work your premiums to what they should have been and deduct the extra from the payout. However, if you had enough modifications that they'd have declined cover in the first place, you may well find yourself not getting a penny if you do need to claim.

But, as you say, that's because the place I work for doesn't generally cater for modifications and you'll in all likelihood get a better price by shopping around.
 
Mr Bastable said:
I took mine to my local garage (used them for nearly 20 years) for an MOT and service the week before last, it passed the test without any advisories but they refused to service it. They rang to say it had done only 880 miles in the last year and didn't need anything, needless to say I will continue to use them.

A most refreshing demonstration of honesty.
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I would have asked them to change the brake fluid at least. It's hygroscopic and naturally absorbs moisture and recommended to be changed yearly (even though nobody ever does) irrespective of mileage.

But yes, a refreshingly honest approach.
 
KitsuneAndy said:
The insurer I work for adds 10% for each modification for up to 3 modifications, after that, they decline cover.

If you had 3 undeclared mods, and were in an accident, the likely outcome is that they'd pay out, but, re-work your premiums to what they should have been and deduct the extra from the payout. However, if you had enough modifications that they'd have declined cover in the first place, you may well find yourself not getting a penny if you do need to claim.

But, as you say, that's because the place I work for doesn't generally cater for modifications and you'll in all likelihood get a better price by shopping around.
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I use Greenlight who only insure modified cars. I would say I have 5 separate mods, all declared even the footwell leds which make 6
 
foggy4ever said:
I use Greenlight who only insure modified cars. I would say I have 5 separate mods, all declared even the footwell leds which make 6
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I just meant that it's the company I work for's policy to only insure up to 3 mods, that includes tinted windows etc.

Other insurers will be different, and obviously specialist insurers probably have no such limits at all.
 
it probably depends on the mod - LEDs , respray, properly fitted body kit etc don't have an effect on roadworthyness so shouldn't really effect the premium much (unless they make it more desirable /likely to be stolen which isn't that likely)

on the otherhand lowering it by chopping the springs, stancing, stretching tyres , fitting a steering wheel without airbag , and sticking on vileside body kit with isopon or mouse expansiff is likely to convert the car into an unroadworthy undriveable heap of fail with the handling characteristics of an oil tanker... and i'd expect increase the premium pretty sharply if they'll insure it at all
 
big soft moose said:
it probably depends on the mod - LEDs , respray, properly fitted body kit etc don't have an effect on roadworthyness so shouldn't really effect the premium much (unless they make it more desirable /likely to be stolen which isn't that likely)
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I dunno how they rate it, I don't work on that side of the business, but I wonder if it has something to do with the driver profile. 20 year old who mods his car, even with properly fitted mods, might be a higher risk than someone who doesn't mod theirs, from a statistical point of view.
 
OMG what a load of goodie goodies we have on here ,the mind boggles totally . you are all charged with taking things that don't concern you far to seriously .and rest assured i carry out more than sufficient checks on my car both my rear tyres where in excess of the needed tread and across the whole width to the tread ,the only reason i changed them was with winter coming its better to have new ones fitted .and when shown the bearing that was faulty it still sounded fine to me with no play at all .but if they say it needs doing get it done .... might just go down the high street and bare my bum now as a gesture of fun :exit::exit:
 
Jeff.. I think your choice of thread title set you up for a knocking - "have i got off light or what" doesn't sound like someone taking road worthiness safely. It's a phrase that implies you expected a long list of faults and advisories but was relieved when none of them were spotted. If you're going to bare your arse, do it as a reminder to choose a better topic title next time! :D
 
I got off lightly with mine this week too. My airbag light on my car is on. The fault is under the drivers chair and been on for years, however this year it got picked up and failed. Every now and then it goes off for a bit. This happened yesterday so i rushed down while it was off for the retest and it passed. 3 minutes later on the drive home it came back on again!

I must speak to nilagin he's the ford man he maybe able to help. https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/members/nilagin.452/
 
To be honest, I've never liked the current MOT system. I think cars should be tested yearly OR every 25000 miles - whichever is sooner.
I'm doing 50K miles a year meaning my car won't need testing till its done 150K miles. It's going to be a dog by then!
 
JulesP said:
To be honest, I've never liked the current MOT system. I think cars should be tested yearly OR every 25000 miles - whichever is sooner.
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The TUV in Germany is every two years, but is regarded as a bit more rigorous than the MOT.

But regardless of the MOT frequency - it's always the driver's responsibility to make sure the car is roadworthy every time it's put on the road between inspections. And a lot of people don't realise that this applies to company cars as well. If the car is not roadworthy it might be a PUWER offence for the company, but it will always be a motoring offence for the driver.

.. and this goes for insurance too.. a colleague came across an interesting situation with a business this year where an employee has acquired a record, points on his licence and a fine because his employer failed to take out the correct insurance on the company van. As far as we can ascertain the employer has committed no criminal offence but the employee has driven without insurance. How often do you check the company's insurance policy before taking the pool car or delivery van?
 
rjbell said:
I got off lightly with mine this week too. My airbag light on my car is on. The fault is under the drivers chair and been on for years, however this year it got picked up and failed. Every now and then it goes off for a bit. This happened yesterday so i rushed down while it was off for the retest and it passed. 3 minutes later on the drive home it came back on again!

I must speak to nilagin he's the ford man he maybe able to help.
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bloody ell, so what would happen in an accident would it deploy?
 
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