MOT tomorrow….fingers crossed…update

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 10:12 am

Managed to get a MOT slot tomorrow morning at 9am.
Will be interested to see if the items BMW raised with the car are picked up and failed on……corroded brake lines, rocker cover seal, condensation in the headlight……

j3nks79 · Post by **j3nks79** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 11:05 am

Brake lines should be spotted. And same for
Oil leak if it’s run down and the MOT tester can see it.
And condensation in headlight only if it affects the beam pattern.
Be easy to sort the headlight out today while it’s sunny and warm. Take the back cover over and pull the gasket out clean and turn it round.
Leave the cover off and cover the headlight in tinfoil for a few hours and it will get rid of the condensation

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 12:30 pm

Good luck. Can you still get to the brake lines to wipe the rust off?

enuff_zed · Post by **enuff_zed** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 1:42 pm

I'm just impressed you got an MOT on a Sunday!

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 3:57 pm

Headlight is generally fine. Depends on weather and in winter time is worse than summer.
Not had a chance to try to clean the brake lines, so just going to see what they say.
I did degrease the engine block recently and got a lot of the mankeyness off, and I haven’t seen any oil reappear at the seal since, so hoping it’s actually okay.

As to a Sunday appointment. The MOT situation is a mess in NI. All the facilities where they are carried out have roughly a 4 month backlog. If I was to try to book one today, I’d be looking October. Every now and again the centres where they are done open on a Saturday and Sunday. I was lucky that I spotted it last night and grabbed a slot.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 5:03 pm

How about an MOT every other year like everywhere else, backlog gone and everyone happy

j3nks79 · Post by **j3nks79** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 5:14 pm

pvr wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2023 5:03 pm How about an MOT every other year like everywhere else, backlog gone and everyone happy

And loads of unsafe cars on the road. Unfortunately most car owners don’t look after their car for a yearly MOT. Let alone leaving it 2 years.
The amount are poorly maintained cars I see is unbelievable.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 5:37 pm

Good luck tomorrow morning OP.

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:12 pm

PVR, our cars get their first MOT on the 4th birthday, but 3rd like yourselves.
During lockdown when it all went to pot with the pandemic and faulty lifts, the MOT centres said that due to the problems only one group needed to get MOTs.
Cars that were turning 4yrs old!
So people driving 15yr old clapped out bangers, got exempted, but those with a brand new car turning 4, had to get a test….bizarre.
Currently the police have said that we don’t need a MOT to be legally on the road, you just need proof that you have got a scheduled date in the future.
As all MOT centres are government run facilities, opening them at weekends requires paying overtime. Given the government has next to no money…….

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sat Jun 10, 2023 8:13 pm

j3nks79 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2023 5:14 pm
pvr wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2023 5:03 pm How about an MOT every other year like everywhere else, backlog gone and everyone happy
And loads of unsafe cars on the road. Unfortunately most car owners don’t look after their car for a yearly MOT. Let alone leaving it 2 years.
The amount are poorly maintained cars I see is unbelievable.

Works fine abroad

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 12:10 pm

Failed.
Corroded rear brake lines as expected.
Added to the to do list now……

On a positive note, it was the only advisory

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 12:13 pm

Retest in 4 months then?

chanlon1 · Post by **chanlon1** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 1:01 pm

Not sure when I will get it rebooked. Want to spend the time putting it up on stands and doing the pads and discs and refurbishing the calipers. Need tp make a few phones calls to see if I can get someone to look at doing the lines, so I guess it will be dependant on their availability.
My local BMW gave me a price for doing the rear lines including labour and VAT....£1300. Need to see if I can find someone to do them cheaper...never had to worry about this with any previous cars so am going to ahem to spend some time researching........

smorris_12 · Post by **smorris_12** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 1:19 pm

BMW charge a fortune because they'll fit proper pre-formed pipes. And that can involve removing subframes, fuel tanks, exhaust, prop, etc. Whereas Joe Soap garages will just wangle some cunifer into place, give it a few bends, put some flares on in situ and charge you £300.

I did an E39 set of rears once. Took an afternoon, several beers and about £20 of bits.

redped · Post by **redped** » Sun Jun 11, 2023 10:29 pm

As mentioned in viewtopic.php?t=141038, try DW Autos in Ballyclare (I've no connection with them, honest!)

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