3.0si MOT - passed with reservations

[dhobbs]

MOT time today.
Passed with three reservations
1. Windscreen stonechip less the 10mm - been there for the last 5 years.
2. Number plate faded - have new one ready but want to get rid of front bracket
3. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakend Read [2.4.G.1]
The sub frame worries me, although the guy says it's just surface rust and they have to log it nowadays. Next time I'm under the car I may get the hammerite out!

I''ve also been toying with the idea of replacing all the subframe bushes, but appreciate this is at least a days work dropping the rear out (read expensive).

At least I've got another year to sort it out.

 

[R60BBA]

Subframe corrosion on a Z4?

These cars have 12 year BMW corrosion warranty. It may be worth getting that checked with your local stealer.

 

[mmm-five]

Subframe corrosion on a Z4?

These cars have 12 year BMW corrosion warranty. It may be worth getting that checked with your local stealer.

I thought it was a 12 year paintwork anti-corrosion warranty, and won’t cover anything caused by external sources - e.g. salt, grit, stones, potholes, etc.

 

[R60BBA]

Subframe corrosion on a Z4?

These cars have 12 year BMW corrosion warranty. It may be worth getting that checked with your local stealer.

I thought it was a 12 year paintwork anti-corrosion warranty, and won’t cover anything caused by external sources - e.g. salt, grit, stones, potholes, etc.

Quoted from BMW’s website:

“All new BMW cars registered from 1st January 2004 are covered by a 12-year anti-corrosion Warranty against perforation by rust.

All repair work carried out under the anti-corrosion Warranty must be carried out by an Authorised BMW Retailer or Authorised Repairer. The Warranty covers corrosion which occurs from inside the metal panels or box sections of the car.

The Warranty does not cover corrosion caused by neglect, accident damage, stone chips or other external influences.”

Not just paintwork. You are correct on the stone chips tho. Regardless, I would still enquire this with the main dealer.

 

[dhobbs]

Interesting take on the warranty, worth a query.

They said it was only surface rust.
When I had the rear bumper off the box section was rusted too. Quick lick of hammerite.

 

[ph001]

Yeh, it's the 'perforation' clause that is key. They won't do anything at all about surface rust on undercarriage. I wouldn't be concerned about it either. BTW, search ACF50 on Google. It's an amazing spray on corrosion inhibitor... couldn't be easier to apply and not expensive.

 

[Ewazix]

Testers obsession with making pointless comments like this is a pet hate of mine. If its not a problem and isn't going to be in the next 12 months what's the point! Might as well mention tyre tread is down to 7mm and pads have 40k miles left on them
Oh and dont get me started on "undertrays fitted" , why not mention fooking bumpers are fitted? Last MOT I told the tester if he added the undertrays this time its the last MOT business he'd get from me. He didn't.

 

[R60BBA]

Testers obsession with making pointless comments like this is a pet hate of mine. If its not a problem and isn't going to be in the next 12 months what's the point! Might as well mention tyre tread is down to 7mm and pads have 40k miles left on them
Oh and dont get me started on "undertrays fitted" , why not mention fooking bumpers are fitted? Last MOT I told the tester if he added the undertrays this time its the last MOT business he'd get from me. He didn't.

Get your uncle to do it mate and you will be worry free.

 

[Ewazix]

Testers obsession with making pointless comments like this is a pet hate of mine. If its not a problem and isn't going to be in the next 12 months what's the point! Might as well mention tyre tread is down to 7mm and pads have 40k miles left on them
Oh and dont get me started on "undertrays fitted" , why not mention fooking bumpers are fitted? Last MOT I told the tester if he added the undertrays this time its the last MOT business he'd get from me. He didn't.

Get your uncle to do it mate and you will be worry free.

 

[Nictrix]

Testers obsession with making pointless comments like this is a pet hate of mine. If its not a problem and isn't going to be in the next 12 months what's the point! Might as well mention tyre tread is down to 7mm and pads have 40k miles left on them
Oh and dont get me started on "undertrays fitted" , why not mention fooking bumpers are fitted? Last MOT I told the tester if he added the undertrays this time its the last MOT business he'd get from me. He didn't.

This is annoying.
The last MOT for our Z4 I told the guys that the rear tyres were getting low and they would be replaced soon.
They were put down as an advisory with 3mm left on them which will always show on an MOT check.

 

[dhobbs]

I don't mind advisories. As long as they have an impact in the next 12 months. Otherwise no point in mentioning it.

 

[srhutch]

Testers obsession with making pointless comments like this is a pet hate of mine. If its not a problem and isn't going to be in the next 12 months what's the point! Might as well mention tyre tread is down to 7mm and pads have 40k miles left on them
Oh and dont get me started on "undertrays fitted" , why not mention fooking bumpers are fitted? Last MOT I told the tester if he added the undertrays this time its the last MOT business he'd get from me. He didn't.

I had this undertrays fitted bollocks last time my local BMW main dealer tested the zed :lol:

 

[MACK]

Over zealous mot testers seem to everywhere these days, I'd go somewhere else next year. If they contact you in 11 months like many garages do, tell them you won't be back and why. It wasn't something he needed to list and if it starts costing them I'm sure it will vanish The undertrays thing I can handle as it's fair play if they can't actual see something to check it properly but that said, they're mechanics can't they remove a few screws/bolts to remove the bloody trays. I'd rather buy a car that's been properly check than one that hasn't because a few bits of plastic got in the way, they really do need to sort this issue out.

 

[dhobbs]

Another year and now another MOT. Passed with no advisories! Only changed the number plate, same windscreen, same rust on subframe, same undertrays fitted!

Luck of the draw!

 

[Capa]

I quite enjoy the fact 'roll cage fitted' is an advisory...

... I know. At great personal effort I put it there...

 

[srhutch]

Another year and now another MOT. Passed with no advisories! Only changed the number plate, same windscreen, same rust on subframe, same undertrays fitted!

Luck of the draw!

Advisories are a waste of time generally, unless it's something definitive.

Crap like "brake pads worn" and "tyres getting near to limit". Driving 2k per year they aren't going to wear out that quick either and they are subjective to the tester so worthless.

 

[dhobbs]

I quite enjoy the fact 'roll cage fitted' is an advisory...

... I know. At great personal effort I put it there...

That’s the best advisory I’ve heard

 

[Mr Tidy]

Advisories are a waste of time generally, unless it's something definitive.

Crap like "brake pads worn" and "tyres getting near to limit". Driving 2k per year they aren't going to wear out that quick either and they are subjective to the tester so worthless.

Exactly this!

I posted in Other Marques about my E91 MOT earlier this week. Tester wanted to fail it for worn rear brake pads. So I told him that the OBC said they had 28,000 miles to go!

So he agreed to putting it as an advisory - but he missed the front pads. They've only got 26,000 miles to go.

 

[CRAIGO]

Perforation is the BMW stance. Makes sense. They are quality but consumers will drive through gravel and salt.

Mine is suffering ‘light surface’ rear end corrosion in MOT terms. This is now an age of legal obligation. I’ll bet when my MOT come ups in March, it won’t be mentioned. Cover your own arse etc. In basic terms ‘light surface corrosion’ isn’t structural. It’s some rear bracing surface rust which requires a light sand back and proper treatment. My car is a 3.0i 2003 - go figure. My much more powerful 1.8 MX5 of the same era has structurally rotten through twice by this age because it was double skinned by Mazda to pass regidity specs. Those regs weren’t a thing on my MK1 turbo which was a single skin chassis and drained any salty water from all the sub-frame.

Seriously, in comparison, there’s little to worry about in terms of Z4 rot.

Just drive the dam thing. It’s luxurious in comparisons. You don’t even need to buy a welder to own one.

 

[dhobbs]

Mine’s a daily drive, so it sees all weather. Only seen one bit of rust on the rear spring housing. Sorted that out.
Only worry if you get an over exuberant MOT tester.