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[Lizzie Zoom]

My Omega has passed again, but with a couple of advisories on two sections of "corroded but structurally rigidity is not significantly reduced" chassis struts near steering mounting points.

So that will form the first part of my maintenance and repairs for 2023, with a visit first to my local reputable body shop!  Cam belt and exhaust central silencer boxes are then next on the list.

The amazing thing is I only have travelled 1,600 miles since the previous MOT!   That is my lowest mileage ever, so gone are the days of over 100,000 miles over a year  that I did on business

[Andy B]

 

[MikeV6]

My Omega has passed again, but with a couple of advisories on two sections of "corroded but structurally rigidity is not significantly reduced" chassis struts near steering mounting points.

So that will form the first part of my maintenance and repairs for 2023, with a visit first to my local reputable body shop!  Cam belt and exhaust central silencer boxes are then next on the list.

The amazing thing is I only have travelled 1,600 miles since the previous MOT!   That is my lowest mileage ever, so gone are the days of over 100,000 miles over a year  that I did on business

Good to see another one on the road for another year.

B30XE is due one this weekend if i get chance to get it to the MOT Station

[Doctor Gollum]

That will be a complete strip down of the front end to repair properly. Anything else will only be a temporary fix.

[Marks DTM Calib]

That will be a complete strip down of the front end to repair properly. Anything else will only be a temporary fix.

I disagree, it can be done without with skill and care 

[Doctor Gollum]

Surely the subframe needs dropping and the steering box/idler bracket to ensure full assessment and appropriate treatment behind the attachments.

And any repairing of the front lower crossmember would surely be much more comprehensive with the front bumper and cooling pack removed.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Surely the subframe needs dropping and the steering box/idler bracket to ensure full assessment and appropriate treatment behind the attachments.

And any repairing of the front lower crossmember would surely be much more comprehensive with the front bumper and cooling pack removed.

The small areas affected on mine are very accessible from under the vehicle.

[dave the builder]

Congratulations on the MOT pass 

[Sir Tigger KC]

Hello Lizzie! 

Congrats on the pass! 

[Doctor Gollum]

It's what you can't see that matters.

Sure it can be wirebrushed, fibreglassed, Dinitrolled and undersealed to get a couple of years protection an Mot pass, but you can't readily access the chassis frames next to the cats behind the heat shields with the exhaust in the way.

Obviously, the remote diagnosis will always default to the worst case scenario, but if you've owned a rusty Omega then you understand that what you can see is always the tip of the iceberg.

That £2,500 43,000 mile Estate on auto trader being a case in point.

Looked fantastic, MoT fail last week suggests it needs new sills, front rails and a floor pan just to pass, and that's notwithstanding of the various patches it's had for previous Mots.

It will always be worse than it looks.

[Sir Tigger KC]

You're such a cheerful sod! 

[Lizzie Zoom]

You're such a cheerful sod! 

He is

Yes, thanks Sir Tigger.  All I care about is I’ve got the car baring any misfortunes for another year.
I will in any case take it to an excellent body shop near me and get an expert opinion.  The MOT tester treated it as a minor advisory, that eventually should be dealt with.  It’s been like that for three years, so I am not panicking! What will be will be.  It is only a car.

[cam.in.head]

as i have just commented in another thread,every car is different.they all deteriorate/ rust at different rates depending on their history.
this issue is proven by my viva hc. they were know to rust badly even when quite new and often needed inner wing panels,sills and valances .but mine are all original and untouched except the back 6" of one rear sill.the car is used all year round AND stored in a concrete garage not exactly known for their damp free qualities !
its not 100% guaranteed that every know rust area will be a rust area on every car.
my brothers had quite a few rust issues over the years that were dealt with properly and were never an issue again.
mine did have some crusty areas in the front chassis areas but were poked,and hammered to their death to see the extent of the rust and only needed 2 small squares cutting out and grafting in. i use galv plate to repair nowadays and a blasting gun too.i intend to keep mine  forever so am 100% sure to cut out ALL the rust.
your car MAY be quite bad if attacked properly BUT might not be too ?

[cam.in.head]

but also 100% agree with the earlier suggestion that it may  be bad and need a full front end strip to get at everything properly.
in that case you would examine all faces and joints and anything slightly suspect should all be done at the same time whilst you can access the area.
and after that any repairs should be well protected on BOTH sides of the new metal.
(thats for you bob !)  lol

[STEMO]

but also 100% agree with the earlier suggestion that it may  be bad and need a full front end strip to get at everything properly.
in that case you would examine all faces and joints and anything slightly suspect should all be done at the same time whilst you can access the area.
and after that any repairs should be well protected on BOTH sides of the new metal.
(thats for you bob !)  lol

Or......just make the most of another 12 months driving it and hope, next year, that the tester puts down exactly the same advisories. A lot of them do.

[dave the builder]

Or......just make the most of another 12 months driving it and hope, next year, that the tester puts down exactly the same advisories. A lot of them do.

[VXL V6]

Well a pass is a pass and at least it gives some time to get the car repaired. 

As others have said, and through personal experience (the project car has had sills, rear arches and chassis legs repaired over the years i've owned it) the rust noted on the advisory is a far bigger problem than the MOT might suggest, that's not to say it can't be sorted because it can, but you have to make a decision about how good a repair is to be performed, how much you are prepared to spend and thus how long you are expecting to keep the car for.

The front chassis leg rots from the inside out around the steering box location, it also rots out around the engine subframe strengthening mount points. Any Omega now needs to have all the known locations (the list is growing!) for rust checked regularly because spending money on the larger service tasks such as cambelts etc on these vehicles at this age could be wasted money.

[cam.in.head]

to be honest its the availability of cambelt kits, sensors ,gaskets,control modules that are the real issue to me in the future. they are what will become harder to find and fix.
rust repair is just dismantling time,cut and replace.free if you do it yourself (or that can kill a car money wise if you pay someone to do it !)

[Doctor Gollum]

You're such a cheerful sod! 

He is

Yes, thanks Sir Tigger.  All I care about is I’ve got the car baring any misfortunes for another year.
I will in any case take it to an excellent body shop near me and get an expert opinion.  The MOT tester treated it as a minor advisory, that eventually should be dealt with.  It’s been like that for three years, so I am not panicking! What will be will be.  It is only a car.

It’s not a question of being cheerful or not, but if it's been an advisory for 3+ years, it will 'suddenly' become a fail.

Modern cars are deceptive... They start on demand, don't leave you stranded every thousand miles and can be depended on. But you have to understand that a 20 year old anything will require time, effort and money spending on it to keep it up to scratch.

The Omega design has visually aged well, but unless you're prepared to start putting time/money into it, then you may as well trade it in for a 3-5 year old appliance or accept that it is worth nowt and drive it into the ground.

[Rangie]

Congratulations Lizzie, I would spend a bit of cash having the advisories repaired properly and enjoy a bit more time with a lovely vehicle, I regret to this day selling mine pound for pound it was the best value car that I've ever owned.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Congratulations Lizzie, I would spend a bit of cash having the advisories repaired properly and enjoy a bit more time with a lovely vehicle, I regret to this day selling mine pound for pound it was the best value car that I've ever owned.

Thanks Rangie

Yes, I intend to get the professionals on this so the repair / replacement is up to a good standard.  If the cost is prohibitive, then I will just do the best I can do with a DIY repair to get another year or three out of her.  But with so little else wrong with my car it is still worth spending some cash up to a point to make her last as long as possible.  Yes, I love my Omega and it is the best car I have ever owned.  When she goes I will be upset :'( :'( :'(

[Sir Tigger KC]

Congratulations Lizzie, I would spend a bit of cash having the advisories repaired properly and enjoy a bit more time with a lovely vehicle, I regret to this day selling mine pound for pound it was the best value car that I've ever owned.

Agreed! 

[Doctor Gollum]

I have half an eye on a ULEZ compliant one, but not sure that I can face owning another Omega, as capable as they are.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I have half an eye on a ULEZ compliant one, but not sure that I can face owning another Omega, as capable as they are.

This is a big consideration when looking for a new car, as ULEZ or Clean Air Zones will spread around the country like a plague.   

[Doctor Gollum]

The trouble is that post 2008 cars of interest are mostly diesel.

So if choosing a Euro4 petrol car, then you may as well buy something more interesting than an auto desmond

[dave the builder]

The trouble is that post 2008 cars of interest are mostly diesel.

So if choosing a Euro4 petrol car, then you may as well buy something more interesting than an auto desmond

2.6 and 3.2 after a certain date are compliant apart from Lundon 
My 2.6 is no charge for Birminum ,Bristol etc , not that i want to go to those places 

[Doctor Gollum]

The trouble is that post 2008 cars of interest are mostly diesel.

So if choosing a Euro4 petrol car, then you may as well buy something more interesting than an auto desmond

2.6 and 3.2 after a certain date are compliant apart from Lundon 
My 2.6 is no charge for Birminum ,Bristol etc , not that i want to go to those places 

Essentially '52/03 on which limits the field somewhat... And with the best will in the world even a nice Omega will eventually rust out if used daily. And there simply isn't the availability to chance it.

[Varche]

I have half an eye on a ULEZ compliant one, but not sure that I can face owning another Omega, as capable as they are.

This is a big consideration when looking for a new car, as ULEZ or Clean Air Zones will spread around the country like a plague.   

Not just Britain, all over Europe for those of you adventurous enough. We already have to be careful . All towns in Spain over 50,000 people have to have a scheme in place by end of 2023. The schemes aren’t even uniform over Europe. I need to get a sticker - only 6 euros. Yet another nail in the going gone golden age of motoring!

[Lizzie Zoom]

I have half an eye on a ULEZ compliant one, but not sure that I can face owning another Omega, as capable as they are.

This is a big consideration when looking for a new car, as ULEZ or Clean Air Zones will spread around the country like a plague.   

Not just Britain, all over Europe for those of you adventurous enough. We already have to be careful . All towns in Spain over 50,000 people have to have a scheme in place by end of 2023. The schemes aren’t even uniform over Europe. I need to get a sticker - only 6 euros. Yet another nail in the going gone golden age of motoring!

Yes indeed, owning and driving an electric car will be a completely different experience which at my age will be for the young, not me unless my Omega and me is defeated by rust!! :'( :'(

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

My Omega is ULEZ compliant, as is the C1. The Boxster isnt, but if I send of to Porsche UK for some paperwork, and register it, then it would be, despite being almost 23 years old.
Te whole thing is a con. Just a money spinner for Kahn to try and fill some of the black holes in his budget.

[Rangie]

My Omega is ULEZ compliant, as is the C1. The Boxster isnt, but if I send of to Porsche UK for some paperwork, and register it, then it would be, despite being almost 23 years old.
Te whole thing is a con. Just a money spinner for Kahn to try and fill some of the black holes in his budget.

.

Be interesting to see how this scheme goes , there has been a lot of things said to Khan regarding his honesty about the whole idea. I think  that there will be a lot of trouble in London, it's totally unfair to the working man/woman to be expected to pay £12.50 to use their vehicles. Khan should be removed from his position as Mayor why folk voted him in I will never understand.

[ronnyd]

My Omega is ULEZ compliant, as is the C1. The Boxster isnt, but if I send of to Porsche UK for some paperwork, and register it, then it would be, despite being almost 23 years old.
Te whole thing is a con. Just a money spinner for Kahn to try and fill some of the black holes in his budget.

.

Be interesting to see how this scheme goes , there has been a lot of things said to Khan regarding his honesty about the whole idea. I think  that there will be a lot of trouble in London, it's totally unfair to the working man/woman to be expected to pay £12.50 to use their vehicles. Khan should be removed from his position as Mayor why folk voted him in I will never understand.

Colour of his politics a would imagine.  Is London largely Labour? 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

My Omega is ULEZ compliant, as is the C1. The Boxster isnt, but if I send of to Porsche UK for some paperwork, and register it, then it would be, despite being almost 23 years old.
Te whole thing is a con. Just a money spinner for Kahn to try and fill some of the black holes in his budget.

.

Be interesting to see how this scheme goes , there has been a lot of things said to Khan regarding his honesty about the whole idea. I think  that there will be a lot of trouble in London, it's totally unfair to the working man/woman to be expected to pay £12.50 to use their vehicles. Khan should be removed from his position as Mayor why folk voted him in I will never understand.

Colour of his politics a would imagine.  Is London largely Labour?

Yep...Majority Labour, majority a colour other than white.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Glad to hear the old girl has passed her physical.....and the car has also passed it's MOT.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Glad to hear the old girl has passed her physical.....and the car has also passed it's MOT.

Thanks Opti

Not sure I physically would pass anything now!