Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: kevpuk on 27 January 2010, 12:33:38

Title: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 27 January 2010, 12:33:38
My poor little Omega failed its MOT today on two points :

1 - Nearside rear Shock Absorber has a serious fluid leak

2 - Nearside Headlamp not in clean condition affecting beam image

Last year, they advised that the rear shock had a weep and - being foolish - I haven't done anything about it to date. So, it looks like a replacement.....as for the headlamp, it is the usual 'cloudy' lens thing.

So, questions to the OOF massive...

1 - Self-levelling rear shock - do I buy from VX (quoted £114+vat, apparently including Trade Card discount  :-/ ) or is there somewhere else recommended ?

2 - Brasso and fine sandpapering of the headlamp seems like an option, I have done this before.....or should I bite the bullet and buy replacement (Xenon, so likely pricey  :-/ ) - if so, recommendations where from ?

Appreciate any thoughts - need to get this resolved by the end of the month  >:(
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Impact Pete on 27 January 2010, 12:37:25
had same failure on mine last monday, best price I found was from andyc, Pm him and ask for the trade club price which approx was £74+ vat each

Plus you should really replace both rear shocks at the same time
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2010, 12:38:02
Quote
......
1 - Self-levelling rear shock - do I buy from VX (quoted £114+vat, apparently including Trade Card discount  :-/ ) or is there somewhere else recommended ? .......

Your parts desk is bull$h1tting you that price is full retail.

Estate with self-levelling suspension
Part Number       Retail Price     Normal Trade     Trade Club
 72119085           £114.00             £96.93              £72.71

Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Welung666 on 27 January 2010, 12:38:44
Check with the breakers like Darth Loo-Knee, he has recently broken a few estates. Just upgrade the headlights to projectors and they should be expensive, again from a breaker on here :y
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2010, 12:39:56
Quote
.....
Just upgrade the headlights to projectors and  .....

He has HID's .... it's an Elite  :y  :y
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 27 January 2010, 12:49:28
Quote
Quote
......
1 - Self-levelling rear shock - do I buy from VX (quoted £114+vat, apparently including Trade Card discount  :-/ ) or is there somewhere else recommended ? .......

Your parts desk is bull$h1tting you that price is full retail.

Estate with self-levelling suspension
Part Number       Retail Price     Normal Trade     Trade Club
 72119085           £114.00             £96.93              £72.71

Hhhmmm, thought as much as the guy on the phone said he doubted that the parts were Trade Club :(
So, need to persuade him otherwise !

Quote
Quote
.....
Just upgrade the headlights to projectors and  .....

He has HID's .... it's an Elite  :y  :y

Yep, HIDs...
Is the consensus to replace, or will a scrub up be worth the effort ?
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Impact Pete on 27 January 2010, 12:49:30
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1208460516

link to replacing rear shocks
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 27 January 2010, 12:54:19
Quote
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1208460516

link to replacing rear shocks

Great, thanks - looks ok job to do, then :)

So, I should really replace both at the same time ?
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2010, 12:57:24
Quote
Quote
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1208460516

link to replacing rear shocks

Great, thanks - looks ok job to do, then :)

So, I should really replace both at the same time ?

You should do really, especially as the nearside failed this year & the offside failed last year!  ;)
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2010, 12:58:42
Quote
..........
Is the consensus to replace, or will a scrub up be worth the effort ?

I didn't think facelift cars had a problem with clouding lenses  :-/ I'd go for polishing it.  ;)
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: djac on 27 January 2010, 12:59:32
Quote
Quote
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1208460516

link to replacing rear shocks

Great, thanks - looks ok job to do, then :)

So, I should really replace both at the same time ?

Definitely! Althought the n/s shock may take more of a pounding overall, the o/s shock is still going to be a lot more worn than a brand new one! Effects on handling would be unpredictable to say the least.

Also you will probably end up having to do the other one within a few months anyway, so just do both together...

Same goes for brakes, steering and tyres.
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 27 January 2010, 13:03:14
It was the nearside last year too - was only potentially weeping a little then, and they passed it.

OK, so need to get the pair - sounds sensible.

Now, any thoughts on persuading the VX bods to give me Trade Club price (I have a card through VODC)....

@ Andy B - that part number is deffo the correct one for the facelift estate ? planning on quoting the prices to VX......
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Welung666 on 27 January 2010, 13:04:04
Quote
Quote
.....
Just upgrade the headlights to projectors and  .....

He has HID's .... it's an Elite  :y  :y

Oh yeah.... DOH ;D ;D Can you tell the sort of day I'm having?  :'(
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2010, 13:07:46
Quote
.....
@ Andy B - that part number is deffo the correct one for the facelift estate ? planning on quoting the prices to VX......

Yes! There's the choice of just one self levelling estate shocker on the TC site  :y  :y  :y  :y
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Lazydocker on 27 January 2010, 14:02:43
Quote
It was the nearside last year too - was only potentially weeping a little then, and they passed it.

OK, so need to get the pair - sounds sensible.

Now, any thoughts on persuading the VX bods to give me Trade Club price (I have a card through VODC)....

@ Andy B - that part number is deffo the correct one for the facelift estate ? planning on quoting the prices to VX......

If they don't want to play PM andyc... He'll do it for you :y :y
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 27 January 2010, 14:18:18
Good news - they played ball and are supplying a pair @ £170.87 (2x £72.71+vat)

Thanks for the pricing, Andy B - they gave me some babble about getting charged a premium to supply in 24hrs (25% - which still does not explain how much they were charging ;) ) and said that I would now have to wait 2 days, instead of 1  8-)

That's my £12 trade club card subscription paid  ;D
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: Andy B on 27 January 2010, 14:29:07
Quote
....
 - they gave me some babble about getting charged a premium to supply in 24hrs (25% - which still does not explain how much they were charging ;) )  ....

They gave me that line at a local dealers when I asked about a fan belt. I phoned on the Friday tea time and asked if they had one, & would it be there for the Monday? When I collected it they said I'd ordered it for the Monday - hence the extra charge. It's still in my boot as a spare. I talked them round to my way of thinking  :y  :y  :y
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 27 January 2010, 14:36:11
Yep - naughty little monkeys....

So just the headlamp to resolve now - hopefully a little Brasso, a little fine sandpaper and some polishing will do the trick ?
My dad reckons he has some fibreglass polishing stuff (which is mildly abrasive) - perhaps worth a punt ?

Any ideas on how much these HID units are to buy (and where from) ?
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 31 January 2010, 09:38:38
OK, so new shocks are on - mostly straight-forward, but getting the bu$%ers out of the trailing arm was a nightmare !
Still, 3hrs for both sides :)

Now, my feeble polishing skills have thus far seemingly further clouded the lens of my headlght. I now have some Ferikle (?) - fibreglass polishing stuff, mildly abrasive - and plan to let loose the orbital polishing tool to make some headway....any recommendations for shiny & clear finish ?
Brasso ? T-Cut ? Autoglym ?
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: guncharmer on 31 January 2010, 10:18:06
Autosol , comes in a tube.
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: dbr on 31 January 2010, 18:11:07
Quote
OK, so new shocks are on - mostly straight-forward, but getting the bu$%ers out of the trailing arm was a nightmare !
Still, 3hrs for both sides :)

Now, my feeble polishing skills have thus far seemingly further clouded the lens of my headlght. I now have some Ferikle (?) - fibreglass polishing stuff, mildly abrasive - and plan to let loose the orbital polishing tool to make some headway....any recommendations for shiny & clear finish ?
Brasso ? T-Cut ? Autoglym ?
Always recommend toothpaste and a cotton cloth. works well.
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 31 January 2010, 18:13:46
All done, super shiny after a little over an hour with we 1500 grit paper, followed by Farecla (spelt right this time ;) ) polishy stuff and a mahooosive stint with an orbital polisher :D
Looks better than the other one, now - retest tomorrow, methinks
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: PhilRich on 31 January 2010, 18:17:13
Let us know how you get on :y
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: kevpuk on 03 February 2010, 13:12:28
Happy to report that my Omega passed its partial re-test today :)
Shocks took around 3hrs, with all the fiddling to get the old ones off ! As for the headlight, well, copious wet&dry sanding > fibreglass polish > powered orbital polisher = super shiny and no beam issues :D

Thanks to all for your comments et al
Title: Re: Failed MOT - Boo ! - any pointers ?
Post by: duggs on 03 February 2010, 14:22:04
Headlights !     Cheap white toothpaste/water and elbow grease..will sort it fine.

Plus, as Pm'ed, will leave yer car clean and minty fresh !