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[Viral_Jim]

Told by main dealers that it is not allowed to be welded

Got to be cobblers surely.

I mean, think about all Land Rover products over about 10 yrs old. The entire chassis is basically one big frame and about 99% of them have had structural welding at some point. I don't see why a corsa would be special in this regard.

TBH I think you misheard him. I think what he actually said was. "Sorry sir we don't do welding here, however we would be really very happy to sell you £500 worth of brand new component, plus about the same again to fit it".

[Webby the Bear]

I THINK that there is something in the MOT about it. I'll ask tomorrow 

[Lazydocker]

I take back my earlier comments... I've not been testing for 16 years and had to look it up!

The subframe is a "Highly Stressed Component" and therefore a repair patch is not acceptable, it would need to be completely rebuilt which makes it cost prehibitive.

I stand by my replacement comment though... Get a good second hand one, clean it up and treat/paint it before fitting. Then stick it on and forget about it

[citroenguy]

Here in Sweden welding subframes is ok for the MOT. As long as it is done right.

[Lazydocker]

Here in Sweden welding subframes is ok for the MOT. As long as it is done right.

It's ok here but cost prehibitive. It would need to be done by a coded welder, replacing the whole section, not patching it.

[Viral_Jim]

Here in Sweden welding subframes is ok for the MOT. As long as it is done right.

It's ok here but cost prehibitive. It would need to be done by a coded welder, replacing the whole section, not patching it.

Ah. Now that makes a lot more sense 

[STEMO]

SWMBO's Corsa 1.4 has just failed its MOT spectacularly on rust hole in front subframe . Told by main dealers that it is not allowed to be welded (?) and a new subframe is about £500 retail (although I could get it trade) plus fitting. As it is a 2001 Elegance top of the range model, brought by us new and has now only got 49256 miles on it (backed up by all old MOT's and a full service history) and is in immaculate condition we are very sad about this.

Question is - are they correct that the subframe  cannot be or is not allowed to be welded? If that is right then it is not economic to pay out circa £350 (trade) on a new subframe  plus fitting costs as car is probably only worth about £400 - £500? with an MOT.
Could pick up a used subframe for about £60 - £100 on fleabay have it fitted for about £150 but there would be no real guarantee of its condition rust wise and thus next MOT could fail again.

Could easily get up to £500 by breaking it as 1.4 engines go for about £300-350, probably alloy wheels with good tyres £100, seats etc £75 plus other odds and sods, but am not in a position to SORN and store it to break it.

So it looks like its going to the crusher which is a great shame as it is in tip top nick apart from this subframe. We have been to see a Viva 1.0SL A/C this morning, 6 month old with 475 miles on clock and are going for this. Main dealer says that one of the grease monkeys races stock cars and banger at Arlington near Eastbourne and he may well use it for that if he wanted to.
That upset wifey who is/was very attached to her poor old Corsa.

If anyone on here wanted to collect it and take it on for repair to use for themselves or to break it for me, PM me, but will need quick reply as its going on the 28th.

My take on this is that, even if the cost of a new subframe and fitting is worth more than the car, if the car is that good and your are happy with it and you reckon you'll get more years from it, just get it done. What'll it cost? £1000? You won't get much else for that.

[cam.in.head]

Like he said !.   Exactly. For £1000 absolute max for a brand new frame fitted she gets back the cars that shes so attatched to. The car has no hidden secrets and is a known quantity. For used parts which can be examined properly and rustproofed before fitting we are talking of a £250 job. We all hear of so many people who take something for repair be whatever it is not just a car and are told thats its not repairable or parts cannot be got.they dont want to spend 'x' amount of money on it so end up coming away being 'persuaded' to spend ten or twenty times more. My brother moved into a house and decded to get the boiler serviced because there was no paperwork saying when it had last been done. They came and told him it was condemned and the part was not available anymore. It was only a 7 year old baxi .so thay did him a 'deal' on a new boiler. Nearly £2000 later including scaffolding due to it being a 3rd floor apartment. They wouldnt tell him what part was unavailable !

[STEMO]

At the very least, get round/phone a few independent garages and ask for a price for supply and fit. Or, if you reckon you can get the frame cheaper, just for fit. You've got nothing to lose but time.

[wingman]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions guys.

Gollum it did not get as far as a complete test, as in fairness the tester did not think it was worth continuing until some decision had been made on how we wanted to proceed. If we don't want it fixed then a fail certificate will presumably be issued and the car scrapped. Haven't forgotten about photo and will get one if I can just out of interest.

So from LazyDockers post it seems as though the dealer was right that welding is not on and only option is subframe replacement.
Appreciate that I could either obtain a new subframe at trade price through my friendly storeman at another main dealer OR get a used one from a breaker, then get either fitted. The problem I have with latter course is that I don't know of any reliable breakers locally or in a reasonable distance, so would have to go further afield and rely on getting exactly the right subframe and one that is going to last a few years. Add the cost of the frame, cost of courier and cost of fitting and I guess we are looking at about £300. At moment I don't think that's viable on a car that's only worth circa £500 (if that). Also bearing in mind that all this has got to happen before 28th March when tax, ins and MOT all expire and I do not have room to SORN it.

Given different circumstances, time pressures and my aches and pains with arthritis I would love to break the car for parts but as above that cannot be the option at moment so very reluctantly it seems as though it will go to Corsa heaven. I am open to offers over and above what the dealer has offered me as scrap value for it, so if any forum member wants to PM me, make an offer to take it away and then break it themselves please feel free to do so, but the time is tight and must be gone by 27th March at latest.

[STEMO]

You're not that attached to it, then.

[Sir Tigger KC]

You're not that attached to it, then.

Yep it seems that way.    You've got a week to find a local indy garage who will do the job at an acceptable price.  Drop it round there, pick it up with a new MOT when it's done, and sort the MOT/TAX to suit. 

On the otherhand maybe Mrs wingman fancies a new car. 

[Bigron]

Brreakeryard.com will search the breakers local to you for exactly what you need - with prices - and some would deliver, too.
I hate to see a good car die.....

Ron.

[cam.in.head]

You're not that attached to it, then.

.                                  £300 ish to repair a car that someone is very atteched to vs spend about 8 grand on a new car ! If you didnt intend on selling the car then what its actually worth means nothing.

[Doctor Gollum]

The cynic within suggests that if the car was taken to a n other MoT station it would pass...

Main dealer approach... Pretend it's failed but won't charge for the test out of the kindness of our hearts, sell new car and service manager gets a nice low mileage Corsa for his daughter to take to uni...