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[DaveyDavey]

Six weeks ago I took my car in for a (half price) MOT to see what was wrong with it prior to the MOT running out in November and it failed on:

1) No reserve travel on handbrake & poor handbrake performance
2) Rear exhaust rubber ounting missing
3) NSF AntiRoll bar link worn Joint
4) **Not picked up by the garage ** two small holes in the exhaust pipe before rear box.

I've serviced the rear brakes (they work a treat) replaced the one missing rubber mounting, and patched the hole in the exhaust. I tried desperately to do the roll bar link but couldn't so gave up as the MOT had run out so I booked it into VX for 2 drop links and a new MOT.

I dropped it off first thing and VX didn't ring me all day, so I turned up there at 5:30 and was told it had failed again, but this time on:

1) Offside Front Track Rod end ball joint excessive play
2) Offside rear coil spring fractured
3) Nearside Front shock absorber has serious fluid leak (was advisory on the alst MOT 6 weeks ago)

VX have quoted me £886 to sort it out.

Now £886 is probably far more than the car is actually worth (V plate 2.5 V6 auto with 88K) so I'm torn with what to do. I'm also pretty narked off with VX for suddenly coming up with a whole batch of new MOT failures.

Any thoughts on how much this little lot will take to fix if I bought the parts myself? Is it worth fixing even?

 

[Harison213]

Sounds a rip-off to me Don't think these could have gone un-noticed in the first MOT

[hotel21]

Would suggest the first course of action is to take the car for another test, anywhere other than a VX dealer....

Guessing that its a test at the same place with two different testers?

All the more reason to try an independant....

[holtender]

Way over the top, but you wouldn't expect anything else from a Dealer!

Clean the all the yellow chalk off the failures and try an independant testing station for another test is what I'd do.

[DaveyDavey]

Well for the first MOT they missed two smallish holes (couple mm each across) just on one of the centre pipes about half an inch before the join with the backbox pipes.

Plus they didn't comment on the splits at both ends of the wipers (forgot to change them despite having bought new ones the weekend before)

Two completely different garage stamps on the MOT sheets, first one was a garage half a mile up the road and the second was Drive Vx.

[RobG]

What so they replaced the droplinks then rather tell you it`s failed

Pricewise for parts.............about £70. Should really change shockers and springs as pairs so budget for about £100-120. All jobs do-able yourself.

[Harison213]

You could have tried JustMOTs if you were in the south-east. They don't have any repair garage: just MOTs! And usually at ridiculously low prices. Got mine for £15 last year!

[DaveyDavey]

Is it worth sourcing shocks and springs from someone on here breaking a saloon?

Luckily they didn't replace the droplinks though, which I suppose is a blessing!

[RobG]

Stick a wanted ad up

[DaveyDavey]

Stick a wanted ad up

Such a sensible chap you are 

[toller]

You could always take it to your local council for it's MOT, I have been doing it for years. They're the council and they don't do any type of repair so there is absolutely no incentive for them to say stuff needs replacing when it doesn't, although if it fails on something really daft like a blown bulb you have to take it away, put it right then take it back which is annoying but it's more than made up for by the piece of mind of knowing you'll not get ripped off.

Most people aren't aware that councils do MOT's,  I only found out from listening to Martin Lewis on radio 2.

[cruisetopoland]

You could always take it to your local council for it's MOT, I have been doing it for years. They're the council and they don't do any type of repair so there is absolutely no incentive for them to say stuff needs replacing when it doesn't, although if it fails on something really daft like a blown bulb you have to take it away, put it right then take it back which is annoying but it's more than made up for by the piece of mind of knowing you'll not get ripped off.

Most people aren't aware that councils do MOT's,  I only found out from listening to Martin Lewis on radio 2.

My mate runs an ancient 405 diesel with 200k on it and always goes to the council for MOT.

[trainmanone]

i would fix it myself only half a days work and about £150-£200 to sort,if it costs more than £400 to mot a car i scrap them and buy another but up to that isnt bad for 12 months motoring,
plenty of second hand parts out there springs and shocks replace as a pair, might as well do full tie rods both sides as well not that expencive then full alinment

[goonv6]

If you need to get it on the road, a trackrod end is around £20 new, spings are easy to get from a breaker, think I paid £10 for mine and the front shock, I would just get a good one for around £30 off a breaker and then replace when you have a few more quid. At the end of the day, these cars aren't worth much and you want to spend as little as possible.

[cruisetopoland]

If you need to get it on the road, a trackrod end is around £20 new, spings are easy to get from a breaker, think I paid £10 for mine and the front shock, I would just get a good one for around £30 off a breaker and then replace when you have a few more quid. At the end of the day, these cars aren't worth much and you want to spend as little as possible.

Sounds worth doing at this price 

And will save an Omega from scrappy