[Jockpest]

So, my brother just got his '93 Corsa MOT'd and with his company connections managed to pay £35 all said and done.

I got mine done ('98 Corsa) and it was two days of annoyance and spending more and more money. They replaced the LAMBDA sensor for £70 to reduce my emissions. That didn't work, so they put my old one back and gave me 9 new spark plugs and a new coil pack.

This didn't bring my emissions down low enough so they put the new LAMBDA sensor back in. I just paid £267.60 for an MOT and I feel that I got ripped off. This is the same company that replaced my exhaust and 1 brake pad for £200 last month, which made my dad flip (former mechanic and current engineer).

Just looking for some in sight.

[Idle]

I'm kind of confused why you didn't ask your dad to give it a quick look over being a former mechanic to see if what they were saying was accurate.

[gbduo]

Why did they just replace one brake pad, that is pretty dangerous to only do one side!?

Sounds like a failing catalytic converter to me, if you think £300 is bad, I wouldn't take it back for them to replace the Cat!

Your mate got £35 because his car doesn't have any problems on it. £56.70 I think is the gov't cap.

[Kevmeister]

9 new spark plugs?

You have a 9 cylinder Corsa? No wonder it failed the emissions tests.

[Jockpest]

(Original post by Idle)
I'm kind of confused why you didn't ask your dad to give it a quick look over being a former mechanic to see if what they were saying was accurate.

He works 6-6 and replaced my washer motor and told me about having to replace
my exhaust, so he has given it a once over.

[Jockpest]

(Original post by gbduo)
Why did they just replace one brake pad, that is pretty dangerous to only do one side!?

Sounds like a failing catalytic converter to me, if you think £300 is bad, I wouldn't take it back for them to replace the Cat!

Your mate got £35 because his car doesn't have any problems on it. £56.70 I think is the gov't cap.

My dad reckons that they wanted a quick £50 for brake pad. They asked if I wanted to replace the cat and I said no.

Also my brother's car has a few problems but took it to a different garage. They half the price of the MOT because he works for a guy that brings them a lot of business and comp'd him a couple fixes. They said that it's pretty much guaranteed he won't pass another MOT.

[gbduo]

Take it to that garage then!?

[Jockpest]

(Original post by gbduo)
Take it to that garage then!?

I'm going to next time but it's far away, my brother would have had to take it while he was at work (he has the week off). My dad recommended this garage but only used it for tyres before, so he didn't realise they were so expensive. It's my fault for leaving it so late, my MOT runs out Monday.

[randomer1122]

Wait, so you took it there first, and thought you'd paid too much and your Dad was annoyed at how much you paid, so you took it there AGAIN for the MOT?

Surely if you go to a garage and think they are just looking to make a quick buck you wouldn't take it back to the same one?

[Clip]

Your local council should have an MOT bay that has no vested interest in you passing or failing.

[Sam Walters]

267
-50 for mot
217
-80 quid for parts (thier markup included)
137
- 25 half hour labour
112

They probably took your bill and added 100 pounds to the price.

[Sam Walters]

(Original post by Clip)
Your local council should have an MOT bay that has no vested interest in you passing or failing.

To clarify this, its the place that does all the busses and lark.

[Jockpest]

(Original post by randomer1122)
Wait, so you took it there first, and thought you'd paid too much and your Dad was annoyed at how much you paid, so you took it there AGAIN for the MOT?

Surely if you go to a garage and think they are just looking to make a quick buck you wouldn't take it back to the same one?

My dad thought the brake pad was expensive because my brother could have done it for nothing, I didn't realise until I got home. It was the MOT that seemed too much.

[her0n]

This is why you get the MOT done and don't authorise them to do any work until you SAY SO.

You must have given them the all clear to do work, as the car would have had a failed MOT.

I think it's something like, you have a week to get the problem fixed, and then the MOT station is allowed to re-test for free.

When I had my MOT done in January, it failed on 2 tyres. The garage called me to let me know, I ordered the tyres I wanted, had them delivered to the garage, they fitted them etc etc, re-tested for free and it passed.

And I agree about taking it to one of your County Council's MOT testing stations. They don't do any work at these places, just the test.

[Jockpest]

(Original post by her0n)
This is why you get the MOT done and don't authorise them to do any work until you SAY SO.

You must have given them the all clear to do work, as the car would have had a failed MOT.

I think it's something like, you have a week to get the problem fixed, and then the MOT station is allowed to re-test for free.

When I had my MOT done in January, it failed on 2 tyres. The garage called me to let me know, I ordered the tyres I wanted, had them delivered to the garage, they fitted them etc etc, re-tested for free and it passed.

And I agree about taking it to one of your County Council's MOT testing stations. They don't do any work at these places, just the test.

Thanks, going to remember this for the next time.

[Kerny]

Find a reputable place to do your MOT at that won't BS you.

[Boristhethird]

(Original post by her0n)
This is why you get the MOT done and don't authorise them to do any work until you SAY SO.

You must have given them the all clear to do work, as the car would have had a failed MOT.

I think it's something like, you have a week to get the problem fixed, and then the MOT station is allowed to re-test for free.

When I had my MOT done in January, it failed on 2 tyres. The garage called me to let me know, I ordered the tyres I wanted, had them delivered to the garage, they fitted them etc etc, re-tested for free and it passed.

And I agree about taking it to one of your County Council's MOT testing stations. They don't do any work at these places, just the test.

some garages maybe, but its not a required thing.
you are also technically not allowed to drive the car if its failed an MOT, as you know its not road worthy.

[2_plus_X_equal_me]

You Sir lack common sense. Join the army.

[CurlyBen]

(Original post by Boristhethird)
some garages maybe, but its not a required thing.

If you don't take the car away from the garage they can't charge for a retest. If you do take it and return it for re-inspection within 10(?) days (might be 14) they can only charge a partial retest fee, max of half the price of a full MOT.

you are also technically not allowed to drive the car if its failed an MOT, as you know its not road worthy.

You can drive it home, or for pre-booked work. Also failing an MOT doesn't invalidate a previous MOT so that itself doesn't prevent you from continuing to drive the car, but if the car is unroadworthy you can't legally drive it.

[Boristhethird]

(Original post by CurlyBen)
If you don't take the car away from the garage they can't charge for a retest. If you do take it and return it for re-inspection within 10(?) days (might be 14) they can only charge a partial retest fee, max of half the price of a full MOT.

You can drive it home, or for pre-booked work. Also failing an MOT doesn't invalidate a previous MOT so that itself doesn't prevent you from continuing to drive the car, but if the car is unroadworthy you can't legally drive it.

being that an MOT is a test of road worthness, by failing it you are showing the car is not roadworthy.

the old mot is still valid, and provided that you fix whats not roadworthy you can still take it on the road.