The value of an MOT test

[Martin R]

On Friday, I took my Interceptor for its MOT.

It failed the MOT due to the rear, central brake hose starting to weep and balloon. It's tucked right up under the car and without a 2 or 4 post lift, nearly impossible to see.
I thought I had checked everything (as far as I could), prior to taking it for the test, so I was thankful this problem was identified before it failed totally.

On Friday afternoon I ordered a replacement hose from Andy Brooks at Appleyard Parts & Service and it arrived on Saturday.
A couple of hours spent under the car, I replaced the flexible brake hose, bled the brakes (with a helper) and today, the car passed its MOT with no advisories.

If you think your car doesn't "need" an MOT, I suggest you might like to think again.

[David Davies]

I agree the MOT is very important. I can never understand why so many cars get advertised without an MOT, like a couple of CV8s on the market at the moment. It takes away a lot of uncertainty and fear of expenditure for potential buyers.

As you say there are quite a few things which are near impossible to spot unless you have a ramp and relevant equipment.

[colin7673]

A cautionary tail Martin and one that everybody should be doing.
An MOT, in essence, is another set of eyes no matter how good a mechanic you are.
I for one will always get an MOT on our car.

It's part of the cars history.

[kenny38]

I took my car to a certified mechanic for a "pink slip" (same as a MOT). Have not had to do this before but thought it worth while to do a complete check. First thing mechanic noticed was a bolt had fallen out of rack ???? Replaced. Tyres, although lots of tread. were 9 years old and deemed to be "to old". Some play in steering wheel so he tightened up with immediate improvement. Coolant again too old and needs flushing. Driver side full beam out but not a faulty bulb. Not drawing power so auto electrician required. Did not need shocks even though I have had the car 33 years and never felt the need to change them. "Should I change them"? He answered "If youse want to waste money go ahead". Found a nut on rear wheel was loose/stripped and had been taken off/on with rattle gun in the past. Full service. Will need new GKN plugs within a year. He gave a test drive and gunned her down long back road and gave her the thumbs up for "great performance". Was impressed that this is ex HRH Princess Ann car. He would like the front seat for his Ford GT. Found no rust.I ran over his cat on the way out but he didn't notice so I didn't stop. Kenny38

[Steve Payne]

Agreed, it is the best money you can spend each year.

There is talk that the MOT will be introduced on classic cars, I suspect if they do it will be the end of some classics.

Steve

[Martin R]

Was impressed that this is ex HRH Princess Ann car. He would like the front seat for his Ford GT. Found no rust.I ran over his cat on the way out but he didn't notice so I didn't stop. Kenny38

Not anther HRH Princess Anne Jensen!!! (she's never owned a Jensen, I've asked her.)
Sorry to hear about the cat. They have 9 lives, so should be OK.

[Richie]

I agree.

I don't understand why someone would be too tight to spend less than the cost of a tank of fuel for a safety check.

And if failure of an MoT will be "the end of some classics", if a car , classic or otherwise, can't pass such a test, surely it shouldn't be on the road until it is safe enough to be there?

[Kevin Birch]

That brake hose is an accident waiting to happen, when I rebuilt my back end the rubber part just pulled out of the steel end. MOT is the best value for money you will spend on your car, I don't understand why people don't have it done.

[Steve Payne]

I don't understand why people don't have it done.

Because they are worried it might fail . A Jensen owner who will remain nameless does not have his car MOT for this very reason. When I explained to him that if it fails it it is unsafe to drive his explanation was '' I only use it to go to the Pub on a Sunday and the odd trip out''.

His tyres are very old but ''original'' but have no visible cracks, the wiper blades are rock hard and the hole car is very ''original'' if you know what I mean but I suspect if it was submitted for a test it would fail on numerous things but if fixed would no longer be original. He used to have the A/C topped up every couple of months due to the amount of leaks in the system but the engineers wont top it up any longer as it wont hold any pressure.

Steve

[Wolfgang]

I don't understand your discussion, here in Belgium we're having the 'autokeuring' every 2 years, the same in Germany. If tyres are older than 8 years they're having now grip - or worst case they're 'exploding' when get overheated, if the brakes are failing then at the end of the curve you're failing , this is the minor case if it's only your car and your life, but what is your opinion if crashing in an other car, hurting a pedestrian or a cyclist...?

Quite for sure I don't like TÜV/Autokeuring if they're discussing about lowering the car or changing exhaust, carb, etc. For all that I have to bring certificates - but at the end of the day it's for all our safety, and we're doing it every day for our customers, which want to drive safe and are not such experienced to do all works on their lovely cars on their own.
Very often we're advising vintage car owners - and this is pro bono service...

MOT/TÜV/Autokeuring is a part of safety

Wolfgang

[johnw]

I have had bad experiences going for MOTs in the UK, with garages scouting for work, not understanding things, getting you to do things that aren't necessary. The FF tech advisor put me onto a decent MOT station and I had no issues after that. In Switzerland the inspections are done by an independent government body that doesn't do repairs. All they do is tests, so they have much better equipment to test steering play, specialist lifts, test shock absorber performance with readouts on each corner, etc.

[Wolfgang]

in Germany TÜV is obligatory every 2 years, in Belgium for a modern car every year for a vintage car every 2 years. They're only testing regarding a checklist if all is in the range that it works and they're having the equipment. In Belgium it's organized by the state and you have to apply for an appointment, in Germany it's a dual system - TÜV you are able to go on your own, if we prepare the car for TÜV the Test engineer is coming to our garage (we have to provide the needed equipment.
Here in Belgium everybody is able to go for his own - if he is not getting the application, he may decide to repair the faulty parts on his own.

Seems to be different in UK John. We're not shouting to do this work, it's a full service for our customers having bought an oldtimer from us, we're checking the car in before, if some defects are upfront we're advising the customer, if he orders it in my garage we're repairing it, then doing the keuring. Afterwards the customer gets the car back with valid application.
We're only doing that for customers having bought a car from us and heritage car owners. For actual cars we advice people asking us to do the keuring we advise them to go to an official garage dedicated to the brand of their cars, because with all the electronic you need equipment costing minimum € 20,000 to meet the affordance.
Nowadays cars are not having problems with rust - it's mostly software and electronics. That's not our passion.

You're not allowed to drive without valid application.

Similar process you have to to if you're tuning the car, different tyres/wheels, engine with more power or different exhaust system (noise) - all is checked and i o.k. then a part of your application.
This system is restricting you when tuning cars - but it gives a sort of safety for most of the people only using their cars for mobility, and having no experience even in changing spark plugs or the wheels/Tyres.

That's our World
Have a nice day
Wolfgang

[Martin R]

The MOT in the UK is for vehicles over 3 years old and the MOT must be taken every year thereafter.
However, a few years ago, cars over a certain age (historical status) were made exempt.
Certainly some testers don’t understand classics, an instance being free play in front wheel bearings on an Interceptor. The nut should be tightened up, then backed off the allow the insertion of the split pin through the nut & spindle hole.
This often results in a slight but detectable looseness.
Anyone not knowing this might fail the car.
Having no obligation to MOT my car does at least offer me some flexibility as to when I have my cars tested, which with owning a few, makes life easier for me.

[David Davies]

I agree with Martin certain MOT stations are much more familiar with classic cars than others and it is well worth going to one. It is also worth going to the same MOT station each year so they get to know the car.

There are certainly bad eggs in most baskets in life and MOT stations are no exception. Personally, I have never had a bad experience with scores of cars. Quite the opposite I find that they often pick up an incipient issues that have been missed by garages and I am only to happy to get the car on top line. In fact with many garages, the first the thing they do when you give them a car for an initial post-purchase inspection is put it through an MOT station to see what the read out is. Interesting.

One danger area I have found in the past is MOTs obtained by dealers prior to sale. I have had three instances on cars I have bought where the MOT was highly dubious, in one case when it was put through another MOT station a month later by me it had three pages of failure and advisory items, all of which were fair. This is 15 years ago so maybe things have improved with the revamped MOT.

I have found woeful incompetence in a number of top marque specialists (none Jensen I hasten to add). I have a black book.

On pre-war Jensens, Jensen specialists don't really want to know. When your are dealing with ash frames and coach built cars it is a pre-war car specialist one needs and even then one has to be very careful in selecting. Mechanically things are rather different - eg the so-called self-energising Ford brakes on 1937/8 cars like mine are an area for great confusion and misinformation (for example on the internet). Fortunately I have found an absolutely superb mechanic who is prepared to read up on things and get things right.

[DPP]

I think I have only ever put 1 customers car on my ramp and not found at least one serious safety concern ranging from many steering/suspension problems, loose steering arms, loose propshaft to axle bolts. Broken or missing wheel studs (sometimes hidden by sticking back on ).

Many corroded brake pipes & flexis well past their best.

One decent looking car had no inner sills but the customer wasn't too bothered and was more interested in its a/c working, this car has now been sold on for a reasonable price and I wonder if the new owner realises they have paid strong money for a car will no sills.

My car gets an annual mot and apart from the safety benefits I think this is a good history of a well maintained car should you decide to sell.