A cautionary tale...

[Mr.F]

Now that we are in the month when the first UK cars are heading for MOT time, take heed of the experience of a Scottish customer of mine -

Having taken his car to the local main dealer, he got a call to tell him it had failed on pad wear and disc rotor thickness. They quoted in excess of £1000 to carry out the necessary work. Slightly bemused, he took the car away and sought second opinions. The pads were found to have plenty of life, the discs, although slightly ridged, were well within specification and an MOT was obtained elsewhere without trauma.
To add insult, he discovered that the retail price of the discs had been bumped up by almost £100 a corner on the quote from the main dealer and that on his service they had charged him £36 for the general purpose mineral oil supplied across the Nissan parts counter for about £12!

It is my opinion that Nissan will be looking to generate some return on their sales from MOT work, so make sure what you are being told is really necessary.

My own MOT is tomorrow morning - NOT with Nissan, suffice to say...

 

[Russ]

I don't trust any garage really! Mostly crooks it seems You are so much better off if you can do the work yourself, it's just a shame that it won't keep your nice book stamped.

Surely if they are a Nissan dealer there should be some come back against them when Nissan find out how much they are trying to rip people off, or are they allowed to do what they like?

 

[Mr.F]

With any MOT station there is a right to appeal. Just asking for the required form BT17 will usually put the fear of God into the establishment - the MOT inspectors are the VAT men of the motor world. However, you then have to subject your car to the fine toothcomb inspection of the Men from the Ministry and hope that you have correctly called the shots! My customer has accurately checked thickness of discs against manufacturer's specs and they are fine.

Passed my MOT without trauma this morning BTW...high flow CATs passed emissions test with no problem and the lack of headlamp washers isn't part of the test!

 

[dav350z]

Thanks for the timely tip, Mike. My car is due the first MOT next April, however, I won't be taking it to a Nissan dealer. Personally I think anyone is mad taking their car to a franchised dealer for an MOT, there is too much temptation for them to generate income by claiming wear in this way.
My sons girlfriend has just had the same experience with her Clio after a service. They said the pads & discs needed changing after less than 40k mileage. I took the wheel off and there was less than 1mm of wear on the disc. I will be paying dealer a visit in the next week!!!

 

[twoforty]

Had a similar experience in a local tyre garage, The guy said " by the way you need new pads and discs, shall I fit them?"
As the car in question was a very well maintained Golf G60 with very nice vented/drilled discs, I replied "no thanks"
while I was waiting for the tyres to be fitted I noticed the same guy getting something from his car, surprise surprise a MK2 GTI...I wonder what he had in mind for my discs?
As for my 240....I nearly had a heart attack when I saw an 18yr old numpty trying to postion the jack under the middle of the sill!!!

 

[Mr.G]

This tale is a WARNING to everyone.. Don't assume all mechanics know what they are doing, that's why it pays to take it to someone that's been recommended or a specialist as you know that sort of thing will hopefully not happen.

I took my Golf GTI for an MOT, and I used a specialist Golf place which I hadnt used before. They do MOT's on a Saturday morning and I arrived early to get a place, I needent have bothered as the place was completely empty (which should have told me something).

It passed, but he wrote me an advisory regarding the rear disc condition which were rusty and then after the Test he explained I should change them. To cut a long story short he quoted me for it and said i may as well change the fronts, I was seriously considering paying him the £300 and getting it all done and sorted.. But I told him I'd think about it.

Later when I took it home I decided to look for myself and low and behold they didn't need changing, yes they had some minor surface rust but nothing to warrant them being changed. Moral of the story is, dont take anything for granted, if you can, check for yourself and use somewhere that's busy and recommended by someone.

 

[Tony 260Z]

Not unlike the complete tit who jacked my 260 up by the rad support :-o

Luckily his boss went almost as apesh*t as I did!

 

[DJZ 60]

I suggest you take a camcorder with you & keep it so m.o.t dudes can see you've got it ready for circumstantial evidence! That'll make them think twice about being slack. DJZ 60.

 

[350Doc]

Got my car MOTd at Beadles Nissan in Maidstone. No additional work required.

 

[bigchef]

Sorry to hear all your MOT woes, here in Antigua the vehicle testing station only requires your being able to show up in the car, thus assuming if you got it there it must be alright!!! the 350 will have no problems... However the 280 will need an MOT in scotland before silverstone track day event and I can't be there when this takes place , relying on the MOT boys taking pity on the old dutch driving Guess well have to W8&C

 

[datsun dave]

here in Antigua

Hope your OK see you at Silverstone

 

[bigchef]

cheers dave, I hear you'll be zedless for the event, shame...

 

[datsun dave]

cheers dave, I hear you'll be zedless for the event, shame...

Will be ready later this year.

 

[260Z TT]

Hi Nige,
Am working like a madman trying to get my upgrades done so me and Dave can get to Silverstone! I will be in Spain on hols the week leading up to Silverstone too, and am coming home a day early to make it!
Good to hear your news, and best of luck.
See you soon,
Mark.

 

[dav350z]

Just had my car MOT this Monday. Took it to a local MOT station, not dealer and passed with no problems.

Actually commented on overall condition and brakes etc.