?Dodgy MOT advice needed please

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DSM10000

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I had my W203 320 delivered to me two weeks ago today, a new MOT was arranged on the day of delivery by the dealer.

As the A service was due in 800 miles I asked my local MB specialist to do this and I also wanted him to check it over. He asked me to go down to look at the car as he had found a couple of things I needed to be aware of, a leak from the gearbox pilot bush, not serious and easily fixed. Overall his opinion was a car in good order.

More concerning was the play in the nsf torque strut, you could move it by hand, no pry bar required, the other side had play but did require a pry bar to move it At least this explains the knocking noise over rough roads.

His opinion as an ex MOT tester was that it would be an instant fail with an advisory for the off side. The MOT shows no advisories, not even for the largish windscreen chip mentioned on the previous MOT and clearly present on the day of the test.

I have spoken with the dealer, the garage that carried out the MOT is on the same site, literally next door to his sales area but apparently there is no connection business wise. He was reasonable when discussing it and asked me to bring the car down to let him "have a look and see what we can do"

That I will do today or tomorrow. What is my legal position here? If the dealer offers to get it fixed then I do not want this garage next to him repairing it as I clearly have no confidence in them.

My MB specialist is also strongly suggesting we only use the MB part as the bushes can be changed in that one though why then we cannot change the bush in this one is unclear unless the design has changed. The MB part is about £130 with arm, bush and protective boots plus labour. ECP do several at around £50, £70. £90 and well over £100 and I cannot see why one of these would not be suitable especially at 25% off!
 
hmmm - could be tricky - unsure if the garage that tested it will find fault as in that case they would be admitting liability of not doing MOT properly before - they'll probably give you some waffle.

Think your right in having it inspected elswhere - I would go back to the selling agent, report on your findings and see what they have to say.

The thing that rings alarms to me is the dealers attitude i.e "have a look and see what we can do"


It should be "Sir we are sorry if the vehicle is not to the standard you expect. We will arrange collection, provide you with a loan car and have it immediately inspected at our cost" etc

Let us know how you get on :O)
 
Well to be fair he could have said "go forth and multiply" so I will go and see him. I imagine the MOT station will say it degenerated in the 300 miles between the test and my service. Had similar with a (privately bought) Audi. MOT with no advisories and a week later at Audi for a service where they found badly cracked and perished front brake hoses. That MOT place said I must have been turning the wheel to much!!

An independant MOT report and the Audi garage findings followed by a "chat" got £100 out of the garage towards the repair cost.
 
They should just repair it if they have any sense.
You cannot stipulate the parts they use. We have never had issues with suspension parts from ECP.
 
They should just repair it if they have any sense.
You cannot stipulate the parts they use. We have never had issues with suspension parts from ECP.

I will go and see them tomorrow, I was not stipulating parts, my MB specialist expressed a "preference" alhough he happily fits non MB brake parts!

I would be happy for them to pay for a part from ECP and get someone else to fit it. If they take so little care with an MOT I do not want them working on the car.
 
Legally its up to them who they use to repair the car. You can of course have it inspected after.
 
Well I went back to the dealer today, he immediately asked the garage that carried out the MOT to check it over. The mechanic was the one who delivered the car so it makes me suspicious that there is more of a connection between the two than first appears. The garage itself is a fairly busy back street operation with some interesting characters, the owner has a large Rottweillerwandering around!

Anyway, on the ramps the problem was agreed and with no hassle the part ordered and would have been fitted today if I could have waited but I have arranged it for next Tuesaday, the young mechanic has even offered to drop me off at work and collect me afterwards and offered me tea or coffee whilst waiting!
 
Solved

Well true to their word I dropped the car off at 7:40 am and by midday a nice shiney new torque strut has been fitted and all at no charge.

The car feels a little better on the steering, not surprising considering there was noticeable play in the ball joint. There is still a (much less noticeable) noise from the OSF but this may be the drop links and / or anti-roll bar bushes. My own MB specialist thought they might need looking at but advised to get the torque strut fitted first and go fom there.

I see these as cheap wear and tear items so will get on and have those done. I have changed these on two Saab's, are there any tips / tricks/ things to watch out for on the Mercedes or just hand it over to my mechanic? :dk:
 

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