How should i proceed?

[ALFIE CONN]

I need to have a M.O.T done by the end of the month and have a "free" M.O.T certificate/voucher for M.B in Lakeside.
The dilema i have is, i think the car will possibly fail the test.
Should i get the M.O.T done so that i then have a idea what to needs to be done so that i can get a couple of quotes from here, or just take it to someone (Ollie) anyway which will be miles away and will cause problems if the car then fails the test?

P.S. Does the place im thinking of taking the car to have the work done (Prestige?) do M.O.Ts?

 

[flango]

Take it to Olly and let him give it a good going over before the test, not sure if he does MOT's but sure he will have a place where he takes them if not. Although a journey for you I'm sure it will be the easiest and cheapest solution in the long run and at least you know your car is in safe hands.

 

[Will]

Hi Alfie,

Good advice above that I'd go along with But when you say you think it'll possibly fail, do you have an idea on what?

You can check the obvious tyres/lights/wipers/horn etc etc yourself, at least you'll rule out a few items. The MOT is very basic IMHO

Will

 

[BlackC55]

I don't do the MOT personaly but the garage opposite does. (went to school with his daughter)

What will it fail on?

 

[ALFIE CONN]

Hi Alfie,

Good advice above that I'd go along with But when you say you think it'll possibly fail, do you have an idea on what?

You can check the obvious tyres/lights/wipers/horn etc etc yourself, at least you'll rule out a few items. The MOT is very basic IMHO

Will

Hi Will.
The brake discs are quite worn, i assume the pads are the same cos a squeaking has just started when i brake.

The tyres do not have a lot of life left, (but at £250 each i was leaving them for as late as possible.)

The left indicator in the mirror packed up a couple of weeks ago.

The car had a B service done at M.B 6 months ago so hopefully all is ok with the rest of the car.

P.S. I live on the London/Essex border.

 

[Will]

Hi Alfie,

Price up the tyres from an online supplier - www.mytyres.co.uk or UK Tyres Online: Discount Car Tyres | Blackcircles.com are quite good reference points. Then see what the local places will do them for, at least you'll know if they're charging a reasonable price or not. Normally I find a local supplier that's within a few quid of the online price and that works out easiest There seems to be quite large margins on some tyres so they normally have quite a bit of room to negotiate. Worth doing on several hundred quid's worth of tyres.

Get the mirror indicator fixed - try Euromerc for a replacement if needed.

Book it in with Olly for a once over and the MOT, at least he can give you the lowdown on what needs doing - MOT or not

I doubt you have too much to worry about on a newish car like your SL

Will

 

[BlackC55]

What car is it?

I can get tyres if needed (with notice if odd size)

 

[ALFIE CONN]

What car is it?

I can get tyres if needed (with notice if odd size)

It is a R230 (SL500, 2003.)
As suggested, i tried Blackcircle, they are £230 for 3 tyres.
They are P Zero Rosso, 285/35 R187W.

Can you do all the above possible failures on a Saturday soon and if possible a Alloy refurb?
Thanks.

 

[LTD]

it is a r230 (sl500, 2003.)
as suggested, i tried blackcircle, they are £230 for 3 tyres.
They are p zero rosso, 285/35 r187w.

Can you do all the above possible failures on a saturday soon and if possible a alloy refurb?
Thanks.

£230 each

 

[ALFIE CONN]

£230 each

i wished it was for all of em.

P.S. It did include fitting amd balancing ;-)

 

[grober]

this site might be of help? MOT Test: All the Information You Need

e.g. MOT Failure Question


If car fails MOT is the old test certificate still valid until its expiry date?

Well the answer does not seem to be found on any of the government information about the MOT test, so we emailed VOSA with this question and this is their response:

"An MOT certificate is valid until its expiry date. However if your vehicle fails a test before this date and you do not rectify the defects then you are driving an unroadworthy vehicle which is an offence."

So to put this into context if your car fails the MOT due to illegal tyres then you are driving an unroadworthy vehicle, you were driving unroadworthy vehicle before the MOT, and you will be driving an unroadworthy vehicle until you get a new tyre. Therefore at anytime if caught you would be subject to a £2500 fine and 3 points per illegal tyre.

However once you get a new tyre your car is roadworthy and the old MOT is still valid until its expiry date, thus you can then drive your car again and get it retested to your timescale, with out worrying about driving without an MOT.

This is a very good reason to book your Mot early and give yourself plenty of time to book a retest if needed.

I would get the car tested asap- OLLIE will keep your right and will be more economical than a main dealer.

 

[ALFIE CONN]

Hi Grober, thanks for the post.
The tyres are not yet illegal, near the cut off point but not illegal.
I was trying to get as much wear as possible out of them before i spent the £230 per corner.
If Olly can fit me in on a Saturday soon, i am going to drive down to him to get everything done that he thinks needs to be done, (and maybe more?)

Thanks again.

 

[ALFIE CONN]

this site might be of help? MOT Test: All the Information You Need

e.g. MOT Failure Question


If car fails MOT is the old test certificate still valid until its expiry date?

Well the answer does not seem to be found on any of the government information about the MOT test, so we emailed VOSA with this question and this is their response:

"An MOT certificate is valid until its expiry date. However if your vehicle fails a test before this date and you do not rectify the defects then you are driving an unroadworthy vehicle which is an offence."

So to put this into context if your car fails the MOT due to illegal tyres then you are driving an unroadworthy vehicle, you were driving unroadworthy vehicle before the MOT, and you will be driving an unroadworthy vehicle until you get a new tyre. Therefore at anytime if caught you would be subject to a £2500 fine and 3 points per illegal tyre.

However once you get a new tyre your car is roadworthy and the old MOT is still valid until its expiry date, thus you can then drive your car again and get it retested to your timescale, with out worrying about driving without an MOT.

This is a very good reason to book your Mot early and give yourself plenty of time to book a retest if needed.

I would get the car tested asap- OLLIE will keep your right and will be more economical than a main dealer.

You re-edited this post while i was replying to your original post.
Are you suggesting i should get the car M.O.T. done at M.B before i take it to Olly?

P.S. I have briefly spoken to Olly but he is not talking work untill Monday.

 

[grober]

Sorry if I confused the issue. I would suggest you get the car down to Ollie's when he can fit you in since you still have a bit of time to spare.

 

[MD5]

Running an SL500 to the limit on tyres? Worn tyres make steering parts work harder, so they would be the first thing to do! Personally, I'd get it tested a few days before you took it to Olly, so that he can order parts if need be, and you won't end up stuck without your car if it fails unexpectedly.

 

[timskemp]

Running an SL500 to the limit on tyres? Worn tyres make steering parts work harder

Do they? I can imagine bald tyres do but just worn?

Heh - my week just crashed into a spending frenzy - had budgeted to replace the alloys and tyres this month (tyres need to go, down to 3mm) but I reckon that's gonna become next month, as a kitten just landed us with a vet bill that makes four tyres look cheap...

 

[MD5]

Do they? I can imagine bald tyres do but just worn?

There's worn, and there's worn! Don't tell me you don't feel the difference with new tyres fitted?

Hi Will.
The brake discs are quite worn, i assume the pads are the same cos a squeaking has just started when i brake.

The tyres do not have a lot of life left, (but at £250 each i was leaving them for as late as possible.)

Heh - my week just crashed into a spending frenzy - had budgeted to replace the alloys and tyres this month (tyres need to go, down to 3mm) but I reckon that's gonna become next month, as a kitten just landed us with a vet bill that makes four tyres look cheap...

Glad the moggie is prioritised!

 

[Shude]

There's worn, and there's worn! Don't tell me you don't feel the difference with new tyres fitted?

Steering feels lighter and more direct with worn tyres though, harder and less direct when new. How is this wearing out the steering more?

 

[MD5]

Seriously?!! I'm assuming we're talking non-budget tyres and cars, not bikes here? How about a poll. Do new tyres feel harder and less direct than worn tyres?

 

[timskemp]

There's worn, and there's worn! Don't tell me you don't feel the difference with new tyres fitted?

Yes, they feel soft for a week or so but not noticably so once they've had a few heat cycles through them. And with three roundabouts between my house and the main road that's not gonna take long.

Glad the moggie is prioritised!

Indeed she is, however the prognosis at this time is not looking good - hopefully tomorrow will yield better news.