MOT tests are something of a mixed feast.
A few years ago, while servicing my W210 E300TD, I checked the front spring perches, which I knew were prone to failure (Thanks to this Forum).
To my horror, one of them was clearly breaking away.
MB do a standard repair kit for this known problem, so I asked my garage to do both sides .... There was evidence that the other side was starting to fail.
I asked my very-experienced MOT tester if he would have spotted it at MOT test time.
His answer was:
"It's unlikely - unless you specifically asked me to look for the problem.
Given the time we're allowed for the inspection - In my opinion, the MOT test is little more than a walk round the car".
As said in previous posts - Many owners do not service their cars and use the MOT test as their only safety inspection.
Also - Many (Perhaps Most) owners are pretty clueless when it comes to the most-elementary safety checks.
Around 15 years ago, I worked with a guy in his 20s - an inspection engineer like myself - who had bought the boss's 10-year-old BMW.
About a year after he bought it, in general conversation about cars, he asked: "Do I need to check the oil on this car ?"
Following the answer, the next question was: "How do you check the oil ?"
When we showed him how to do it, the oil level was off the end of the stick.
