MOT suprises - two fold!

[Deleted member 11979]

Stuck my 1991 300CE in for an MOT today, it's done 210k miles, and as I'm planning to convert it to manual, and get the bodywork taken care of, I thought it might be prudent to see what kind of basis the MOT man thought it was for the project.

Well, amazingly it failed on only 2 things, near side and offside rear springs snapped. Pretty good for a £480 car!

The more amazing thing is that I had always read the threads on here about broken coil springs and assumed I would know instantly, just by driving it, the springs were snapped, guess not!

Would this explain a slight wandering and squirming from the back end (of the car - not the driver) that I had noticed on occassion?

 

[jaymanek]

Not really.... Springs break and if its just the end that has chipped off you wouldnt necessarily know the difference.

 

[kth286]

Stuck my 1991 300CE in for an MOT today, it's done 210k miles, and as I'm planning to convert it to manual, and get the bodywork taken care of, I thought it might be prudent to see what kind of basis the MOT man thought it was for the project.

Well, amazingly it failed on only 2 things, near side and offside rear springs snapped. Pretty good for a £480 car!

The more amazing thing is that I had always read the threads on here about broken coil springs and assumed I would know instantly, just by driving it, the springs were snapped, guess not!

Would this explain a slight wandering and squirming from the back end (of the car - not the driver) that I had noticed on occassion?

That could well be the rear subframe bushes shot OR even worse the connecting part of the bodywork rusted internally, and therefore nothing holding the front bushes of the rear subframe to the body.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

That could well be the rear subframe bushes shot OR even worse the connecting part of the bodywork rusted internally, and therefore nothing holding the front bushes of the rear subframe to the body.

Surely those things would have been picked up in the MOT?

 

[Deleted member 11979]

That could well be the rear subframe bushes shot OR even worse the connecting part of the bodywork rusted internally, and therefore nothing holding the front bushes of the rear subframe to the body.

As previously said, that would have been picked up on the MOT, I asked the chap to pay particular attention to these areas as well as structural corrosion and suspension mounts as I don't want to get involved in that kind of work on top of the other jobs I have planned, once the springs are replaced we'll see how it drives.

 

[Mr B.]

thats not bad really for what you paid for it

 

[Deleted member 11979]

thats not bad really for what you paid for it

You've not seen the body work..............

 

[Rory]

I'm surprised springs of that age broke - I thought springs breaking was a fairly recent thing, due to changes in the manufacturing process.

 

[300CE]

They certainly are well made motors Ccaallvviinn! Bought mine for a grand 2 years ago, 162k on the clock and it's gone straight through it's MoT's with no advisories! Sure it has the usual cosmetic issues (rust on arches/worn bolster), but i can live with these and they are things that can be done over time when the funds permit!

Looks like you got a bargain there for £480.00!

 

[d w124]

Looks like you got a bargain there for £480.00!

You should see my latest purchase

 

[Deleted member 11979]

You should see my latest purchase

Not a silver 300TE 24?

 

[Deleted member 11979]

They certainly are well made motors Ccaallvviinn! Bought mine for a grand 2 years ago, 162k on the clock and it's gone straight through it's MoT's with no advisories! Sure it has the usual cosmetic issues (rust on arches/worn bolster), but i can live with these and they are things that can be done over time when the funds permit!

Looks like you got a bargain there for £480.00!

Quote for the bodywork is a grand, so when it's done it should owe me around £2500 including it's conversion to manual gearbox, then I'll be pleased as punch!

They are great cars, better built than the facelift ones in my opinion.

 

[d w124]

Not a silver 300TE 24?

It is an S124 yes but not silver