Thinking of buying this...any feedback, pointers please

[markjay]

I used to use that one all the time.....just to make me feel OK about passing a car where the brake pipes could be dust....but I can't see them!
As long as it passes it matters not and whether it has advises in the history and shows you or a potential buyer nothing about how good the car is or how well it's been looked after.

The point is that there's no consistency. I am not arguing with your logic, but then every single car manufacturered in the past 20 years should have this advisory. The idea that MOT testers can write whatever they want in the advisories section often leads to confusion.

Additionally, I'd expect an 'advisory' to be just that - advice - meaning that the driver should be able to do something about it if they wished to. 'Advising' me that my car is blue or that the steering wheel is round is not an advice as all - what am I supposed to do with this information? The same applies to 'advice' regarding the presence of undertrays.

 

[st13phil]

The same applies to 'advice' regarding the presence of undertrays.

Not really. It's a CYA for the tester who isn't allowed to dismantle parts of the car in order to check the condition of obscured components. In the example given by @ALFAitalia I would argue that it is potentially useful for the owner to know that the condition of a key safety component - the brake pipes - couldn't be verified at the time of the test. It's then up to the owner to decide whether to have them checked separately or to trust to luck (and I accept that most will do the latter).

And as a general principle, there are many conditions that are (rightly, imo) "at the discretion of the tester" wrt whether it's a pass or fail, so that can and does lead to greater inconsistency than simple advisory notices.

 

[markjay]

Not really. It's a CYA for the tester who isn't allowed to dismantle parts of the car in order to check the condition of obscured components. In the example given by @ALFAitalia I would argue that it is potentially useful for the owner to know that the condition of a key safety component - the brake pipes - couldn't be verified at the time of the test. It's then up to the owner to decide whether to have them checked separately or to trust to luck (and I accept that most will do the latter).

And as a general principle, there are many conditions that are (rightly, imo) "at the discretion of the tester" wrt whether it's a pass or fail, so that can and does lead to greater inconsistency than simple advisory notices.

This reminds me of the days when when we did database conversions. There were tools that were written to automate the process, but the new database still required many hours of manual 'cleaning'.

Why? Because if a letter bounced back with a note 'moved away', the computer operator would type-in 'moved away' in the field that said 'Gender' because they were no longer allowed to ask this and the 'Gender' field wasn't used. Etc.

I am fully sympathetic to the testers' concerns, but if there is no field in the online form that says 'CYA', then he shouldn't stick it in just any field he can find.

CYA is not an 'Advisory', and shouldn't be entered in the Advisory section.

As for 'I couldn't check it', the average motorist won't have a clue as to what checks, specifically, weren't done because of the undertray. The text didn't specify what exactly the tester wasn't able to see. So there's no advice there.

 

[such01]

So, I had a conversation just now with one of the managers who replied to my email. He was very surprised by the images and checked the car over before he returned my email. He said that if I am not happy with the original MOT he will take it somewhere else on Monday. They used kwik fit for the mot done this week. He is happy to change the cracking tyre with a tyre of my choice. ( I will ask him to replace the other side with the same at my cost)
Re the mud on the front left of the bumper - The car has since been cleaned and there is nothing showing. He cannot see anything wrong with the liner and is putting it up on a ramp to send some pictures over on Monday.
Some of there cars are stored on a grassy area and this is where it picked up the mud. He was 100% sure it had not got stuck or had any impact.
The washer system now works - a blocked tube apparently, and there are now no low voltage battery issues.
The side skirt was fine when he checked - he did say they had now done the pre delivery inspection and valet, which was not the case when the inspection was carried out and it probably just needed clipping back in. Again I'm, awaiting pictures.

I'll go along in the week and have a look - He assured me there is nothing wrong and it is really in great condition with everything working as it should, bar the last owners budget tyres, whom he bought this car personally from.

I think I'll take a punt as it's relatively low mileage for the money with a good spec.
All the others I've seen have well in excess of 100k.

 

[MrGreedy]

Seems like he's taking this seriously, which is refreshing. I withdraw my easlier scepticism.

 

[such01]

Seems like he's taking this seriously, which is refreshing. I withdraw my easlier scepticism.

I felt the same when I saw the report, but on speaking with the chap that did the inspection the rest of the car is more or less immaculate, especially the interior which he said is as nearly new as can be. Also, speaking with the manager eased my suspicion somewhat.
I'll see what happens if I do go and see it - I'll make up my mind once I get pictures showing the rectified issues.

 

[SpikyMikey]

That's encouraging; but I still can't understand how it got an MOT with windscreen washers that didn't work.

 

[ALFAitalia]

This reminds me of the days when when we did database conversions. There were tools that were written to automate the process, but the new database still required many hours of manual 'cleaning'.

Why? Because if a letter bounced back with a note 'moved away', the computer operator would type-in 'moved away' in the field that said 'Gender' because they were no longer allowed to ask this and the 'Gender' field wasn't used. Etc.

I am fully sympathetic to the testers' concerns, but if there is no field in the online form that says 'CYA', then he shouldn't stick it in just any field he can find.

CYA is not an 'Advisory', and shouldn't be entered in the Advisory section.

As for 'I couldn't check it', the average motorist won't have a clue as to what checks, specifically, weren't done because of the undertray. The text didn't specify what exactly the tester wasn't able to see. So there's no advice there.

What difference does it make?...it only matters if it passes or fails... anything else the tester decides to advise on is neither here nor there are has no affect on anything. If however it fails on something you think it should have passed on (or the other way around) or is not part of the test then that's a different and something to moan about.

 

[markjay]

What difference does it make?...it only matters if it passes or fails... anything else the tester decides to advise on is neither here nor there are has no affect on anything. If however it fails on something you think it should have passed on (or the other way around) or is not part of the test then that's a different and something to moan about.

What you're saying is that people should ignore the advisories? That's kind of defeating the purpose of having advisories in the first place. If advisories leave drivers scratching their heads as to what they are meant to do about them, then it's a missed opportunity to advise drivers regarding things that they should potentially do something about.

 

[SpikyMikey]

What you're saying is that people should ignore the advisories? That's kind of defeating the purpose of having advisories in the first place. If advisories leave drivers scratching their heads as to what they are meant to do about them, then it's a missed opportunity to advise drivers regarding things that they should potentially do something about.

 

[jotter22]

Just a thought but on here there is a well respected Mercedes dealer, no body thought of asking his advice on what's in the market worth looking at?

Thanks Tony.

 

[such01]

Just a thought but on here there is a well respected Mercedes dealer, no body thought of asking his advice on what's in the market worth looking at?

Thanks Tony.

Are you referring to Jay@Mercland? They are no longer selling cars but I did ask them if they could go out an do an inspection but that service is not offered.

 

[ALFAitalia]

@markjay What you're saying is that people should ignore the advisories? That's kind of defeating the purpose of having advisories in the first place. If advisories leave drivers scratching their heads as to what they are meant to do about them, then it's a missed opportunity to advise drivers regarding things that they should potentially do something about.

No not all......just that some people get so upset if they get a single advisory on an otherwise clean MOT history...why?.....it makes no difference to anyone. Several advisories would make no difference to most....as long a the serious and safety related ones are done soon and don't show up on the next test.

 

[TrueSpirit]

I bet if you're a car salesman, you'll be making that argument when SELLING a car, with no price reduction or remedial work offered to deal with advisories but oh boy when taking a car for your stock, it's the complete opposite, every little thing must be adjusted for no matter how old the car.

 

[such01]

Well, I went and viewed this S class today and ended up buying it. The condition is excellent with only a few tiny marks on the bodywork which is inevitable if you use motorways. Inside is immaculate - much darker than in the pictures but still very nice. The 200 mile drive back was effortless - took time to get used to using the display, controls etc.
Going in for an oil change service @Alex Crow on Thursday with the DSB updated to reflect this. Also it seems the 9g box from 2017 onwards needs doing @77k so mine will be due in 7k - I'll get it done then.
One thing I noticed when I got home was the cover for the cupholder in the centre console is stuck open. It wouldn't budge. Any suggestions on how to free it?

I hope to give it a good wash/machine polish and diy ceramic coating over the weekend, weather permitting. If not I'll defo detail the inside.
Pic to follow..

 

[UKGTC]

I just got an advisory for the first aid kit and puncture repair can being past their best before date. I get the comments above and especially True Spirit regarding trading a car in. I traded a car in last year which had an advisory on the brake discs that were good enough for at least another year if not two. It was a main dealer comment and I am 100% sure the independent who carry out our fleet maintenance would not have thought the same.

 

[such01]

Well here are some pics of the outside: spent a few hours cleaning. The clay mitt left some noticeable marring on the bonnet so I got out the DA and had a go - only 3rd time used it in the last 5 years.
On another note - the drain channel below the windscreen was blocked. Got most of the stuff out but it’s still holding some water. Is there a particular way to unblock?

 

[UKGTC]

Well here are some pics of the outside: spent a few hours cleaning. The clay mitt left some noticeable marring on the bonnet so I got out the DA and had a go - only 3rd time used it in the last 5 years.
On another note - the drain channel below the windscreen was blocked. Got most of the stuff out but it’s still holding some water. Is there a particular way to unblock?

I have threaded a piece of domestic flexible 240v wiring through the drain holes on a mate's MX5 before.

They always look great after a deep clean. hats off for having a go with the polisher.

 

[SpikyMikey]

I have threaded a piece of domestic flexible 240v wiring through the drain holes on a mate's MX5 before.

They always look great after a deep clean. hats off for having a go with the polisher.

I have a length of copper wire from some mains "twin and earth" which does the trick with blocked scuttle drains. Mercs do seem prone to this; my C Class was a pain in that regard.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Welding rod is my weapon of choice.....