Deleted member 21686
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Great news pink Bertie can breathe again.
Viktor
Guest
Personally I prefer the british system. There are waiting lists in the NI centres, and the examiners can be calous. I've experienced them when the vehicle reaches about 6 years old thumping into the sills with a screw driver to puncture a hole especially if there is underseal present. They argue if it gives it would fail soon. Also they would scrape off sealant on brake pipes etc. While I can see a reason for this imagine you are bringing your newly converted van which you have expensively converted on an older vehicle which of course you have gone to great pains to ensure is rust free and properly sealed underneath.
In my case Wellhouse converted an older second hand Japanese import that comes into the UK without corrosion. I had it professionally treated and sealed before the conversion took place and all the paintwork was renovated and sealed with Diamond Brite at the cost of several hundred pounds. I take the van back to Wellhouse for its MOT because they know exactly what state it's in.
If I took it to a centre in NI they would simply look at it and say 'Aha an older van' get the screwdriver out and start digging for 'hidden faults' under the sealant.
In my case Wellhouse converted an older second hand Japanese import that comes into the UK without corrosion. I had it professionally treated and sealed before the conversion took place and all the paintwork was renovated and sealed with Diamond Brite at the cost of several hundred pounds. I take the van back to Wellhouse for its MOT because they know exactly what state it's in.
If I took it to a centre in NI they would simply look at it and say 'Aha an older van' get the screwdriver out and start digging for 'hidden faults' under the sealant.
hairyneil
Guest
No experience of NI but it's not allowed in mainland UK
From the testers manual...
The corrosion assessment tool is a small, lightweight plastic hammer on an aluminium shaft.
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Viktor
Guest
Possibly it has changed then. I was raging when it happened to me a few years back and tried to complain but the supervisor wouldn't entertain it. Still I'll never trust I wouldn't happen again as you're seated away from the vehicle and can't see exactly what is going on and they are still going to go scraping off my sealant. Much better to have the british system and a garage who look after your vehicle on a regular basis that you can trust. I imagine the majority would be like that and not like the chancers mentioned in the original post.
Deleted member 5759
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Good luck in getting Bertie rejuvenated!
Peter
Peter
scampa
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Be aware that if you take the advice to report the first garage to VOSA for possible unfair or over zealous MOT failures, then VOSA may request an independent inspection of the vehicle. A possible outcome of this could be that they judge the SECOND garage to have been unduly lenient with their MOT test, and may lead to more expense for you in the long term!
My advice would be to just use the garage that you're happiest with in the future.
Luckily, I found a garage that I can trust to be honest and fair, so I've been using them for years now. Before that, I would always ask the MOT tester, before he carried out the test, to clearly point out any failures to me, as I would be doing all of the repair work (if needed) myself. This helped to avoid the possibility of a "rogue" tester trying to create some lucrative work for himself.
My advice would be to just use the garage that you're happiest with in the future.
Luckily, I found a garage that I can trust to be honest and fair, so I've been using them for years now. Before that, I would always ask the MOT tester, before he carried out the test, to clearly point out any failures to me, as I would be doing all of the repair work (if needed) myself. This helped to avoid the possibility of a "rogue" tester trying to create some lucrative work for himself.
n brown
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another bonus if you have the same mot place for a while, you tend to build up a bit of a rapport,and if they're told from the start that you do your own repairs,and they can see that you've done them ok,they can be very handy!.my guys have let me use spring compressors and bearing presses,etc,and have given me lots of tips and advice.
mark61
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Haven't had a vehicle fail an MOT in about 12 or 13 years. I have used either dedicated MOT centres, (they do exist here ) garages that also do MOT's and for the last couple of years I have my vehicle serviced at same time as MOT is due and the mechanic takes it for the MOT. Honesty is still important in the UK. :raofl:
:raofl:hairyneil
Guest
My father was one of the first testers when the MOT was introduced in 1960? I was bought up and have spent most of my life around vehicle workshops of all sizes, mopeds to PSV & HGV artics, so mostly have a good idea of what to expect when I take my vehicles for test. However, we're all fallible and can miss things occasionally. We all hate an MOT failure but I think I would want to know the worst about my vehicle.
cooljules
Guest
Be aware that if you take the advice to report the first garage to VOSA for possible unfair or over zealous MOT failures, then VOSA may request an independent inspection of the vehicle. A possible outcome of this could be that they judge the SECOND garage to have been unduly lenient with their MOT test, and may lead to more expense for you in the long term!
My advice would be to just use the garage that you're happiest with in the future.
Luckily, I found a garage that I can trust to be honest and fair, so I've been using them for years now. Before that, I would always ask the MOT tester, before he carried out the test, to clearly point out any failures to me, as I would be doing all of the repair work (if needed) myself. This helped to avoid the possibility of a "rogue" tester trying to create some lucrative work for himself.
how does that work with the 2nd garage? i reported a garage in the late 90's as they failed my car saying it was a deathtrap, suspesion, brakes, bodywork etc etc. i got intouch with VOsa or whoever, took it to a another place, where i met their inspector, he did a test, about 10 times more thorough, past it....went to the garage that failed me, saw the MOT guy, gave him a bollocking and made him do some tests etc.
I took my van for a test other week, looks tatty (it is) but its solid.
yorkslass
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you must be so relieved. sounds like everything will be sorted soon,and on the road again.
Smaug
Guest
So, what happened about the broken suspension link? Had it healed itself while resting on the driveway, or did you apply some ointment & a bandage?
If anyone wants an indpendant test station, try your local bus depot/ garage. They will have all the gear for big vehicles & generally don't repair private vehicles, but many will do MoT's.
pink
Guest
Bertie has his mot!!!
Think i found garages at each end of the scale...it wasnt just that the first one was over zealous, it was the fact that they wouldnt entertain any repairs, just told me to scrap it...the second did seem a bit too lenient, but the important thing is that an mot was issued, and any dangerous repairs got done...Chips garage in Leicester carried out the repairs, he modified a pair of new shock absorbers so they,d fit, charged a reasonable rate and has thus guaranteed any future repairs will be carried out by him..
THANK YOU all for your offers of help and advice, you,re a credit to the forum!!!
Think i found garages at each end of the scale...it wasnt just that the first one was over zealous, it was the fact that they wouldnt entertain any repairs, just told me to scrap it...the second did seem a bit too lenient, but the important thing is that an mot was issued, and any dangerous repairs got done...Chips garage in Leicester carried out the repairs, he modified a pair of new shock absorbers so they,d fit, charged a reasonable rate and has thus guaranteed any future repairs will be carried out by him..
THANK YOU all for your offers of help and advice, you,re a credit to the forum!!!
pink
Guest
It wasnt a broken suspension link, but broken rear shock absorber due to it being ceased..since been replaced with new,after being modified as original ones seem to be unavailable...
Poppy
Guest
I hope you get it sorted.....my van The Duck is just starting to be converted & hasn't taken me anywhere yet, however, I know I'd be gutted, even now!