Pre-MOT test scam warning

[Gummy]

A large local main dealer, who should know better, is offering free Pre-MOT inspections. Nice idea but the trouble is that they did one recently on a customer's relatively elderly Land Rover, found nothing apparently wrong with it, then when he went back for a full MOT test the same mechanic who had inspected it failed it on 7 seperate counts! They then wanted to replace a radius arm instead of just the bushes and came up with a price exceeding the value of the car to repair it to MOT standards.
Moral: go to the right people for the right job and remember there is no such thing as a free ride........

[CHR15]

So without naming this place, this is a kind of pointless post

[anewman]

Probably a Land Rover dealer. I suspect the pre-MOT check will have been pretty basic and couldn't have covered everything a full MOT would.

[JoolzS]

Having always driven slightly elderly cars I've never seen the point of a "free" pre-MOT test.

The MOT itself is going to show what is wrong with the car. The "free" test is just a way to get someone to use that garage for the actual MOT. It's always felt like a scam to me.

Julie

[1984ReturnsForReal]

So without naming this place, this is a kind of pointless post


very very very pointless

[Gummy]

As it did not happen to me personally I do not feel it is right to name any names but you are not far wrong re it being a Land Rover dealer so that narrows things down a bit although I am sure this sort of thing happens elsewhere too! What really topped it off was their story that you had to replace the whole radius arm rather than just the bushes and/or bolts........

[LandyAndy]

Taking an elderly vehicle to a main dealer is often a bad idea.

I always use my local Land Rover specialist for MOT and repairs.

[Gummy]

Too right - modern main dealer mechanics know about clever electricery and fault finding via computers but most do not understand rust, oil leaks, welding or rebuilding............

[terryw]

Take Martin's advice and take your vehicle to a council operated MOT centre who do not do repairs and so they are completely disinterested in the vehicle passing or failing.

terryw

[Gummy]

Fine in principle but there are not always very many council test centres avaialble and, so long as you are careful, there are still enough good, honest MOT stations around to give you a fair chance of a decent test. Remember if you go to one garage for your test and another for the repairs there is double the time, travelling and expalining to do and the chance that repairs done by one place will not meet the appeoval of another, resulting in more wasted time/money.

[anewman]

I found an MOT test centre that isn't a council one and only does MOT tests. Just booked my MOT today and it's on Wednesday. If I called the local council one it probably wouldn't be until end of may they could see it.

I agree going elsewhere to get work done is a hassle. But if you can do some of the work yourself you save a little money. Only other downside is the re-test fee.

[epninety]

They then wanted to replace a radius arm instead of just the bushes

I have seen radius arms worn to the point where a new bush can be pushed in one side and out the other under thumb pressure. I wouldn't condemn them for that alone.

[Gummy]

Agree entirely but they could not even identify the point of wear - just quoted for a new genuine Land Rover part or nothing else and also said it took a day to fit a radius arm - imagine how much that little lot was at main dealer prices...........