MOT failed on 'rear coil spring incomplete'...?

Midnight_Cowboy_2

Hi all

Just after some opinions about buying a secondhand car...

I've been to see a car, and eveything looked great. Have just checked the MOT database (https://www.motinfo.gov.uk) where you can check all previous MOTs (including failures), and all is fine, except for the last MOT where, first time through, it failed on:

Nearside Rear Coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)
Offside Rear Coil spring incomplete (2.4.C.1a)

That sounds a bit sus to me. The only thing I can think of is (a) the owner has been tinkering; or ( the car's been in pieces because of some kind of accident.

Any thoughts?

Cheers all!

Locknut

sounds more like both rear colil springs had been broken at the time of mot. check that they have new ones fitted. nothing suss about it they do break.

Premier_2

If it's now passed, what's the issue?

Midnight_Cowboy_2

Ok, if that's all it is, then nothing to worry about I think - although I'm suprised they could fail/break on a decent 5 year old car (Audi).

Just checking because I haven't spent this much money on... anything before!

MX5huggy

Don't worry I have had several cars fail on this normally its just the last inch or so of the spring that is corroded.

My parents 4 year old X3 needed 2 new springs last MOT all paid for by BMW warranty just covering the original cost of the warranty!

harveybobbles

Springs fail left, right and centre due to crap makers! Saab's, Vauxhalls and Renaults are the most common ones we do.

tomstickland

Common fault. Corrosion of springs leads them to snap.

swiftnick

We now replace loads of broken coil springs, more than we ever have done apparently due to more speed bumps and poor conditions of the road ~ pot holing.

Nick

Midnight_Cowboy_2

Ok, so it seems like something not unusual. The car passed its MOT a couple of days after the fail, so I'll check the history again to see if there's a receipt for them - or quiz the vendor!

hewhoisnotintheknow

Midnight_Cowboy wrote: »

Ok, if that's all it is, then nothing to worry about I think - although I'm suprised they could fail/break on a decent 5 year old car (Audi).

Just checking because I haven't spent this much money on... anything before!

don't believe the marketing, audis come very low in the reliability tables, which is especially bad when you think how much they cost

vikingaero

European cars from the last decade have used springs that are not pigtailed at the ends. The main reason for this is cost cutting. Mercedes had a huge problem with springs on the first generation A-Class.

Japanese manufacturers generally tended to pigtail their springs and had a lower failure rate.