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BMW 116 MOT question

My mum put her car into a local BMW dealership for it's MOT, we believe that the MOT has not been carried out properly as the bonnet could not be opened as it had a faulty catch.

When she phoned up originally she had booked it in for a service which they said would be around £100 as it wasnt a big one, so she told them to proceed with that and mentioned the bonnet being unable to get opened.

They then called her back and said the service and MOT would be ow over £300! she questioned this and stated she had been quoted and they couldnt understand why someone would tell them that price, so she just told them to carry out the MOT, they did this and she called back 2 days after the MOT had been done and asked if everything was ok, they replied yes and she then asked how could they do the MOT without opening the bonnet, they replied that they dont need access to do this, which I have since found out is lies

Where does she stand now as the MOT has not been carried out properly! she doesnt want to make a fuss but I hate the thought of big dealership's ripping people off!!

can anyone advise what I can do
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Comments

  • marlot
    marlot Posts: 4,976 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Where's the battery in a 116? Checking the security of the battery is about the only thing I can think of which requires the bonnet to be opened. On my BMW it was in the boot.

    If you really want to appeal the MOT you can do. VOSA gets very upset with garages who pass cars which should not have been passed. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_4022113
  • That's interesting. I had my MOT done in November and it passed. Roll on 1st December and a flat battery. Took the battery box cover off (Peugeot 206) and got my spanner out ready to take the retaining bracket off that goes over the battery to hold it in place, only the bolts were just sitting in loose. The nuts were missing. This was the first time I had been near the battery since I got the car at the end of 2009.
  • mikey72
    mikey72 Posts: 14,680 Forumite
    The battery isn't part of the mot anymore.

    What do you believe they need access under the bonnet for?

    What does the temp probe on the emissions test sheet say?
  • Surely the garage would have needed to open the bonnet of the car to service the car ?


    Or i am i seriously missing something here ?
    The loopy one has gone :j
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Surely the garage would have needed to open the bonnet of the car to service the car ?


    Or i am i seriously missing something here ?
    Yes you are. Because of the price the OP requested to go-ahead with the MOT only.
  • So at an MOT they dont lift the bonnet to check fluid levels etc ?

    Must be different where i live then because they do here !
    The loopy one has gone :j
  • mikey72
    mikey72 Posts: 14,680 Forumite
    So at an MOT they dont lift the bonnet to check fluid levels etc ?

    Must be different where i live then because they do here !

    No,

    engine oil temperature probe is about it.
    And they can list that as missing on the emissions, if it passes.
  • mikey72 wrote: »
    No,

    engine oil temperature probe is about it.
    And they can list that as missing on the emissions, if it passes.


    My word !!!

    We have to have our brake fluid , coolant level and oil level checked .

    Just shows how much it can vary from one place to another.
    The loopy one has gone :j
  • mikey72
    mikey72 Posts: 14,680 Forumite
    You know, they should check the master cylinder and pipework under the bonnet for leaks, they could claim they did it from below, but only if it is all clearly visible. So a point worth checking.
  • Flyboy152
    Flyboy152 Posts: 17,118 Forumite
    markeymark wrote: »
    My mum put her car into a local BMW dealership for it's MOT, we believe that the MOT has not been carried out properly as the bonnet could not be opened as it had a faulty catch.

    When she phoned up originally she had booked it in for a service which they said would be around £100 as it wasnt a big one, so she told them to proceed with that and mentioned the bonnet being unable to get opened.

    They then called her back and said the service and MOT would be ow over £300! she questioned this and stated she had been quoted and they couldnt understand why someone would tell them that price, so she just told them to carry out the MOT, they did this and she called back 2 days after the MOT had been done and asked if everything was ok, they replied yes and she then asked how could they do the MOT without opening the bonnet, they replied that they dont need access to do this, which I have since found out is lies

    Where does she stand now as the MOT has not been carried out properly! she doesnt want to make a fuss but I hate the thought of big dealership's ripping people off!!

    can anyone advise what I can do
    Who told you it was lies and what did they say was the reason for opening the bonnet?
    The greater danger, for most of us, lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark
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