MOT Due - Council Run Centre Or Usual Garage?

interstellaflyer

santer wrote: »

Every other year, the usual garage replaces the rear brake caliper at a cost of £250 plus labour.

So would appreciate any thoughts on, or experiences of using Council Run MOT Centres

It wouldn't be a Ford Probe or Mazda that uses the same mechanics would it? only saying that because brake caliper failure is common on these cars.

Anyways if you don't trust your local garage then use the council run MOT centre, I would stress that most local indy garages are honest and do a good job, much better than the usual chains and often better than main dealers, there is no point in them ripping people off as they rely on happy customers spreading the word and this keeps them in business.

rodenal

Am I the only person that thinks paying somebody £90 to do a "pre mot check" when an mot is £55 is absolute lunacy!? Same with paying £250 parts only for a caliper every two years, if the car is bad for them it's definately worth learning how to remove the caliper and renew the seals/ piston if need be yourself

Hammyman

SailorSam wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought the brakes would have needed doing that often,

If the OP is one of those who thinks a MOT is a service, you could end up changing them that often.

Hammyman

interstellaflyer wrote: »

It wouldn't be a Ford Probe or Mazda that uses the same mechanics would it? only saying that because brake caliper failure is common on these cars.

No it isn't. HANDBRAKE CABLE is, and is caused by poor servicing, but not calipers. However many mechanics don't bother to check the handbrake cable and just put it down to the caliper.

santer_2

It is a Jaguar, which fortunately runs on 75 pence a litre LPG, £250 is what Jaguar charge for the part

Am going to ring the nearest Council run garage in the morning to see how it goes

interstellaflyer

Hammyman wrote: »

No it isn't. HANDBRAKE CABLE is, and is caused by poor servicing, but not calipers. However many mechanics don't bother to check the handbrake cable and just put it down to the caliper.

Handbrake mechanism on the caliper to be exact and yes it was a very common fault and generaly meant replacement caliper (ex Probe V6 owner and member of the owners club)

santer_2

SailorSam wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought the brakes would have needed doing that often, if you think they were pulling a fast oneto get te work i'd certainly swop garages, whether to another ordinary one or the local authority. The Council garage probably doesn't do repairs so at least you know if they give you a fail it's not 'cos they're touting for business.

Hammyman wrote: »

If the OP is one of those who thinks a MOT is a service, you could end up changing them that often.

The brake part is only replaced because it is the reason for the MOT failure

Wig

I don't use council places for a few reasons

1. When I ran a taxi, the council MOT was very strict and they would fail you on anything that was not Kosher.
2. They charged full MOT price
3. I can get MOT done independantly for half the RRP or less £20 - £30
4. If it fails at a cost of £20 it's not too much (to lose) to get it repaired elsewhere and retested or take it for a second opinion if I felt it was warranted.
5. An independant is more likely to be more flexible and not fail you on anything stupid, and you can (at your discretion) get them to give it a fast repair and no retest hassles.
6. I do all my own repairs so I know if an MOT test has failed something inappropriately and I would appeal accordingly.... For example a handbrake fail recently on the retest, he wanted to fail it for too much travel but I told him as long as there is one click left remaining (there were actually 4 or 5 clicks remaining) it is not a fail, and if he failed it I would appeal.....he passed it.

Zanzibar

1. When I ran a taxi, the council MOT was very strict and they would fail you on anything that was not Kosher.

Yes, good to be strict because it was a *TAXI* - suprise. Why would you expect it to pass if it wern't 'Kosher'.

5. An independant is more likely to be more flexible and not fail you on anything stupid, and you can (at your discretion) get them to give it a fast repair and no retest hassles.

No they arent, why would they be more 'flexible', its not in their interest. They are more likely to try and get extra work. Some I'm sure are fine but on average worse; specially at "£20 - £30" - they will be loosing money at that price - you do realise that dont you?

In my experience the council run MOT centres will indeed fix little things like bulbs for you and try the extra mile with emissions.

6. I do all my own repairs so I know if an MOT test has failed something inappropriately and I would appeal accordingly.... For example a handbrake fail recently on the retest, he wanted to fail it for too much travel but I told him as long as there is one click left remaining (there were actually 4 or 5 clicks remaining) it is not a fail, and if he failed it I would appeal.....he passed it.

So this recent test was your non-council £20 MOT bod? Must be as you say you dont't use Council ones - and he was rubbish? So you disprove your own point.

Why should you have to threaten the tester - which most non technical people wouldnt have a clue about - if it was tested properly in the first place? People havent got time for stupidity like that which is exactly why the Council ones in my and many others opinion are better.

Wig

Zanzibar wrote: »

Yes, good to be strict because it was a *TAXI* - suprise. Why would you expect it to pass if it wern't 'Kosher'.

It's because they do taxis they treat all cars the same, very strictly, they won't pass, things that independents would issue advisories for.

No they arent, why would they be more 'flexible', its not in their interest. They are more likely to try and get extra work. Some I'm sure are fine but on average worse; specially at "£20 - £30" - they will be loosing money at that price - you do realise that dont you?

I realise it is a 'loss leader' to get more trade in, but I still find they are very good at not failing anything stupid. More trade will bring with it a natural level of legitimate fails which will obviously generate income.

In my experience the council run MOT centres will indeed fix little things like bulbs for you and try the extra mile with emissions.

Not a plus point IMHO, a tiny job like a bulb change (assuming you have a spare set in your car) or tweak of headlamp aim is hardly anything to write home about, and the council I went to were strictly not allowed to 'tweak' a tested car. Will they change a worn tyre, a worn shock etc no of course not so you get hit with a full retest fee or a half price fee when you return.

So this recent test was your non-council £20 MOT bod? Must be as you say you dont't use Council ones - and he was rubbish? So you disprove your own point.

Everyone has to learn something everyday, this tester learned something that day, yes I realise it was a bad point for the "use independants argument", but it was to show why **I** don't use council stations....that I will generally know if the MOT fail is legitimate or not, and that was to kind of prove the point.

Why should you have to threaten the tester - which most non technical people wouldnt have a clue about - if it was tested properly in the first place? People havent got time for stupidity like that which is exactly why the Council ones in my and many others opinion are better.

If you want example of stupidity in council testers, I have one too. A council tester failed on a worn brake disc - fair enuff. The vehicle owner went to a scrap yard and bought used brake discs, went back for the re-test. The tester failed it again because he "did not fit new discs", the vehicle owner laughed at him and he did not change his mind. So it went to appeal and VOSA passed it - obviously.

IMO councils will fail where independants will advise.