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MOT check for BMW

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shalis
shalis Posts: 134 Forumite
I seem to remember a thread some time ago here on garages which specialise in BMW's (other than main dealers). My 3-series diesel is due its first MOT by the end of May and I wonder if anyone can recommend a good garage specialising in BMW's to have it checked over for the MOT. It is being serviced this week by the dealer, so should not need much done if anything. As the MOT is still almost 3 months away, I would like to have it checked closer to the time. Anywhere in Dundonald, Ards, Comber, Bangor area would suit.
«1345

Comments

  • I used this guy for years,..

    BMW SPARES

    QUARRY HEIGHTS NORTH RD
    BT23 7SZ NEWTOWNARDS, COUNTY DOWN

    Phone: 028 91822777
    I am a Financial Adviser specialising in Mortgages, Protection, Health and Medical Insurance. I also write wills. All information posted on this site is for discussion only, and should not be taken as advice.
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 13,984 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I would just go to any garage and get them to do the MOT.
  • dmxdave
    dmxdave Posts: 1,608 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    prowla wrote: »
    I would just go to any garage and get them to do the MOT.

    Garages do not do MOT's
    Dave
  • ballyblack
    ballyblack Posts: 5,134 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 3 March 2013 at 8:47PM
    any independent garage can do the pre MOT checks for you which are mainly safety related

    They don't have to specialise in BMW!


    .
  • irishjohn
    irishjohn Posts: 1,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    prowla wrote: »
    I would just go to any garage and get them to do the MOT.

    Sorry Prowla - this is N Ireland - Ordinary garages are not trusted to carry out MOT here
    John
  • snowmen
    snowmen Posts: 663 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    ballyblack wrote: »
    any independent garage can do the pre MOT checks for you which are mainly safety related

    They don't have to specialise in BMW!


    .

    Wouldn't even waste the money on a pre-mot check.

    Put it through it's MOT and see what it fails on - then just get that part fixed. Will save you money in the long run - what if there was nothing wrong with the car? You will have just wasted £70+ at a garage being told there was nothing wrong with it.
    I don't even bother getting mine undersprayed anymore - 5 years in a row it has gone through it's MOT like this and been fine saving me around a tenner a time.
  • gmm30
    gmm30 Posts: 101 Forumite
    I always recommend that people stick the car through the MoT early (you can get the car tested up to 28 days before the expiry date and if it passes you'll still keep the original date, i.e. up to 13 months on your new certificate). Worst case, if it fails, you just pay the £18.50 re-test fee, plus whatever it takes to fix any faults. But don't forget you'd have had to have got the faults fixed on top of the garage's "MoT check" fee anyway, so the moneysaving thing to do is to bung it through the test first! Obviously check it yourself for obvious silly things like duff tyres, lights, etc. If it's been serviced by a BMW dealer 3 months previously I wouldn't like to think there was anything nasty lurking to catch you out.

    Another reason is that any decent mechanic will advise you to get any borderline items fixed/replaced - he wants to protect his reputation. But on the day, the MoT tester might deem it legal, so taking the car for an inspection up front may well lead to you getting more work done than is strictly necessary for the test.

    Save your BMW specialist for when something goes wrong with it, or for routine servicing now that it's out of warranty.
  • Easymoney
    Easymoney Posts: 171 Forumite
    You are driving a BMW and asking on MSE?
  • Honkycat
    Honkycat Posts: 499 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    Easymoney wrote: »
    You are driving a BMW and asking on MSE?

    Martin is worth £80 Million and still tries to save money :cool2:
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