Mot Advisories on a car i'm thinking of buying

BaileyB

Need a new car so been looking around and see a Mazda 3 from a garage. It's up for £1650 this is our car for work etc so won't be our main car.

Now is has 12 months mot but checking history of mot to get a picture of the work done on it etc. This bit concerns me.

It's only done 3k since last mot and average around 11 for age of the car.
Advisory Notice issued

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Front registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)
Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
Offside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Rear suspension components corroded


So that's rust all down the rear side, going to have a look at it tomorrow but thinking of staying well clear.

straighttalker

If you're thinking of staying well clear, why are you still going to look at it?

stator

Depends how long you want to keep it. Surface rust can usually be managed by regular maintenance. Don't know about the last 3 items, get a quote for a mechanic to fix them up.

scotsbob

The Mazda 323 and the Mazda 3 are known to have rust problems.


I would suggest you look at the owners forum and ask there. You may find a knowledgeable owner in your area who would have a look at it for you.


http://www.mazda3forums.co.uk/index.php?board=73.0

arcon5

Ignore the tyres - general wear and tear. Cam need new tires on any car.
So .basically needs a new shock and bush.
Depends how far on the rust is, needs investigating

BaileyB

thanks, yes had a google for owners forum but could not see the bodywork section, thank you.

Looks like a common issue with the Madza 3 so at least now i know what to look for. Gonna have a look to see what the damage to it is.

The items apart from the rust sections did not bother me at all. (shock, tyres, bush etc) But not seen these on a mot advisory before.

Hintza

BaileyB wrote: »

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

This is the only one that would cause me too much concern, it might be nothing but it might be one foot in the grave (doubtful though). The rest are just cash and you pay what you are happy with taking in to account what needs done.

AdrianC

BaileyB wrote: »

Advisory Notice issued

Advisories are things that have passed, but the tester thinks should be notified. No more than that.

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Front registration plate delaminated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

A quick glance at the car would have told you all of those.

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

"Slight corrosion" might just be surface - aerosol of wax splurged about under there with hold it at bay. Or it might be the first signs of terminal rot coming through from the inside of various box sections.

Rear suspension components corroded

Same as above.

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
Offside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rubber doesn't like oil, so probably related. One damper's near-dead, and taking a bush with it. Not a big job, even if it fails next year, but it might take a tyre with it.

So that's rust all down the rear side, going to have a look at it tomorrow but thinking of staying well clear.

It's a grand and a half's worth of disposable shed from the pondlife end of the trade - so sub-grand in a private sale, realistically, and forget any comeback on the seller. It's got a handful of years left before it dies the death of a thousand paper-cuts, unless something major kills it first.

forgotmyname

Tyres and shocks, No issue, Fairly cheap. But rust.. Avoid modern cars with rust.

colino

Sounds pretty much OK for a typical MOT station knowing that the car is being MOTd by a local trader. Unsure NT commits everything to the test that an experienced tester wouldn't even comment on. (Have a look under any car in the UK and not find corrosion).
Check it yourself and if not happy, find another, there's plenty around.

forgotmyname

Had many cars over my time and never had an MOT mention rust since owning cars from the late 90's onwards. Whether the car was a couple of years old or 15 years old. No mention of rust on the MOT.

And my MOT mentions anything that may need sorting sooner rather than later. He would tell me to get some treatment on the sills etc. on older cars.