Car failed MOT - quote check

MrWillyWonka

Hi,

My Ford KA (Y reg) failed its MOT today. I was a little surprised but it's all in the suspension. I have been quoted £400 for fixing the following issues:

O/S front lower seat belt mounting corroded

O/S front lower suspension arm rubber bush excess wear

N/S front top suspension mounting excess movement

Can anyone advise on whether £400 is reasonable? The car is probably only worth £500-£600 with 60K miles but it is a fab runner otherwise.

EdGasket

O/S front lower seat belt mounting corroded - that will be welding which can vary wildly in cost depending where you go.

Why not just get a couple more quotes, then you will know if the price is about right or not?

MrWillyWonka

EdGasket wrote: »

O/S front lower seat belt mounting corroded - that will be welding which can vary wildly in cost depending where you go.

Why not just get a couple more quotes, then you will know if the price is about right or not?

I have emailed 3 other garages for quotes to see what they come up with. Just awaiting responses.

I have seen 03-04 reg Ford KAs with 10-11 months MOT on it for about £900 on autotrader. But I guess I could pay £400 now and have the car last another year...

I work in 4 buildings within a mile of each other and drive between them every day, the entire length is ramps - perhaps a KA isn't the best car to have!

viv0147

Get a few more quotes as suggested but the way I look at it if you have to pay £400 that works out £7.70 a week over a year thats quite good

[Deleted User]

Get more quotes and get some welding quotes from some garages that specialises in welding. It's better the devil you know. You might go and buy the £900 Autotrader Ka but then end up with an identical bill when it's MOT runs out.

Strider590

Was any of that on last years advisory?
Suspension bits rarely get that bad that quickly.

colino

The suspension fails are peanuts but on a Y reg Ka, the corrosion is either you staving off scrapping for one year, at considerable cost, or you ebay it and find a better one. One thing for sure, is that once its into the shell, they don't self cure and they aren't going to stop rotting.

MrWillyWonka

colino wrote: »

One thing for sure, is that once its into the shell, they don't self cure and they aren't going to stop rotting.

That is a good point, I will need to take a look myself. Have got a quote from another garage as "worse case scenario" of £230. I don't do any motorway driving and only do about 2000 miles a year, if the car can hang on for another I would be very happy!

MrWillyWonka

My car passed it's MOT

Paid £230 at the other garage, returned the car to original garage for retest and passed with no advisories. The second garage did say that when rust starts it will continue to rot. As others have pointed out it was the welding that was the expensive part and going to a welding specialist did reduce the labour charge quite significantly, I'm guessing they are able to do it quicker being a specialist?

If it fails it's next MOT I'll get it scrapped but I need every penny for a house deposit right now so having the car legal again I'm pretty pleased with.

Marktheshark

As long as you happy driving around with your seatbelt fastened to a welded plate that is.
It might pass the MOT, but as to how safe it is I would not like to say.

Rambosmum

Last month my OH's R reg fiesta failed on EXACTLY what you have said. We paid £291 inc MOT and retest.