I'm trying to sell my car - please help!

lordmountararat

I would definitely put a new MOT on it. Might make all the difference.

walwyn1978

lordmountararat said:

I would definitely put a new MOT on it. Might make all the difference.

This. Years ticket, fix the mirrors, leave the bumper or T-cut it yourself - up to you. Don’t pay someone to do the bumper you won’t see a return on that. 

Biggus_Dickus

walwyn1978 said:

lordmountararat said:

I would definitely put a new MOT on it. Might make all the difference.

This. Years ticket, fix the mirrors, leave the bumper or T-cut it yourself - up to you. Don’t pay someone to do the bumper you won’t see a return on that. 

If the OP intends to MOT the car before sale then perhaps (and I repeat perhaps, as I don't know for sure) a repair will be mandatory.

A functioning drivers side wing mirror is part of the MOT test.

An inoperative, excessively damaged or insecure drivers side wing mirror will result in a ‘fail’.

Here’s a question for all you MOT experts:

Assuming the mirror can still be adjusted manually, would an electrical adjustment fault be deemed  an ‘inoperative’ mirror,  and thus a ‘fail’ ? 

 

photome

Biggus_Dickus said:

walwyn1978 said:

lordmountararat said:

I would definitely put a new MOT on it. Might make all the difference.

This. Years ticket, fix the mirrors, leave the bumper or T-cut it yourself - up to you. Don’t pay someone to do the bumper you won’t see a return on that. 

If the OP intends to MOT the car before sale then perhaps (and I repeat perhaps, as I don't know for sure) a repair will be mandatory.

A functioning drivers side wing mirror is part of the MOT test.

An inoperative, excessively damaged or insecure drivers side wing mirror will result in a ‘fail’.

Here’s a question for all you MOT experts:

Assuming the mirror can still be adjusted manually, would an electrical adjustment fault be deemed  an ‘inoperative’ mirror,  and thus a ‘fail’ ? 

 

I dont know for sure but IMO it wouldn’t fail , if it’s adjustable and not loose I can’t see why it would fail

32Battalion

I have never ever seen an MOT tester actually test the electrics of a mirror nor touched the mirror in anyway (I assume they give it a cursory glance)

Mercdriver

Regardless, I would still fix the mirror.  It either encourages a potential buyer to chip lots off the price or walk away completely.

AdrianC

The MOT doesn't test the ability of a mirror to be adjusted. The tester's manual is quite explicit on that.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/3-visibility

3.3. View to rear

...
You do not need to adjust mirrors or devices for this check.

But, yes, it's a quick and cheap repair that stops a buyer chiselling a bigger amount off the price.

Biggus_Dickus

walwyn1978 said:

lordmountararat said:

I would definitely put a new MOT on it. Might make all the difference.

This. Years ticket, fix the mirrors, leave the bumper or T-cut it yourself - up to you. Don’t pay someone to do the bumper you won’t see a return on that. 

Personally I would say that, on otherwise decent bodywork, fixing the bumper scrape is equally important. It’s one less stick that a buyer could use to beat you with and if the OP can get both defects sorted for £70 (which seems a tad optimistic) then it’s a no-brainer, imho.

Many buyers are immediately put-off by minor bodywork scrapes/scratches such as the one on the OP’s Polo because they are so conspicuous and immediately noticeable;...also quickly seized upon to barter the price downwards!

Getting the car through an MOT will certainly improve the chances of a quick sale at a decent price;...just one reservation though:...who knows what horrors an MOT test on a 10-yr old car with 93k on the clock may reveal,...just sayin' .  

Sell the car as it stands,...or, fix the 2 obvious defects then sell it...or, fix the defects, MOT it then sell it.

Decisions, decisions. Good luck OP; I hope the financial aspect works out, whichever path you take. 

  

 

32Battalion

It still wouldn't be worth £3k let alone £4k.