Buying a used Car with MOT advisories

daveyjp

We've just bought new car to us, 4 years old, from a local dealer I've used a few times - family owned and a main dealer for a couple of brands.

I checked the MOT and it had advisories in May for front tyres and front pads and disks.

Mentioned it to the dealer and was told not to worry as they won't let any vehicle with advisories leave their showroom, any advisory work is carried out as part of the deal and they do a new MOT.

Arunmor

OP don't buy part worn tyres as suggested above, you don't know anything about them, buy or insist at least decent mid range tyres.  I've only driven an Aygo once and was quite impressed with it, so probably a good wee car for your mum.

paul2louise

daveyjp said:

We've just bought new car to us, 4 years old, from a local dealer I've used a few times - family owned and a main dealer for a couple of brands.

I checked the MOT and it had advisories in May for front tyres and front pads and disks.

Mentioned it to the dealer and was told not to worry as they won't let any vehicle with advisories leave their showroom, any advisory work is carried out as part of the deal and they do a new MOT.

That is what I am hoping. I am buying from main dealer because I want the reassurance that I am getting a good car

Barkin

daveyjp said:

Mentioned it to the dealer and was told not to worry as they won't let any vehicle with advisories leave their showroom, any advisory work is carried out as part of the deal and they do a new MOT.

Advisory free MOT's - we've been here before.

I'm sure he'll be along soon...

BlueonBlue

I am not sure but 4 years and 24000 miles sounds low milage for cracked perished tyres ?

facade

BlueonBlue said:

I am not sure but 4 years and 24000 miles sounds low milage for cracked perished tyres ?

Michelin, Continental and a few other premium brands used a binder in their modern high performance rubber that was prone to prematurely perishing- 4 years is about right for them looking like they are 14 years old, they are supposed to be better now.... (I have personal experience with Michelin & Continental perishing & cracking with plenty of tread left)

On the other hand, Chinese ditchfinders seem to last forever......

Goudy

The rear tyres on a small FWD hatchbacks will almost certainly perish before they wear out.
The rears just keep the car's !!!!!! off the ground. They don't transmit power to the road or do any steering or do that much braking.

Cracks in older tyres is a sign of the rubber oxidising.
Manufacturers will use various anti oxidising chemicals in the rubber but generally it's the environment that influences the speed of perishing. 
Heat and cold tend to make the rubber more brittle, which is why in hot countries they tend to cover their tyres if left stood in the sun and exposure to certain harsh cleaning chemicals don't help.

The tyres have a date on them marked on the sidewall somewhere as a four digit code, week and year.
So 2419 is the 24th week of 2019.
(tyres made before 2000 have a three digit code, but if you find a three digit date code on your tyres, start worrying)

You will usually find tyres perish between 5 and 7 years old, depending on what the tyre is made up of and environment.

As for the brakes discs, they are a wearable part anyway.

I would think at just shy of 24k, the rear tyres and brakes are probably the originals and you want to be factoring in replacing them sooner rather than later. I wouldn't say it's a worry, just part of the car ownership experience.

As for getting the dealer to contribute, you might have some luck asking them to help in someway.
They obviously don't really want to spend out on their used stock if they can help it but there are a couple of ways to tackle it.
You could ask them to sort it at their cost.
You could ask for money off towards fixing it yourself.
Or you could try and negotiate a discount on having them put the car right.

If I really wanted the car, I'd perhaps try all in that order as you'd have to do these jobs sooner rather than later.

A couple of mid range tyres would set you back  £40-£50 each and a new set of front brakes probably £200+ at the dealers.
If they won't budge on the first two options, ask them if they would split the costs with you and then you'll buy the car.

paul2louise

Goudy said:

The rear tyres on a small FWD hatchbacks will almost certainly perish before they wear out.
The rears just keep the car's !!!!!! off the ground. They don't transmit power to the road or do any steering or do that much braking.

Cracks in older tyres is a sign of the rubber oxidising.
Manufacturers will use various anti oxidising chemicals in the rubber but generally it's the environment that influences the speed of perishing. 
Heat and cold tend to make the rubber more brittle, which is why in hot countries they tend to cover their tyres if left stood in the sun and exposure to certain harsh cleaning chemicals don't help.

The tyres have a date on them marked on the sidewall somewhere as a four digit code, week and year.
So 2419 is the 24th week of 2019.
(tyres made before 2000 have a three digit code, but if you find a three digit date code on your tyres, start worrying)

You will usually find tyres perish between 5 and 7 years old, depending on what the tyre is made up of and environment.

As for the brakes discs, they are a wearable part anyway.

I would think at just shy of 24k, the rear tyres and brakes are probably the originals and you want to be factoring in replacing them sooner rather than later. I wouldn't say it's a worry, just part of the car ownership experience.

As for getting the dealer to contribute, you might have some luck asking them to help in someway.
They obviously don't really want to spend out on their used stock if they can help it but there are a couple of ways to tackle it.
You could ask them to sort it at their cost.
You could ask for money off towards fixing it yourself.
Or you could try and negotiate a discount on having them put the car right.

If I really wanted the car, I'd perhaps try all in that order as you'd have to do these jobs sooner rather than later.

A couple of mid range tyres would set you back  £40-£50 each and a new set of front brakes probably £200+ at the dealers.
If they won't budge on the first two options, ask them if they would split the costs with you and then you'll buy the car.

Brilliant. Learning so much thanks 

jimjames

paul2louise said:

twopenny said:

Don't think the dealer will do that.
The advisory is saying that it may or may not be necessary at some time in the future. Not that it is necessary now. A lot will depend on your driving and mileage.
And you have almost a year before the MOT. It's not urgent.

You could ask if they would be willing to change the tyres. They can do that quicker and cheaper than you. 
But new discs is time and money.

Fair enough I was just a bit put off that sales assistant wasn't even prepared to negotiate on the tyres but I said I wanted a 2nd opinion. 

If it's a main dealer then they will normally fix any advisories before the car is sold. Back street dealer unlikely to do so

jimjames

Arunmor said:

OP don't buy part worn tyres as suggested above, you don't know anything about them, buy or insist at least decent mid range tyres.  I've only driven an Aygo once and was quite impressed with it, so probably a good wee car for your mum.

There's general scaremongering about part worn tyres. Unless you buy brand new tyres on any car you purchase you will always be driving on part worn tyres that you don't know how they have been used. They may even have been part worns fitted prior to your purchase.