Opinions on MOT - LR garage or not?

Hello

Manuel (my 300 Tdi Disco) is due his MOT test soon and I was wondering where to take him.

My local LR franchise doesn't have their own tester and they take all their MOTs round the corner to an independent. Most of my local garages won't get many Land Rovers passing through.

So, do you think I am better taking it to a garage that gets a load of Landies, so should know about common failure/safety points, or should I just take it to the local bloke on the basis that an MOT *should* be an MOT!

In the past (when I had Series Landies) I always regarded the MOT as just a legal thing that you had to have. *I* am solely responsible for the safety of my vehicle. I've had things pass that were, shall we say, on the borderline.

Judith

Reply to
Judith
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With that attitude, you aren't going to go far wrong, whichever you choose, but

Reply to
David G. Bell

Judith vaguely muttered something like ...

Just had mine ('96 300 Tdi 3door manual Discovery) done, straight pass .. whoopeee ... not that I expected anything else of course, knowing my brake pads need renewing really, though the MOT chappie says there's plenty life in 'em yet .. ;)

We use the local Council test Centre, where they also do everything else on the road including Artics and buses .. I've never seen a more stringent test or testers .. which makes me feel much happier than 'honest Joe's' ... ;) They also don't have an attached, or an arrangement with, the local garage, so don't suggest prices to 'fix' things .. ;)

Reply to
Paul - xxx

In my opinion some of the things on the MOT test are not safety features at all, they should stick to brakes, lights, steering, tyres and perhaps gross body or chassis rot.

As to things like windscreen washers, it depends on whether they feel like working or not, and exhausts blowing should be something between you and your neighbours. (mind you I have just fixed mine properly at last)

I would not take mine to an independant garage.

Reply to
Larry

So your driving down the motorway your windscreen gets covered in crap you turn your wipers on and it smears across the screen so you can't see out of it but your washers don't work cos there not a safety item

or

your driving down the motorway exhaust blowing being in a Land Rover that's air tight ;-) you start to nod off due to carbon monoxide poisoning but you'll be ok cos it's not a safety item

I agree some items are not safety related but most are

As for taking it to an independent garage all MOT's should be the same having said that not all testers are aware of Land Rover quirks If your not happy with any item it's failed on ask to see the manual they have to show you what it says

Andy MOT tester (unfortunately)

Reply to
Andy.Smalley

In message , Judith writes

Personally I'd take mine to someone who knows Landies and knows what to expect. Just my opinion. What you want is an honest assessment of your vehicle, passed if it meets the legal requirements and advised on things which are marginal or not covered by the MOT.

Reply to
hugh

I can punch out the glass can't I or stick my head out the window, landie drivers need to be ingenios,

Worse things have happened on the motorway, I have had gearboxes catch fire twice (not on a landie)

As for carbon monoxide poisoning, it is not exactly like I am hermetically sealed into the cab is it ?

The fact that the washers may work during an MOT test does not guarantee they will ever after and sods law dictates that they won't when you most need them.

Reply to
Larry

If you live anywhere rural try to go where the local farmers go. Those garages are usually good value and fair. They have to be with that taut fisted lot !! :-))

Reply to
Hirsty's

I think you're right. I'll take it to the garage that does the MOTs for the franchised dealer. Hopefully I won't have to pay the silly full MOT price if I go direct rather than through the dealer.

I used to have fun with the Series III. The local (non LR) garage couldn't work out how to open the bonnet (because there's no lever inside the cab!) or how to switch on the side/headlights and I would never let them test the brakes on a rolling road! (I can get right stroppy, I can!)

Judith

Reply to
Judith

Why? Any series that is in 2WD is fine on a rolling road - you may have got stroppy but you were also 100% *wrong*.

Reply to
EMB

I knew someone would say that! I can't remember what the "rules" are now but at the time I am sure I understood how my transmission worked and what would not damage the vehicle. Perhaps I told them not to put it in 4WD? (I've now emptied my brain of Series' transmission and replaced it with Disco etc).

The point I was trying to make is that most garages deal with simple front-wheel drive cars and do not understand anything different ..... so I was just trying to protect my Land Rover from people who relished the thought of playing with something a bit meatier to normal but may not know a) what specifically to look for in this dual-purpose sort of vehicle and b) the effect that their actions may have on something they've never seen before (like a yellow knob.)

Judith

Reply to
Judith

Always be present to give advice to the examiner as he does the test.

I remember I once had a 4wd drive Subaru took it a local fit and forget type place and had the tester report that the had brake was non functional. I explained that the hand brake worked on the front wheels. Watched then put back on the ramp lift it and every 'fitter' came and had a look at the front callipers, then back onto the rolling road and I was told that the hand brake was now fine.

So be there and 'remind' then that the hand brake is a transmission brake (should be obvious when they are examining the underside) so you would appreciate if they applied it gently as not to wreck your propshafts, u'js etc.

Andy

Reply to
Andrew Carr

With a Disco, what's the "correct" way of testing the brakes then, and should I need to find a specialised tester?

Cheers, Aled.

Reply to
Aled

Rolling road brake testers are low speed and are fine on full time 4WD vehicles - so long as they don't sit there for hours with just one set of wheels spinning. Worry not about it.

Reply to
EMB

Ah, good good. Was starting to worry there. :)

Cheers, Aled.

Reply to
Aled

I agree with what your saying I once tested a car, gave the bloke the test certificate as he was reversing out he turned on his headlights and one went very bright, went out and blew the fuse so both headlights were out, he got out of the car and asked if I was going to fail it I said no as they had worked at the time of testing

the point I was trying to make was that most of the items tested in the mot could all be classed as safety related, if you 'twist' them enough with the exception of a couple like emissions, number plate light

Andy

-- SWB Series 2a ( dressed as a 3) "Bruce" It's big it's mean it's really really green

Reply to
Andy.Smalley

The place we use drives down the road with a passenger holding an inertia tester :)

Reply to
Niamh Holding

True, unless they have a viscous centre diff such as Classic RR and vehicles based on it.

cheers

Dave W.

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Reply to
Dave White

Actually sods law says that the windscreen washers work perfectly and powerfully right up until the moment the MOT tester presses the knob, and then two large pieces of green snot block both washer jets simultaneously. .....But then you could argue that THAT is when you most need them to work. ;)

Steve

Reply to
Steve

On or around Tue, 10 Aug 2004 18:32:11 +0100, "Larry" enlightened us thusly:

if the 'zorst blows CO into the cabin, and you could pass out while driving it, with possibly fatal results.

Reply to
Austin Shackles

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