[Soul_Glo]

What's yours?

2009. My E92 Rybrook Warwick. Engine cover advisory. Obviously a covering exercise in case they see any leaks.

2020. The F32. N/S/R. 5 mm tread depth. Errr sorry what?!

[Alscoob]

They failed my 1st MOT 2020, saying headlights too low, then passed it??

Funny enough they have lowered the beam not the other way, so at night I can see sod all...I'll adjust them up again.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by Soul_Glo

What's yours?

2009. My E92 Rybrook Warwick. Engine cover advisory. Obviously a covering exercise in case they see any leaks.

2020. The F32. N/S/R. 5 mm tread depth. Errr sorry what?! Ocean Falmouth.

That’s a ridiculous advisory.. some tyres only come with 7mm tread depth new!

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Alscoob

They failed my 1st MOT 2020, saying headlights too low, then passed it??

Funny enough they have lowered the beam not the other way, so at night I can see sod all...I'll adjust them up again.

Yes, had that one last year. I had the headlights adjusted after lowering the car on ACS. Then I had them double checked as paranoid. The car went in to BMW for the EGR and I had them triple checked. Doesn't make any sense to me. I received a fail and a pass certificate.

The same dealership that adjusted them said they were off.

I mean you need a screwdriver to get in there right? So the headlight fairy must have some how lifted the bonnet and worked her magic.

The reality is once your car is in they can make anything up about how it's not roadworthy.

[agentorange]

Originally Posted by Soul_Glo

Yes, had that one last year. I had the headlights adjusted after lowering the car on ACS. Then I had them double checked as paranoid. The car went in to BMW for the EGR and I had them triple checked. Doesn't make any sense to me. I received a fail and a pass certificate.

The same dealership that adjusted them said they were off.

I mean you need a screwdriver to get in there right? So the headlight fairy must have some how lifted the bonnet and worked her magic.

The reality is once your car is in they can make anything up about how it's not roadworthy.

Back in the late 70s there was a dealership in our town that we swore kept a supply of "MoT Hammers" to ensure there was at least one light out to fail you.

[kzg1969]

not had a BMW past 3years yet

had a bike fail because i duct tapped a legal number plate over an illegal number plate (all from the back ensuring tape did not obscure plate).

That got a fail "insecure number plate" on that.

[335dX]

Originally Posted by Hooded

That’s a ridiculous advisory.. some tyres only come with 7mm tread depth new!

Some Porsche tyres come with 4 or 5mm NEW!

[BBri89]

Not a BMW dealer, but had my wife's car fail due to view obscured in windscreen zone a.

They told her it failed when she went to pick it up, and insisted she rebooked it again. It was for a magic tree air freshener that they couldn't be bothered to remove, or just pass anyway knowing as soon as it leaves the dealers anyone could hang something from the rear view mirror again.


She refused to pay until it passed and kicked up a fuss, so they kept it overnight and she kept the courtesy car.

What a waste of an MOT booking and courtesy car for some dickhead of a tester to fail it on that.
At least remove it and do an immediate retest that it passes on.


Had a friends car fail because it had an FIA-approved quick-release aircraft style twist-buckle harness secured to the roll cage, and not a click-seatbelt style harness secured to the seatbelt mount points.
Different test centre passes it no problem.


I've seen cars fail on stupid things and pass on downright dangerous things. Not enough consistency. Unfortunately it's becoming more emissions based rather than safety based these days.

[JD6]

I have the impression that they want to have a certain proportion of MOT fails. On a couple of occasions over the years I have booked the car in to my local dealer and asked them to replace 2 tyres then MOT, or replace a number plate bulb then MOT. Both times they failed the car, did the work and then passed it - meaning I have fails on the record

I bet the cheeky bastards don't do that with their own cars. I now spell it out very clearly that any work I have asked them to do must be done before the MOT.

[BBri89]

Originally Posted by JD6

I have the impression that they want to have a certain proportion of MOT fails. On a couple of occasions over the years I have booked the car in to my local dealer and asked them to replace 2 tyres then MOT, or replace a number plate bulb then MOT. Both times they failed the car, did the work and then passed it - meaning I have fails on the record

I bet the cheeky bastards don't do that with their own cars. I now spell it out very clearly that any work I have asked them to do must be done before the MOT.

I don't mind necessarily a fail on an MOT, depending on what it's for.

It shows you've had work done to rectify it.

Of course that depends what it's for. But most cars will fail MOTs at some point, I'd be somewhat suspicious of a used car that never failed and never had advisories.



I think a lot of centres will fail easy fixes though, as it fudges the numbers a bit, rather than do those fixes first and passing everything all the time, which then might raise suspicion with VOSA, or DVSA or whatever it is this week

[JD6]

Originally Posted by BBri89

I think a lot of centres will fail easy fixes though, as it fudges the numbers a bit, rather than do those fixes first and passing everything all the time, which then might raise suspicion with VOSA, or DVSA or whatever it is this week

I appreciate that they might want some fails to balance their numbers a bit, and if there is a genuine reason for failing one of my cars, I will have to accept that. What I don't accept though is a car booked in for tyres or a bulb replacement and an MOT, getting deliberately MOT'd on its old tyres or with the dead bulb.

If they need a certain proportion of fails or advisories, let them use their own used stock for that purpose rather than my car. But of course they would prefer not to have fails on their own stock. I now speak to the head of Service before an MOT and make this crystal clear.

[Sennen]

I this usual getting BMW to mot your car?

I used to get the Lotus (only car I have had over 3 years old in 25 years) done at my local garage. I wouldn't have dreamt of taking it to Lotus, surely it is a given that a main franchise dealer is going to have your pants down.

[JD6]

Originally Posted by Sennen

I this usual getting BMW to mot your car?

I used to get the Lotus (only car I have had over 3 years old in 25 years) done at my local garage. I wouldn't have dreamt of taking it to Lotus, surely it is a given that a main franchise dealer is going to have your pants down.

In my case the BMW dealer is one of the few local garages, and probably the only one used to cars of that type, so I don't see a particular reason to do it elsewhere. The first MOT is also covered by MOT Protect:

BMW MOT Protect.
Your first MOT inspection will arrive faster than you think. That’s why we offer BMW MOT Protect, a complimentary cover for all new BMWs. Your BMW’s MOT Protect covers you for any* work that needs completing to pass your first MOT inspection. In the unlikely event your BMW fails its first MOT, you won’t lose out, as repairs, replacements and labour are covered on a long list of key items, from electric and lighting equipment to steering and suspension. We’ll work with you to address any issues promptly and free of charge. https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owne...kshop/mot.html

[Sennen]

Originally Posted by JD6

In my case the BMW dealer is one of the few local garages, and probably the only one used to cars of that type, so I don't see a particular reason to do it elsewhere. The first MOT is also covered by MOT Protect:

BMW MOT Protect.
Your first MOT inspection will arrive faster than you think. That’s why we offer BMW MOT Protect, a complimentary cover for all new BMWs. Your BMW’s MOT Protect covers you for any* work that needs completing to pass your first MOT inspection. In the unlikely event your BMW fails its first MOT, you won’t lose out, as repairs, replacements and labour are covered on a long list of key items, from electric and lighting equipment to steering and suspension. We’ll work with you to address any issues promptly and free of charge. https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owne...kshop/mot.html

I didnt realise BMW did that, i have never kept a BMW long enough

[BBri89]

There is a maximum cost they can charge for MOT Test Fee and that is set by DVSA.

Any repairs might be more, but you don't have to get it repaired at the same place necessarily, and free partial retest with 14 days anyway.

So a lot of local indy specialist and general local garages, national chains and franchise dealers all are pretty much the same cost for an MOT +/- maybe £10

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by BBri89

There is a maximum cost they can charge for MOT Test Fee and that is set by DVSA.

So a lot of local indy specialist and general local garages, national chains and franchise dealers all are pretty much the same cost for an MOT +/- maybe £10

Isn’t the max MOT price currently around £50-£55 these days?

The Indy specialist I use charges £45 to MOT my BMW and the back street garage with the friendly MOT tester who does my old Beater Ford Focus charges £30!

[BBri89]

Originally Posted by Hooded

Isn’t the max MOT price currently around £50-£55 these days?

The Indy specialist I use charges £45 to MOT my BMW and the back street garage with the friendly MOT tester who does my old Beater Ford Focus charges £30!

£54.80 is the maximum test fee.

Not everywhere does discounted fees, and plenty of places only discount if you combine with a service.

Either way, I think you'd struggle to find anywhere that does less than £30, so at most you'd save £25... and I think most places would probably be £40+. When not everywhere is as honest as you'd wish them to be, some "cheaper" places might make up the money by finding things that need fixing. Great if you know your stuff and can't be blagged, but if they fail it you still need to find another test centre and pay for a new test.

[Abzynthe]

Originally Posted by JD6

In my case the BMW dealer is one of the few local garages, and probably the only one used to cars of that type, so I don't see a particular reason to do it elsewhere. The first MOT is also covered by MOT Protect:

BMW MOT Protect.
Your first MOT inspection will arrive faster than you think. That’s why we offer BMW MOT Protect, a complimentary cover for all new BMWs. Your BMW’s MOT Protect covers you for any* work that needs completing to pass your first MOT inspection. In the unlikely event your BMW fails its first MOT, you won’t lose out, as repairs, replacements and labour are covered on a long list of key items, from electric and lighting equipment to steering and suspension. We’ll work with you to address any issues promptly and free of charge. https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owne...kshop/mot.html

Hmm, that doesn't say you have to take it to BmW for MOT protect to be valid

[RENT-A-GOAT]

BMW car was booked in to have the washer bottle unblocked (free of charge) & get its MOT done on the same day. Instead of doing the bottle first then the MOT they did the MOT first failing it for poor washer jet function 🤦🏼*♂️ so it failed, was cleaned out, retested and passed. The idiots

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by RENT-A-GOAT

BMW car was booked in to have the washer bottle unblocked (free of charge) & get its MOT done on the same day. Instead of doing the bottle first then the MOT they did the MOT first failing it for poor washer jet function 🤦🏼*♂️ so it failed, was cleaned out, retested and passed. The idiots

Absolutely idiocy.

[JD6]

Originally Posted by RENT-A-GOAT

BMW car was booked in to have the washer bottle unblocked (free of charge) & get its MOT done on the same day. Instead of doing the bottle first then the MOT they did the MOT first failing it for poor washer jet function ����*♂️ so it failed, was cleaned out, retested and passed. The idiots

Sounds very familiar - exactly the kind of stunt they have done to me. I now make it crystal clear that the MOT is to be carried out after the work. If they need a quota of failures, they can use their own used stock...

[RENT-A-GOAT]

Originally Posted by JD6

Sounds very familiar - exactly the kind of stunt they have done to me. I now make it crystal clear that the MOT is to be carried out after the work. If they need a quota of failures, they can use their own used stock...

I did give them hell when I noticed on collection and they did waive the cost of it. Just lunacy on their part.