Took the D3 to the local dealers yesterday for a 105K service and an MOT.
I was informed that the car failed the MOT and needed a front steering linkage,two front ball joints and and two rear ball joints and arms.
I was surprised at this as I have the disco serviced every 7000 miles and my local specialist who I use didnt pick up on these faults.
The Stealer, sorry dealer, quoted me £680 to do the work.
I pointed out that the service alone was costing £800 and could not afford the additional work.
The dealer then stated that the price included genuine LR parts and that he could do the job cheeper with spurious parts....
An hour later I was quoted a ' special labour charge discount', still using LR parts, uprated bushes apparantly, and a price of £460 for the work.
It was suggested that I fore-go the 105k belt service and get the ball joints done instead.
I have to say I was annoyed that the MOT had obviously been done before the service and cant help thinking that I have been stitched by the dealer.
i decided that I would get a second opiniion and instructed the dealer to carry out the belt service only.
When I collect the car today i will see if they charged me for the MOT knowing that it was going to fail .
11th Jun 2010 11:25 am
puffsorted
Member Since: 14 Dec 2008
Location: Kent
Posts: 112
Re: Failed MOT
"It was suggested that I fore-go the 105k belt service"
You may want to make your displeasure known and never grace their premises again.
Although I suggest you are a lot less polite about it
11th Jun 2010 11:31 am
zarnd
Member Since: 23 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 794
VOSA prefer vehicles to be MOT'd before they are serivced if they are in for both. Same thing has happened to me at work and VOSA told us to MOT them first.
Member Since: 07 Mar 2008
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1362
VOSA have no due restriction over what work is done in which order. They would only be concerned that the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before it went on the road.
Scenario: If VOSA dictated that the MOT is done before the service and the vehicle fails only on emmissions, and that vehicle only needed an oil change, air filter and new spark plugs (for petrol heads) to pass, then VOSA would be blameworthy of the fail as these are service items. This is why they don't get involved in how businesses are run, only on how they perform.
Anyway, the customer should be informed of defects before work is commenced and the customer decides what he/she wants to do.Faultmate MSV2 EXTREME
FOXWELL N624 Elite
Hantek 1008c Oscilloscope
11th Jun 2010 4:08 pm
zarnd
Member Since: 23 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 794
BrumLee wrote:
VOSA have no due restriction over what work is done in which order. They would only be concerned that the vehicle is in a roadworthy condition before it went on the road.
Scenario: If VOSA dictated that the MOT is done before the service and the vehicle fails only on emmissions, and that vehicle only needed an oil change, air filter and new spark plugs (for petrol heads) to pass, then VOSA would be blameworthy of the fail as these are service items. This is why they don't get involved in how businesses are run, only on how they perform.
Anyway, the customer should be informed of defects before work is commenced and the customer decides what he/she wants to do.
I disagree. Only from the point of view that when I was stood behind my desk at work when we were having out inspection by VOSA and were told that by the chap who was doing our inspection. Don't want to argue, but going on first hand experience.
Member Since: 07 Mar 2008
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1362
Take The G Man's prediciment. 105k service includes cam belt change, yes. MOT cannot be carried out as you have established the cam belt doesn't appear to be ok, so service needed to rectify before emmisions check can be carried out LINK
I suggest the VOSA guy needs a bit more training himself Faultmate MSV2 EXTREME
FOXWELL N624 Elite
Hantek 1008c Oscilloscope
11th Jun 2010 5:01 pm
zarnd
Member Since: 23 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 794
Fair point, think you are right with no durastiction. It's more what they would prefer I suppose. All technicalities with cambelts etc...No one is ever really going to win at the end of the day with VOSA
Member Since: 07 Mar 2008
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 1362
A friend of mine called only yesterday to say he had been sponsored to go on a MOT tester's course. The VOSA guy taking the course said my friend was more qualified than him and his Station Master He used to be a salesman and his station master used to be a college student before they joined VOSA. Neither had any mechanical experience prior to joining the organisation
And these are the people judging fully qualified technicians and acting like little tin gods There are some good VOSA guys, but not that many.Faultmate MSV2 EXTREME
FOXWELL N624 Elite
Hantek 1008c Oscilloscope
11th Jun 2010 5:16 pm
The G Man
Member Since: 22 Jul 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 42
Thanks for the advice guys...
unfortunately I dont have the car back....and unlikely to get it back until MONDAY now...
Member Since: 10 Apr 2009
Location: south yorkshire
Posts: 2059
As a general rule, i never have the service and mot done at the same place, and i always service first then mot, if it fails god help the service guy, ( me till got this d3).
11th Jun 2010 9:01 pm
The Coachman
Member Since: 22 Jun 2008
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 410
BrumLee wrote:
A friend of mine called only yesterday to say he had been sponsored to go on a MOT tester's course. The VOSA guy taking the course said my friend was more qualified than him and his Station Master He used to be a salesman and his station master used to be a college student before they joined VOSA. Neither had any mechanical experience prior to joining the organisation
And these are the people judging fully qualified technicians and acting like little tin gods There are some good VOSA guys, but not that many.
I agree with the VOSA problem, took a coach for test and the guy was chatting away, he said he had enjoyed his career as a BUTCHER for 25 years but needed something better as all the supermarkets has stolen his trade! He had and probably still hasn't got any commercial vehicle knowledge. We have visits from several VOSA guys, all advise us "how to do it" and each wants it done different. I have found the best way is know how you are going to do it and tell them!
The G ManAs for your failure I would have taken it back to your independant for a second opinion, and he agreed the work needed doing get a quote from him for the work.
12th Jun 2010 7:56 am
robsmith
Member Since: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 2394
It swings both ways - you can use the MOT to see if there is work over and above that needed for the service, or you can service first because some job needs to be done (such as an air filter or cam belt change) before the MOT. There is no right answer, just less wrong answers and the best answer should reside with the guy doing the work, not some paper pusher in a remote office who's level of experience may not be as high as we would imagine.
As to "skill" of the VOSA average inspector, my only dealings with them have been on a very positive note - no more MOTs from the dodgy man who "did the MOT" before I bought a car with rotted brake pipes "with full 12 month MOT", dated two days after I'd spotted them, and before I bought the car (a condition of purchase was that the car had all work done, and a 12month MOT - trading standards were quite impressive as when sorting out the trader, but that's another story.....)Rob Smith
Silver rools OK
12th Jun 2010 9:04 am
zarnd
Member Since: 23 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 794
The best thing to do is to have the MOT done in advance. It can be done a month less a day in advance. That way, if it fails you still have a month to be able to sort it out as the old MOT certificate is still valid and not wiped out by the new failure.
I have told the dealer to just do the 105K service and will, as many have said, be taking it elswhere for a second opinion/MOT Test.
As for the VOSA comments, it appears to be that cost cutting measures, as seen in many industries, are already taking place , starting with training which always seems to be the first item to be cut.
Thanks again
Graham
12th Jun 2010 12:32 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
zarnd wrote:
VOSA prefer vehicles to be MOT'd before they are serivced if they are in for both. Same thing has happened to me at work and VOSA told us to MOT them first.
cheers
Rubbish.........................Garages do this in the hope they find a fault, however small, to add to your service bill, thats all
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He used to be a salesman and his station master used to be a college student before they joined VOSA. Neither had any mechanical experience prior to joining the organisation 
There are some good VOSA guys, but not that many.
