simmo Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Same reason that main beam lamps didn't used to be part of the test- you are looking forwards, so should be able to see if they are on or not! How long ago was that? I thought I was an old git, I can remember when windscreen washers first came into it (if your screen didn't fold down or up) and we had to retrofit them to things like A30s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 My BMW 330 is going in on Friday for a test. Last years advisory was front brake wear but that's now been sorted with new pads/discs last September, also had the control arm bushes replaced as a common failure on these E46's, plus my rather fussy Indy who carried out the work didn't pick up on anything else last September so i'm hoping all is still ok...Not used it much since, maybe 1.5k at the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Cade Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 WTF?Those big lumps of metal....Some sort of attempt to reduce vibration or resonance in the floorpan?I think so, only real explanation- they are *******'n heavy, and bolted on through a rubber sleeve so they can wobble around. Bobthebeard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Cade Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 My BMW 330 is going in on Friday for a test. Last years advisory was front brake wear but that's now been sorted with new pads/discs last September, also had the control arm bushes replaced as a common failure on these E46's, plus my rather fussy Indy who carried out the work didn't pick up on anything else last September so i'm hoping all is still ok...Not used it much since, maybe 1.5k at the most.Check the rear springs- common for breaking and hard to spot,emissions can be dodgy due to crumbly rubber hoses under the bonnet causing air leaks,also handbrakes seem to be troublesome. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 The 206cc weights are dampers/anti vibration weights. the e30 cab had the battery in one rear boot pocket, and a lump of lead in the other for the same purpose:) hoping I'll be able to feature my bro's car on here soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Negative Creep Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Mine has 3 months left but as I want to sell it I am thinking about getting the test done now. Everything that was an advisory last year has been fixed and I can't see anything obvious that would fail. So that will be a £400 bill then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Check the rear springs- common for breaking and hard to spot,emissions can be dodgy due to crumbly rubber hoses under the bonnet causing air leaks,also handbrakes seem to be troublesome. Good luck!Ah yes BMW's and Handbrakes, my E39 failed a few years back but mostly because I hardly the HB!! the tester advised I just used it for a week then bring it back for a re-test, low and behold that was enough to clean the caliper and it passed! I now always use the HB on my E46.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Mine has 3 months left but as I want to sell it I am thinking about getting the test done now. Everything that was an advisory last year has been fixed and I can't see anything obvious that would fail. So that will be a £400 bill then.May I suggest seeing if you can find a council garage?they have to offer mots, but can't quote for work. I've used them several times, always a fair assessment in my experience. At least it'd give you an idea. Either that, or a trusted garage is your best bet:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Cade Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 Ah yes BMW's and Handbrakes, my E39 failed a few years back but mostly because I hardly the HB!! the tester advised I just used it for a week then bring it back for a re-test, low and behold that was enough to clean the caliper and it passed! I now always use the HB on my E46.. BMW's have drums inside the discs for the handbrake- common for corroded backplates, lining coming off the shoes and linkages seizing. Don't apply the handbrake while moving as it can cause a little destruction... Squire_Dawson and EssDeeWon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 BMW's have drums inside the discs for the handbrake- common for corroded backplates, lining coming off the shoes and linkages seizing. Don't apply the handbrake while moving as it can cause a little destruction... My least favourite bit of any BMW. A bugger to adjust, and usually as Barry Cade points out, rotten to F&^K. Not to mention proper replacement requires hub removal.. I did the one on the 320- hopefully they last another 25 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I had a 330 estate (don't know the e number and dont care ) 2001 which failed on handbrake. Called the customer and he said it's always been Shit and they always are on those. And he had put new discs and shoes on 6 months ago. I found that the cable was wound right up so I slackened it off and clicked the adjusters in the drum . Back in for retest and it's about twice the efficiency it needs to be.I think you lose the leverage when the cable is incorrectly adjusted. Barry Cade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dean36014 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Same system on the back of a rover 75. managed to fit new handbrake shoes without removing the hub but they were a bugger to do. Handbrake is still crap, even with new discs, shoes, cable and a new compensator to replace the stretched one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Cade Posted April 8, 2014 Author Share Posted April 8, 2014 I don't mind doing BMW rear brakes, have done a 320d estate and a 325i coop in the last couple of weeks, handbrake cable too on the coop.Never romoved a hub to do them, no idea why you'd have to? ALWAYS take all the adjustment off any handbrake before adjusting the shoes. BMW handbrakes should be very good and lock up easily on the rollers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I don't mind doing BMW rear brakes, have done a 320d estate and a 325i coop in the last couple of weeks, handbrake cable too on the coop.Never romoved a hub to do them, no idea why you'd have to? ALWAYS take all the adjustment off any handbrake before adjusting the shoes. BMW handbrakes should be very good and lock up easily on the rollers. Indeed they should- I always back off at the handbrake and adjust from the shoes.. sometimes though the cables stretch and are rusted into the holders above the rear beam. much funs! Barry Cade 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil_lihp Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I'd never seen anything to compare to the tyres mentioned back on page 2 of this thread until I walked past a parked Merc A-Class today and noticed that one front tyre was so worn the cords were showing through on the outside edge. The car had moved when I went back later on so I could see the other side was just as bad. How on earth can you not notice that? I thought about leaving a note on the windscreen but I couldn't think of a non-insulting way to word one. They must be doing some significant miles to eat through a tyre that fast between MOTs - one would assume that if it was an advisory on the last MOT they'd have done something by now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 I once followed a mk3 fester around a roundabout at night that had tiny little sparks coming off the tyres ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wackywacerwill Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Advisory = Pass, ignore till next year! Lacquer Peel, Twiggy and Jim Bell 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Advisory=pass , ignore til next year and hide cert from tester in the hope it will just get advised next year . Inspector Morose, mat_the_cat, EssDeeWon and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split_Pin Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 My Vectra had the same handbrake mechanism and it was awful. The little adjuster wheel was a right fouter and no amount of adjustments would stop one side being lazy and stop the car cocking its leg when applying the handbrake on a hill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuboy Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Fairly quiet with MOT's today- Mazda 2 which failed on a rear wheel bearing, and another pair of badly cracked tyres, showing cords. Toyo's this time. Took a pic, but my phone is SHITE. Then a 307CC- don't know if I've mentioned this before, but they have huge lumps of metal bolted in the corners just in front of the back bumper, and comedy bracing right along the floor. Love to hear opinions on why.... Phone actually worked for this one. what about 207cc?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 BMW's have drums inside the discs for the handbrake- common for corroded backplates, lining coming off the shoes and linkages seizing. Don't apply the handbrake while moving as it can cause a little destruction... Well here's hoping mine is ok. According to the Service History the rear brakes were replaced for the MOT 2 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest our soul Posted April 8, 2014 Share Posted April 8, 2014 Hello from a long time lurker. It has taken this subject to spur me into action, as it was always a very sore point that the Ulster car owners had to have an uncivil servant M.O.T. test their vehicle. Admittedly I haven't lived there for over twenty years, but from what I hear, the government employees are unchanged. My local test centre was diabolical. Six week waits or more were the norm, and treatment by the staff was exactly as you all describe your encounters with government entities in general. My experiences became so bad, I chose to drive twenty five miles further to the next nearest test centre. The overall attitude there was not just as bad as my local place. So overall, eight miles or twenty five, great service, you decide..Ps please excuse the grammar, I am an old fart who rarely needs a keyboard. Thanks to everyone who has kept me amused and informed over the last several years.....You guys on the mainland have no idea how lucky you are regarding the M.O.T. system.............. Banger Kenny, Charlie Croker, Barry Cade and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Juding by the number of people I see with no lights on at night, I wouldn't be so sureOne of the problems with modern cars (in my not so humble opinion) is this stupid illumination of the gauges/binnacle when the lights are not on. Then when it's semi-dark, you think you are driving around with your lights on but you're not! Essex V6, catsinthewelder, Banger Kenny and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 You guys on the mainland have no idea how lucky you are regarding the M.O.T. system.............. And you'll realise how much luckier you are than the folks in the UK mainland regarding MOT's, living in Florida, where there are no annual inspections Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STUNO Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Just thoght I would throw this in. New Zealand is in the throes of changing fron 6 monthly tests to annual tests. See media and private testing places for reports about how the roads will be full of deathtraps if cars are only tested annually! You will notice that NEW cars are tested when new, and not tested for 3 years Also note there is no emissions test other than smoke, as the govt has decided that emissions tests are a waste of time. We also have very little problems with rust, a 25 year old car is unlikely to have any serious rust issues. Therefore broken springs etc are rare. Tests are done by a Govt testing agency or licenced garages. Govt testing stations do not make appointments, just get in the queue, and are pretty efficient with staff not trying to sell you anything. I'm sure the Public Service pleasantry can be found, but I have only found that attitude once, and in a Ford Dealer. Anyhows take a look at the basics. http://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/warrants-certifications/getting-wof/about.html Squire_Dawson and hennabm 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drum Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 I woke the audi from its winter hibernation yesterday and spent an hour trying to get the airbag light off. Under seat connectors on both sides were the problem. It's at the tester now so I'll soon find out what else is wrong with it. I'm going to have to re-think how I store stuff in the shed. What a stinking mess of mildew there was in the Audi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratdat Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Get some of those moisture absorption things. I use them in my cars and even in a fairly dry environment it's surprising how much moisture they suck up. Usually one is enough. Just put it in the footwell. Two will be better though as you don't have to empty them as often. . drum and EssDeeWon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twosmoke300 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 Guess what lovely job ive had in today ? You guys jinxed me , Ford Kak for mot welding . Both rear inner sills and end caps and a patch on the front floor .Axle off and get stuck in. Barry Cade and Banger Kenny 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 One of the problems with modern cars (in my not so humble opinion) is this stupid illumination of the gauges/binnacle when the lights are not on. Then when it's semi-dark, you think you are driving around with your lights on but you're not! LOL! Have you ever tried telling someone driving along that their lights are off? They look at you like your a nutter but I guess they later realise what I was on about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtd2000 Posted April 9, 2014 Share Posted April 9, 2014 LOL! Have you ever tried telling someone driving along that their lights are off? They look at you like your a nutter but I guess they later realise what I was on about! Yeah I've bought that T-shirt before. They have this urban myth/standard story in the USA that there is a game where a car will deliberately drive around without any lights on - when a good samaritan flashes their lights at them, they turn around and then shoot the driver... As a result, it's very unusual for anybody to let you know that your bloody lights are not on!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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