Page 1 of 2
MOT
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:03 pm
by shakt1
How much is a MOT test? ?
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:31 pm
by stig247
mine was totally straight forward - flew thru MOT (just remove german plates if you have any)
£30 local garage
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:36 pm
by alexperkins
£50.35 from VW.
Brakes, headlight adjustment, wipers, washer jets, bulbs and exhaust

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:45 pm
by shakt1
I cant make my mind up whether to take it VW or local garage, got in my mind that local garage will be more lenient if theres something minor (tyre thread etc). What do you suggest? Am sure my tyres are running low, how low I dont exactly know for sure but almost close to being no good. Is there anything else I can get scre wd on? Or is it just the wipers, bulbs etc as Alex mentioned?
Cheers
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:50 pm
by alexperkins
Tyres are a tight one - 1.6mm round the whole wheels is what you need.
A retest is free providing you get it done quickly and theyll just retest the failed parts
VW will adjust your headlights and do it all properly to spec so youve got something to fall back on if something goes wrong afterwards (not that it should!)
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:05 pm
by shakt1
alexperkins wrote:Tyres are a tight one - 1.6mm round the whole wheels is what you need.
A retest is free providing you get it done quickly and theyll just retest the failed parts
VW will adjust your headlights and do it all properly to spec so youve got something to fall back on if something goes wrong afterwards (not that it should!)
If local garages charge £30, I might aswell take it to VW then tomm morning for an extra £20 for peace of mind. Hope my tyres make it, fingers crossed. All the paper work is the same I take it whether the MOT is done at dealer or local garage?
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:08 pm
by RUM4MO
alexperkins wrote:£50.35 from VW.
Brakes, headlight adjustment, wipers, washer jets, bulbs and exhaust

Yes take note of the above - especially the indicator bulbs as the orange paint falls off them around this period in the car's life - check all four "big ones" - access to the rears via a hole in the trim, loosen of the retaining nuts and pull the clusters out from the car.
Next item must be the TCA rear bushes - if you're lucky you might just get an advisery warning - otherwise its big money time - are there any clunks or rubbery noises during power ON/OFF ? If they give trouble get a VAG indepi to replace them with solid Seat Ibiza Cupra bushes - or maybe go to a Seat dealer to get this work done.
Next ARB, if you have the newer ARB with metal collars - either from new or as a replacement (the change was round about this date) you should be okay - if not if there is excess movement due to broken collars then at best it will get an adviser, at worst a fail.
As the MOT is government mandated and controlled, it does not matter which approved test station is used - so yes paperwork will be the same. For what its worth, I tend to use VW but can't give a proper reason other than they might understand these newer cars better and might have bits and fixing methods sorted out should you need them.
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:51 pm
by shakt1
RUM4MO wrote:alexperkins wrote:£50.35 from VW.
Brakes, headlight adjustment, wipers, washer jets, bulbs and exhaust

Yes take note of the above - especially the indicator bulbs as the orange paint falls off them around this period in the car's life - check all four "big ones" - access to the rears via a hole in the trim, loosen of the retaining nuts and pull the clusters out from the car.
Next item must be the TCA rear bushes - if you're lucky you might just get an advisery warning - otherwise its big money time - are there any clunks or rubbery noises during power ON/OFF ? If they give trouble get a VAG indepi to replace them with solid Seat Ibiza Cupra bushes - or maybe go to a Seat dealer to get this work done.
Next ARB, if you have the newer ARB with metal collars - either from new or as a replacement (the change was round about this date) you should be okay - if not if there is excess movement due to broken collars then at best it will get an adviser, at worst a fail.
As the MOT is government mandated and controlled, it does not matter which approved test station is used - so yes paperwork will be the same. For what its worth, I tend to use VW but can't give a proper reason other than they might understand these newer cars better and might have bits and fixing methods sorted out should you need them.
Sounds scary, just when the funds are running low aswell. Il take it VW tommorow,see what they say. I havent noticed any rubbery noises or clunks when switching ON/OFF. About the ARB, iv not got a clue. If my tyre thread is low on the front, I have a full size spare in the boot, I can get them to swap it over? Any other things I should be wary of?
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:55 am
by meeker855
Mate, its a 4 year old car.... it should be fine!
And if the tyres are low on '
tread' you should get them changed anyway, not just for MOT reasons.
It'll be ok

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:01 am
by shakt1
meeker855 wrote:Mate, its a 4 year old car.... it should be fine!
And if the tyres are low on '
tread' you should get them changed anyway, not just for MOT reasons.
It'll be ok

Thanks for the confidence boost matey!!! I just rang VW to make an booking, £50.35, formula one auto test centre said £29.99, special offer!!! dnt know which to go for, save £20 or just pay it and go VW???
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:04 am
by meeker855
To be honest an MOT's an MOT. I'd take it to a normal garage just to get it stamped up, worry about going to a VW / VW specialist when servicing time comes.
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:06 am
by shakt1
meeker855 wrote:To be honest an MOT's an MOT. I'd take it to a normal garage just to get it stamped up, worry about going to a VW / VW specialist when servicing time comes.
Il give them a call and say somethings come up, was just panicking as its my first car and didnt know where to get it done etc. the £20 will come in use on friday night dwn the pub

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:09 am
by meeker855
Thats just what I'd do mate, and you're right £20's a good few pints down the pub!!

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:19 am
by shakt1
Booked in formula one auto centre 2mrw morning

saving of £20 lovely jubbly
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:21 am
by meeker855
Hope all goes well dude, fingers crossed for you!
