My Mini Also Failed Its MOT Today

[taffy1967]

Okay so it failed today, but it's not the end of the world I guess: -

Refusal of an MOT Test Certificate

Note: An advisory notice has also been issued
Measurements
Brakes Failures: RBT Park Brake Efficiency: 15%
Reasons for refusal of a Test Certificate


001 Offside front lower suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.3)

002 Offside rear (outer arch in two places) subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.2)

003 Nearside front (wheel arch) subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.2)

004 Nearside front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

005 Offside front wheel bearing feels rough when rotated (2.5.A.2)

006 Offside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.A.4a)

007 Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.A.7a)

008 Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.9/10)

I'm a bit annoyed that they failed it on the 'offside front lower suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint', because they failed it on that last year and I've only done little over 3,000 miles since the new ball joint got fitted. Plus they've been regularly greased too.

Oh and I also received an 'Advisory Notice': -

009 Front (both) brake discs slightly pitted (3.5.1h)

010 Front sub-frame attachment rubber mounting deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)

011 Nearside rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

The discs and rear wheel bearing appeared on last years advisory anyway.

Anyway I've been to the local body repairers and I'm getting a quote on Monday. They did advise me to get my MOT done somewhere else next time though as the tester I always use has a reputation for being picky.

I guess that at least my Mini will be safe again once it's done.

[dai9fxey]

Not good news Taffy.
3 or 4 of the brake problems on the rear can be sorted easily, probably a leaky brake cylinder.
The welding will take a bt more effort and cash though.
At least you'll know the car is safe after the works been done on it.

[taffy1967]

Well I hadn't even noticed any difference with the brakes as they seem to work fine.

I imagine they'll work even better once sorted.

;D

[deano]

I know how you feel mate, took Janet's mini for it's mot at Kwikfit and it failed on the rear subframe, driver's side outer sill, front subframe mountings and headlight alignment. Took it to our local garage for the work cost me £300 in labour alone . Got them to then mot it cos it was to late to go back to kwikfit and they failed it on other bits of bl*%dywelding I was not happy !! Finally did the welding myself, it passed, and then I told them exactly what I thought of them needless to say I won't be using them again!!

[taffy1967]

Jul 18, 2008 22:44:23 GMT 1 Phil J said:

Sorry to hear that mate, Hope it get's sorted soon

Thanks it should be back on the road again soon.

[taffy1967]

Jul 19, 2008 10:35:29 GMT 1 @deano said:

I know how you feel mate, took Janet's mini for it's mot at Kwikfit and it failed on the rear subframe, driver's side outer sill, front subframe mountings and headlight alignment. Took it to our local garage for the work cost me £300 in labour alone . Got them to then mot it cos it was to late to go back to kwikfit and they failed it on other bits of bl*%dywelding I was not happy !! Finally did the welding myself, it passed, and then I told them exactly what I thought of them needless to say I won't be using them again!!

Well there's a few places in my area that I avoid too, but Kwik Fit hasn't got a great name amongst Mini owners either.

[taffy1967]

All sorted now and I'm right for another 12 month.



The lower O/S rear panel is looking nice and rust free now and I don't have a hole in my front N/S wheel arch any more either.

Oh and the rear brakes have also been treated to brand new wheel cylinders on both sides and shoes, so it should stop even better now.

I ordered most of the parts from Mini Spares and I can't fault their service quality as the parts arrived on the day as promised and they were really well packaged. Most bearing the MG/Rover logo's, so I can't recommend them enough.

I'm a bit disappointed that the local body repairer who carried out the work went a bit cold on me because he was talking about sorting other areas of the car that needed attention.

But once the welding work had been done for the MOT he decided that any further restoration work was going to be far more than he could handle (or more than he wanted to do) and instead pointed me in the direction of another local firm who aren't quite so economic.

I've heard that he's passed on work from other people, but I thought a couple of door skins wouldn't have been too taxing?

This is the website for the other local body repairers, but I don't want the car fully restored from the ground up, I just want bits and bobs done as and when I can afford it: -

www.oldschoolengineering.co.uk/index.html

I know they've restored a few Minis there, but I think their out of my price range.

Oh well at least I've got a new MOT.

[Keats]

Glad to hear you've got the MOT sorted Taffy
Happy Motoring for the next 12 months ;D

[dai9fxey]

Tidy. Good to hear the Mini's fit for another year Taffy.
Happy days.

[minimiglia0]

hi there i run a small bodyshop down in haverfordwest if anyone is interested in having any bits and pieces done , we did valetboys mini last year and have been retoring minis for many years also we have a mini friendly mot tester local

[taffy1967]

Jul 31, 2008 8:35:15 GMT 1 @minimiglia0 said:

hi there i run a small bodyshop down in haverfordwest if anyone is interested in having any bits and pieces done , we did valetboys mini last year and have been retoring minis for many years also we have a mini friendly mot tester local

Well that's worth thinking about for the future thanks.