My car is in for it's first MOT since I bought it in June today. I'm torn between that Friday feeling and waiting for the phone to ring with bad news s:flame: :flame: s:flame:
Lets hope the pot holes have been kind this year!
Fingers crossed!
Mines getting on abit now and its flown every MOT (thank god)
Hopefully ul be ok mate they are good little cars s:) :) s:)
I hope so! I'd like to think that the basics are pretty easy to check yourself and if there was anything else seriously wrong I could tell from how it drives. Gave it a good run this morning before taking it there too.
Where do you get yours done Nathan? Reliable garages are getting harder and harder to find locally.
This is very true. I get my MOT's done at a garage called John Downes (I think) which is just up the road from me on Amblecote Road (next door to the car wash). They are very local and very handy. They are just useless at calling you to make you aware your MOT or repairs are all done.
I usually have my mechanical work carried out by MR2 specialist in Willenhall. Further to travel but far cheaper and he knows his way around a MR2 very well. Nice guy too.
Got your fingers crossed then?
A big run is a good idea, as close to the testing time as possible.
One other point, if they say your front brakes are out of balance, ask them if they had a passenger in it when they tested. Makes a huge difference - especially if you fail s:( :( s:(
It failed on rear offside tyre (I was expecting that), sidelight bulb that I'm sure was working last night and apparently the handbrake isn't holding which they said was down to the rear brake pads. Can anyone confirm this is likely?
Tyre is sourced at £113 all in for RE040 (to keep in line with the other 3) and the bulb I can do assuming it's not too difficult.
Rear pads they quoted £69+VAT (£82.80 total) including fitting. Now, I changed pads and discs all round on my last car (04 corsa), so is it a pretty easy job to change the pads on the '2? And are these the ones I need for an 03 m http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php? ... 1415&rs=gb (http://www.camskill.co.uk/products.php?plid=m5b729s2409p11415&rs=gb) m .
Thanks
Karl
Edit: Just found the 'how to' for changing the pads, think I will do it myself if someone can confimr the pads above are correct or recommend some other reasonable alternatives?
Quote from: "nathanMR2"This is very true. I get my MOT's done at a garage called John Downes (I think) which is just up the road from me on Amblecote Road (next door to the car wash). They are very local and very handy. They are just useless at calling you to make you aware your MOT or repairs are all done.
I usually have my mechanical work carried out by MR2 specialist in Willenhall. Further to travel but far cheaper and he knows his way around a MR2 very well. Nice guy too.
Thanks Nathan, is that Mr2 place in Willenhall the one where another Nathan works? I think I've seen good stuff about them on here if it is.
I used College Auto & Motor Care centre on Rufford Road for the MOT, very impressed so far, they even gave me a car to use today for no cost and £45 for the MOT with no retest fee s:bounce: :bounce: s:bounce:
Yes mate thats the guy. Hes a good bloke s:) :) s:)
OK, a little update: based on the advisory for the o/s rear brake pads and the handbrake almost going through the roof the garage said to change the rear pads and adjust the handbrake.
I've been following the 'how to change rear pads and discs' but can not get the caliper bolt off! It wont budge at all. So I've adjusted the handbrake which should see it through the mot.
Has anyone else come across a stuck caliper bolt (as in the bottom one which should come off with a 12mm ring spanner) and found a solution??
Cheers
Karl
Did you try using a hammer to give the spanner a knock to try and crack it open?
Yeah, but could have tried harder, didn't want to break it. Might have another go tomorrow as I've got all day to look at it.
Would a brake spanner be worth a go it the hammer doesn't work?