That didn't go well

"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
07/29/2016 at 18:43 • Filed to: Test

At least they didn’t say I couldn’t drive it home I suppose. Seven fail points is my record so far although there’s duplication. It’s the dim headlights that are the big problem. I’ve already fitted HIDs.

DISCUSSION (15)

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Cé hé sin
07/29/2016 at 18:47

What are the other points, besides the headlights?

Cé hé sin > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/29/2016 at 19:06

The ones listed on the report. Wiper (there’s a strip about 2cm long that’s coming off one of them) and chassis/underbody corrosion on each side which needs welding.

Flavien Vidal > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/29/2016 at 19:06

You can read the reasons over “test results”. Extensive corrosion and wiper blades... Failing someone over wiper blades instead of just waiting 5 minutes for him to get new ones is really shitty...

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Cé hé sin
07/29/2016 at 19:10

Oops, didn’t see the list.

Are you going to (have somebody) fix the rust?

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2016 at 19:12

Oops, didn’t see it because my phone didn’t want to enlarge the picture. Yeah, failing someone over wiper blades is a pretty shitty thing to do indeed.

Cé hé sin > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/29/2016 at 19:14

Yes, he did it last time too!

You can actually buy new rear chassis legs as well, they’re about the only body part of an FTO still available.

facw > Cé hé sin
07/29/2016 at 19:22

So I’m confused about the lights. If my mom’s MGB could pass MOT with its pathetic little candles pretending to be headlights I don’t see how anything could fail for intensity. I’m wondering if they are just failing you for having HIDs. Are they actually dim?

Also if your rust is anything like what you pictured, nothing north of the Potomac would ever pass inspection would ever pass inspection on the other side of the pond. Unless it has gotten so bad as to be perforated, no one worries about it here.

facw > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2016 at 19:25

Yep, in NY my garage would just replace blades that would fail inspection and tack on an extra $17. Not a good deal, but way less hassle than having to redo. Of course given they were failing this car anyway, maybe it is better to just let them buy a new set from whatever the UK equivalent of Rock Auto is.

Cé hé sin > facw
07/29/2016 at 19:29

Put it this way: I avoid driving outside town at night! The full lights are fine but the dips are dreadful. I fitted HIDs but it didn’t make any difference.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > Cé hé sin
07/29/2016 at 19:57

Looking at the test results make me realize many cars I see on my daily Atlanta commute would fail.

duurtlang > Cé hé sin
07/29/2016 at 20:19

So, do you guys get a lot of salt on the road during winter? Are you going to have this fixed?

Assuming the rust issue is something you’ll have fixed, what do the headlights need? Is the plastic yellow/faded, is the reflecting/mirrory part dull or could you pass with a better set of bulbs?

Jayvincent > Cé hé sin
07/29/2016 at 20:35

If you post some pics (of the car) you could probably get 2x the sympathy stars... and I like pictures of rusty cars. My dad wouldn’t fix the rockers and wheel well rust until you could see the road from inside the car. Of course our inspection requirements were just working lights and minimum tire tread, so your results may vary. Good luck

Cé hé sin > duurtlang
07/30/2016 at 05:13

Well, it’s either replace the car or get the rusty bits patched up so I’ll go with that - depending on the headlights.

Almost no salt, just a combination of a 22 year old car in daily use in a damp climate and one which is notoriously rust prone in certain areas - rear chassis legs and inner wheelarches.

The dipped headlights are too dim - I guess because the lenses are opaque. New lights are horrifically expensive - something like €900 each - so I’ll have to try new bulbs and maybe secondhand lights.

Cé hé sin > facw
07/30/2016 at 05:15

This is Ireland, not the UK. Testing is done independently so the test centre does tests and nothing else. In the UK garages do tests so they can do the work necessary to pass, something which creates a conflict of interest.

facw > Cé hé sin
07/30/2016 at 10:35

Ah I see, no offense meant by mixing up countries. I definitely prefer the inspection only model. Here in the US, inspections are almost always done at a repair shop (in the states that require inspection at all), and conflict of interest can definitely be a problem.