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MOT History Checker

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rpennington View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rpennington Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: MOT History Checker
    Posted: 07 Mar 2018 at 8:57pm
Hi All
I don’t know if anyone has used this free MOT history checker, but I checked my E90’s previous mot’s to see what it showed up. It gives vehicle details make,model,colour,etc.
When next mot is due,passes,failures,advisories & recorded mileage at each mot. It also shows any outstanding recalls.
You can only get results for tests done in England, Scotland or Wales since 2005,this would be very useful when thinking of buying a used car. Although it did give me a report for my old E46 registered in 1999.

www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Rich

Edited by rpennington - 07 Mar 2018 at 11:11pm
1999 E46 323i se Saloon - sold
2011 E90 325d msport - sold
2014 F30 335d xdrive msport plus pack
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Tony View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2018 at 12:11pm
Is always a part of my car buying process, along with HPI checks.

If you see consecutive years of certain advisories, then you know it wasn't 'enthusiast-owned' or 'maintained regardless of cost'.
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Norrie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Norrie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2018 at 12:45pm
Sorry I cannot agree with you statement above, I have found, with exactly the same vehicle at the same MOT (BMW Main dealer) inconsistent advisory items. Advisory on an item which might become faulty in say 5000 miles has little merit if someone is only doing 1000 miles a year in a classic. Best to examine any car before purchase and not rely 100% on MOT, which is not proof of road-worthiness.

I had a sticker in the window of my car, guy passed it, next time same sticker in same place he said it would fail, so he must had missed it first time or was just being difficult second time. If he missed it, what else on other cars did he miss?
.


Edited by Norrie - 08 Mar 2018 at 12:47pm
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rpennington View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rpennington Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2018 at 3:23pm
Hi Norman
I have to agree mot stations advisory notices do vary,when i had my E46 for most of the 12 years i owned it i used my local garage for mot's & it only failed 3 times on minor things, but advisories didn't vary that much.When it failed it got repaired straight away regardless of cost at my local garage.
On the last mot in my ownership one of the mentioned advisories was slight corrosion around the jacking points of which needed welding this was one reason i p/x'd the car about a month before the mot expired. I have since noticed that by using the above link the car has 12 months mot & jacking points are not mentioned in the advisories but other items are. I wouldn’t want to be the person needing to jack the car up to remove a wheel just in case the jack went through the floor.

The car was bought by a trader who advertised it for sale on ebay at a price i knew they wouldn't stand a chance of selling it for due to the work needed for future mot's.
I followed the listing through eBay & each time it was relisted the price lowered.
rich


Edited by rpennington - 08 Mar 2018 at 5:45pm
1999 E46 323i se Saloon - sold
2011 E90 325d msport - sold
2014 F30 335d xdrive msport plus pack
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issus View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote issus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2018 at 6:38pm
Its a useful Tool, but its sort of fun to use it on a random basis.
E46 320d Sport Myst Blue 054 reg - probably the best BMW ever
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Norrie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Norrie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2018 at 6:42pm
Rich, I had advisory on my MOT in November for my ALPINA, hardly used since btw due to weather. The short of is 1500 pounds for replacement of pull struts, replace both rear coil springs, replace both steering knuckles and so on. In 2016 it passed no observations, it did about 2000 miles last year. I have now got it booked into BMW for them to check if the work actually needs doing, like now, if it will last longer or if the MOT tester is over cautious. There is no come back on him as it was only Advisory. Therefore, when some starting quoting looking up MOT they only have part of the story. If it turns out to be necessary I will, of course, have it all done by the approved BMW dealer. Hope this kind of amplifies my point.

Edited by Norrie - 08 Mar 2018 at 6:43pm
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m3kos View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote m3kos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2018 at 4:16am
MOT history makes for fun an interesting reading 

its when you see warnings/advisories for rust and knackered bushings year after year that it scream neglect 

im proud of my MOT history, it's clean because i have a pre MOT check which is always good any way :) 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote m3kos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2018 at 4:18am
PS BMW dealers are not always that great when it comes to advising on what needs to be done and what doesn't. Unless the car is under warranty my cars do not visit a main dealer, they go to specialists who actually care and give a far more personal service and who can repair faults rather than replace parts 


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Norrie View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Norrie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2018 at 8:05am
Thank you for your advice, mine even with 100K is still covered by fully comprehensive extended warranty. However as an update 5 months after that MOT I paid 80 pounds to the same dealer for a full car check, there was not anything dangerous or needed replacing immediately, I got them to put it in writing.
Dealer comment was MOT guy is just advising, we are the technicians and we say it is ok. Guess I saved 1500 pounds that I might have to spend sometime in the future.

Edited by Norrie - 06 Apr 2018 at 8:06am
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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2018 at 11:10am
I have little faith in some MoT advisories, such as the popular comment that the discs and pads need replacing due to the discs having developed grooves (which do not affect braking efficiency or pad life, and will wear away in the long term) or have rusty edges (well, they are made of cast iron, so what else would you expect?)

Another interesting factor is exhaust emissions.  I always had my 2.8 Z3 tested at my local dealer, and without fail, every year the CO emissions had doubled- by an exact amount!  This really strains one's belief in coincidence . . .  At this rate, by 2004  I would have been advised to buy a new exhaust system with two new catalytic converters for at least £1500.  This, of course, could be used as a lever to persuade some owners to buy a newer car.

Looking closely at the certificate, I noticed that there was no entry for oil temperature, so the CO test could have been carried out on a less-than-hot engine, when CO levels will naturally be higher - but not EXACTLY double those recorded the previous year!  So much for BMW dealer expertise, if not honesty.

When we moved to France in 2004 I had to submit the Z3 to a Controle Technique test, which recorded a CO level of ZERO!  This has remained constant ever since - but the testing station does not also carry out repair work, so removing any temptation to attract additional income.  The test is carried out every two years.

Tests are carried out by appointment only, so ensuring that the engine, oil, and catalytic converters are thoroughly hot, exhaust emissions being the first part of the test - with accelleration from idle to 3000 rpm, rather than the ambiguous 'Fast idle' used in the UK.  Interestingly, hydrocarbon emissions are not tested.

The test also includes tasks such as checking damper performance on a vibrating platform, my Bilsteins returning a consistant 1% difference between left and right at each end of the car, often causing disbelief to the tester!

In the event of a non-dangerous failure or advisory, one has two months to have it corrected, during which time the vehicle can still be used, before returning it for a quick check on the advisory work.

As usual, the UK could learn from the clever French!






Edited by Mike Fishwick - 06 Apr 2018 at 11:13am
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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roundasapound View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote roundasapound Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2018 at 12:56pm
I think it depends really.

There's nothing wrong with having advisories, as long as they are dealt with in a prompt manner.

If you see the advisories repeated then I take that as an indicator of how well the car is maintained.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Norrie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2018 at 1:03pm
Deal with in a proper manner? Mine proved not to be necessary as far as repair or replacement was concerned, so in that case it was dealt with by me. 1500 plus vat of unnecessary work. Crazy. When it is MOT'd this year it will not need doing either?

Therefore, in my case I do not agree and I have full BMW warranty comprehensive on a vehicle which is 2005 and that does not require advisory items to be fixed at the whim of a MOT examiner. It only requires it to be serviced by approved BMW dealer. That is the case for the defence. Clearly as a concours winning car anything that really needed doing I would.

Edited by Norrie - 30 Apr 2018 at 1:05pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote roundasapound Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2018 at 1:09pm
I guess it's for every car owner to decide.

Personally if advisories come up at MOT or during maintenance I will deal with them. There aren't ongoing issues with my car and that is the way I'd like it to remain. Irrespective of warranty.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Norrie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2018 at 1:25pm
There are not with mine the bloke was over zealous and I have a full report of 147 point check in writing and invoice to prove it. I have a name for him but it can't be published. He was same fool who passed my car with a sticker in the window in 2016 and then tried to fail it for exact same sticker in 2017.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote roundasapound Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2018 at 1:38pm
I really do despair with some garages. They are a necessary evil but can often cause more issues. I don't fully trust any of them and 99% of the time supply the parts and only pay for labour. I want to know exactly what they are fitting and pouring into my car.

For instance, I took the car to Munich Legends in December 2017 for the annual oil service. They under filled the oil and 6miles into a journey to Sheffield I had to turn around, go home and add an extra litre in the pouring rain.

Earlier this month the electric water pump failed and I had pulled off the fault codes, luckily I know how to use INPA. Munich Legends wanted to charge for a diagnostic even though I had already pulled the codes and emailed the report to them. I dug my heels in and they backed down.

2 weeks ago I went to Quarry Motors, Sheffield for some suspension work. They managed to damage the paint on my BMWP callipers.

2 weeks ago, I took the car to AutoDynamics in Sheffield for a Hunters Wheel Alignment, they managed to mess that up with excessive negative camber on the drivers side and couldn't even be bothered to put it right. Just issued a full refund.

If I could do all the work myself I would but unfortunately I can't so rely on them, but then often take my car somewhere else shortly afterwards so I can inspect the work they've done lol.
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