Halford BS MOT
Discussion
Hi all,
I just had my mot done at a halfords autocentre ( not my first choice but was in a bind). Anyway it failed on three trivial things; rubber suspension bush worn, headlight at wrong angle and windscreen wiper not adequately clearing Window.
They want to replace the whole suspension arm rather than just the bush as they don't have the right tool to compress the springs or something. They are charging me £15 for 'fixing ' the light and also want to replace the whole wiper . This will now be hundreds which is a joke for what should be a bush and a wiper blade. They are taking the piss but what can i do?
I just had my mot done at a halfords autocentre ( not my first choice but was in a bind). Anyway it failed on three trivial things; rubber suspension bush worn, headlight at wrong angle and windscreen wiper not adequately clearing Window.
They want to replace the whole suspension arm rather than just the bush as they don't have the right tool to compress the springs or something. They are charging me £15 for 'fixing ' the light and also want to replace the whole wiper . This will now be hundreds which is a joke for what should be a bush and a wiper blade. They are taking the piss but what can i do?
Change the bulb and blade yourself. Go for a retest somewhere you would happily have the Bush done. I suspect it might pass if Halfrauds have been harsh, if not get them to just replace the part and the saving will wipe out the extra MOt cost.
If your old MOT is still valid you are still covered as non of those create a dangerous vehicle in my mind
If your old MOT is still valid you are still covered as non of those create a dangerous vehicle in my mind
Combustion29 said:
They want to replace the whole suspension arm rather than just the bush as they don't have the right tool to compress the springs or something.
Chinese whispers. Bushes are often only supplied with an arm. It's quicker and cheaper to replace the whole thing. The on-car work to remove the arm from the car, then replace the bush, before replacing the arm is the same as to remove the arm from the car then put a new arm on.Combustion29 said:
They are charging me £15 for 'fixing ' the light
That'll be a fixed charge. A proper test centre would likely just do it while it's on the ramp. Did you not notice one light was pointing the wrong way?Combustion29 said:
and also want to replace the whole wiper
Again, chinese whispers. They'll replace the whole blade, rather than just frig with the rubber. Blades really should be replaced annually anyway. Did you not notice it wasn't doing its job?CS Garth said:
Change the bulb and blade yourself. Go for a retest somewhere you would happily have the Bush done. I suspect it might pass if Halfrauds have been harsh, if not get them to just replace the part and the saving will wipe out the extra MOt cost.
If your old MOT is still valid you are still covered as non of those create a dangerous vehicle in my mind
The mot has just run out. The main issue is that i don't see why i should pay for their lakc of tools. I was hoping if i just make enough of a fuss, they will reduce the charge. I don't really have time to find a slot at another garage.If your old MOT is still valid you are still covered as non of those create a dangerous vehicle in my mind
TooMany2cvs said:
Combustion29 said:
They want to replace the whole suspension arm rather than just the bush as they don't have the right tool to compress the springs or something.
Chinese whispers. Bushes are often only supplied with an arm. It's quicker and cheaper to replace the whole thing. The on-car work to remove the arm from the car, then replace the bush, before replacing the arm is the same as to remove the arm from the car then put a new arm on.Combustion29 said:
They are charging me £15 for 'fixing ' the light
That'll be a fixed charge. A proper test centre would likely just do it while it's on the ramp. Did you not notice one light was pointing the wrong way?Combustion29 said:
and also want to replace the whole wiper
Again, chinese whispers. They'll replace the whole blade, rather than just frig with the rubber. Blades really should be replaced annually anyway. Did you not notice it wasn't doing its job?Yeh the wiper blade is fine. They want to change the entire arm. The wiper is fine, this been raining loads lately, it clears the windscreen.
My old garage would have just adjusted the light for free. What are the actually charging me £15 for?
Edited by Combustion29 on Wednesday 22 March 20:56
Have you checked for a quote from another garage for the same repairs? I would agree that if the bush is worn it is sometimes as cheap to fit the arm as pressing out and in a new bush. The wiper blade will not be expensive and you should fit it yourself. It sounds like headlamp alignment out which is either a quick screw adjustment or if the bulb has been fitted incorrectly will need corrected. (Depending on what make/model of vehicle this is not always quick)
As mentioned previously you are free to take the vehicle away from the MOT site to a place of repair as long as the defects would not make the vehicle dangerous. The retest must be done at the original site, if you went elsewhere it would be a new test and maybe? different outcome.
As mentioned previously you are free to take the vehicle away from the MOT site to a place of repair as long as the defects would not make the vehicle dangerous. The retest must be done at the original site, if you went elsewhere it would be a new test and maybe? different outcome.
Combustion29 said:
I'm literally quoting them on the tool issue. They said they used to order just the bush. I checked you can order it on its own. The whole arm is £70.
How much is the bush, how long does swapping the bush into the arm take, and what are the relative likelihoods of long-term success?Combustion29 said:
Yeh the wiper blade is fine. They want to change the entire arm. The wiper is fine, this been raining loads lately, it clears the windscreen.
Their opinion differs, clearly.Combustion29 said:
My old garage would have just adjusted the light for free. What are the actually charging me £15 for?
The pleasure of being parted from your money by a big corporate chain.Having taken my car in for an MOT yesterday, not Halfords. I think they're all on the take.
Evidently my rear discs/pads are worn, and the front disc have slight lipping...They put both down as an advisory and mentioned it would be dangerous to continue to drive it
The onboard system states the rear pads have 24k left, the fronts 60k. Think I'll drop it into BMW next year.
Evidently my rear discs/pads are worn, and the front disc have slight lipping...They put both down as an advisory and mentioned it would be dangerous to continue to drive it
The onboard system states the rear pads have 24k left, the fronts 60k. Think I'll drop it into BMW next year.
bigdom said:
Having taken my car in for an MOT yesterday, not Halfords. I think they're all on the take.
Evidently my rear discs/pads are worn, and the front disc have slight lipping...They put both down as an advisory and mentioned it would be dangerous to continue to drive it
The onboard system states the rear pads have 24k left, the fronts 60k. Think I'll drop it into BMW next year.
60K on front pads Evidently my rear discs/pads are worn, and the front disc have slight lipping...They put both down as an advisory and mentioned it would be dangerous to continue to drive it
The onboard system states the rear pads have 24k left, the fronts 60k. Think I'll drop it into BMW next year.
They aren't "on the take" You're delusional about matters mechanical!
Worth pointing out that "advisory" means just that. Not an order!
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