Do MOT stations have "targets" or an average fail rate to me
Discussion
ElectricPics said:
I've had the rear number plate bulb fail thing twice, although I only got charged 49p each time. Not one bulb was out on the car the day before on both occasions so it does make you wonder if they're using a trivial and cheap fail to meet a target.
I used our village garage once for an MOT - they charge the full whack but it was convenient. They told me, without comment, that it had passed and only on getting the docs did I see it had failed on headlamp alignment - he said he'd tweaked them up and passed it. No charge. I can't 100% say it's not true but I couldn't tell any difference and there were no marks on the plastic adjustment screws.
I think it has become a nightmare of late!
I got an advisory a couple of years ago for a low oil level - but the low-level warning light wasn't on and as I understand it they aren't allowed to remove anything so couldn't check the dipstick!
So I went elsewhere the next year, but that tester wanted to fail my car for thin rear brake pads - I told him the OBC said they had 22,000 miles left so he passed it with an advisory FFS.
The test is supposed to be based on the car as it is on the day it is tested - if the brakes work on that day that is all that matters.
Presumably all looking for work.
I got an advisory a couple of years ago for a low oil level - but the low-level warning light wasn't on and as I understand it they aren't allowed to remove anything so couldn't check the dipstick!
So I went elsewhere the next year, but that tester wanted to fail my car for thin rear brake pads - I told him the OBC said they had 22,000 miles left so he passed it with an advisory FFS.
The test is supposed to be based on the car as it is on the day it is tested - if the brakes work on that day that is all that matters.
Presumably all looking for work.
I've had two fails for a defective brake light.
Both times were my Sprinter.
I'd checked all bulbs again immediately before going to the test station at which time they were working (local shop window as a mirror to check).
Put the van on the ramp & one was now out.
No skulduggery as I've used them for years & am present throughout the test.
New bulb (£1) & a pass.
Both times were my Sprinter.
I'd checked all bulbs again immediately before going to the test station at which time they were working (local shop window as a mirror to check).
Put the van on the ramp & one was now out.
No skulduggery as I've used them for years & am present throughout the test.
New bulb (£1) & a pass.
Countdown said:
Jonnny said:
Our Aftersales manager at a main dealer always says he'd much prefer not to do MOTs, says its a waste of workshop time and space.
Why not just stop doing it? 
Do they need the footfall from prospective customers?
lyonspride said:
I feel like they don't have targets, but they may fail or issue advisories in order to avoid being investigated for passing too many cars........
They actually come down harder on us for too many fails!With regards to the beam test, many things can alter it during the year, a new bulb fitted can alter the beam height, if it was fitted by the lad at the orange signed shop of chav tat it will likely be fitted wrong and have no pattern.
As for failing to get work, I know testers that would rather advise some jobs if they are borderline because they don't fancy doing it and site owners who tend to want more passes so the customers are not scared away by the garage getting a reputation for being a tough test station.
I put our BMax in for a half price MOT at a national tyre and exhaust outfit. It’s only done 14k miles. Advisory for front brake pads and a fail for a stop light. Asked if I’d like a quote to change the pad. Said no thank you. I bought some new pads and set about changing them. Popped them out, still loads of meat left on them so cleaned it all up and put it back together. Left the new pads on my shelf and I’ll fit them when needed.
Mr Tidy said:
I think it has become a nightmare of late!
I got an advisory a couple of years ago for a low oil level - but the low-level warning light wasn't on and as I understand it they aren't allowed to remove anything so couldn't check the dipstick!
So I went elsewhere the next year, but that tester wanted to fail my car for thin rear brake pads - I told him the OBC said they had 22,000 miles left so he passed it with an advisory FFS.
The test is supposed to be based on the car as it is on the day it is tested - if the brakes work on that day that is all that matters.
Presumably all looking for work.
We check the oil before the emissions test so that would be a normal advise, if the oil was below minimum then the test should be aborted.
As for the pads are you seriously telling me the computer is more accurate than the eye? The obc guesses based on mileage and time , it has no idea if you are a hard breaker etc.
Regardless of the brakes working, if the pads are below 1.5mm it will fail, below 3 or 4 mm it will be advised, you might do 25k miles a year and if the pads run out then the "it passed it's mot just a month ago" complaints start.
I got an advisory a couple of years ago for a low oil level - but the low-level warning light wasn't on and as I understand it they aren't allowed to remove anything so couldn't check the dipstick!
So I went elsewhere the next year, but that tester wanted to fail my car for thin rear brake pads - I told him the OBC said they had 22,000 miles left so he passed it with an advisory FFS.
The test is supposed to be based on the car as it is on the day it is tested - if the brakes work on that day that is all that matters.
Presumably all looking for work.
We check the oil before the emissions test so that would be a normal advise, if the oil was below minimum then the test should be aborted.
As for the pads are you seriously telling me the computer is more accurate than the eye? The obc guesses based on mileage and time , it has no idea if you are a hard breaker etc.
Regardless of the brakes working, if the pads are below 1.5mm it will fail, below 3 or 4 mm it will be advised, you might do 25k miles a year and if the pads run out then the "it passed it's mot just a month ago" complaints start.
I posted on a similar thread a few weeks ago. Garage by us is a pass if your a friend type situation. Friends car has a proper dodgy plate and it fails for plate not conforming but then passes straight after yet no change has taken place as they have never had proper plates made for it.
Plate is miss spaced and screwed to show name
Plate is miss spaced and screwed to show name
jamiem555 said:
I put our BMax in for a half price MOT at a national tyre and exhaust outfit. It’s only done 14k miles. Advisory for front brake pads and a fail for a stop light. Asked if I’d like a quote to change the pad. Said no thank you. I bought some new pads and set about changing them. Popped them out, still loads of meat left on them so cleaned it all up and put it back together. Left the new pads on my shelf and I’ll fit them when needed.
How can they give advisory on pad level ? They can only test on brake performance ?All this talk about “cheap” fails turning into passes due bulbs etc... I’d be a bit gutted if it happened to me!
I change oil and filters, and other miscellaneous jobs on my own car, but take it to the same Indy I trust for bigger work and MOTs. The car has aftermarket HID bulbs, and LED number plate lights (all of which have lasted about 4 years now without replacement) so I’d be a bit miffed if a fail was “made up” via a bulb change to meet a statistical figure.
Interestingly mine had an advisory for front brake pads last MOT. Having looked at them, I’m sure he meant rears. In any case, it has sensors and I’m the kind of guy who is gentle on brakes and gets 60-70k out of front brakes... so based on “average use” they’ll probably last a while longer with me ??
I change oil and filters, and other miscellaneous jobs on my own car, but take it to the same Indy I trust for bigger work and MOTs. The car has aftermarket HID bulbs, and LED number plate lights (all of which have lasted about 4 years now without replacement) so I’d be a bit miffed if a fail was “made up” via a bulb change to meet a statistical figure.
Interestingly mine had an advisory for front brake pads last MOT. Having looked at them, I’m sure he meant rears. In any case, it has sensors and I’m the kind of guy who is gentle on brakes and gets 60-70k out of front brakes... so based on “average use” they’ll probably last a while longer with me ??
Blanco92 said:
All this talk about “cheap” fails turning into passes due bulbs etc... I’d be a bit gutted if it happened to me!
I change oil and filters, and other miscellaneous jobs on my own car, but take it to the same Indy I trust for bigger work and MOTs. The car has aftermarket HID bulbs, and LED number plate lights (all of which have lasted about 4 years now without replacement) so I’d be a bit miffed if a fail was “made up” via a bulb change to meet a statistical figure.
Interestingly mine had an advisory for front brake pads last MOT. Having looked at them, I’m sure he meant rears. In any case, it has sensors and I’m the kind of guy who is gentle on brakes and gets 60-70k out of front brakes... so based on “average use” they’ll probably last a while longer with me ??
Your HID bulbs should fail: Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.I change oil and filters, and other miscellaneous jobs on my own car, but take it to the same Indy I trust for bigger work and MOTs. The car has aftermarket HID bulbs, and LED number plate lights (all of which have lasted about 4 years now without replacement) so I’d be a bit miffed if a fail was “made up” via a bulb change to meet a statistical figure.
Interestingly mine had an advisory for front brake pads last MOT. Having looked at them, I’m sure he meant rears. In any case, it has sensors and I’m the kind of guy who is gentle on brakes and gets 60-70k out of front brakes... so based on “average use” they’ll probably last a while longer with me ??
LED reg lamps are fine.
Advisory notes are just that, not everyone understands cars so a little note that they may need to act on something in the near future is helpful, I have no idea why so many get all upset by someone trying to be helpful!
There is no need to make anything up to alter stats, especially bulbs as they are by far the most common fail so if you PRS a bulb it would push your stats higher, last month my bulb rate was in the 70% of my fail stats, if they don't work or are incorrect they fail, it is black and white. Despite those stas both the site and I are green (there is a traffic light system to give you an idea how you are performing against national figures, it is more to be used as a guide to us to see where we possibly need to have a look why we are out of kilter with others)
Aluminati said:
jamiem555 said:
I put our BMax in for a half price MOT at a national tyre and exhaust outfit. It’s only done 14k miles. Advisory for front brake pads and a fail for a stop light. Asked if I’d like a quote to change the pad. Said no thank you. I bought some new pads and set about changing them. Popped them out, still loads of meat left on them so cleaned it all up and put it back together. Left the new pads on my shelf and I’ll fit them when needed.
How can they give advisory on pad level ? They can only test on brake performance ?They can fail it on pad thickness even if it passes on performance.
Bit of reading for you.
www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/c... See 1.1.13
Athlon said:
Your HID bulbs should fail: Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.
Better not take it to you then, you’d write my car off! Do you know the A6/Passat of C5/B5.5 vintage? If you’ve never owned one and driven it in normal nighttime conditions you wouldn’t know. Should never have been legal from factory, candles would be more useful! They’re in a stock projector lens and only 5000k so they don’t shout Max Power.Will keep bighting my nails every time it goes in... the joys of owning a 16 year old car.
Edited by Blanco92 on Sunday 28th July 23:08
just had my Mondeo MOT'd, it failed on NS headlight dipped beam not working.
I watched the dashcam footage back and it was working fine when tested.
They didn't charge for "fixing" the headlight.
It absolutely has to be about meeting some sort of targets (perhaps just on older vehicles?).................
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