E46 3-series with laundry list of MOT failures...
Discussion
I've put a deposit down on a 51-plate E46 3-series convertible with a dealer relatively local to me. Everything about the car checked out (except for a crack in the windscreen), the MOT wasn't due to expire until September but they agreed to do another 12 month MOT for me.
While discussing a pickup date for the car last week, the dealer mentioned that it had failed the MOT, but that it would all be sorted for when I came to pick it up. Fair enough, no problem there.
However, I've just checked the MOT history online and the results of this failed MOT are on display, and they're somewhat concerning:
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Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside front headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8)
Offside front headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8)
Nearside front front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.2b)
Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone A (8.3.1a)
Offside front anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.3)
Nearside front anti-roll bar linkage cracked (2.4.G.1)
Nearside front brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Offside front brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Nearside front lower ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Offside front lower ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Nearside rear rear brake binding (3.7.A.5a)
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.10) **DANGEROUS**
Advisory notice issued
Nearside rear suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside rear suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Front and rear discs slightly worn
Oil leak
Engine under tray and sill covers fitted
Slight play in o/s/f inner rack joint
O/s/f tyre wearing on inner edge
Pad warning light on, but pads OK at time of test
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That seems like a LOT of things wrong. How serious are most of these things? Obviously the reasons for failure will have to be fixed so I'm not too concerned about those, but the advisory notices... slightly concerning is the oil leak, and I'm not sure why they're issuing an advisory about engine under tray and sill covers?
Any advice?
While discussing a pickup date for the car last week, the dealer mentioned that it had failed the MOT, but that it would all be sorted for when I came to pick it up. Fair enough, no problem there.
However, I've just checked the MOT history online and the results of this failed MOT are on display, and they're somewhat concerning:
---
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
Nearside front headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8)
Offside front headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8)
Nearside front front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.2b)
Windscreen has damage to an area in excess of a 10mm circle within zone A (8.3.1a)
Offside front anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.3)
Nearside front anti-roll bar linkage cracked (2.4.G.1)
Nearside front brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Offside front brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)
Nearside front lower ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Offside front lower ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)
Nearside rear rear brake binding (3.7.A.5a)
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.10) **DANGEROUS**
Advisory notice issued
Nearside rear suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Offside rear suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
Nearside rear tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Front and rear discs slightly worn
Oil leak
Engine under tray and sill covers fitted
Slight play in o/s/f inner rack joint
O/s/f tyre wearing on inner edge
Pad warning light on, but pads OK at time of test
---
That seems like a LOT of things wrong. How serious are most of these things? Obviously the reasons for failure will have to be fixed so I'm not too concerned about those, but the advisory notices... slightly concerning is the oil leak, and I'm not sure why they're issuing an advisory about engine under tray and sill covers?
Any advice?
This sounds like a load of crap. There are some fairly serious issues there. How many of these will be fixed properly? The dealer didn't tell you how bad it was so I'd expect a bodge job. Seriously, you can do better than this piece of tat. I'd walk away, it's obviously not been looked after.
gazchap said:
76,000 miles, HPI clear with no discrepancy on the mileage register and no discrepancies in the MOT history.
Service history seems OK from the way it was read to me over the phone, not seen the service history in person yet. A gap from 2009 to 2010 but other than that, OK apparently.
I'm amazed it has that much wrong with it! Sounds more like 176,000 miles.Service history seems OK from the way it was read to me over the phone, not seen the service history in person yet. A gap from 2009 to 2010 but other than that, OK apparently.
Presuming all the main refusal points are fixed, I still wouldn't be happy with the remaining faults :-
New set of rear tyres needed, front tyre wearing on inside - so these might be required as well plus 4 wheel alignment (which might as well be done with the rear bushes).
Oil leak could be a poorly fitting sump plug or more typically on a BMW, the rocker cover gasket...which is about £30 plus an 1 1/2 labour.
Front and rear discs worn - think you have to expect this on a used car
Not sure how BMW racks are set up but if a replacement joint can be fitted then quite cheap, if not you will need to look at a reconditioned one and associated fitting cost
BMW's require that pad sensors are replaced once activated, sounds like they have changed the pads but not the sensor - simple fix about £10 a side plus labour.
All depends on how much you want the car, the mileage, price you are paying e.t.c and if you have any get out clauses in the contract.
I would personally walk, I had a 330i that was a complete pain in the arse and would do anything to avoid that hassle again.
New set of rear tyres needed, front tyre wearing on inside - so these might be required as well plus 4 wheel alignment (which might as well be done with the rear bushes).
Oil leak could be a poorly fitting sump plug or more typically on a BMW, the rocker cover gasket...which is about £30 plus an 1 1/2 labour.
Front and rear discs worn - think you have to expect this on a used car
Not sure how BMW racks are set up but if a replacement joint can be fitted then quite cheap, if not you will need to look at a reconditioned one and associated fitting cost
BMW's require that pad sensors are replaced once activated, sounds like they have changed the pads but not the sensor - simple fix about £10 a side plus labour.
All depends on how much you want the car, the mileage, price you are paying e.t.c and if you have any get out clauses in the contract.
I would personally walk, I had a 330i that was a complete pain in the arse and would do anything to avoid that hassle again.
Edited by V6Alfisti on Sunday 8th May 20:06
Two ways of reading this -
The dealer takes it to the harshest MOT centre he knows of, because he likes to know his cars are going to give many miles of trouble free motoring ahead
OR
The dealer is now thinking of how little he can get away with doing!
If the dealer has his own mechanics then the parts cost won't be too bad, and there isn't much on there that wouldn't fall under fair wear and tear, though I would be concerned about the rack wear more than anything else. The rest of the stuff will all need doing at some point, though it might be a little odd that they all need doing at once!
The dealer takes it to the harshest MOT centre he knows of, because he likes to know his cars are going to give many miles of trouble free motoring ahead
OR
The dealer is now thinking of how little he can get away with doing!
If the dealer has his own mechanics then the parts cost won't be too bad, and there isn't much on there that wouldn't fall under fair wear and tear, though I would be concerned about the rack wear more than anything else. The rest of the stuff will all need doing at some point, though it might be a little odd that they all need doing at once!
76,000 miles and it failed on all that Jesus walk away.
My 03 E46 with 154,000 on it failed last week on 1 rear tire, I replaced both as normal but that is a hell of a lot of issues to fail on even for a 51 plate.
And being honest I have done bugger all to mine really over the last 2 years apart from the turbo but that is a separate issue.
My 03 E46 with 154,000 on it failed last week on 1 rear tire, I replaced both as normal but that is a hell of a lot of issues to fail on even for a 51 plate.
And being honest I have done bugger all to mine really over the last 2 years apart from the turbo but that is a separate issue.
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