Discussion
The MOT on my Boxster S is due at the same time as I have my service.
I owned my last car from new for six years. I always had it serviced at the supplying dealer who offered a free MOT, and it sailed through each time.
Since getting the Boxster, I have heard quite a few incidences of dealers (not just Porsche!) prescribing a lot of extra work when cars have been taken there for MOT.
I was going to have the service done at the OPC because the price is within £100 of an Indy and this will be outweighed by the hassle of getting to the Indy rather than getting a courtesy car at the OPC.
Are they likely to give me a bit of trouble if I put it through MOT there as well?
I owned my last car from new for six years. I always had it serviced at the supplying dealer who offered a free MOT, and it sailed through each time.
Since getting the Boxster, I have heard quite a few incidences of dealers (not just Porsche!) prescribing a lot of extra work when cars have been taken there for MOT.
I was going to have the service done at the OPC because the price is within £100 of an Indy and this will be outweighed by the hassle of getting to the Indy rather than getting a courtesy car at the OPC.
Are they likely to give me a bit of trouble if I put it through MOT there as well?
kingston12 said:
The MOT on my Boxster S is due at the same time as I have my service.
I owned my last car from new for six years. I always had it serviced at the supplying dealer who offered a free MOT, and it sailed through each time.
Since getting the Boxster, I have heard quite a few incidences of dealers (not just Porsche!) prescribing a lot of extra work when cars have been taken there for MOT.
I was going to have the service done at the OPC because the price is within £100 of an Indy and this will be outweighed by the hassle of getting to the Indy rather than getting a courtesy car at the OPC.
Are they likely to give me a bit of trouble if I put it through MOT there as well?
I believe only OPC Reading actually has a MOT bay the others use local MOT centres to do the test for them (Not enough money in an MOT for an OPC to justify the space perhaps).I owned my last car from new for six years. I always had it serviced at the supplying dealer who offered a free MOT, and it sailed through each time.
Since getting the Boxster, I have heard quite a few incidences of dealers (not just Porsche!) prescribing a lot of extra work when cars have been taken there for MOT.
I was going to have the service done at the OPC because the price is within £100 of an Indy and this will be outweighed by the hassle of getting to the Indy rather than getting a courtesy car at the OPC.
Are they likely to give me a bit of trouble if I put it through MOT there as well?
Personally I get the OPC to do the service then take it to the MOT centre myself, picking one that only does MOT's so no chance in them trying it on.
Thanks. I'd be using the OPC in Guildford or Tonbridge so it sounds as though they wouldn't be doing it anyway! I wonder if this means that they are likely to request unnecessary work?
I like the idea of the local council testing station, but my council and the neighbouring ones (Kingston, Richmond & Elmbridge) don't seem to have one.
I will be in the same position of needing a courtesy car if I take it further afield offsetting any potential saving.
Can anyone recommend a decent MOT tester in the Kingston area. I am not looking to pay any less than £55 for the ticket, just don't want someone who is likely to prescribe a lot of unnecessary work.
I like the idea of the local council testing station, but my council and the neighbouring ones (Kingston, Richmond & Elmbridge) don't seem to have one.
I will be in the same position of needing a courtesy car if I take it further afield offsetting any potential saving.
Can anyone recommend a decent MOT tester in the Kingston area. I am not looking to pay any less than £55 for the ticket, just don't want someone who is likely to prescribe a lot of unnecessary work.
Magic919 said:
If an OPC gets an MoT bay they then open themselves up to visits from any brand of car. Maybe that's why most don't have one.
True, and that has got me thinking... I might just take it back to the dealership I used for my previous car for the MOT. They were always reliable before, and I guess are unlikely to bother trying to pull a fast one on a marque they know less about.I prefer places that just do tests. This place might fit the bill. http://www.motkingston.com/
Magic919 said:
I prefer places that just do tests. This place might fit the bill. http://www.motkingston.com/
Thanks. I saw that one. They do other repairs as well, but might be a good option.I have also been recommended the Millenium City Garage in Southwark, which is near where I work. I don't think I have ever seen such universally positive reviews for a garage!
Solihull OPC used the local BMW garage for mine, which I think is in the same group?
I don't think it does open you up for extra work - in fact the opposite, as the testing station is only interested in the tests that they have to perform (brakes, lights, bushes, suspension etc) to pass or fail your car and there is little chance of them benefitting from the remedial works?
I don't think it does open you up for extra work - in fact the opposite, as the testing station is only interested in the tests that they have to perform (brakes, lights, bushes, suspension etc) to pass or fail your car and there is little chance of them benefitting from the remedial works?
kingston12 said:
Thanks. I'd be using the OPC in Guildford or Tonbridge so it sounds as though they wouldn't be doing it anyway! I wonder if this means that they are likely to request unnecessary work?
I like the idea of the local council testing station, but my council and the neighbouring ones (Kingston, Richmond & Elmbridge) don't seem to have one.
I will be in the same position of needing a courtesy car if I take it further afield offsetting any potential saving.
Can anyone recommend a decent MOT tester in the Kingston area. I am not looking to pay any less than £55 for the ticket, just don't want someone who is likely to prescribe a lot of unnecessary work.
If you were prepared to go as far as Tonbridge, I would recommend Paragon, who do carry out MOTs and obviously have Porsche experience too.I like the idea of the local council testing station, but my council and the neighbouring ones (Kingston, Richmond & Elmbridge) don't seem to have one.
I will be in the same position of needing a courtesy car if I take it further afield offsetting any potential saving.
Can anyone recommend a decent MOT tester in the Kingston area. I am not looking to pay any less than £55 for the ticket, just don't want someone who is likely to prescribe a lot of unnecessary work.
They did mine last year and though I have moved from their locality to Norfolk this year, the odds are that I will take it back there again. I have to get the 4 year service this time and am toying with the idea of getting Paragon to do the lot. Either that or I will take it to Tonbridge OPC who have been fine with me since I bought the car from them in 07.
My nearest OPC now seems to be either Colchester or Cambridge. Anyone experienced them?
Also, I am assuming that the MOT inspector will require access to the engine as part of the test? This is not that straightforward on a Boxster (mine has Bose as well).
I guess it makes sense that I am on hand to show them how to open it just in case the inspector has not seen one for a while!
I guess it makes sense that I am on hand to show them how to open it just in case the inspector has not seen one for a while!
kingston12 said:
So you got the MOT at Paragon and service at Tonbridge? I guess you were under warranty last time, though.
Tonbridge did the only scheduled service that the car had at 2 years. Last September when it was 3 I took it to Paragon for its MOT and they did an oil/filter change and inspection, extra to the official schedule. This September needs the 4 year service and MOT again.
I'm not sure I would want a non Porsche experienced mechanic mauling my 911, MOT specialist or not, so if the OPCs do farm them out, I'll stick with Paragon.
cragswinter said:
So you've used the supplying dealer for 6 years & never had any problems but you question their integrity over mot's?
& who said customer loyalty was dead!
By the way my local OPC did my mot?
Actually I understood what was posted earlier, that most OPCs farm cars out for MOT. What is the point of taking it to them for them to give it to someone who I have no idea about? I know the guys at Paragon who IMO are better qualifed and experienced than the guys at the OPC, let alone some local MOT specialist, if indeed that's what happens.& who said customer loyalty was dead!
By the way my local OPC did my mot?
BTW, what loyalty do I owe them? They took £75K+ from me almost 4 years ago and handed me the car, I don't know where you got 6 years from; they had another £500 at the two year service for the work they did.
Other than that I have had nothing from them to engender any loyalty other than a magazine advertising expensive watches, occasionally. Which they stopped sending as soon as I told them I had moved to another area of the country.
That's an interesting topic you've raised. How and why would an OPC deserve loyalty from a customer? Surely that is earned in some way other than selling a car at list price and servicing it once?
DSM2 said:
stuff
whoa sorry there pal, get your knickers untwisted they'll only chaff!I wasn't quoting you, I was answering in reply to the op.
Although after reading his orig post again I see it was his last car that he'd had serviced by it's supplying dealer for six years, correct?
So, obviously he doesn't owe his local opc any loyalty. However, I don't prescribe to the PH rule that all OPC's are money grabbing souless cappucino providers, mine happens to be very good.
& why would an MOT station who does third party work on behalf of an OPC be any more likely to "find faults"? They obviously won't get the work-the OPC would?
kotafey said:
Bit of a thread resurrect, but if anyone's interested OPC Cambridge do their MOTs at the Aston Martin dealership next door (part of the same group). 65 quid. Happy with that so booked mine in.
Why are you happy with that. I thought MOT prices were regulated by the government and it is currently £54.85 with no VAT.That's sounds like an expensive cup of coffee and biscuits at £10.15 !!!
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...
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