Major MOT failure, worth fixing?

[Kong]

I bought a MK4 Golf SDI snoozmobile at the start of summer. Seemed a good deal at £1,150 - nice bodywork, 125k on the clock FSH, just serviced, new cambelt, new water pump, new radiator, new brakes and new clutch.

Just failed its MOT on 3x snapped springs, 2x wheel bearings, 2x corroded brake lines, 2x CV boots and 1x seized rear caliper.

They have quoted £805 to fix it with a potential £70 more if the caliper.

Either I sell it for what its worth (maybe £400 or so), plus £800 that gives me £1200 to buy another car.

Or I pay to fix it and I'll have a genuinely sorted (touch wood) golf which should last me a long time for £2000

Really can't decide!

[Dogwatch]

Just serviced?

[rossw46]

Can you and a mate, with a case of beer and a weekend not sort those bits out with the help of the interwebs ?

That sounds expensive to me!

[inman999]

Haynes manual and £200.

If that's not an option then it's probably the better the devil you know. It's worth remembering that if you change then you need to factor in the other costs such as insurance, travel, HPI etc etc.

[jagracer]

Kong said:

new brakes..........
Just failed its MOT on stuff and 1x seized rear caliper.

Reading that I'd be doubtful it's had a cambelt done so unless you have proof I'd be doing that as well. Can't you do the rest of the stuff yourself?

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Did you not get any clues from the rumbling bearings, wobbly, knocking/ squeaking springs and sluggish performance/ drop in MPG due to the seized caliper?


There are always ways of doing things cheaper, sourcing some good second hand parts will save you £££'s.
Ebay is your friend in cases like this, also finding a friendly local indy can have benefits too?

[SMcP114]

All of the above are genuinely easy fixed for someone even with basic tools, with the exception of the wheel bearings as they may need pressed in. I'm not sure if they can be fitted by hand on that model or not.

[Kong]

Dogwatch said:

Just serviced?

Worse is the MOT sheet from last year with not a single advisory. I find it strange that it's gone from no advisories at all to fully failing on 5 different things within the space of 12 months. Possible of course but a a bit fishy.

rossw46 said:

Can you and a mate, with a case of beer and a weekend not sort those bits out with the help of the interwebs ?

That sounds expensive to me!

Well i dont have the tools to push out the wheel bearings or replace the brake lines but I could probably have a crack at the springs. Maybe I can get some cheaper parts than they have too.

[DKS]

Any MOT work that involves just bolting stuff on isn't a major fail at all! New sill and floor sections are a fail!

Break out the spanners man.

[Oilchange]

for that amount of work, parts and VAT, £800 sounds positively cheap

[inman999]

Kong said:

Well i dont have the tools to push out the wheel bearings or replace the brake lines but I could probably have a crack at the springs. Maybe I can get some cheaper parts than they have too.

Either get 2 second hand hubs or bung a tenner to your local backstreet garage to press the bearing out.

As for the brake lines, wire brush them, if you get back to bare metal then cover in underseal, they will likely last for years.

[Kong]

Oilchange said:

for that amount of work, parts and VAT, £800 sounds positively cheap

Yes they are a very reasonable garage.

I've looked through the bill and they only thing which sounds a tad pricey is £265 parts and labour for the 3 springs.

I've used the waxoyle trick on brake lines with great effect in my old BMWs, never failed an MOT. Only trouble is they know what they were like before so might not accept that.

[McSam]

DKS said:

Any MOT work that involves just bolting stuff on isn't a major fail at all! New sill and floor sections are a fail!

Break out the spanners man.

This!

Though I second the above thoughts that it's incredible you could get something that shagged on obvious failures and not notice

[SMcP114]

Oilchange said:

for that amount of work, parts and VAT, £800 sounds positively cheap

Really??

[AlexRS2782]

Kong said:

Worse is the MOT sheet from last year with not a single advisory. I find it strange that it's gone from no advisories at all to fully failing on 5 different things within the space of 12 months. Possible of course but a a bit fishy.

From nothing to a massive list usually means the previous owner slipped the tester a few notes to ensure it passed to look good for the upcoming sale. Even more likely if the seller was a part time or bedroom trader.

[Oilchange]

Well, maybe reasonable, if it comes with a fresh MOT and all 4 springs changed

No car at that price is going to be perfect

SMcP114 said:

Oilchange said:

for that amount of work, parts and VAT, £800 sounds positively cheap

Really??

[Upatdawn]

3x snapped springs, 2x wheel bearings, 2x corroded brake lines, 2x CV boots and 1x seized rear caliper.

did you not notice the good coil?.....lol

£200 in parts and some grazed knuckles


cheaper than my 4 recon injectors and a clutch/flywheel.......... £2250

[Kong]

To be honest I knew about the noisy bearings, I'd just been putting off getting them done but everything else was a surprise.

Heres the breakdown:

[Monkeylegend]

Probably worth getting the other spring replaced as well,it will probably snap as soon as you are on 3 new springs.

[TVR1]

Kong said:

To be honest I knew about the noisy bearings, I'd just been putting off getting them done but everything else was a surprise.

Heres the breakdown:

The obvious and possibly cheeky thing to me (although I may be talking out of my rissole) is that each job has been labour costed separately. I would have thought that a number of those jobs could be carried out 'together' ?

Having said that, even monkey hands moi could probably undo and do up again a few bolts.