Finding good classic MOT'er

[Wreckerd]

I need some advice on how to get my 81 delorean MOT'ed. I have used several local garages, none were any good with old / classic cars. 2 nearly wrote it off.
Anyone know of a list of classic MOT specialists?
What do you do with your classic?

Ps I'm looking at SO31 fareham area

[Kitchski]

We're in Fort Fareham (Southways Automotive), and though we're not an MoT station, we tend to arrange MoTs through Beresford Auto Repairs as we go through a lot of TVRs and a fair few classics, and they've been good over the years. You can go direct through them or through us, it costs the same.

If you do go there, drop by as I'd love to nose over a DeLorean!

Cheers

Rich

[ajh38]

Not suggesting you travel all the way to us in Margate but although we're a Main Dealer we are very much interested in the older cars too, quite a few of us keep an older car and Bernie our MOT tester has a Peugeot 504.

It's hard to trust someone with your pride and joy, particularly in these days of autocentre chains that are always looking for a quick buck!

[phumy]

What is the difference between MOT`ing a classic and a newer car, is there different set of rules?

[Kitchski]

phumy said:

What is the difference between MOT`ing a classic and a newer car, is there different set of rules?

Some garages are better at handling 'delicate' cars than others.

[Slidingpillar]

Go straight to jail, do not pass go and do not collect £200

http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/legislation-and-fuels/histo...

And see if there is anyone on the list near you.

[Tony-2io3e]

Don't suppose there are any differences except for the staff. You'd like to think your car was being looked after not just on a conveyor belt with oiks on a bonus to get as many tested as possible

[Slidingpillar]

And the staff is the crucial bit. All MOT stations will have no problems with a 2013 Eurobox, but some of the bits on a 1898 Benz dog cart will fox them for sure.

The list started before pre-60s were MOT exempt, and was certainly needed. I know someone who took a mid 30s Morgan for a MOT and had to dangerously tighten a sprung steering joint in order to secure a pass. Then loosen it to safely drive home. Old car folk all know tales like that, and may well have been forced to adjust things in the past.

[CAPP0]

Absolutely. I use an MOT station which wouldn't look out of place in a 1950s movie. The guys there know me well and know all my cars and will help/advise on older stuff which perhaps isn't quite at today's standards.

[grumpy52]

Like all things when dealing with the motor trade ,reputation and relationships are the key .
The independent or family business will be looking to keep your custom for many years .
Find a good one and they will look after not just you and your car but all the family .
Find out who the local club use ,many have a database of friendly businesses.
In my area ,SE Kent ,I know of 4 places that are within 5 miles of my home ,all family run places . One owner even races a classic F1 car .

[Riley Blue]

phumy said:

What is the difference between MOT`ing a classic and a newer car, is there different set of rules?

Emission testing is less strict and there may be other examples however I haven't been able to find all the differences on line.

[droopsnoot]

Riley Blue said:

phumy said:

What is the difference between MOT`ing a classic and a newer car, is there different set of rules?

Emission testing is less strict and there may be other examples however I haven't been able to find all the differences on line.

I understand that as all the test is now conducted under instruction from the test computer, the requirements are prompted to the tester for stuff like emissions, so they will know during the test whether to do a full emissions test and what the limits should be, or just a visible smoke test, and so on.

The issues are the general "observational" stuff such as the steering joint mentioned above where the tester just thinks it doesn't look "right" - and would be correct on a more modern car, probably. I've had rows about no door mirrors and no visible VIN plate, on a car that is old enough to not need them, and had to point out the correct part in the testers manual to get a pass. There are a few online testers manuals, but the language can be quite vague as it's in conjunction with training courses and so on.

[Scarface1]

Kitchski said:

We're in Fort Fareham (Southways Automotive), and though we're not an MoT station, we tend to arrange MoTs through Beresford Auto Repairs as we go through a lot of TVRs and a fair few classics, and they've been good over the years. You can go direct through them or through us, it costs the same.

If you do go there, drop by as I'd love to nose over a DeLorean!

Cheers

Rich

+1 for Southways and Beresfords.

Rich are you the young guy I was chatting to about your french imported AX and my TVR Cerbera?

Pete at Beresfords is very good.

You could also try Dean at Elkins in Stubbington or Matt at C&S (although they use Newgate motors for the actual test).

Regards

Steve

[Riley Blue]

droopsnoot said:

Riley Blue said:

phumy said:

What is the difference between MOT`ing a classic and a newer car, is there different set of rules?

Emission testing is less strict and there may be other examples however I haven't been able to find all the differences on line.

I understand that as all the test is now conducted under instruction from the test computer, the requirements are prompted to the tester for stuff like emissions, so they will know during the test whether to do a full emissions test and what the limits should be, or just a visible smoke test, and so on.

The issues are the general "observational" stuff such as the steering joint mentioned above where the tester just thinks it doesn't look "right" - and would be correct on a more modern car, probably. I've had rows about no door mirrors and no visible VIN plate, on a car that is old enough to not need them, and had to point out the correct part in the testers manual to get a pass. There are a few online testers manuals, but the language can be quite vague as it's in conjunction with training courses and so on.

Agreed. I was asked where the VIN plate was, went over to the car, picked it up from the parcel shelf and handed it over saying I must get round to fixing it to the car after its respray. They happily accepted that even though I've been telling them that for the last four years. They're a MOT Centre that does nothing but tests, they know the car and treat it accordingly, even to the extent of telling me the headlamp aim is a bit high after I'd mentioned I'd just fitted new bulbs but hadn't got around to realigning them.

[droopsnoot]

Riley Blue said:

Agreed. I was asked where the VIN plate was, went over to the car, picked it up from the parcel shelf and handed it over saying I must get round to fixing it to the car after its respray. They happily accepted that even though I've been telling them that for the last four years.

My frustration was that "we've looked everywhere, there's no VIN plate" was a fail when trying for an MOT at my local Vauxhall dealer (who'd done the body restoration, generally very well I might add), even though it doesn't need one as it was built before the date (1980, I think). And it does have one. It's on the top of the dashboard, in exactly the same place as it is on a modern Vauxhall, like all the cars in their showroom.

It's worth trying to read up on the rules if you're having to take it somewhere that isn't classic-friendly - I mentioned that for some of the fails they'd passed it in previous years, and got the expected "well, I wasn't testing it last year" response from the newly-qualified tester. Things like if they want to fail it for a blowing exhaust, they have to show you where it's blowing - that same year I took it away twice with "no, it's still blowing" fails, resealed all the joins, only to have the bloke finally concede "oh, it might just be a bit noisy because of the four-branch manifold, I'll let it go if you've re-sealed everything.". If only I'd known.

[Kitchski]

Scarface1 said:

+1 for Southways and Beresfords.

Rich are you the young guy I was chatting to about your french imported AX and my TVR Cerbera?

Pete at Beresfords is very good.

Young? Made my day, that did!

Yes it was likely me. I'm the only one round here who was nuts enough to import an AX from the Spanish border!

[grumpy52]

The modern test as mentioned is all done by the computer prompts .
In the old system the testers manual was consulted ,anything weird and you could phone the ministry or VOSA or whoever they are now .
The local inspector of testers in my area was a member of the 750 Motor Club and raced an Austin 7 special.
He was very approachable on the weird and wonderful problems of older cars .
It's knowing the dates of what applies to older cars ,lighting regs on early cars can be fun ,washers ,indicators ,even does it have a windscreen etc .

[grumpy52]

I bet this was fun to test .
Which it passed

[Mercky]

Take it to any branch of Kwik Fit. They really know what they are doing and will be able to supply and fit new brakes and shock absorbers when it fails.

[Poisson96]

Mercky said:

Take it to any branch of Kwik Fit. They really know what they are doing and will be able to supply and fit new brakes and shock absorbers when it fails.

My brakes were even worse when not bedded in so I shall take a pass on that

I use Leedar Automotive in Rotherham for any Northern PHers