Wear and tear

[WSTT]

Hello everyone,

I just got a new (2008) car with a complete clean MOT, not a single remark. I bought it on the day of the test. I just got the car now and detected that the left back lights have a electric issue that was detected on the day I bought it but was dismissed as a faulty lightbulb. It seems to be a problem with the electric connection of the all set since they only work sometimes. Then I also detected all this rust that can be seen on the pictures I'll leave below. Shouldn't it be remarked on the MOT? Will this be a problem in the future? Can it be consider normal wear and tear for a 15yo car?
ibb.co/VYJhxMz

ibb.co/vQ4N6CX

ibb.co/brz9Btc

ibb.co/9p9yJfy

ibb.co/48k4nBJ

ibb.co/vQHbN94

Thank you for your help!

[GreenV8S]

No pictures in your post, but an MOT test is not a general mechanical inspection and will only report specific types of problem as required by the regulations.

[Boosted LS1]

A 15 year old car will have some wear and tear given it's age imo.

[gazza285]

All normal surface rust to be expected on a car of that age.

That exhaust hanger has been, I hesitate to say rewelded, as it more resembles pigeon st, rather crudely blobbed back together.

Edited by gazza285 on Saturday 27th May 21:47

[b2hbm]

From what I've seen it looks ok for a car of that age which is used normally and not left sitting in a garage.

In terms of rust the MoT will only look at specific areas, suspension mounting points, dangerous bodywork (sharp/rusty edges that could injure pedestrians) or severe rusting bad enough to affect the structural integrity of suspension components. I'd say that's surface rust but nothing drastic. As long as the exhaust isn't leaking, it's going to pass the MoT.

The light unit would fail if it wasn't working at point of test, but that's going to be very hard to prove now. On a 15yr old car I'd just accept it as wear & tear, fix it and carry on. If it's a private sale, I think you'll have to do the same. A garage/trade sale might help you out but personally I couldn't be bothered with the hassle and I'd just check out the connections/earthing.

[Fore Left]

GreenV8S said:

No pictures in your post, but an MOT test is not a general mechanical inspection and will only report specific types of problem as required by the regulations.

Try these;

http://ibb.co/vQ4N6CX

http://ibb.co/brz9Btc

http://ibb.co/9p9yJfy

http://ibb.co/48k4nBJ

http://ibb.co/vQHbN94

[Pica-Pica]

Fore Left said:

GreenV8S said:

No pictures in your post, but an MOT test is not a general mechanical inspection and will only report specific types of problem as required by the regulations.

Try these;

http://ibb.co/vQ4N6CX

http://ibb.co/brz9Btc

http://ibb.co/9p9yJfy

http://ibb.co/48k4nBJ

http://ibb.co/vQHbN94

The rear springs look new-ish.

[TwinKam]

15 years old? I've seen 5 yr old Mazdas looking similar, but it's not the sort of rust you need to fret about. Suspension arms etc aren't protected in the same way as the floor pan, but they are made from far thicker steel, so they take a long time to get to a critical state, at which point they do (or should) attract the attention of the MoT examiner at its annual Test/ your mechanic at its annual service.
But remember the next time you buy a car that the MoT only means that the car has met the minimum standard required of a very limited number of very specific checks, and it's up to you to check that it's the car for you ('caveat emptor'). There's nothing in those pictures that you couldn't have seen at the time by dropping to your knees and sticking your head under.

[stevemcs]

Nothing wrong with the rust, it’s just surface, the exhaust hangers always rust and drop off

The electrical issue isn’t wear and tear and wants sorting. Providing it worked at time of test that’s ok, it doesn’t mean that it’s right though.

[Chris32345]

That exhaust while looking bad

Doesn't look like it going to fall off in the next few weeks so not even advisory as far as the not is concerned

And frankly the weld could be factory on a cheep after market system which at 15 years old it probably is rather the factory original

Honestly only that hanger tab looks bad on the system
The rest of the backbox an pipe looks perfectly service able as does the rear axle


The spare wheel has a lot of rust but not likely enough to affect its strength

Edited by Chris32345 on Sunday 28th May 15:34

[E-bmw]

For a 15 year old car I would have 0% concerns about the underneath condition, not sure what you were expecting really.

As others have said, the lights are tested at that one point in time, if they work they work, that doesn't mean they won't then fail the next day.

At the end of the day it is a 15 year old car, they can have faults, yours seems to have developed some.