Saloon going for MOT on Friday

[highlander]

Well, I can't find anyone selling a drivers' side front wing for a 406 saloon or estate in China Blue (EGED) that hasn't been utterly mashed in some horrific accident. I did get a quote for a brand new unpainted part for £45 plus postage, but then that would require spraying - and when I had my spoiler sprayed, it cost me about £75.

And, it's been pissing down with rain here every time I've wanted to go outside, take the existing wing off, and hammer out the dent from the inside.

So I've figured, "stuff it" and booked it in for a replacement side indicator and MOT. This is happening on Friday. Insurance company has decided that insurance cover for Friday only is £16. MOT will be £54.85. Indicator will probably be a couple of quid, plus the garage's labour costs for "up to an hour" of work. I hate cars sometimes, but at least it should get done, and the car will be legally roadworthy.

Nothing else seems to be wrong with it, at least - brakes are good (even the handbrake!), she fires up just fine, idles at a steady rate, no odd knocks or rattles, no bad smells, aircon works perfectly, and all the electrical items are just peachy.

Fingers crossed.

[Gary406]

£54 for an MOT holy sh*t

its only £30 round here

[highlander]

I got the figure from Direct.gov - I guess a lot of garages do that too

[steve_earwig]

£54 quid for an MOT?

It's only £150 here!

[highlander]

... just to clarify, Steve, didn't you move to Croatia thinking it would be less expensive than the UK?

That said, petrol here is currently £1.34 per litre, up more than 10p per litre since 2 weeks ago. Bastards. I spent £90 filling up the Coupe yesterday

[Welly]

£38.50 in the Midlands - had her indoors' Astra done last week........

........it passed with flying colours, shame the airflow meter was goosed, and the full service, with spark plugs, filters, £321.00, oh - did I mention that?

That Astra seems to cost £300.00 once a year and then nothing whatsoever in between

[sirwiggum]

£30.50 here.

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/inform ... t-fees.htm

Hope it passes.

I know what it is like trying to find matching colour panels - I tried to find piana / monaco blue passenger doors.
Traynors scrapyard up the moy had one on their website, I called up about it, went down to collect, and they were china blue.

Other scrapyards lost interest as soon as you start mentioning paintcodes.

Tried to get a door on ebay but the couriers used it as a trampoline.

It was one of the things that made me start losing heart in the 406

[steve_earwig]

... just to clarify, Steve, didn't you move to Croatia thinking it would be less expensive than the UK?

It was as it happens, most things anyway. Computer stuff was much cheaper for a start. Car parts were roughly the same. Then chancellor eyebrows let the pound slide and the only thing that's cheaper here now are people.

Saying that...

That said, petrol here is currently £1.34 per litre, up more than 10p per litre since 2 weeks ago. Bastards. I spent £90 filling up the Coupe yesterday

95 RON petrol here is 112.5p a litre, 98 is 117.56p and diesel 107. Hooray, I still have reason to live!

[jasper5]

Good luck with the mot

[highlander]

Thanks Will let you all know how it gets on.

[highlander]

OK, I've dropped her off. 8 mile run from my house to the MOT station (it's a 5 minute walk from my office)

Felt weird driving the old girl again - but the drive went very well, nice and smooth, no weird problems. Fingers crossed the MOT will go through nice 'n' easy.

[steve_earwig]

All the breast mate!

I had mine Tuesday, I was pleased to see the car jump off the rollers when the tester put the handbrake on again

[Doggy]

Here's hoping....

Good luck Graeme.

[highlander]

Ah, sh*t. Who am I kidding, this is my luck we're talking about here.

------------------------------------------------------------------
REASONS FOR REFUSAL OF A TEST CERTIFICATE:

001 Front passenger door cannot be opened from outside the vehicle (this has been sticky since Blue406 and I put the silver door handles on - I can probably sort that myself)

002 Offside side repeater not working (no sh*t, it got hit by a van)

003 (pipe to nearside rear brake hose) Brake pipe excessively corroded

004 (both front) Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (dammit, that's going to cost - they also had no part-worns in 195/65/R15)

005 Offside rear upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush


ADVISORIES:

006 Nearside Side repeater slightly discoloured (jeez, give a guy a break already)

007 (pipe to offside rear brake hose) Brake pipe slightly corroded

008 Nearside rear upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush

009 Both front tyres scrubbed on inner edges (well the front tyres are f*cked anyway, but I guess this means the tracking is also out)
------------------------------------------------------------------


I've got them to go get me a quote for the work required to pass the MOT.

f*ck, I hate everything.

[steve_earwig]

Bummer dude Did you go back to the same MOT place wearing your suit again?

Does this push it into "beyond economical repair" or perhaps even as far as "break me for parts" land yet? It might be time to cut your losses, after all this stuff you still won't get much for it dinged.