[MarkW19]

As my car is approaching 3 years old, BMW have recommended I get the MOT done while it's still under it's guarantee, and have naturally suggested I get them to do my MOT for me.

I was expecting the price to be £150 or something, so was quite suprised when they said it was £44.

Is this a fair price for an MOT? I've never had one on a car before!!

Thanks.

[uncle albert]

Sounds pretty reasonable to me. Particularly from a main dealer.

James

[Saad]

for BMW it is a fair price. Most people charge £40 with one free retest. I get it done for £25 at MStyle in Romford

["Reedy"]

think i paid £45, but managed to get a £5 off voucher in the local paper...

[ADE90J]

My local garage charges £19.99, but you got to book a month in advance!!

[MarkW19]

Can I trust BMW do you think?? ie they won't find things wrong that don't need replacing?

[SiBradbury]

Since August 2005 Ministry Of Transport have put a ceiling price on the MOT test at £44.15 (plus vat i think) for normal cars. This means MOT test stations are not allowed to charge more than this.

In the last few months, many places now charge for retests as re-tests (and tests) have to be inputted into a national database which is time consuming and basically the retest takes as long as a full MOT. This is the main reason why many people are noticing that they are having to book tests a week or so in advance, because retests have become more time consuming for the testers.

I'm pretty wary of places heavily undercharging on MOT's. After all, a place that takes half as much money for an MOT is likely (in my opinion [and my experience]) to be super strict when inspecting your car as they will often get the job of repairing it and therefore re-coup the money they have knocked of the test.

If you need more info on MOT testing, go here to the people that govern it:

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/carlgvow...mottesting.htm

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Can I trust BMW do you think?? ie they won't find things wrong that don't need replacing?

Not if they want to keep their ability to perform MOT's. Besides, i don't THINK that warranties actually cost a dealer anything as BMW pay them for parts and labour.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

As my car is approaching 3 years old, BMW have recommended I get the MOT done while it's still under it's guarantee, and have naturally suggested I get them to do my MOT for me.

It's good news for you and it's good news for the garage. The only party that is going to loose out on this is the manufacturer that has to meet the warranty claims!

Just make sure that you get the simple (and expensive at the dealer) stuff sorted before you go there, particularly the tyres!

Tigger.

[:: Jon ::]

an MOT is a MOT doesnt matter where you get it done.. except for those dodgy back street places between £30 & £40 is about average.. plus you get a free retest anyhow..

[MarkW19]

Do I get a free retest at BMW as well then?

[:: Jon ::]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Do I get a free retest at BMW as well then?

duno... ask.. never use them except for TLC & warrenty stuff.. do everything else myself

[mooneymini]

mine went in for its second mot a few months ago now with bmw garage, £44, and no worries. Sailed through - which was a nice surprise

[danb]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19

Do I get a free retest at BMW as well then?

As far as I know if the needed work is carried out by the original tester then they must give you a free re-test when the work is done. If you want to carry out the work yourself, you must take the car back the next working day in order for a free re-test (legally anyway).

Im not 100% sure but I think thats right

[dietcokeplease]

I took my mums car for a MOT to a less than savoury place a few years ago. I swear that they didn't even move the car from the car park to MOT it.

[Tinkerbell]

My car has just had its first MOT - £44.15 - I had it done early in order to get in before my warranty expired ... MOT was absolutely fine and the dealership pointed out a warranty job - booked in for next week

[Adrian_T]

2 Pointers

Retest is only free if carried out within 24 hours of the original test (Or next working day) Otherwise you have to pay again!!! This was always the rule but now it has to be input on the computer at the time, there is no work around for this anymore.

Its already said but dont do the silly things such as booking in with nearly worn tyres as this will fail and unless you fancy paying BMW prices for tyres you will have difficulty getting replacements within 24hrs! Also worth checking for damage to the tyres as I got caught out on this on a tyre less than a month old with a big cut on one. Luckilyy for me it was a company car so I didnt pay for the tyre but it was expensive!

Good luck and dont forget to get every last warranty item sorted!

[MarkW19]

I think my tyre treads are ok (will check), but I do know of a small nail indented in one - Lohen looked at it and didn't see it as a problem though, and it's been in there for months! It's not caused any problems with tyre pressure etc.

Would this cause an MOT fail?

[SiBradbury]

Quote: Originally Posted by Adrian_T

Retest is only free if carried out within 24 hours of the original test (Or next working day)

This is only true under certain circumstances now:


"Currently if a vehicle is removed from a VTS following the refusal to issue an MOT certificate the subsequent re-examination falls in to 2 categories.

1. If the vehicle is returned to the same VTS (Vehicle Testing Station) and retested before the end of the next working day on one or more of the following items only.

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) warning, boot lid, brake pedal anti-slip, direction indicators/hazard warning, doors, dropsides, emissions, fuel filler cap, headlamp aim, horn, lamps, loading door, mirrors, rear reflectors, registration plates, seat belts (but not anchorages), seats, sharp edges or projections, steering wheel, tailboard, tailgate, vehicle identification number (VIN), windscreen, windscreen wipers/washers, wheels* and tyres*.

(* excludes class I & II)

Only a partial re-examination is required with no additional fee.

2. In any other case a full examination is required and an amount up to the maximum full fee may be charged.

Apart from the retest as described in 1 above the only other acceptable partial re-examination of a vehicle is where the vehicle is left at the test station for repair and re-examination and no fee can be charged for such a retest. In all other circumstances a full re-examination of the vehicle must be carried out and the fee charged is a commercial decision for the VTS up to the maximum fee for a test on that vehicle. It would appear that some VTS's that previously didn't charge a fee have now chosen to attach a fee"

So basically,what the vehicle failed on determines if you get your re-test for free.

[SiBradbury]

Don't forget to do a lights check before your MOT!! It takes 2 mins and could be the difference between a pass or fail depending on the Testing Station (most would replace the bulb and put it on your bill, some won't)
Rear fog, number plate light and reverse lights are commonly forgotten so make sure you check them!