MOT's and Main Dealers

Frank-the-Wool · Jun 30, 2021

I have only had cars fail MOT's twice and each time it has been at the Main Dealers and on the first MOT.

Today I took my Volvo XC60 which I bought from a main dealer second hand a couple of years ago when it was a year old with 14k miles. It was at the time very good value being some 15k less than the list price and included 2 years free servicing and interest free finance with a few extras thrown in.
Normally I wouldn't have taken the car back for the MOT, but I had received a letter for a recall on the passenger side seatbelt and so the Dealer suggested they did the MOT at the same time. Being an hours drive away I thought it would get it all done. The car was serviced by them some 6 months before and I had used it very little lately and had done less than 5k miles since the service.

It failed the MOT on the rear brake pads having been down to 1.5 mm and wear on the discs. The car has only done 32k miles total.
I questioned why the worn brake pads hadn't been mentioned when the car was serviced and a safety check was completed with a video and written report. They admitted it was not noted.
So they suggested they could do the brakes and fit new pads. Knowing the way they charge I queried the need for the new discs and they admitted that it hadn't failed on them but recommend that they are replaced when fitting new pads.
I asked how much to fit the new pads to get it through the MOT and was quoted £284.00, they had to plug it into the computer apparently!! I didn't bother to ask the cost of doing the discs!!

I declined and have a local firm that specialises in Volvos and has done my cars for many years who I knew would be much less.
I got in the car to check the seat belt they had replaced and was amazed that they had managed to replace the wrong one!!!!!! Luckily they had another and did the right one.

I advised the Service Manager I wouldn't be returning and will get the brakes done and MOT at my local place who suggested the total cost would be less than £200 including the MOT using Volvo pads.

I know MOT inspectors are supposed to be "independent" but working in the same premises and being paid by them makes me suspicious, or am I just getting old and grumpy?

Lincsman · Jun 30, 2021

Its not the MOT its their standard of servicing thats the problem, how far to the next service? i bet the pads would have been down to metal. they clearly didnt check the pads at the last service and at 32K not surprised they are worn out.

With long service intervals they need to be pretty good to get to the next service.

Discs are usually good for 2 sets of pads.

As for needing a laptop.. well I did my all singing electric handbrake ones on my Ford edge... its a sequence of button pressing to get them released, but once done you drop them in like any other pad. Mine were Mintex off ebay at £35.

The Ruminant · Jun 30, 2021

Our Volvo used to develop faults a few days after servicing by the main dealer, every time, which required more money being spent with them. Eventually I went in and pointed this out to them. Somehow, this stopped it happening…….

ollie989898 · Jun 30, 2021

We send both of ours to an independent for the exact same reason.

You need a laptop to do the pads/discs in a Volvo because of the electronic park brake. It also tells the service department of any issues that have arisen since the last service.

We had the same recall- the seat belt issue is on BOTH sides of the vehicle.

Been impressed with both our cars. Total miles to date has been about 140,000 miles, one replaced aux belt and an ABS sensor. Serviced on the nail by a specialist Volvo garage, they are total Volvo people, would sooner take the cars there than either Volvo dealer in this region.

melted welly · Jun 30, 2021

Transit in for a wiring fault repair as eng light on, then mot once fixed did all other work ourselves.

failed twice in succession for engine warning light.

they then suggested, 3rd attempt after an earful that they could “turn it off for the test”.

waste of fecking time.

Lincsman · Jun 30, 2021

ollie989898 said:
We send both of ours to an independent for the exact same reason.

You need a laptop to do the pads/discs in a Volvo because of the electronic park brake. It also tells the service department of any issues that have arisen since the last service.

We had the same recall- the seat belt issue is on BOTH sides of the vehicle.

Been impressed with both our cars. Total miles to date has been about 140,000 miles, one replaced aux belt and an ABS sensor. Serviced on the nail by a specialist Volvo garage, they are total Volvo people, would sooner take the cars there than either Volvo dealer in this region.

What is special abouts Volvos Electric park brake? would have thought they are all from similar parentage, especially Ford.

feilding · Jun 30, 2021

Having been driving for 42 yrs, I've never needed brake discs changing on a vehicle, so why is it done so often nowadays, brake pads seem to last me about 70,000 .
I think garages just upsell to increase the bill, main dealers seem to be the worst. That's why no main dealer will ever touch my vehicles.

ridger · Jun 30, 2021

melted welly said:
Transit in for a wiring fault repair as eng light on, then mot once fixed did all other work ourselves.

failed twice in succession for engine warning light.

they then suggested, 3rd attempt after an earful that they could “turn it off for the test”.

waste of fecking time.

Have never seen a transit with the engine light off, I assumed that it was telling you that the engine was still going

Lincsman · Jun 30, 2021

feilding said:
Having been driving for 42 yrs, I've never needed brake discs changing on a vehicle, so why is it done so often nowadays, brake pads seem to last me about 70,000 .
I think garages just upsell to increase the bill, main dealers seem to be the worst. That's why no main dealer will ever touch my vehicles.

Since pads have been used on the rear, and are often smaller in area than the front, 30K life seems to be normal, and always less than the front I have found.

Discs are a matter of opinion of how much marking is deemed too much.

hally · Jun 30, 2021

Our disco 5 went into main dealer today for a 4 year old service and mot. It has a service plan so that wasn’t to pay for so a cost of £50 for mot and it passed no problems. However they said the front pads and discs were 90% worn and would swap them for a mere £750, my wife said it’s too expensive and we would do it locally and then the price dropped to £600…..but still aim to get them done locally.

milkloss · Jun 30, 2021

They’re called stealers for good reason. I would never go to a main dealer unless absolutely necessary such as your seat belt replacement. Any warranty work I would also try and use an independent if possible.

try Skinners, always looked after the Mrs car well and at a good price.

tepapa · Jun 30, 2021

Wife took our nissan quashqai for a recall at main dealers and had a free health check of the car whilst there.
Needed new brake pads,disks and 3 tyres. Over £1000 quoted, they could do the work if she wanted to book it in. Was due MOT following week so took it to our local mechanic with the list of problems. Nothing to worry about and passed MOT, brake pads worn put still plenty of life, tyres all ok in fact they're still on the car 6 months later and still not at the wear indicators.

Midnight plough boy · Jun 30, 2021

Wife’s BMW X5 wouldn’t lock all doors when button on key fob, or internal lock button was pressed. BMW dealer quoted £3k for a new wiring loom. Local garage rejoined a chafed wire for £50. They’re called main stealers because people would get offended if you called them what they should be called.

glasshouse · Jun 30, 2021

I yr old hilux with 25,000 miles went in for service
Got the phonecall about 3pm needing brake discs etc
I said no thanks

Lincsman · Jul 1, 2021

hally said:
Our disco 5 went into main dealer today for a 4 year old service and mot. It has a service plan so that wasn’t to pay for so a cost of £50 for mot and it passed no problems. However they said the front pads and discs were 90% worn and would swap them for a mere £750, my wife said it’s too expensive and we would do it locally and then the price dropped to £600…..but still aim to get them done locally.

What is the service plan?

hally · Jul 1, 2021

Lincsman said:
What is the service plan?

5 years apparently. We bought it at two year old and was told there was another service included in the price but local dealer informed us this year ( fourth service) it was paid for and next year also…….result

bobk · Jul 1, 2021

Full service history is worth a lot . 30,000 for a set of pads is about it the way people drive nowadays

Netherfield · Jul 1, 2021

Daughters IX35 just been in for service and MOT, ring her up tyres are getting worn, she rings me 'what do I do' so I rang an dtold them the fronts were on 5mm and the backs on 6mm, so why do want to sell new tyres, 'they might not last until the next service and test' was the answer.

Why can't they at least set up a system to text or email in say 3 monthly intervals to remind you check your tyres.

Exfarmer · Jul 1, 2021

feilding said:
Having been driving for 42 yrs, I've never needed brake discs changing on a vehicle, so why is it done so often nowadays, brake pads seem to last me about 70,000 .
I think garages just upsell to increase the bill, main dealers seem to be the worst. That's why no main dealer will ever touch my vehicles.

You and me were taught to use the engine and gearbox to break. So we slow up before a junction. Today they are taught to go full tilt into junction and use brakes to slow down.
I was amused to see friends new serious electric car has brembo brakes. Did not like to ask why, since surely the braking will come from the motor in reverse charge.

Frank-the-Wool · Jul 1, 2021

I took the car to my faithful old garage that have always specialised in Volvo's this morning. They use Volvo parts unless you want a really cheap job.
They changed the pads and redid the MOT. all for less than £200.00 (Main dealer almost £350!!). They told me there was nothing wrong with the discs at all and this is a common trick to get uninformed people to pay significantly more money. My concern is that the MOT tester actually put this on the test certificate as an advisory to be changed, which is why I have a concern over the in house MOT tests!!

I always have a principle with garages that service vehicles that if the wearing parts won't last until the next service then replace them. It is normally always cheaper to have this done during a service especially if the wheels have to be taken off. The service interval on this car is over 12k miles and it had only done less than 5k when the pads were worn out, they must have been very low at the previous service.

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