It's a very 'boring car' garage I took it to, corsa's, focus's etc. I imagine they haven't ever had a green blooded monster in. I've only used them once, the Meriva had it's test in October, flew straight through. The guy didn't even look at his screen when I gave him the keys, just went out and got on with it. There was another guy there though (who I think knew nothing either) as when I casually mentioned that the handbrake does the fronts he piped up 'french isn't it! I chuckled...
)
I lost my 'friendly' MOT tester, a mate used to do tests at a garage he used to work at but stayed on the system so did them in his lunch break for cash. Still failed if needed, although was a tad more lenient (the first time I took the XM to him it had 2 different sized tyres on the front, he ignored it on the proviso that I got it sorted, I went straight to the part worn place and rectified the issue) but he moved to Switzerland before the summer, so I had to find somewhere new. But the best thing about my friend doing it was I could be with him, chatting and under the car, I used to love it as I could give the whole thing a good inspection when under the ramp (I cabletied the LHM pipe tray back together on the XM whilst he tested the suspension etc). I know the Meriva is spotless underneath, not had the luxury of giving the xant a good inspection bar laying on the floor with it up on ramps at the front.
Hopefully when it goes back it will be fine. Although how many handbrake clicks should there be? Is there a minimum? I get 2 clicks with no issie, but 3 and 4 are proper tight. Should I slack off the adjusters a few threads? At least it wont fail on 'Excess Travel'
In better news, my dad took pity on me and bought my christmas present forward and I now have a new downpipe (non cat), backbox and exhaust rubbers in the post! I did have a fitting kit in the basket too but had a last minute panic about the downpipe, as the ebay listing was one of those line drawing pictures, and listed for both D and TD, which has very different fittings, so I changed it for a £9 more pipe but specifically for TD which put me over my budget. Hopefully the existing bolts that secure it to the turbo flange will be fine, even if their good enough for now, I'll change them at another time.
At least it should be easier to fit, it's a right tight buggar to get to on a ZX, because the transmission tunnel is so narrow, I ended up bear hugging the subframe to get one arm up top to hold the top of the bolts. Looks alot wider to get to on the Xant, we shall find out at the weekend!
One issue yesterday though, I turned the fuel down too much is seemed, I popped to the tip and halfway there got faltering revs, and little puffs of white cloud from the exhaust. So into a layby, tools out (of course I left them in the boot!) and turned it up 1/4 a turn. All fixed, and it was fine this morning on the way to work. I was going to buy some magic snake oil but can't afford it now so hopefully a good rag about when traffic lets me will help (I hate ragging cars though)
Hope the Xant' is easier by an order of magnitude or five.