Lucky, or what?

rmunns · Unread post by **rmunns** » 03 Jul 2011, 18:50

Got the Xantia through the MoT, but what a fluke!

For over a month I could not get one rear door open, despite almost a full day, on-and-off, trying everything.

Then, three hours before the MoT appointment, I got it open again, albeit without central locking. Tried it three or four times, opened and shut ok.

Passed MoT yesterday.

Today the door is jammed again.

But I've got 2 years' MoT!

I'll have to get a new lock. Now I've worked out how to do it, it shouldn't be difficult.

R9UKE · Unread post by **R9UKE** » 03 Jul 2011, 19:26

Nothing like classic french car character!

My Laguna went in to limp home mode on the way back from the MOT centre after passing

naffa · Unread post by **naffa** » 03 Jul 2011, 20:08

2 years mot?

Hows that work then?

Nath

Unread post by **citroenxm** » 03 Jul 2011, 20:11

He's in france!!

2 Yearly MOTs over there!!

Paul

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 03 Jul 2011, 20:37

There's talk of them coming here as well. We're one of the only EU countries to have annual ones... We apparently need to 'harmonise' with our EU friends

A terribly bad idea methinks...

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 03 Jul 2011, 20:53

My pocket thinks its a good one

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 03 Jul 2011, 21:05

Peter.N. wrote:My pocket thinks its a good one

So do my pre-MOT stress levels Peter

I'm like an expectant father at MOT time. It takes weeks for my fingernails to recover..

No, what I was getting at was safety issues. A car can deteriorate terribly in a year and go from being an MOT pass to a positive death-trap in that time, especially if the owner is not exactly enthusiastic about regular maintenance.

Just imagine how a car can deteriorate in two years, especially with the way the councils throw salt around like it's confetti these days.

Two year MOTs are great for us but not for the public at large.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 03 Jul 2011, 21:16

Mine seem to deteriorate more doing nothing Jim. My white one just failed and its only done about 2000 miles since last year. O/S drop link, both strut return pipes leaking, a rear tyre and horror of Horrors - some rust. Only a little patch on the rear subframe where I missed the oil!

Never had this trouble when I was doing 20k+ a year.

Peter

rmunns · Unread post by **rmunns** » 03 Jul 2011, 21:29

Cost over heare = €68, which today is about £62.

And it's no good shopping around, MoT stations do nothing else.

HDI · Unread post by **HDI** » 04 Jul 2011, 09:56

Bi annual MOT's cannot come soon enough for me !! I hate the annual ritual !
I think a bi annual test reflects the durability of modern cars.

rabenson · Unread post by **rabenson** » 04 Jul 2011, 11:19

One thing to consider is that the guidelines that the testers work to would probably be tightened if we went to a 2 year MOT - ie a suspension bush that would likely last for 18 months would become a fail maybe....

Jaf · Unread post by **Jaf** » 14 Jul 2011, 15:17

In Spain the first MOT is at 3 years old and then every 2 years until the car's 10 years old and then it's every year. Unless it's one of those car/van things (berlingo etc), they have an MOT every 6 months! MOT place is government run so you never get the feeling the car's failed the MOT cos the garage wants the work. And the car is looked at through glass so they can't hit the underneath with a hammer! I think it would be a very bad idea to have them every 2 years. I reckon people are getting worse at looking after their cars as they seem to expect them to run for ever.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 14 Jul 2011, 17:38

rabenson wrote:One thing to consider is that the guidelines that the testers work to would probably be tightened if we went to a 2 year MOT - ie a suspension bush that would likely last for 18 months would become a fail maybe....

18 months for a suspension bush

I believe my XM's still have all original bushes and one has done nearly 300,000 miles - is that all they last on modern cars?

Peter

Xaccers · Unread post by **Xaccers** » 14 Jul 2011, 19:54

Peter.N. wrote:
rabenson wrote:One thing to consider is that the guidelines that the testers work to would probably be tightened if we went to a 2 year MOT - ie a suspension bush that would likely last for 18 months would become a fail maybe....
18 months for a suspension bush I believe my XM's still have all original bushes and one has done nearly 300,000 miles - is that all they last on modern cars?

Peter

I believe what rabenson meant was "last a further 18 months" ie could have be on the car for years but will need changing in 18 months time.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 14 Jul 2011, 21:54

Ah right