MOT fail & advisories

[atherm3]

Afternoon all,

 

My VRS SE has just failed it's MOT, I have a list of the work and the cost and would really like to know if the figures are in the right area, I'm not distrusting of the garage, I just like to know my options (I expect not many as I have neither the skill, tools or time to do it myself  )

 

MOT Fail

 

Off side front coil spring snapped £138

near side rear brake calliper has excessive travel £210 (because it's the red one)

 

Advisories

 

Oil leak from rocker cover gasket £129

Gear box oil leak from end cap £89.88

Rear bump stops perished £90

EGR pipe leaking £138

 

The garage is a specialist VAG garage with plenty of great reviews, which is the reason I took the car there.

 

Cheers.

Edited 1 June, 2016 by atherm3

[KenONeill]

Fail points - You need to replace both front springs, and this takes about an hour due to the need to remove the struts from the car and dismantle to get the old springs out.

 

Caliper - Can't comment for certain, but "red" makes me think of a Brembo caliper rather than one of the standard VAG ones which are either raw castings or painted green.

 

Advisories - I can't see why a rocker cover gasket should cost £130 to fix! The last leak I had there took 3 minutes to fix by doing up a loose bolt.

Beyond that no idea on costs.

[atherm3]

 

Caliper - Can't comment for certain, but "red" makes me think of a Brembo caliper rather than one of the standard VAG ones which are either raw castings or painted green.

 

 

Thanks, 

 

The callipers on the Special Edition (or Limited Edition I never know which one) are all red, so I imagine they are like rocking horse poo in terms of sourcing. 

[mogwye]

Take it to a local non VAG garage, they sure are quoting you sky high prices - It's always a bad policy to get your car MOT'd at a garage that then quotes you for repairs.

 

DB.

[softscoop]

The rear calipers are exactly the same as the standard Fabia grey calipers, the only difference is the colour. 

 

A tin of red caliper paint is £5 which can easily be applied so they match.

[Stewpotz]

Rear bump stops perished £90

£sub £20 for the parts, arch liner off torx 20 screws x10 (max) 2 bolts holding top of strut to car then remove top mount with 16mm offset spanner and mole grips, remove mount and old bump stop then reverse for fitting.

[sepulchrave]

In your situation I would replace the entire suspension with new springs and shocks rather than replace the front springs alone and I would have the rear caliper replaced with a vanilla silver one.

 

Forget the advisories for now, you can get them done in due course.

[atherm3]

In your situation I would replace the entire suspension with new springs and shocks rather than replace the front springs alone and I would have the rear caliper replaced with a vanilla silver one.

 

Forget the advisories for now, you can get them done in due course.

 

Good advice, I'll probably look to source what I can, I have 2 weeks test left before it's off the road, I could probably get help or find a garage and save myself quite a sum.

[rum4mo]

I've just discovered that my local SEAT dealer's workshop charge £154 an hour, gulp!

[sepulchrave]

Good advice, I'll probably look to source what I can, I have 2 weeks test left before it's off the road, I could probably get help or find a garage and save myself quite a sum.

 

Buy a performance suspension kit, you won't regret it, I have the Bilstein B12 pro kit, paid £525 for it delivered. Fitted it myself but it's quite a quick and easy job to do so labour shouldn't cost too much.

[atherm3]

Buy a performance suspension kit, you won't regret it, I have the Bilstein B12 pro kit, paid £525 for it delivered. Fitted it myself but it's quite a quick and easy job to do so labour shouldn't cost too much.

 

Honestly nothing would please me more than a nice set of AP coilovers, but I also have a holiday to Spain this month and a 4 year old daughter with childcare bills, the timing is rather awful 

[atherm3]

I've just discovered that my local SEAT dealer's workshop charge £154 an hour, gulp!

 

Holy moly!

[sepulchrave]

Honestly nothing would please me more than a nice set of AP coilovers, but I also have a holiday to Spain this month and a 4 year old daughter with childcare bills, the timing is rather awful 

 

It's what your credit card's for, also don't book holidays at MOT time 

[VWD]

Post #1- you've got two genuine fails. But after that WTF do minor oil leaks have to do on an MOT. To me that's more like trying to frighten the motorist into getting work done at an exorbitant price. it's high time bona fide testers started to complain to DOT over thgis practice. Would be easy for MOT blokes to spot- after all ,all they have to do is do an audit of advisories and then concentrate on the places trying it on.

[atherm3]

Post #1- you've got two genuine fails. But after that WTF do minor oil leaks have to do on an MOT. To me that's more like trying to frighten the motorist into getting work done at an exorbitant price. it's high time bona fide testers started to complain to DOT over thgis practice. Would be easy for MOT blokes to spot- after all ,all they have to do is do an audit of advisories and then concentrate on the places trying it on.

I asked them to check the issue that turned out to be the EGR pipe, I thought it was the manifold gasket, the car also had a service while it was in so I suspect they were doing it thoroughly. The oil leaks don't fuss me but I know if I keep this car in good nick it will do me for as long as I need. Only 84k on the clock which isn't bad for 07.

I would definitely prefer things to be done much cheaper if I can, just wanted to be sure I wasn't being excessively charged.

[Dazza95]

I can only comment on the gearbox end seal, if it's the same one which was leaking on mine, I was charged £45 for a genuine new seal, labour to fit and top up the small amount of oil lost due to the slight leak. This was at a VAG specialist in Nottingham.

[StevesTruck]

They're taking the **** with the prices. Back in the day, people who worked with vws were friendly, laid back and helpful, now it's all about the scene tax.

All of your advisories are diyable with basic tools.

A refurbished caliper will be well under £100, one hour for any garage to put it on.

If you're going with standard springs, again, any garage can do it. Can't see them being much over an hour each. Get your tracking done afterwards.

[atherm3]

I'm thinking EGR delete as an alternative to replacing the pipe? would anyone recommend this?

[Picko98]

Don't do it!!!

Coil springs I would say are a fair price if parts and labour are included (for both sides)

replacement rear caliper £55 just needs painting red

Rocker cover gasket should be no more than 20

Bump stops as stated above should be no more than 20

the egr and rear g/box is can't comment on as not seen but is probably a minor issue

That's an 800 quid bill for stuff you could do yourself fairly simply for around 250 quid providing egr and gearbox problems are simple

[Breezy_Pete]

Doubt that price is for both front springs.

What does it even mean for a brake caliper to have 'excessive travel'? Could understand if it said brake pedal, or handbrake lever. Was that exactly what it said on the fail printout?

[FromTheDarkness]

Afternoon all,

 

My VRS SE has just failed it's MOT, I have a list of the work and the cost and would really like to know if the figures are in the right area, I'm not distrusting of the garage, I just like to know my options (I expect not many as I have neither the skill, tools or time to do it myself  )

 

MOT Fail

 

Off side front coil spring snapped £138

near side rear brake calliper has excessive travel £210 (because it's the red one)

 

Advisories

 

Oil leak from rocker cover gasket £129

Gear box oil leak from end cap £89.88

Rear bump stops perished £90

EGR pipe leaking £138

The garage is a specialist VAG garage with plenty of great reviews, which is the reason I took the car there.

 

Cheers.

If i where you and have issue with the prices, then be prepared to have a go yourself, there are guides here/ google/ youtube. Cost of tools that can last a lifetime and used multiple times, are a investment not a one off cost. Tools + parts you will save a fortune.

 

Springs  - I would get some H&R and lower it 30mm, and bump stops then take them to be fitted. parts and labour £200

Everything else here is diy simple fixes, you may also upgrade and still save a lot of money.

 

 - rear callipers  - get bigger ones ie octavia mk1  - you can get for under £100, some fluid and a easy bleed, lets say £150

 - rocker gasket + bolts + oil +filter under £80

 - Egr delete £60

 - gearbox cover, could try the shim mod and a new plastic cover. I would take the opportunity to drain and add fresh gearbox fluid. plug socket + fluid + shimm lets say £70 

 

 

 quote = £794.88

 diy = £560

Edited 3 June, 2016 by FromTheDarkness