29 replies to this topic

[tris]

After purchasing my wifes mini and having an interesting drive back from wales to scotland. (the radiater kept overheating)

I book the mini into a mechanic to get it looked at. Luckily enough the mechanic is a friend so checked it over for free.

As I thought, the head gasket is buggered, not so bad, I can handle that, the mini was a good price.

Then he went into more detail.

Considering I bought the mini with a full 12 months worth of MOT (just completed a week or two before I bought it) I was surprised to learn that the rear sub frame was corroded. (essentially causing anything between £800-£1200 total repair cost)

Was was more annoying was that the mini had yellow chalk indicating where the corrosion was.

Basically it looks like the car was failed at one MOT centre and then passed at another.

The gasket I could have lived with, but this is taking the p!$$!!!

I was told by the mechanic to give the garage that did the MOT a courtesy call to find out why this happened, but I'm tempted to go straight to VOSA or DVLA to report them.

What do you peeps think?


*sits back and stews*

[1987_ParkLane]

How does a rear subframe cost £800-£1200 to repair, you can get a new one for like £250.

On the other hand it is bad that it has been passed in that state and something should be said to the garage, previous owner, etc.

[Ethel]

Did you buy it from the garage?

I'd contact the seller first, it's leverage to get it sorted. If you've already reported them they have nothing to gain and every reason to try 'n wriggle off the hook.

Might just have been an advisory, rightly or wrongly. You could get it fixed for much less than that.

[tris]

How does a rear subframe cost £800-£1200 to repair, you can get a new one for like £250.

On the other hand it is bad that it has been passed in that state and something should be said to the garage, previous owner, etc.

Because apparently that wasn't the only problem. Plus I'd have to pay for labour (as I'm not a grease monkey...... yet)

[Pooky]

Agreed, you could find a second hand one in decent nick for £100 and spend a weekend changing it yourself

[tris]

Did you buy it from the garage?

I'd contact the seller first, it's leverage to get it sorted. If you've already reported them they have nothing to gain and every reason to try 'n wriggle off the hook.

Might just have been an advisory, rightly or wrongly. You could get it fixed for much less than that.

The MOT had no advisories on it > )

[somecrapname]

Agreed, you could find a second hand one in decent nick for £100 and spend a weekend changing it yourself

i just got a second hand one in good condition for £60, radius arm repair set at £30 for the pair, drum overhaul for <£20, cones aren't too expensive either if you stick with standard stuff! and the work isn't that hard to do, 2 or 3 spanner rating in haynes?

on the other hand.... why didn't you check the subby to see what condition it was in? poke it with a screwdriver and you'll soon find any rust!

[DaveRob]

and the work isn't that hard to do, 2 or 3 spanner rating in haynes?

That is untill the subframe mount bolts shear....... which is THE most common scenario...... if they come out easy... 2-3 spanners...... if one shears.... well... bit of ingenuity required.

Rob.

[THE ANORAK]

and the moral of this story is... NEVER buy a mini without LOOKING at all the usual rust spots.

don't trust the MOT, look for yourself

[mattwho?]

do a mot chek and see what it faild on first time

[mattwho?]

http://www.motinfo.g...ECHIDDispatcher

[JoneseyBoy]

i would personaly call the mot station and bribe them to put it right or you will get there licence taken of of them either way you dont lose out just get sum satisfaction either way but one way youll have to pay a bit

[robtheplod]

After my experience I would say that an MOT means absolutely nothing. My mini had an MOT a week prior to me buying it and was SORN a month later due to the dangerous problems.....

[Burnard]

and the moral of this story is... NEVER buy a mini without LOOKING at all the usual rust spots.

don't trust the MOT, look for yourself

AHMEN to that!


I cant belive mine had an mot with so many holes in the sills.


If you use plenty of penatrating oil (3 in 1 penatrating oil works VERY well) the bolts should come out reasonably easy. Its worked very well so far for me.


Chris

[rick.spi]

i wouldnt alert the dvla/ vosa as thats a bit petty, but i would ring the past owner and garage and see what the score is, if worst comes to worst you could bribe them but... reporting is a bit far, thats only my view

best of luck and hope you get the car sorted