V70: Another year, another MOT

[malc-c]

Originally Posted by malc-c

That's great news... Mine is due 2nd Jan, so might wait and have it tested between Christmas and New Year like I did last year....Fingers crossed it's another pass with a couple of minor advisories... Mind you I've probably done less than 3000 mile this year !!!

Well I've just gotten back home after taking the car for the MOT. - It was busy, with a queue as they were only open for half day due to Christmas / New Year.

23 years old, 168,050 on the clock and she passed....

Couple advisories. All four coil springs now showing signs of corrosion, nearside / offside shock absorber bushes showing signs of perishing, a small chip on the screen which has been there for years (and I keep meaning to get filled) and imbalance on the brakes that was just inside the differential percentage.

It's quite funny the looks you get from other people who have younger cars that are only on their second or third MOT and their modern Audi or BMW fails, yet my 23 year old Volvo passes....

Car is due a service in February, so I'll get the advisories looked at then, but I'm still chuffed to bits that my trusty V70 is still going strong

[Moomoo]

Originally Posted by malc-c

Well I've just gotten back home after taking the car for the MOT. - It was busy, with a queue as they were only open for half day due to Christmas / New Year.

23 years old, 168,050 on the clock and she passed....

Couple advisories. All four coil springs now showing signs of corrosion, nearside / offside shock absorber bushes showing signs of perishing, a small chip on the screen which has been there for years (and I keep meaning to get filled) and imbalance on the brakes that was just inside the differential percentage.

It's quite funny the looks you get from other people who have younger cars that are only on their second or third MOT and their modern Audi or BMW fails, yet my 23 year old Volvo passes....

Car is due a service in February, so I'll get the advisories looked at then, but I'm still chuffed to bits that my trusty V70 is still going strong

It’s always nice! Like an oil and filter change! Gives you a glow!

[DaveNP]

This what I need, some positive vibes. I got the email reminder this morning that mine is due within the next month. I've replaced the rear bumper brackets which would/should have been a fail and I've just got to do the rivets between the wheel arch liners and the bumper ends to finish that, so here's hoping

[volvo2]

Thankfully I've just gone through the MOT once again in my 1994 850, 10v, non-turbo, petrol. I'm now on 213k and thankfully, it would appear, still going strong.

[malc-c]

Originally Posted by volvo2

Thankfully I've just gone through the MOT once again in my 1994 850, 10v, non-turbo, petrol. I'm now on 213k and thankfully, it would appear, still going strong.

Excellent. Mine is due 2nd Jan, but I normally get it done last week December. Going to be a tad upsetting as circumstances means this will be the last time I use the same MOT test centre as I'll be moving away from the area next summer. I've been using the same test centre for decades. As I've mentioned before they are just a test centre so have no motive to generate sales off the back of an MOT.

I'm hoping she'll pass OK. I'm lucky to do more than 5 mile a week nipping to ASDA to do the weekly shop at present, so the mileage won't be that much higher than last year. I've had the brakes serviced (callipers cleaned and lubricated, and a complete flush and refill of fluids) so hopefully that will resolve last years imbalance.

I must admit I love my V70. Best car I've ever owned.

[volvo2]

Five miles a week sounds idyllic. I have a 120 mile a day commute, which I share between my 850 and V70. Traffic on the M5 can be a nightmare, so I'm working from home quite a bit these days to stay sane - before I retire in a year or two. I've owned and maintained both cars from nearly new (and a 1981 244 before that), so I know all there is about these two motors. They have certainly served me well and it'll be a sad day for me when I have to let either go.

[4x4]

Took my XC90 for an MOT this morning and was back home by 9:05 with a pass certificate

[amazondean]

Took my 1999 V70 xc on Wednesday and sailed through once more. Back in the garage until the warmer weather 😎

[malc-c]

I knew I should have stayed in bed today....

Last year I just managed to get in on the back of the queue at the testing station I've used for decades as they only open 8.00 - 12.30 between Christmas and New Year. So this year as I was up really early I though I would get there nice and early. We currently can't leave the dog for too long so he came with me and we set off around 6.30am to allow for traffic as it's a good 30mile trip through rural roads.

As I drove through one village high street the front O/S wheel hit something hard like an open drain cover or deep pot hole. Anyway steering felt fine so I continued as I was over half way to the centre.

I parked up and waited for around 20 minutes for the centre staff to arrive and open up. As I drove in I could hear something rubbing. Anyway I went ahead with the test and told the examiner what happened so was expecting a fail. Sure enough it failed on damage to the O/S front strut. Seems the struts (probably original) were corroded enough that the impact had forced the spring to push the lower cup plate down against the tyre. If I hadn't have hit that cover / hole she would have sailed through her MOT with just a couple of advisories....

I managed to limp the car back home without the rubbing of the spring against the tyre causing it to blow, but the trip home didn't do anything to help my anxieties !

So now I'm phoning around to get quotes to have the front struts replaced in a time frame that allows me to get the retest free.

[stevepcar]

Originally Posted by malc-c

I knew I should have stayed in bed today....

Last year I just managed to get in on the back of the queue at the testing station I've used for decades as they only open 8.00 - 12.30 between Christmas and New Year. So this year as I was up really early I though I would get there nice and early. We currently can't leave the dog for too long so he came with me and we set off around 6.30am to allow for traffic as it's a good 30mile trip through rural roads.

As I drove through one village high street the front O/S wheel hit something hard like an open drain cover or deep pot hole. Anyway steering felt fine so I continued as I was over half way to the centre.

I parked up and waited for around 20 minutes for the centre staff to arrive and open up. As I drove in I could hear something rubbing. Anyway I went ahead with the test and told the examiner what happened so was expecting a fail. Sure enough it failed on damage to the O/S front strut. Seems the struts (probably original) were corroded enough that the impact had forced the spring to push the lower cup plate down against the tyre. If I hadn't have hit that cover / hole she would have sailed through her MOT with just a couple of advisories....

I managed to limp the car back home without the rubbing of the spring against the tyre causing it to blow, but the trip home didn't do anything to help my anxieties !

So now I'm phoning around to get quotes to have the front struts replaced in a time frame that allows me to get the retest free.

Had the same thing happen on a 240 several years ago. I had just driven from Bristol to Exeter on the M5 and it happened about a mile off the motorway. It was so jammed on to the front tyre that I couldn't move at more than 2-3 mph just to get it out of the road. Pretty scarey!!!! Good luck with it.