Conference terri::cars_uk

    
     I have found MOTEST, near Wickes, the most honest. You can watch the
    test as well. If its bad it'll fail, but they dont fail sound cars,
    (which has happened to me in the past elsewhere).
    
    Lucas autocentre Basingstoke road was also reasonable.
    
    	Tony.

>    Lucas autocentre Basingstoke road was also reasonable.
    
Lucas autocentre failed my car because one of the headlights was too
high.  When I pointed out that they had passed it last year, and the
headlights hadn't been moved, they said new legislation had come in
a few months ago.  (True)

Since they do a free re-test, I took the car away to get it fixed.
In retrospect, it would have been much less hassle for them to fix
it on the spot (and charge me slightly more than I ended up paying),
but I wasn't sure whether the headlight really was too high.

I got it fixed at another garage, who do MOTs, and the person who
fixed it said he wouldn't have failed it...  

I didn't take it any further though.

Carol.

    Yes, arent MOT centres frustrating ? I also fell in the headlamp hole 1
    year. "LH headlamp out of alignment" was the failure. I adjusted it (5
    secs), resubmitted the car &..."RH headlamp out of adjustment".
    
    Ball-joints are another intangible failure reason (excuse ?), along
    with suspension bushes, brake disks, steering clamp bolt etc. I have
    wasted much time & money replacing serviceable parts & making senseless
    adjustments. 
     But referring to .0, he specifically mentioned OLD cars, not
    necessarily buck-earners. I took an ancient Avenger to Lucas & they
    quite rightly failed it on those items which needed attention, & made
    no comment on the items which in my opinion were sound.
    
    You didnt say if you agreed with Lucas' findings ?
    
    	Tony.

Sorry to post such a mundane question, but...

I am in Bruxelles and need to MOT my vehicle when I next come to
the UK at the end of this month.  Can someone pls give me the tel.
no. + address of a decent garage around the Richmond, Surrey area.

Thanks,

Roger

    Could anyone advise me a good place to get an M.O.T. in Reading. I am
    not sure what I would define as good. I don't want to drive a dangerous
    car but I also do not I want to have to repair unnecesary niggly bits.
    
    Other criteria could be free retests or cheap M.O.T.'s. I drive an '72
    VW Bus so I don't expect to pass straight through, and I have until
    next week.
    
    Derek. 

    
    I don't know about in Reading, but in Bracknell there is AllServ.
    MOT's are �15.00 and they give a free retest within 2 weeks, I have
    taken a couple of cars there and found them helpful.  There number is
    0344 303300, they are only � mile from the A329M.
    
    Wayne.

    Can someone please recommend an M.O.T. centre somewhere in South
    Reading, Winnersh or Wokingham?  Preferably, the place needs to offer
    free re-tests, and I'd rather they weren't over strict.  I've got a low
    milage VW Golf, and it is perfectly sound...I don't want it failing on
    a pathetic insignificant point like the washer fluid cap being cracked!
    
    Help appreciated.  It needs to be done by Saturday, so a quick response
    would be appreciated.
    
    Thanks, m. 

    Theres a place on Nashgrove Lane (SW of Wokingham) called J&M Motors
    (tel 01734 776307).  They certainly are not strict and allow free
    re-tests.  Also, they are pretty cheap as regards repairs go.
    
    Nev.

Many thanks.