MOT fail on outer sills - is that even possible?

[NickUK]

@NickUK a bit of context for you as we're possibly starting to look like a lynch mob for the businesses involved here.

There's various pet subjects on here and MOT fails on sill covers are one of them. It's a fairly clued up bunch on here and we've also got a couple of current/ex MOT testers. So views are firm on this.

The technical advice you've been given is correct. But do your own thing with any follow-up action - no one is going to judge what you do or don't do there. It seems an obvious mistake to make to me. But then I'm always banging on about how ruthless the tester is at my garage. And for reasons that suit me I still go back there.

I have been part of car clubs for a long time and although I'm not a highly active member on here (but should be), I appreciate the good advice, always! I completely trust everything you lot are saying. I'd already read up on it and just wanted to reassure myself really before challenging a mechanic. My hesitation is more of what to do with the MOT tester aside from proving them wrong. It's just a bit complicated although I am p***** off I could still come away from this with a hole in my car to patch up instead of rust that was at least giving some protection to the bits behind it. I may just have to live with the fact that I need to repair those sill panels anyway so a hole isn't going to make much difference, especially if I just replace them.

I'm driving the car across to the tester in a few hours so he can "show me" that the sills are part of the structure. I will then show him he's wrong

 

[Andy 4D]

My car failed it’s MOT last year and the tester had punched a hole through the rusty front end of the sill. I knew I needed to replace them anyway but hadn’t got around to it. I asked why it had failed and he said it was the sharp edges around the hole which he had made but he said as long as there were no sharp edges he would pass it. I then got a roll of 2” duct tape and covered the offending hole and sharp edges and he passed it!! Sills are definitely not structural, it’s the jagged edges on any bodywork that will fail the MOT. Top tip: always carry duct tape!!

 

[NickUK]

The idea works with the Probe only if you repair and take it back to ATS, and the same tester does the re test. Even then it is not impossible to find different faults, even some which may arise from the repairs.
Even IF the sill covers have been seam welded all the way round (doubtful) that does not mean that they are now structural items.
It merely means that “bodywork” has been welded on instead of being bolted on. Please contact your local vehicle Examiners Office. Do not do any repairs till they inspect it or they will not be interested in your problem.

Tony.

ps. The back street guy you originally took the car to is responsible for his out sourcing of any work on your car. Be it MOT, A/C regal or whatever.

Cheers Tony. The logic in going to ATS was that particular car being a bit more of a gamble so I wanted to reduce my risk with the lower price. I'm happy I did that to be honest with the state of it underneath because there was no way I could sort that and everything else within 10 days. If anybody on here is maybe a semi-pro welder or even a competent amateur willing to take cash from me to sort it, I'm all ears. It's about a week's worth of work.

 

[t-tony]

My car failed it’s MOT last year and the tester had punched a hole through the rusty front end of the sill. I knew I needed to replace them anyway but hadn’t got around to it. I asked why it had failed and he said it was the sharp edges around the hole which he had made but he said as long as there were no sharp edges he would pass it. I then got a roll of 2” duct tape and covered the offending hole and sharp edges and he passed it!! Sills are definitely not structural, it’s the jagged edges on any bodywork that will fail the MOT. Top tip: always carry duct tape!!

Even the hole (which he made) should not have caused the car to fail. He failed failed it (wrongly) to cover his arse. A sharp edge on any sill should only be an advisory item because you would not get injured through contact with the sill unless you had been run over. Some sills are structural depending on the body type, Z3 sill covers are a rare exception which many testers don't (although they should) know about.

Tony.

 

[Woodsta888]

The fella who used that tester should be going about and getting your car passed - he shouldnt be telling you to do it. Does the bloke who sent it to that testing place agree with you that it shouldn't have failed?

If the tester doesn't amend your MOT. Report them to the VOSA lot as sounds like the tester needs a retest for his qualification. VOSA testing centres just do tests, they don't carry out anywork so aren't interested in job creation MOT's for them or their affiliated places (mates). Get it retested there and then go back and demand your money back from the other place and tell them you've reported them.

Hopefully your mechanic will then move his MOT business elsewhere if he's worth his salt. Either that or he was wanting the corrective MOT work. If he's not arguing your case with the testing place and letting you do it - stinks a bit to me. You shouldnt have to take your car anywhere, the guy you took it to should have rung up the place he uses and got them to send you a PASS without any bother to you.

Bazzards!

 

[NickUK]

Update - car has now passed! The MOT tester has admitted fault and apologised without me having to prove anything so I'm not going to report them or even name them on here. I'll let them off for the hole because quite frankly, the panel is in a bad state and needs replacing anyway.

Regarding my local mechanic... He's clearly been doing it for years and doesn't rip me off with work but actually, yes he agreed with the tester. As mentioned above though, even a pricey car restoration place told me the panels don't come off. I could have demanded he sort this out but quite frankly, it takes him forever to do things so it was easier to cut out the middle man.

 

[Stevo7682]

@NickUK good news iwas going to get my tuppence worth in this is one of my zeds

When looking at these you can clearly see the bolts holding the sill on all the way along the underneath.

I tested this zed a couple of days ago it is still in work for other failures but the offside front sill was pass and advise

Stephen.

 

[NickUK]

I should have come to you

I try my best to be reasonable with these people so I put this one down as one schoolboy error. He'll know in future.

I've not had a mechanic who is completely reliable and trustworthy since I moved house a few years back and I just heard recently that my old mechanic has opted for an early retirement anyway!

 

[Stevo7682]

I should have come to you

I try my best to be reasonable with these people so I put this one down as one schoolboy error. He'll know in future.

I've not had a mechanic who is completely reliable and trustworthy since I moved house a few years back and I just heard recently that my old mechanic has opted for an early retirement anyway!

Long trek from Cheshire to Scotland
Stephen

 

[Pingu]

Long trek from Cheshire to Scotland
Stephen

Perhaps you could have an ScMOTland Tour.

The downside is that a "Major" means the car is off-the-road until fixed (btw, the database doesn't update until the old one expires)