Mot place for lowered z

[Amz]

hello all,

My mot is due at the end of this month however I like to get it out the way early especially as its my first since ownership.

So I had one booked for today and when i got there, I was told the car wont make it up their ramp without it scrapping the bottom. The ramp leads onto the flat ramps.

I was then directed to another local branch but here I faced with a different problem. Before i could get the car onto the flat ramp, i couldnt make it past the rollers. Arghh

The car is equipped with ACS racing suspension fitted by the BMW dealership by a previous owner. It does make the car alot lower but not sure how to work it out.

So I have been ringing around garages but not having much luck.

Can anyone provide any suggestions or recommendations for mot garages in north london area for lowered cars?

Many thanks
Amz

 

[t-tony]

They should put the lids onto the rollers to allow your car onto the ramp bed. IF your car is too low to allow a brake test they should carry out a Decelerometer brake test. They have to test your car and cannot simply refuse.

Tony.

 

[Davyhoogy]

I use Kwik fit as they are the nearest to me with flat access. Mine is very low also

 

[g8jka]

They should put the kids onto the rollers to allow your car onto the ramp bed. IF your car is too low to allow a brake test they should carry out a Decelerometer brake test. They have to test your car and cannot simply refuse.

Tony.

This is interesting to know, I took mine to Halfords last year as I'd been there for the previous few. I take the lip off the front bumper and they have always been able to get it in the ramps. Last year they refused to test it, when I looked at the dash cam footage once I got home they hadn't even moved the car. Got a call after about 15 minutes just saying its too low to test and I got a MOT refusal certificate. I wish I had known at the time that the cannot refuse to test it. If they had tried to get it on the ramps I wouldn't have been as annoyed, but once I'd seen the dash cam and they hadn't even moved it I was livid. Waste of my time and it took over a week to get the test fee back.

 

[t-tony]

They're obliged to test a car as presented unless it would be dangerous to do so. I'll give you an example. They booked a 4x4 in at work when the snow was on the ground. I refused to test it due to the fact it required a Decelerometer brake test and due to the fact our yard at work was covered in ice you could not do so safely. My boss called the local DVSA enforcement officer and he said I should take it out on the public road and carry out the test where ever it was safe to do it.
@Antm72 had similar issues with his Z3 a couple of years ago because they cold not get the beam jack under the car past the front suspension. All it needed was to run the front wheels onto a couple of pieces of wood to lift the car a little. Dead easy, but they said they could not do that as the wood was not "official" M.O.T. testing equipment !! Unbelievable.

Tony.

 

[Antm72]

As said the garage i went to had a pit rather than a ramp and poiny blankly refised to run it up on some wood lol. He just aborted the test and de booked the car from the system.
They did tell me a garage i could use and it was tested in the afternoon but it was a bit bizarre !

 

[g8jka]

It's just laziness, if all testers were like you @t-tony then there wouldn't be a problem. If they make an effort then fair enough but to not even get in the car and move it was a complete joke. It's due again in a couple of weeks and I'm tempted to take it back there now and waste their time, but then if I did and they actually tested it I guarantee it would fail with a massive list of jobs they would then quote for.

 

[Amz]

Many thanks all for your responses. Useful knowledge gained so grateful for this community.

The test centres i had it booked in today didnt have the covers that go over the rollers, so annoying.

I have booked in with a local kwik fit centre near me for tomorrow where the manager stated it is possible to test lowered car.

I will report back and i hope they dont come back with a long list of things to make some cash.

Thanks again
Amz

 

[t-tony]

That test centre fed you a total load crap there as every set of rollers comes with covers as they should be covered when not in use (health and safety).

Tony.

 

[Amz]

Reporting back. I headed over to Kwik Fit having had confirmation that they can accomodate lowered cars. Upon arrival, i was told by the MOT chap to drive over the rollers. I got fustrated at this point and had to explain myself all over again. I said dont you have covers for the rollers, to which he goes we dont (seems laziness to me from all these branded test centers).

Then I said you can do a road brake test instead using the decelerometer, to which he replied, ohh thats not working either.

He then directs me to a local garage run by his friend. I speak to the owner of that garage and he confirms he can do the test. Luckily it was 5 minutes drive and he got me booked in for half an hour later.

So all went well in the end and he was very accomodating and understood the importance of such looked aftered cars and took extra care. We ended up doing the road brake test and the Z passed which was a relief.

Kept his number for next year

Thanks for all the advice, equipped me with the knowledge to deal with useless people lol.

Amz

 

[Ianmc]

How low are you @Amz? Guessing more than the "standard" 30mm drop?

 

[t-tony]

If their Decelerometer waa not working that is very naughty as it is the back up if the rollers should fail.

Tony.

 

[Amz]

How low are you @Amz? Guessing more than the "standard" 30mm drop?

Not sure to be honest,it could well be 30mm. The work was carried out by a BMW dealership and it does sit nicely with no contact/rubbing issues whatsoever.

Thanks

Amz

 

[Amz]

How low are you @Amz? Guessing more than the "standard" 30mm drop?

Not sure to be honest,it could well be 30mm. The work was carried out by a BMW dealership and it does sit nicely with no contact/rubbing issues whatsoever.

Thanks

Amz

 

[Amz]

How low are you @Amz? Guessing more than the "standard" 30mm drop?

Not sure to be honest,it could well be 30mm. The work was carried out by a BMW dealership and it does sit nicely with no contact/rubbing issues whatsoever.

Thanks

Amz