So I've just bought a 2nd hand car from a local garage. Just before I took delivery of the car, they put it in for a full valet and more importantly, an MOT. So I get the car, and look at the MOT certificate, and it's got an advisory that the front brake pads are worn thin.
Now is it just me, or does that seem a bit off? To be selling me the car with an advisory already on it?? Not like its a big or that expensive job to do! What do you think?
Meh. It's just that: advisory. The car still works and can be used on the road legally so it's not as if you've been sold a dud.
EDIT: Of course, my attitude to "advisory" is "Thank f*ck that passed!" so what I'd be happy with isn't necessarily the same as what you'd be...
You sure they haven't changed them? I'd expect them too as it'll cost them hardly anything..
The MOT is a certificate of roadworthiness and if the current pads are roadworthy then there is no problem, other than it might have been nice of them to change them for you.
How much did you pay for the car?
and it's got an advisory that the front brake pads are worn thin
Those words are key. Look through the alloys and at the pads- can you estimate roughly how much (in mm) is on the pads? Should be relatively easy to do. If you cant see them properly- jack up a wheel and pop it off with your steering wheel turned outwards/facing out.
That says to me the advisory meant- its passed but it needs changing.
[i]Not like its a big or that expensive job to do![/i]
First of all how do you know they haven't already changed them? And as you say its not a big or expensive then its no big deal. Was the car cheap/expensive?
The mistake you have made is starting a thread about cars and not mentioning snow.
Well I just thought that if they wouldnt mind keeping a good reputation, then perhaps they'd get them done? I also received the car with virtually no diesel in it, and no mats! :-O Ok with the mats, but no fuel? Hmm.
The car was 4k.
If you paid decent money for the car (over about £3k) then they should have at least 6 months life left (say 6k miles if you do lots more than that it's a bit different). This is the general period that you have with used cars in case of a failure that can be pushed back toward the dealer as a present fault at time of purchase.
Wear and tear items are a bit different but I'd still expect it done if you paid decent money. The only slight caveat would be that MOT testers sometimes list faults on vehicles as they are monitored on warnings issued, fail rate etc and if they don't issue enough can get investigated. If you have a tame garage pop down and get em to take a look, they might well be fine.
here's an idea - call the garage on a telephone and ask them if they changed the pads and if not, will they do so FOC?
Here's an idea t®ibal©hief - how about I just ask some peoples advice before I go and call them? To see if I have a leg to stand on, like.
So what value car IS it????
jammy_p, your mistake is asking this lot on here. They aren't regular people with regular opinions. They are the STW massive. 😀
Mastiles, see above, 4k.
Ahh yes missed that.
the_sea, I know, there's always some miserable **** on here!
TBH the tester is doing his job, alerting whoever to the fact that they don't believe that the car will get though (average mileage) to the next MOT.
My wifes car struggles to cover 12k on the front pads, and if you don't replace the pads it screws the discs...
I would guess its got no fuel because you didn't negociate any in your deal, nor 'demand' any work done if logged in the MOT?
You didn't bargain to have the car serviced before you bought it? That's always a good move.
TBH you will tell everyone what the garage is like and they probably aren't great since if they were they would be looking for long term goodwill to sort this sort of stuff.
TBH the tester is doing his job, alerting whoever to the fact that they don't believe that the car will get though (average mileage) to the next MOT.
I thought that was the case too, but the quote from the direct gov suggests otherwise:
You’ll also be given an Advisory Notice for any recommended repairs for the vehicle at the time of the test.
[url= http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_4022108 ]clicky[/url]
the_sea, I know, there's always some miserable * on here!
you ask what we think cos you don't know what to do. we say. you get all pissy. who's the being miserable *?
a leg to stand on?
probably not, but a set of brake pads is £25 usualy, not a big deal, and if you have a jack and half a brain cell you can change them yourself.
- jack up (correctly, check the manaual for jacking points)
- install axle stands/bricks etc, and remove jack
- remove wheel
- remove retaining pins and any springs etc and pads
- clean off the pistons with a DOT/mineral oil compatible cleaner and a cotton bud.
- push them back in with a set of plumbers grips (proper tools are available, but these work just as well IME)
- rebuild in the reverse of dissasembly
Just check the master cylinder resevoir, its quite common for garrages to top them up, best keep an eye on the level as you push the pistons back in.
HANDBAGS AHOY !
My pad change is due soon and also means new discs - it's going to be far from cheap, are you sure it won't need new discs to?
not nessecarily some cars require plugging into a diagnostics computer (some later VW cars spring to mind) before you can change the pads, since the computer is required to release the pistons. Some, like my citroen, need the pistons screwed in using a special tool.
I'd have a quick check on the web first.
oooh cabin fever already!
no no no t®ibal©hief, I'm very happy thankyou. It's just replies like yours which give out that impression. Not to worry though, move along.
thisisnotaspoon - Yeah I recently changed the discs and pads on my last car (before it died), I appreciate it's not expensive at all, but it just seemed to me like the garage should have sorted this for me?
My pad change is due soon and also means new discs
It shouldn't mean new disks unless you have run the pads down too far and you have scored the disk surfaces.
Back to the OP - I think that the amount of service you get depends on the garage, the value of the car and the deal negotiated. Find out how many miles they estimate to be on the pads and if it is unreasonably short (say <1k) then ask them if they wouldn't mind changing them for you. If it turns out that they have assumed an average mileage of 12k and they think there is 10k on the pads (ie, plenty left but not enough to get you to the next MOT) then I think they have been pretty fair.
mastiles, now thats a very useful answer, thanks. More like that please people!
mastiles, now thats a very useful answer, thanks.
Sorry, I didn't mean to be - I am usually an ornery old git 😉
Thats ok, I forgive you. Well I just called the mot test centre, they reckon that theres about 3-4mm left on the pads. I then tried calling the car sales, but they're closed, I guess because of the snow (there you go grumm, I mentioned the snow!).
Garage screwed to the ground on a deal - No change of pads as long as they have a reasonable life left on them (Say 6k +)
Garage made a good deal - Change them regardless.
See you cant have it all ways. If you strike a deal for this, this, this and this. You get them but the dealer will then think he has done his bit. If you are both happy with your deal then the garage will be much more inclined to do the extras.
Personally on brakes i would do them regardless as its a safety issue at some point. But then i dont do deals where i am stretched over backwards so i usually have the money in the deal to cover such things, including fuel.
Another question. If its such a big deal to you, why not just pay a little extra to get the garage to do them?
[i]the_sea, I know, there's always some miserable **** on here! [/i]
Eh you're the one whinging about not getting a set of brake pads fitted, or mats or a full tank. These are bargaining tools - if you don't ask you don't get. I hope you at least haggled on price.
3-4mm is quite a bit I would say - probably quite a bit of life in them.
"If its such a big deal to you, why not just pay a little extra to get the garage to do them?" - missing the point. Anyway, I've got the responses I wanted now, see ya.
How is it missing the point. The car is perfectly legal as it is. The garage has not done anything that wasnt asked for and is required to do.
If its an issue to you then walk into the garage and ask them to replace the pads that still have a bit of life left in them. Otherwise be a happy customer untill they do need replaced.
[i]If you paid decent money for the car (over about £3k) then they should have at least 6 months life left (say 6k miles if you do lots more than that it's a bit different). This is the general period that you have with used cars in case of a failure that can be pushed back toward the dealer as a present fault at time of purchase.[/i]
Whether you paid decent money or not, you still have the same civil rights as a consumer. Its not 'a fault at time of purchase' either, the OP has been made aware the pads are thin - but still legal, and has accepted the vehicle.
IMO the garage/trader should of replaced the pads as good practice on their behalf (and maybe good will). But legally from the OP's explanation the trader has done nothing wrong.
How many miles will 3-4mm last? I know this depends on the sort of driving you do and your driving style but just roughly speaking.
Not quite as I understand it Boz, for trade sales (vehicles well below real value) and older vehicles a different set of rules apply as it's more reasonable to expect an older vehicle to have problems.
[i]steveh - Member
Not quite as I understand it Boz, for trade sales (vehicles well below real value) and older vehicles a different set of rules apply as it's more reasonable to expect an older vehicle to have problems.
[/i]
Not meaning to be a smart arse steveh, but my understanding comes from working for an agency that advises businesses and consumers on the law and investigates possible breaches of civil and criminal legislation... 😉
'trade sales' and 'sold as seen' no longer exist, if you want to sell a bike with no warrenty it has to be sold as 'spares or repair' which AFAIK means the dealer will normaly not have it taxed and not supply the MOT cert. Although quite often with motorbikes they are perfectly servicable with minor bits replaced (fork boots, seals, pads etc) but the garrage doesnt want the hastle of having to warenty an old bike for 6 months which could if somethig goes wrong cost more than the bikes worth.
Why are you discussing warranty? You show me a warranty that covers brake pads and i will eat my hat. They would only ever be covered under a Maintenance contract that the oner paid for at a vastly over inflated price.
This is not an issue of warranty, it is a case of what is deemed acceptable. Selling a perfectly roadworthy vehicle, including an advisory notice in the documents which states the pads will need changing at some point is as much as the dealership is legally required to do. Wether its what i or another dealer would do is another matter
look at it this way.
you buy a car, they MOT it, so the certificates up to date, and then bill you for a set of brake pads you dont actually need?
no point in changing them until they go properly