If, by chance, anyone ends up having to go through a TÜV certification process (in Turkey it has fully replaced the MOT and they do all the roadworthiness certifications for all registered cars), make sure the person doing the testing isn't a dimwit before handing them the keys.

After stating multiple times that the Panda is a 4x4, despite it being blatantly stated on the car title and registration documents, the fool doing the test put it on a large single rolling road for the rear brake test. I was left watching through a glass door as he repeatedly stressed the rear diff and ruined the rear tyres while bumbling about. He called another inspector over, who repeated the process until the combined wisdom of two "professionals" gave them the bright idea to give the car to the 4x4 inspector, who took it to the four wheel independent rolling road.

I have no idea how much they stressed the mechanical components, there are some deep scores especially on the rear right tyre where the metal nubs of the rolling road ripped through the tread.

Best of all, as with all things government mandated but privatized, before you go through the MOT they make you sign a document releasing them of all liability for anything that happens to your vehicle while in their custody.

:bang:

That totally sucks! Flaming muppets!
Here in the UK they should test the brakes of 4x4 models on the road and not on the rollers. I'll be making sure they understand that come mot time!

That's a very cautionary tale. It hadn't occurred to me that the standard test would be inappropriate for a 4x4

Surely the disclaimer only covers damage arising from vehicles subjected to correct testing (eg an engine letting go of a con rod whilst running at the correct speed for an emissions test) - this sounds like negligence/ incompetent application of TUV tests. I'd be onto the governing organisation about tests being incorrectly administered and causing damage....

gar074 said:

That's a very cautionary tale. It hadn't occurred to me that the standard test would be inappropriate for a 4x4

Click to expand...

To all 4x4 and Cross owners: read the supplement which comes with the owner's manual! You've spent a lot of money on some complex engineering -- there are four key things in that slim 12 page book:

The car must not be tested on a rolling road or roller brake tester. (They will use a deceleration meter in the footwell on a road test for the MoT)

The car must not be towed unless all 4 wheels are on the ground. (So if you do breakdown, be sure they send a recovery truck that the whole car is lifted onto)

If you have to use the spacesaver tyre, you will not have 4x4 available

and you should not make tight turns on grippy surfaces with the ELD turned on. (Try it and you'll hear the tyres protest). Note also that with ELD on, ESP is off.

I never received the supplement - your post has reminded me to pester the dealer for it!

gar074 said:

I never received the supplement - your post has reminded me to pester the dealer for it!

Click to expand...

Take a look here while you are waiting:
https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-iii/331369-panda-4x4-supplement.html
Its only really the first couple of pages that need reading (note link further down that thread to a PDF version)
Pete

Unfortunately, the wording of the disclaimer is quite clear. They are absolved of all liability. The disclaimer even covers events that regular insurance might not, such as "natural disasters other than floods, earthquakes, weather events and damages resulting of aforementioned incidences", so basically they make sure you can't sue them for a meteor strike or act of war (which actually seems completely plausible in the current environment in Turkey).

Unfortunately, being a knowledgeable owner still doesn't prevent ****s from doing awful things behind closed doors. I wanted to rip the head off of the technicians that did it, but the car came out of a different door (the 4x4 testing area) with the other folks nowhere in sight.