Right, so the 100HP failed MOT today. Rear shock absorber top mount excessively worn. I changed the shocks last november with bilstein b4's. I asked the garage for a second opinion but basically he said fail is a fail.
Don't know why but i had the old ones at work so they have fitted one of them (temporary) and passed.
I have the "failed" part, but to me it looks absolutely fine. Car as been fine to no knocking wobbling etc. There is a tiny amount movement if i stick a screwdriver through hole and move it. Unfortunately i didn't read about appealing until they swapped part.
as the part is only 6 months old i contacted seller who says i have 12 month warranty but now ignoring messages. I am thinking of taking the shock to a couple of garages and asking what they think.
Is it worth the hassle? And anyone else experienced this type of thing?.

Had almost the exact opposite... Shock top bushes on one of our Pandas passed the MOT as he could not see excessive movement. I had told him that I expected it to fail on rear shocks, as I hadn't had a chance to change them yet (they were still in the boot!). He could not even give an advisory. He showed me after the test. No movement visible. Even with me using a pry bar. Yet I was sure from the knocking noise over bumps that they were knackered.
When I took the shocks off the centre of one was completely detached. The other was only slightly better.

Contact Bilstein technical centre on 0116 289 8345.
They are based in Leicester.

The rear top bushes seem to get a hammering on the Pandas for some reason and no make fairs any better than the next.

If you get no luck with Bilstein, you could try measuring the void and fitting them with poly bushes.
There are a few companies that make poly bushes for shock eyes, but you need the correct size.

anyone else experienced this type of thing?

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I honestly don't think it's worth the time and hassle. If the mot tester has said it's a fail .. well .. that's really the end of the story.

I would agree that having a new shock absorber fail would p*ss anybody off but really, he's saying that it was the rubber bush/mounting at fault and not the shock absorber per se. I really don't think it's worth the hassle - nobody will gainsay the mot tester.

Years ago I took a diesel Escort for an MOT. It failed because there was a small crack in the registration plate's perspex cover. That small crack had been through many mots without any bother until that particular mot tester said otherwise.

Try taking your car to KwikFit for an mot .. even a Rolls Royce that is so new the paint is still wet would fail ..'needs new wipers ..'

Let it be .. this sort of thing happens to all of us at sometime.

Goudrons said:

Contact Bilstein technical centre on 0116 289 8345.
They are based in Leicester.

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I informed the supplier i live not to far from the centre. They have arranged with the centre for me to take shock to them and change the bush. 7-14 days for the bushes to arrive.

Jap2Uk said:

I informed the supplier i live not to far from the centre. They have arranged with the centre for me to take shock to them and change the bush. 7-14 days for the bushes to arrive.

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Nice of them. Pity about the time scale. Have to pay for a retest.