Dealer or Independent Mot / Service & Keys on 96 Cinquecento?

[gianni1]

Greetings to you great and marvelous Italian Fiat Lovers! My first question on joining this excellent forum is: Shall I use the local Fiat dealer for a full service & MOT (£200+) or use my local independents garage with whom I've had automotive-economic relations with on other occasions?

I Just purchased a Red hot '96 Cinquecento Sporting... without MOT. Now I have to sort out the MOT and possible any work or service. Drives fine, 85k miles and it's been sitting off road for six months no mot or tax. Six previous owners, last one kept receipts for the front disks and break pads replaced 5000 miles ago, the rest seems good except for the hand break and the fact that I've only got one blue key and need duplicating. That brings up another thread question... shall I replace the ECU chip and fix the key thingy?



Gianni

 

[gianni1]

Went to the dealer, asked for and MOT with service as required... Failed on about six different lights, the drivers seat had a loose bolt, and the Hand Brake needed adjustment (I asked them to adjust it prior to testing )... Afterwards, they dithered about the cost of lamps and rear brakes, between £150-£400 so I payed the £50 and took it to my local independent to follow through the repairs necessary to pass with the mot failure report. Hope to sort it out soon so my 17year old can practice a bit ahead of his driving test next week

Had my only blue key cloned at a local locksmith for £20, hopefully I won't have to worry about the missing red key.

G

 

[Venters]

Doesn't sound like too bad a bill for a 12 year old cinq.

 

[oilrag]

In the UK, I usually get MOT`s done at the Local Authorities transport Depot.
Simply because they have no link with any repairs.

regards

 

[gianni1]

Thanks for the replies. I checked the list of council mot sites but didn't see one locally. My independent garage brought it up to spec according to the mot failure sheet, but failed again due to the license plate light was wired not bolted in place!. Finally passed with just over £136 of new parts, hand brake cable £25, Brake kit £16, an aftermarket headlamp was £58 (a Fiat Headlamp was £92.73), 3 indicator bulb, and a rear wheel bearing for £27... with £165 for labour. They drove it around town for two mot tests at the dealer... £25. Next on the to do list is to adjust the clutch, it's bite is almost peddle to the floor..

Works really great now, don't think I'll need chip and air intake it... it performance is fast enough already! My other car is a 7 seater Volve Estate..:yuck:

Last night (Sunday 2-4am) gave the key to my local neighbourhood teenagers to inspect it and give it a spin. It got their approval, like those muscle car flicks: Need for Speed, Tokyo Drift, etc...


G