500 £900 repair bill for MOT failure

[Jaybat]

Hello,

I've been a lurker here for finding our more about the 500. My 500 Lounge has just failed it's MOT and require £860 repairs for the following (that also includes it's ervice and MOT bill)

replace front control arms/wishbones
leaking flexi exhaust
leaking off side rear shock
leaking flexi exhaust
Cracked nearside bracke drum

all of which are MOT failures. Does this seem reasonable for the work or am I being taken for ride? It's ain independent garage in south london who have done the work so not a main dealer.
Any assistance will be gratefully received!

 

[306maxi]

Taken for a ride but it's not completely horrendous. Mileage? Age?

 

[Jaybat]

08 plate 45000 miles, mostly city driving with the odd trip up the motorway

 

[306maxi]

The cracked drum isn't one I've heard before. Could always take it elsewhere for another mot I suppose. Seems a bit much, mine is younger but with 20k miles more on and hasn't needed that amount of work doing.

 

[Jaybat]

Thanks, always helpful to compare notes! I suspect it's the city driving. Might give Fiat a call and see if they have anything to say.

 

[ahmett]

Thanks, always helpful to compare notes! I suspect it's the city driving. Might give Fiat a call and see if they have anything to say.

One of my shocks was leaking as well so that sounds normal to me. My car is mainly city driving, a '10 model as well!

 

[Jaybat]

I think everything taken as a whole is making it feel like it'll become a money pit very quickly. I know it'll need new front tyres soon and other bits of the exhaust are corroded but not holed yet. It's not pristine condition lots of scratches and small dents in the paint and the alloys are a bit knackered. Might see what I can get on part exchange.

 

[306maxi]

Could always get it re mot'd. Seems an awful lot of stuff to find wrong with a car tbh....

 

[Bhindi]

This is why I go to an MOT testing station, that does nothing but MOT's, they have nothing to gain in finding fault with our cars.

 

[frupi]

This is why I go to an MOT testing station, that does nothing but MOT's, they have nothing to gain in finding fault with our cars.

Indeed, and some of the best testing stations to go to, are your local Council depot testing station. I have taken my own cars to my local Council depot a few times and I've only ever had one failure, on my old Primera because of stretched handbrake cables.

 

[varesecrazy]

I think everything taken as a whole is making it feel like it'll become a money pit very quickly. I know it'll need new front tyres soon and other bits of the exhaust are corroded but not holed yet. It's not pristine condition lots of scratches and small dents in the paint and the alloys are a bit knackered. Might see what I can get on part exchange.

take it to a £39 / £45 MOT place,
see what they pick-up on, get an itemised quote for their work too,

the shock + front supension is waer + tear,
so's the exhaust really ( care over speed humps.. similar with alloy + paint damage)

they are mechanically pretty tough,
chances are you've lost MOST of it's depreciation by now.., and in reality a £600 fix now isn't too bad

Charlie- 80k on a 10 year-old car.

 

[lil.smartie]

What level of service is included? oil & filter is a lot less than one inc plugs/air/pollen/fuel filters...

Kate