Technical Panda 4x4 Mechanic Near Peterlee?

[nikcoleman]

I'm looking for a Panda 4x4 mechanic near Peerlee in the North East. I own 3 Pandas, now adding a 4th, a 2013 4x4. I've bought them all from CoPart, all over the UK. Most I've driven home. This one is a driver, it needs a tyre, I can get that anywhere, but it has a need for a ball joint replacement before i can drive it safely. I could normally do this, but here at home not in Peterlee lol so I need a mechanic to put a ball joint on for safety. It's an MOT fail on the propshaft support bearing but I am taking it straight to my usual MOT station down here in Norfolk (yeah, 4 hours away lol) under the waiver to move the vehicle to its test location. I just want to make it safe to drive. Any ideas or offers? I dont really want to tow it back or put it on transport.

 

[JayAre]

You’re going to be driving thru West Yorks Police territory - just be mindful of their “advice”:

- “The further you travel the more likelihood there is of your vehicle triggering an ANPR camera and you being stopped”
- and “if you are stopped by the police you could still be prosecuted for any defective parts”

here’s the full para

• The law makes no mention as to how far you can go for an MOT but we would suggest the distance is kept as short as possible because even though you are exempt from having a valid MOT certificate in the circumstances described above, if you are stopped by the police you could still be prosecuted for any defective parts on your vehicle e.g. exhaust, brakes and tyres etc. If you call in at shops etc. on your way to the MOT, it may be held that you are using the vehicle for other purposes and the above exemption won't apply. The further you travel the more likelihood there is of your vehicle triggering an ANPR camera and you being stopped.

Good luck

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police/question/Q360

 

[nikcoleman]

Great call there thanks, yup we’ve been a bit more cautious with the level of repairs we are doing BEFORE moving the car, to stay more within the letter of the law not just the spirit.

 

[varesecrazy]

Isn't the ball joint a common part so the same job as a Punto.. Or Corsa?

Member @StevenRB45


is up that way, might have some idea where is likely

 

[Marcus Daly]

Peterlee? I spent a month there one night.

 

[nikcoleman]

Peterlee? I spent a month there one night.

Oh oh... lol is it like that?

 

[nikcoleman]

Hey there! So the 4x4 is home. Drove great (gently) for 250 miles back to here, once we'd got the tyres on. Prop bearing was noisy and a bit scary at idle but otherwise ok. Having given it a good inspection at CoPart, I sense the MOT tester might have had it in for the last owner! It needs work, tyres were indeed knackered, the suspension arms certainly need replacing but quite how the ball joints were poised to drop out as per the MOT, I don't know.

Mechanical work next week, all looking good... but the inside... oh my god. It appears, from the debris we found, it was used as a security guard vehicle on, we assume, a building site. I'm talking mud, clay, vapes, ciggies, pure caked on sh*t of all descriptions on every bloody surface. Coffee stain, food... everything nasty. The kids cleaned it for two hours... and THEN we put it out to pitch for valeters lol. The ones we picked are new and really keen to do a good job, lol, but despite being 'valet at your home' I've actually taken it to their place so they can get the industrial steam cleaner on it lol.

As you can see from the MOT fail (yup I know you'll all be running MOT checker lmao), there's a bit to do, I'll do the suspension arms myself I think, everything else I'm bringing in a mechanic as I'm filming on location on Route 66 for a few weeks. So far, for an 80,000 mile 2013 Panda 4x4, purchased £1079 (£775 hammer), tyres £144, parts £163, anticipating £300 mechanics time. Total £1686. Autotrader typical £4000-5000 for same year and appx mileage. So right now I have £2300-£3300 in the car.

Tempted to sell? Nah, having too much fun lol.

 

[Eltezz]

Well done! I have a sneaking feeling that all the 4x4 Pandas will become desirable in the future so the more that can be saved the better…