Morris Minor Owners Club

Sorry if this is in the wrong section.

I've recently (4 months ago) bought a 1967 Morris Minor after suggestions from my dad. I'm a 19 year old girl who knows next to nothing about cars and he thought it would be a good car for me to learn the mechanics of. As I live away from home, I haven't had much chance to learn yet though.

Anyway, enough background. The car (Molly, by the way ) is due for a MOT next month. This is the first time I've had to organise a MOT on my own. I'm originally from Yorkshire, where my dad still lives, but I'm now living in Bath. I don't know the city that well and certainly don't know where I could find a little, one or two man garage with a guy who knows that type of car. I'm wary of taking it to the Morris Minor centre in Bristol as they're quite pricey. Also, if it failed on the brakes (which I don't think is likely), it's a long walk home. Does anyone know of anywhere in Bath that I could go to? Any help at all would be great.
Kayleigh

will only be pricey if it fails

mots are no more than £47.00 i think

Thanks for your help. I'm ideally looking for somewhere a bit more local than Bristol though. I'm only having a MOT done now but if I had any problems in future, I'd want to know somewhere closer than there where it could be repaired.
Kayleigh

i am from sussex, i know places down my way but not where you are sorry

but some one will be along in a mo and help you

Perhaps a good idea to ask the garage to do a PRE-MOT check on the car - to see if it's 'likely' to pass before going in for the MOT. Also - make sure simple stuff like all the lights/horn/wipers/screen washers/seat belts/tyres (tread, sidewalls and pressure) and exhaust not blowing are ok before going anywhere! Far better too if have someone older with you if possible - some garages may see a 19 year old lassie with a Minor as a money making exercise!

you have got charles wares morrisminor center they are in bristol now ask for andy or tim they should be able to help.

Thanks for all your help. It's just a pity that I didn't get more time to learn about the car works before going back to Bath again. Everything seems to be working but I'll give it another quick check over this week. The screenwash needs topping up, which I can do at the same time. I've got a friend from uni who might be able to come along with me. She's a few years older than me and a big, butch-looking lass so I doubt they'll try to con her.

If anyone could give me a name of a little garage in Bath though, any name at all, that would be great.
Kayleigh

Hi. Although not in Bath, you could try Melksham Car Care in Melksham (01225 703014). It's about 12 miles from Bath. I've been using this garage for years and although not the cheapest, they will not rip you off and you will be safe in the knowledge that if they pick anything up, then it will be genuine. They are familiar with older cars too!

MOT garages are bound to be listed in local newspaper etc - then drive round and form your own opinion of them ! But the Melksham place sounds fair! If you thought MMC in Bristol expensive - then Wares will make your eyes water!

Hi.
If it's still needed, I'd recommend Larkhall MOT centre, 6 Beaufort Mews in Larkhall which is walkable to/from the city. 01225 442135. A proper old style garage who know old cars. If anything needs fixing, Fred's next door can usually do it.
Mail me if you're stuck!
Andy

bmcecosse wrote:MOT garages are bound to be listed in local newspaper etc - then drive round and form your own opinion of them ! But the Melksham place sounds fair! If you thought MMC in Bristol expensive - then Wares will make your eyes water!

Afraid that they are Wares, they moved to Bristol last year! They don't look too bad on their online parts catalogue for prices until you read the bit which says the prices are correct as of 01/01/2004!

Thanks for all your help. A friend of mine turned out to know a bit about classic cars and recommended a garage on Lower Bristol Road. Naturally, I ended up going to the wrong one by mistake. It failed, £460 (inc vat) worth of repairs, but as soon as I got it back after having them done, I realised it needed them. The difference was amazing, it was like having a whole new car! Thanks again.
Kayleigh

My parents first MOT failed with over £2000 worth of repairs! £460 on a fairly unknown car isn't too bad

£460 is a LOT to pay out. Can you list what was done for that money ?? Did it include any welding for example ?

bmcecosse wrote:£460 is a LOT to pay out. Can you list what was done for that money ?? Did it include any welding for example ?

Bear in mind that Bath is very expensive, CW's when I last had work done there were charging between £70-80 per hour so you are unlikely to get below £40 per hour, replacing the brake cylinders, shoes and master cylinder combined with MOT and labour could very easily come to over £500, especially as a small garage would be buying from partco or similar who tend to be about 20% more than the more dedicated minor suppliers.

I've just paid £420 for MOT, full service, brake cylinders, replacement pipes etc. A large proportion of the cost is labour at £50 per hour. Sounds like Bath is as expensive as London.

Would be interested to know what Kayleigh had done though as she says the difference is amazing and it feels like a new car.

That seems fair Louise when you consider a full lockheed brake kit is around £140 -150 service parts with oil around £30, MOT £50 and some brake fluid that makes around 3 - 4 hours labour which seems fair for that lot with London prices.
Probably cheaper labour north of the border though.