Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi, I have recently bought a Morris Minor Saloon and joined the owners club. So far I have enjoyed tinkering with the engine and interior, but it is now due an MOT. I am in the Essex Branch and was wondering if anyone could recommend a reliable garage for the MOT? Would like to put my car in a specialist garage just in case work is needed.
Thanks

Hi, welcome to the forum Whereabouts in Essex are you? I would have thought that someone in your branch would be able to point you in the right direction but if not, check out your local garages to see if any are used to dealing in 'older' cars. 'Specialist' garages aren't always best for carrying out MOT's.

Welcome to the forum! Small local garage is what you want - not 'Kwak Fut' or similar! They are just looking for work!!
But do give the car a thorough going over first - all lights working, wipers and washers in good order, horn ok, seat belts ok, seats secure, exhaust not blowing, no cloud of blue smoke etc - that just leaves the steering/suspension/brakes/body condition to worry about!

Louise wrote:-

'Specialist' garages aren't always best for carrying out MOT's.

I can understand this re BM's advice but Minor specialists are surely not viewed in the same light , or are they ?. We take cars in for MOT's but have a local 'sympathetic' garage carry out the MOT, we are then only involved ,should the vehicle fail, and even then some customers will repair the vehicle themselves.
Just thought we ought to make clear implication that 'specialists' was a catch all word.

Take a look at who is doing the MOT.
You don't want anyone who is younger than the car.
I was very happy recently to find such a chap in a garage close to me.
I was chatting to him about classic friendly garages and he said he'd worked on many cars that are now classics when he started out.
He used to race minis and MGs and he passed my Minor with one advisory, result!

Just thought we ought to make clear implication that 'specialists' was a catch all word.

As the original poster did not specify whether a Minor 'specialist' or classic car 'specialist' was sought, and my answer did not refer to Minor specialists, I thought it was clear that my reference to 'specialists' was a catch all rather than a reference to Minor specialists but thank you for clarifying that point Jonathon.

Anyway, back to the original request, coming from Essex I'm aware that garages in the area that specialise in Minors are few and far between so the best bet for the original poster would be to go by recommendation from other local Minor owners, of which there are quite a few in the Essex branch.

Not meant as a 'put down' Jonathon so I apologise if you read it as such. I just didn't feel that my original post needed clarification and your response "Minor specialists are surely not viewed in the same light , or are they?" had the potential to take the thread off topic which would not have been helpful to the original poster.

PM sent Louise.
I think this comment, 'Minor specialists are surely not viewed in the same light , or are they?" is very valid and would not go off topic, as BM had eluded to MOT specialists, you have added general specialists, classic car specialists etc.
So for the original poster to know that his/her local Minor specialist is a safe option , is rather crucial to know.

I'm surprised you don't have an MOT bay Jono! People would flock from far and wide. It's my next ambition in life (having now achieved steam engine fireman status) - to be an MOT tester!!

Far too expensive BM, plus with the legislation ruling space infront and space behind, the test ramp, it would take up too much room.
I agree it would be a good asset and method of income, but stomping up the better part of £50-70K plus, is a stumbling block too many.

Congratulations on you're Fireman status

Wow - it really costs THAT much to set up an MOT bay ?

Remember you can only buy from the MOT ie approved ramps,jacks, computerised system, camera system etc etc, plus regular MOT maintenance. Established stations are immune to most set up costs, but starting up, equiping and training is not cheap.

Didn't know that - sounds like a Monopoly situation that should be challenged. So - what happens if an MOT place shuts down - what happens to all the equipment ?? Can it not be bought and transferred to new premises ?

Honestly don't know BM . I'm sure that we have an MOT tester here on the forum, who might be able to shed some light on the details.

An interesting snippet I picked up from my MOT guy is that the new MOT test (next year I think) will involve taking all the wheels off and measuring the wear on pads, shoes, discs and drums to check they are within tolerance.
I hate to think how long and how much money that will add to a test.

About time in my opinion, in many respects the current MOT is laughable, I'm all for more thorough tests, done correctly.

The tester will be there for a while taking the hubs with bearings off an MM. I hope they keep the correct sized split pins.

Would be surprised if drums are to be removed! Disc pads and discs are already 'fail' points for MOT - can be seen from the inside. Although our Meriva rear brakes/handbrake worked fine - and passed easily on the rollers - it was still failed on disc/pad condition.
What a job that was - 'winding in' the rear calipers (without benefit of the special tool!) before I could get pads on! Changing the discs was the easy part!

Don't mean to hijack the original post, but I'm also looking for a worthy MOT tester in Essex, if anyone knows! Situated in Canvey Island, south Essex. Would rather not have to travel too far!
Thanks guys.

Don't know if this thread is any help but someone recommended a garage in Benfleet. Not sure if they do MOT's though: http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f= ... ilit=essex