MOT -Advisories

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PFL969
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MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

So I've started looking into getting my M Roadster back on the road, apart form the usual things like tyres (think I'll shoe with Michelin Pilot Sports but let me know what you like on yours) I've got a list of car 'errors":

Near rear coil spring corroded
Offside rear coil spring corroded
Offside front anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt
Nearside and offside brake hose slightly deteriorated.
Centre stop lamp has light sources not illuminating, but not more than 50%
Airbag light on

Ok, so there's a fair bit. I am not mechanically minded - this was played out yesterday morning when I fitted a new battery (high-fiving yourself is never a good look).

Do you think I should change all the springs, as far as I know on this 137,000 car then have never been changed. What would you change them to?

Any other thoughts would be gratefully received. Thanks!
spurs fan in a coupe
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by spurs fan in a coupe »

Not that I'm biased, but I'd fit these

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... 11&t=39247

Tyre wise, most people on here would recommend Falkens 452 or 912s. I've had Avon ZZ3, Michelen Pilots and Toyo R1s and liked all of them. Most people agree that the Z3 does not suit Pirrelli.

Brake pipes aren't too expensive, but I'd recommend getting a garage to do them.
we expres: " He did hear the bells ringing, but doesnt know where where the clapper hangs".
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Thanks for the input PM sent
Del
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Del »

As they are advisories you are obviously not compelled to change any of it for the car to be road legal. In my view the UK MOT system is quite lenient on suspension generally. My own experience of coils springs is that when they are significantly corroded they lose some of their strength and it tends to be a rusty bottom coil that subsequently breaks off. If I had your M, I would definitely change (at least) both the rears - it is an easy DIY job.

Personally, if I had good grounds to believe that the whole suspension was still original at 137,000 miles, I would change the lot (springs and shocks) and I would be confident you would notice a hell of an improvement.

Sometimes advisories are a bit daft but I would also attend to those other specific advisories as they are relatively minor and look like sensible/reasonable things to replace on a high performance M.

With regard to new coil springs, it's personal choice as to whether you go lower or not - personally, I wouldn't fit any unbranded budget ones on an M - I am not suggesting that is what has been offered above.
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janijoeli
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by janijoeli »

Airbag light being on - or the total lack of it, as some people just simply take the bulb off in attempt to hide a problem - should be an MOT failure since beginning of 2012. If a garage lets you off with an advisory, consider yourself lucky... They haven't done their homework properly. :D

On Z3, AFAIK the two most likely cuplrits are:
1) The wires under the seat which go to seatbelt pre-tensioners and sometimes gets mangled by seat mechanism, in which case the wires just need to be repaired, or
2) Side impact sensor's connector (or pre-tensioner's connector?) which is located so that it can get wet and corrode, in which case simply cleaning the connector will do the job.

There can of course be many other reasons as well, but these are the ones I would have a look at first.

I believe the light has to be reset with a reset tool after problem has been fixed, this is the cheapest I've seen anywhere:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HVVV30W

If you have a mechanically minded friend, he/she should be able to help you with the aforementioned checks. Thought I'll mention this before a $tealer or a $pecialist charges you 500 quid for changing a lot of parts that didn't need changing in the first place... ;)
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t-tony
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by t-tony »

janijoeli wrote:Airbag light being on - or the total lack of it, as some people just simply take the bulb off in attempt to hide a problem - should be an MOT failure since beginning of 2012. If a garage lets you off with an advisory, consider yourself lucky... They haven't done their homework properly. :D

On Z3, AFAIK the two most likely cuplrits are:
1) The wires under the seat which go to seatbelt pre-tensioners and sometimes gets mangled by seat mechanism, in which case the wires just need to be repaired, or
2) Side impact sensor's connector (or pre-tensioner's connector?) which is located so that it can get wet and corrode, in which case simply cleaning the connector will do the job.

There can of course be many other reasons as well, but these are the ones I would have a look at first.

I believe the light has to be reset with a reset tool after problem has been fixed, this is the cheapest I've seen anywhere:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00HVVV30W

If you have a mechanically minded friend, he/she should be able to help you with the aforementioned checks. Thought I'll mention this before a $tealer or a $pecialist charges you 500 quid for changing a lot of parts that didn't need changing in the first place... ;)
This is very good advice. Take it from an M.O.T. tester.
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Jamezee
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Jamezee »

My seven series just failed on an airbag light!
Reset it and it passed :D
Even more new rules for the MOT next year, newer cars with more electronics will fall foul of them.
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PFL969
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Thank you all for your useful comments.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

This is definitely not an advisory - none of the brake lights work. :head:
Brian4
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Brian4 »

I would think that is the brake switch against the brake pedal not working.

here's a bit of a write up how to change it
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techart ... Switch.htm
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Thanks Brian for the link. I spoke to VOSA yesterday as there seems to be a little confusion relating to the brake fluid warning light and whether or not this constitutes an MOT failure. According to them it does - my local garage did not know this rather worryingly. Barons will replace the brake fluid for £70ish it takes 30 mins.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

These are the corroded springs - any thoughts?
Image

Mod Edit: Image link fixed. R.
Del
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Del »

That bottom coil ring looks quite rusty and pitted. It's that bottom coil ring that tends to break off. Personally, I wouldn't wait for it to break. I'm only a DIYer, I'd be interested to hear the views of any members who are "in the trade".
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by gookah »

PFL969 wrote:These are the corroded springs - any thoughts?
Image

Mod Edit: Image link fixed. R.
That's one pot hole away from snapping,I have had snapped springs that didn't look as bad.
However, you probably wont even notice a difference if it did snap.
I would get them changed, they are such an easy job to do.
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Brian4
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Brian4 »

PFL969 wrote:Thanks Brian for the link. I spoke to VOSA yesterday as there seems to be a little confusion relating to the brake fluid warning light and whether or not this constitutes an MOT failure. According to them it does - my local garage did not know this rather worryingly. Barons will replace the brake fluid for £70ish it takes 30 mins.
This brake fluid warning was it just a small triangle near the service indicator lights because if it was it is a reminder that the fluid has not been changed for 2 years so should not be part of the MOT. As you are having the fluid changed make sure the garage reset this service light. I guess it gets reset most time when the oil is changed by the various reset tools about.

I get annoyed about some of the advisories that are put on bits of paper as what does it mean 'Nearside and offside brake hose slightly deteriorated.', how deteriorated? do they want changing and if so when?

My daughters car had an advisory stating ' large undertray missing' so what I asked and the reply was 'the exposed parts are subject to wear and corrosion or possible damage' so what I said if the undertray was fitted well it would still be an advisory as we couldn't examine the pipes and lines as they were covered by the undertray'
I then quietened him down by saying that he needed to get his facts correct as there was no large undertray fitted to her particular model. Still got the advisory but he got no more business from me. Rant over.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Brain, thanks for your comments. The icon is a clock above the service indicator countdown lights... Actually give me min I'm going to photo it. :roll:
Brian4
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Brian4 »

Yup that means 2 years since the brake fluid was changed.

I cant find the reference on tinternet but on page 72 of the owners handbook it says 'Clock symbol shows that the brake fluid renewal is due.
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Robert T
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Robert T »

The clock symbol is a simple timer and as stated comes on after 2 years. It is supposed to be reset when the brake fluid is changed, which BMW would do, but of course most cars have been serviced elsewhere by now. You can read when it was actually last reset using diagnostic software, but that still doesn't mean that was the last brake fluid change.

Cheers R.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Thanks Robert - duly noted.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Yep - brake pedal switch was bugge***! Correct diagnosis by the ZRoadster geniuses (or is that genii?)
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Ok brake lights are sort of fixed - main lights work fully but third brake light is not fully functioning (only a couple of the bulbs work). Does anyone know if I can replace the bulbs or would I have to replace the whole third brake light part?


Thanks again.
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Robert T
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Robert T »

The ///M third-brakelight is the same as that on the pre-facelift cars, even on the S54 ///M. You can therefore replace individual bulbs. Whilst you're in there look for corrosion on the circuitboard with the bulb-holders on it, which will indicate water ingress through the seal. A few people on here have had to replace the board as it had corroded so much. The seal is pretty cheap to replace, though it can be a bit difficult to fit.

Cheers R.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Thanks Robert - just called the dealership parts guys and the bulbs are £3.50 / each. Will take the whole thing out and see the damage. Point taken re the seal - will not use a hammer :D
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Image

As suspected a lot of condensation was found in the third brake light housing causing corrosion to the pcb. I don't think the pcb is that bad - one out of the six bulbs has failed - to my mind none have ever been replaced (certainly not by me in the 10+ years I've had the car).

I'm going to thoroughly clean the pcb with Maplin PCB cleaner and get rid of the rusty gunk from the sockets where the bulbs sit.

One socket appears to have rotted so ill attempt to solder a solution as the new part is £80ish - I figure if one bulb works then there's life in pcb yet!

New gasket to be fitted tomorrow when I pick it up and hopefully that should stop further leakage.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Well that didn't work as I didn't notice the bulb sockets were so shot. Anyone know if you can get just the sockets?

Failing that I might try using LEDs s1319.photobucket.com/user/pfl969/media/image_zpsa2d6456f.jpg.html]Image[/URL]
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Robert T
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Robert T »

According to this diagram on bmwfans, the socket is available separately - part #5 below:

Image

Coopers want £1.84 each for them, so cheaper than the bulbs! :lol:

Cheers R.
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PFL969
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

That's not what the butt£&@? BMW told me! Argh. Ok back to maplin tomorrow to take the led thing back and off to Coopers to be the sockets. I think I'm being a little optimistic aiming to get the car ready for Blackbushe on Sunday.

Thanks again Robert for you valuable knowledge.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

Brian4, you have every reason to have rant, it's pretty incomprehensible that some testers are marking down advisories out of context essentially devaluing a cars value to potential buyers. Anyhow, tomorrow's Saturday and all is well!
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

I will not forget to book my MOT this week
I will not forget to book my MOT this week
I'm pretty sure I need to do something this week,..
Joycey
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by Joycey »

Seeing as im local. If you need any help send me a PM and ill pop round with all my tools. Sorted those springs yet?

And the other stuff we talked about on sunday??

Joycey
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

In case anyone is interested, I have found some Eibach springs for the M which are 180+VAT. Whilst researching springs it appeared that Eibach does not produce a set for the Z3M. However Rossiters (Chris 01485 5442000) can 'special order' these from Eibach. The lead time for delivery is late March to early April 2014.
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by PFL969 »

MOT - Pass. Happy days. :squeeze: :P :D
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janijoeli
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Re: MOT -Advisories

Post by janijoeli »

Congrats! :)
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