Aibu about my car?

[VelvetSpoon]

Previously posted about my car and it's MOT. I'd put it in and garage had given a totally vague estimate of £250-500+ for repairs. Anyway after some negotiation by my bf, we got them to agree they'd do some welding and repair rear brake for £250-300 and we'd do some other minor repairs ourselves.

Those were the only 'issues' on the MOT fail. It did also refer to tyres reaching end of life but we weren't too bothered about that as they have well over 1.6mm of tread and are in reasonable condition.

Anyway, after a couple of weeks they said the work was done, it had passed. We went to collect and paid the £300. Driving home afterwards I noticed from the repair breakdown (which wasn't handed over til I'd paid) that they'd charged £25 for the minor repairs we'd done. Bit annoying but one of those things.

Also on the MOT there were now about 5 other advisory items, including brake discs/pads for front brakes.

Since then I've driven the car on about 4-5 occasions and done about 70-80 miles in total if that. This week it started making a weird squeaking noise (when driving and braking). Bf thinks it is the pads that now need replacing.

AIBU to think that something shouldn't be advisory if it's going to fail within a few drives and only going a tiny distance? I now can't drive my car because it's too dangerous (frustrating as I've just passed my test and really want to be driving).

[Wolfiefan]

Advisory just means "not illegal yet but will be soon!"
Get it checked out. Presumably bf hasn't examined pads? Is he a mechanic?

[Togaparties]

They can only really fail for discs and pads if they're metal on metal.

[VelvetSpoon]

Bf hasn't had time to take the wheels off yet but having done basic repairs to a few cars in his time he's pretty sure it's the pads. He said the noise is them grinding together and that he's surprised it didn't fail the MOT on it given how bad they seem after barely having been driven since.

[Togaparties]

They can't take the wheels off during an mot so inspection is difficult. If they're low but obviously not metal on metal/grinding then it's pass and advise I'm afraid

[VelvetSpoon]

Hmm. That seems odd because they took the back wheels off to tell me there was a problem there (and how much it would be to fix). Plus pads/ discs wasn't an advisory on the MOT fail?

[specialsubject]

I'm all for driving old bangers, but cars come with costs. Brake pads aren't expensive, especially not if you can get them fitted free. Get them changed before you stuff up the disks.

and depending on the mileage you do, you need to start shopping for tyres too. 99% of accident prevention is up to the driver but when it rains like it does at the moment, you might need that grip. There's often special offers/cashbacks/discounts around.

[Pinkheart5915]

Advisory is just ok at the moment but will need looking at soon.

So brake pads can be ok at the mot have another 50- 100 miles on them so that would just be an advisory.

[VelvetSpoon]

It started making a grinding noise when I was on the way home the other day. I drove it the remaining 2 miles home, and bf then drove it round the block to check the noise. I've not driven it since.

The tyres were part worn put on by the previous owner last year just before I bought the car. Since then I've done less than 1000 miles so I'm quite satisfied they're ok for now given how little I drive. If I keep the car longer than another 6 months I will replace them (or sooner if they show signs of wear).

I have lost all faith in the garage, I think that's part of the problem.

[Togaparties]

Also the noise could just be the pad wear sensors, some cars have little metal spring strips that touch the disc when the pad gets low. I'd second the PP about tyres, get some decent tyres on there (not Chinese ditchfinders). Tyres are not something to scrimp on.

[WreckingBallsInsideMyHead]

Your break pads and tyres were both advisory, and you've seen how fast your pads have gone. Surely you realise your tyres also need doing sooner rather than later. Really not the place to scrimp!

[FireTruckOhFireTruck]

Advisory just means it needs looking at but isn't quite at the stage to fail the MOT.

[VelvetSpoon]

The tyres are fine, like I said they've not even done 1000 miles, and have way over the required tread. Tyres are meant to last considerably more than 1000 miles i believe? We were actually surprised it even came up as an advisory. And of course on the failed MOT the pads/ discs were not mentioned, only on the second one.

I feel a bit ripped off by the garage, they were recommended but I wasn't happy with their original vagueness over repair costs nor them charging me for something I'd already repaired. The brake pads and possibly discs now failing after less than 100 miles seems odd to me.

The other issue is if the discs are now fucked that's £200 to get them done which I simply can't justify spending on this car. And means the previous £300 was basically wasted.

[Deux]

You should be more worried about your tyres. 1.6 MM. is the legal minimum and for safety you should change the tyres well before they get to that state.

On that tread, if your brake in the rain, you're going to need a lot more braking distance.

I think perhaps your expectations are too high.

[VelvetSpoon]

They're nowhere near the minimum. They look like new and have full tread with no signs of wear.

I don't drive long distances or much at all. I've checked the mileage and since I bought it I've actually done 600 miles up to the MOT. So very little compared to the average car.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

The tread needs to be legal across the tyre so poor tracking can cause uneven wear. You should check the whole width of tread.
However they do sound a bit haphazard and from previous thread you were feeling a bit frustrated with them so a different garage wouldn't hurt.

[wasonthelist]

OP, I run a 16 year old car that cost £300. The first thing I did when I got it was put 4 brand new tyres on. The garage would not have put an advisory on your tyres unless there was good cause - what was it exactly?

Tyres can be subject to aging and they may have read the date codes or there may be some signs of aging such as cracked sidewalls - none of which has anything to do with legal tread.

As for the brake pads/discs, we don't know what the issue is yet for sure - but, with the best will in the world, if you can't justify £200 on a car for brakes, you can't really afford to run a car.

You complain that advisories weren't on the fail sheet - but there's no need to state advisories on a fail as the car's failed.

You can appeal a grant or refusal of an MOT - so if you think the car shouldn't have passed with the brakes as they were, you can appeal.

MOTs are subjective, and only a guide to condition of the car on the day it was tested, not any form of longer term guarantee of roadworthiness or a substitute for regular inspections and servicing.

TLDR: YAB a little U however you do need to be able to have a decent relationship with any garage that's working on your car.

[Uiscebeatha85]

YANBU at all.

Although I've just paid £250 to a garage to replace one brake disc and 2 pads on my car in the past half hour and am not happy about it at all to say the least

[VelvetSpoon]

I won't be using the garage again under any circumstances.

If you read my OP, they put the tyres as advisory on the first MOT (the fail). They then put a list of different advisories including pads and discs but not the tyres on the second MOT (the pass).

The tyre advisory said they were coming to the end of their life.

I can't justify spending £200 on this car on top of the £300 I've just spent because it's only worth £500. I'd be better off selling it as it is for £300 but then there was no point in me passing my bloody test.

[VelvetSpoon]

My car is 11 years old, tyres were new (part worn) when I bought it a year ago.

[Bails2014]

Until you look into what is causing the 'grinding' noise you can't be sure it is the brakes, if it is the pads and your OH can fit them they're only about £30.

I'd be concerned about part worn tyres deemed as reaching 'end of life' by an expert, they're the point that holds the entire car to the road, the weather at the moment is very wet which increases braking distances on good healthy tyres, let alone condemned second hand ones.

[RB68]

Cars cost money either upfront or in repairs - you pay one way or the other. Sometimes its worth paying for repairs as you maintain value and it remains useful to you.

[VelvetSpoon]

It is almost definitely pads. The issue is whether it's discs as well. The pads are £15 but I'd have to take it to a garage for the discs and would be £200 or more, which makes it not worth doing unfortunately.

[VelvetSpoon]

My bf says there's no point spending more than the car is worth. So anything over £100-150 would be pointless.

[wasonthelist]

My bf says there's no point spending more than the car is worth.

I disagree (it may be true in your case but I don't agree it's always true) - for example, I spent £200 on tyres on a £300 car and it certainly hasn't increased the value - but I have a safer car. buying another car at this level is always a gamble and you may end up with something that soon needs more expensive repairs, comparing costs of maintenance to the market value is largely irrelevant.

In any case - what will you do instead? Get the bus?

[wasonthelist]

If you read my OP, they put the tyres as advisory on the first MOT (the fail). They then put a list of different advisories including pads and discs but not the tyres on the second MOT (the pass).
Fairly sure they don't need to continue once they have a fail item - so perhaps they came to the tyres before the fail items and the other advisories afterwards. I get an advisory every year for the engine and undertray covers on my car - not all advisories require action.