Keep or sell car?

[lovelyjubbly888]

Will try to keep this brief! Hoping there will be someone who has a bit of car knowledge who can advise.
2016 car, had it for almost two years. Passed last years MOT but failed this year. List of faults:

• Repair immediately (major defects):Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))
• Offside Front Headlamp aim unable to be tested (4.1.2 (b))
• Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (6.1.7 (g) (ii))
• Central Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases Pipe split (6.1.2 (a))
• Emissions unable to be completed Major leak off gases (8.2.2.2 (e))
• Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak (8.2.2.1 (b))
• Offside Front Coil spring fractured or broken (5.3.1 (b) (i))
• Offside Front Tyre fouling a part of the vehicle Plastic inner wheel arch liner damaged and rubbing against tyre on full lock (5.2.3 (f))

• Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):Service light on dash
• Front Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (2.3 (a) (i))
• Offside Front Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

The worst part is, I don’t drive much and it has only done another 3000 miles since last years MOT! They were wanting almost £2000 for the shock absorbers too.

I really like this car but don’t know what to do as I can’t keep it if it’s going to keep causing issues and costing so much. Sell and get a new, or is this just a blip in the road? Pardon the pun..

you can’t love it that much if you’ve only done 3000 miles in a year.

Get what you can for it. what is the current value of it? failed mot…. peanuts

all the above have developed in the space of just 3000 miles usage?

Those 3000 miles must have involved very very hard driving

No, I just genuinely don’t need to drive that many miles. I don’t think what you have said is particularly relevant. I’m just saying I do really like the car.
And yes, unsure about how 3000 miles has amassed so many issues. It was fine at the last MOT and I’d had it 9 months at that point, so nearly a year.

Anyone else have any thoughts? 😄

Have you had an accident in it? Hit a major pothole? All the faults (apart from exhaust) are in the same area.

That’s really minor stuff in reality. A blown bulb, an exhaust leak, a broken spring, a split CV boot and loose arch liner by the sounds of it. Unlucky to have them all at once I guess but exactly the type of things I’d expect to see on an 8 year old car.

You’re right. Something appears to have happened on the offside front. Maybe hit a piece of debris or something? Hard to imagine many things that could fracture a spring and tear the CV boot. Maybe the broken piece of spring could do that? Doesn’t explain the arch liner though.

Need new bulb so both sides can be tested - Halford, possibly £12
New exhaust. Possibly only a partial rather than full.
New spring.
Liner (might just need a good shove back).
Boot split - it's a rubber cover that gets perished so once it's done, it is done.

Service light on dash - when did you last have the oil and filter changed?
Steering rack freeplay - my old car had that listed in advisorys for 12 years, never fixed, never went into minors.
Shock absorber could be left until next year/when you have money.

Ask other garages for quotes. You might get the exhaust done cheaper at an exhaust/clutch only place.

I've had several springs/coils replaced over the years. It's due to where/how I park. I get the cold winter winds funnelled towards the front, then the warm winter sunlight hits it so it's constantly contacting/expanding and it gets suspectible to fractures. I agree with others though, have you hit a pothole or two?

Haven’t had any accidents nor bumped anything, however there are a LOT of potholes in my area and I’ve had a lot of “oh fuck” moments if you know what I mean.
It went in for servicing too so that shouldn’t be an issue.
Have no idea why all the issues are in the one particular area of the car.

I suppose I’m just wondering, if anyone has any ideas, is it worth still keeping the car (getting the shock absorbers and steering rack fixed elsewhere) or is this the point where the car is having too many issues and probably will in future? Understand no one has a crystal ball but trying to weigh up options just now!

That’s just struck me actually - I’m not sure why the service light would still be on the car when it went in for an MOT and service?

It shouldn't be on, especially if it was a recent service however the mechanic has to tell the car/on board computer it has been done. He might have forgotten to do that step. Definitely worth a call to them.

I don't think it's too many issues as such but they've all come at once so it will be expensive. However if it's been caused by potholes then even a brand new car will end up with the same issues.

If you like the car then get it done. Most are "one off" things that should last for another 10+ years providing you leave those holes alone. Don't forget new and used cars have gone up a lot since covid.

DP (supples motor parts) says £2000 for shock absorber’s is ridiculous unless it’s some special type of car.

I'd get an independent quote from another garage. If the faults are listed as majors and you technically can't drive the car, the MOT will more than likely try and rip your eyes out thinking your easiest option is to get them to do the work. Go onto euro car parts put in your reg and search shock absorbers, I'm 100% positive the parts won't be any where close to £2k (unless you drive a VERY expensive car)
FWIW I just had to redo my front suspension, both driver and passenger side collapsed when driving and parts were approx £130

Indeed, and if it’s being replaced at the same time as the spring then it should just be the cost of the part, there likely won’t be any additional labour involved. Also worth noting that ideally springs and shocks should be replaced in pairs across an axle.

Oh and the £130 was for the struts AND springs

It’s a big national chain that to be honest are known for being rip off merchants, I’ve decided after this I won’t be using them again and am going to seek out independent garages.
It’s also very true about car prices going up massively since covid/brexit too.
For info, I certainly don’t drive a very expensive car, wish I did!

You don’t need to have it done by them, get a second opinion.

Surely you would have noticed when driving that there was something amiss?

They were wanting almost £2000 for the shock absorbers too.

I missed this as I read it was £2K for it all. Hell no, get a second quote from elsewhere!

Take your car to a council mot centre. They don't do any repais but you will get an honest mot.

If you don't have one of them near you take it for a 2nd mot somewhere else.

a “council mot centre”

where is one of these?!

https://www.carveto.co.uk/mot-check/council-centres/

The plan is leaving it with them until tomorrow to get the repairs done, then another partial MOT and should pass.
Didnt notice anything amiss while driving but honestly I’m pretty unobservant car wise.

Apologies if I've missed it, but you don't tell us the make and model of the car. We can't really gauge the value without this knowledge.

Ultimately though, I have always been of the opinion that if the bodywork is OK, it's worth doing mechanical repairs. None of what you list is especially difficult, so shouldn't cost a fortune (unless the car is some weird unusual thing).

If it is diesel and you are only doing 3000 miles a year, get rid of it and get a petrol engine. You'll kill a diesel very quickly with low mileage like that. On that note, it isn't really good for any car to be doing such low mileage. You need to make sure it is always clean so that mud doesn't sit in areas prone to corrosion such as coil springs 😉

You don't need to get your repair carried out by the firm that did the MOT anyway. I would take a second quote for the repairs.