My Model 3’s First MOT

[Dilly]

My car is 3 years old on the 26th so I booked an early MOT for today (just in case).

My local garage has serviced our family cars for the last 25 years. I know the owner well and trust his team implicitly.

When I booked the test a fortnight ago, I gave them the Tesla MOT guide (from this forum). When I turned up this morning they had bought a set of jacking pucks for the future. That’s what I call service.

The car passed with nothing to watch out for.

 

[Jonnnoy]

Good to read! Which garage have you kindly enlightened for our shared benefit?

 

[Dilly]

Good to read! Which garage have you kindly enlightened for our shared benefit?

TES at North Tuddenham

 

[Medved_77]

I'm sitting in the waiting room for my first MOT.

Off to a good start, reception asked if there was a PIN enabled, MOT tester got in the car unaided and drove onto the ramp within 2 minutes.

Hoping the days of garages being unprepared to work on Tesla's are behind us.

 

[Medved_77]

Do MOT testers get exemptions from road laws when conducting brake tests? E.G. 50mph in a 30?

 

[Dilly]

Do MOT testers get exemptions from road laws when conducting brake tests? E.G. 50mph in a 30?

NOPE! You get the ticket, they get the bill and the points
30 years ago a mechanic took my Subaru for a test spin at 95 in a 60 limit. He had 9 points and lost his licence.

That garage lost a customer

 

[Medved_77]

NOPE! You get the ticket, they get the bill and the points
30 years ago a mechanic took my Subaru for a test spin at 95 in a 60 limit. He had 9 points and lost his licence.

That garage lost a customer

Interesting

The garage was part of a very prominent chain in the UK and had a rolling road, so was surprised when they went off with it.

Was just monitoring on the app, seemed like several acceleration/deceleration tests. I'll check the Teslamate logs later if they're granular enough to pick up on it.

Passed with no advisories FWIW.

 

[Medved_77]

I'll check the Teslamate logs later if they're granular enough to pick up on it.

Wow! 57mph in a 30mph zone.

 

[GlynG]

Mine is due and booked in for the 17th March - the only bit I'm not confident with is the headlight aim - I have made a bit of kit for adjusting the headlamps out of wood - 60cm high, from centre point 72cm either side, car reversed 9.5mtr from the wall i place the frame up against - and a laser distance meter when reversing to get that 9.5 mtr from the centre point of the wheels, Its all adjusted so fingers crossed they agree its OK.

 

[Dilly]

Mine is due and booked in for the 17th March - the only bit I'm not confident with is the headlight aim - I have made a bit of kit for adjusting the headlamps out of wood - 60cm high, from centre point 72cm either side, car reversed 9.5mtr from the wall i place the frame up against - and a laser distance meter when reversing to get that 9.5 mtr from the centre point of the wheels, Its all adjusted so fingers crossed they agree its OK.

Tesla SC adjusted mine a few weeks ago. They don’t have the tech you use! Just a line of tape on the workshop floor and 10 panels up on the roller shutter

 

[Dilly]

Wow! 57mph in a 30mph zone.

View attachment 913728

I’d be having words about that. I expect the tester was having fun rather than serious testing. Mine never left the premises during the MOT.

 

[CWT3LR]

I’d be having words about that. I expect the tester was having fun rather than serious testing. Mine never left the premises during the MOT.

No vehicle should ever be driven as part of an MOT, other than from were it was parked, onto ramp / rolling road, and back to parking.

 

[browellm]

More than a whiff of the Ferris Buellers about that. Cheeky sods.

 

[CWT3LR]

More than a whiff of the Ferris Buellers about that. Cheeky sods.

Did the technician look like this guy?

 

[Medved_77]

I’d be having words about that. I expect the tester was having fun rather than serious testing. Mine never left the premises during the MOT.

I'm going to forgive him as he was courteous enough to put a plastic sheet over the drivers seat before his test drive.

 

[pheo]

No vehicle should ever be driven as part of an MOT, other than from were it was parked, onto ramp / rolling road, and back to parking.

100% agree with this

 

[Medved_77]

No vehicle should ever be driven as part of an MOT, other than from were it was parked, onto ramp / rolling road, and back to parking.

Interesting.

Even more bizarre was that he knew I was in the waiting room as I handed him the keycard and spent most of the time observing him through the window.

 

[CWT3LR]

Interesting.

Even more bizarre was that he knew I was in the waiting room as I handed him the keycard and spent most of the time observing him through the window.

Very different from servicing, where any work to running gear, brakes, steering etc- where if it ISN'T road tested, you might be wary.

 

[Medved_77]

No vehicle should ever be driven as part of an MOT, other than from were it was parked, onto ramp / rolling road, and back to parking.

Actually, I don't think that's correct, just read through the MOT testers manual:

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - Introduction - Guidance - GOV.UK

Definitions, vehicle classes, reasons to refuse to test a vehicle, narrow track vehicles, historic vehicles and inspection procedures for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

Doesn't excuse the speeds, but maybe they had grounds to do a road test. IIRC it was common on AWD cars a while ago, as was harder to test braking on a rolling road. Not that I have AWD.

 

[CWT3LR]

Actually, I don't think that's correct, just read through the MOT testers manual:

View attachment 913775

MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles - Introduction - Guidance - GOV.UK

Definitions, vehicle classes, reasons to refuse to test a vehicle, narrow track vehicles, historic vehicles and inspection procedures for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

www.gov.uk

Doesn't excuse the speeds, but maybe they had grounds to do a road test. IIRC it was common on AWD cars a while ago, as was harder to test braking on a rolling road. Not that I have AWD.

Generally for large goods vehicles or passenger service vehicles, and then typically to test steering components, and occassionally for some vehicles to see if visisble smoke is emitted. Brake testing is done on a rolling road. Most MOT testers are so pushed for time they would be reluctant to get the car off the lift to tool around in it - but he was probably having fun so no harm done.