BMW MOT’s and Repairs

BMW MOT’s and Repairs discussed by AP Autocare

As a car owner, everyone should know that having their car MOT’d annually is their responsibility, and it is a legal requirement to ensure the car they are driving is roadworthy and safe.

What is an MOT?

An MOT test checks that your vehicle meets road safety and environmental standards.

What does MOT stand for?

MOT stands for Ministry of Transport which is now the Department of Transport.

How often does your BMW need to be MOT’d?

When you first buy a brand new BMW it has a full and legal MOT for the first 3 years. After 3 years you have to legally book it in for an MOT test by an MOT approved garage. Following this, it has to be MOT’d every year on or before the vehicles MOT expiry date. 

When should your BMW be MOT’d?

You must get an MOT for your vehicle by either:

• the third anniversary of its registration
• the anniversary of its last MOT, if it’s over 3 years old

What is the earliest you can get your BMW MOT’d?

An MOT lasts for a year. The date it runs out is printed on your current MOT pass certificate.

You can get an MOT up to a month (minus a day) before it runs out and keeps the same renewal date. As an example; if your MOT runs out on 5th August, the earliest you can get an MOT to keep the same renewal date and for your car to remain legally road safe is 6th July the following year.

Who can carry out the first MOT for your BMW?

Only an approved MOT Test Centre can MOT your BMW or any other vehicle in fact. You can choose to take it to a main BMW dealer, however, the other option is to take it to a BMW Specialist Garage like AP Autocare.

Only garages showing the blue sign with 3 white triangles can carry out an MOT on your vehicle. 

How much does an MOT cost?

The maximum cost for an MOT for a car is £54.85 and £29.65 for a standard motorbike. AP Autocare charge £50.00 for Cars, LCV’s and offer a free retest if there are any failure points when it is first MOT’d.

What is included in an MOT?

Important working parts of your vehicle are checked to make sure they meet the legal standard, in summary, checks include; brakes, fuel system, lights, mirrors, seatbelts, windscreen wipers and exhaust system. It doesn’t cover the condition of the engine, clutch and gearbox.

You can watch your vehicle being MOT’d from a viewing area which all approved MOT Test Centres/Garages must have.

Can my BMW partially pass its Mot and still be legal to drive?

A vehicle will either pass its MOT or fail and if it fails after the MOT expiry date then it is not legal to drive.

What happens if my BMW fails its MOT?

The garage will give you an MOT summary document which tells you the areas it has passed and failed on, and a good and professional garage will be able to provide you with a quote for the work and fix the failed areas. If you decide to take it somewhere else to rectify the issues then you can arrange a date to bring your car back to be retested before its MOT expiry date.

You should only ever drive your car if it meets the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times otherwise you could be fined up to £1,000, be banned from driving, receive 3 penalty points on your licence, or seriously hurt yourself or others.

If there is anything that has failed which is deemed dangerous or major it has to be fixed before you are able to drive the car again. Driving a car which is deemed to have dangerous faults is a risk to you, your passengers and other drivers.

If your current Mot certificate is still valid and there are no dangerous or major problems listed as fails then you can take your car somewhere else to be fixed and bring it back again at a later date (before the expiry) to have it retested.

The fail is recorded in the national MOT database and you will receive a refusal MOT test certificate. 

You are able to appeal the outcome of the MOT if you feel it is incorrect and these details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/problems-with-your-test-result

Am I charged again for my BMW to be retested if it fails its MOT?

There are different rules around retesting and you can be charged a partial or full re-test dependent on the circumstances. You can find these rules here: https://www.gov.uk/getting-an-mot/retests 

What happens when my BMW passes its MOT?

When your BMW passes its MOT you are given an MOT Certificate which certifies it has legally been MOT’d and passed and it is recorded in the national MOT database. Good and professional garages will give you a minor or advisory list for you to keep an eye on or fix in the future.

How do I know if my MOT Certificate for my BMW is genuine?

You can see if an MOT Test Centre or Garage are an approved MOT Test Centre if they show the blue sign with 3 white triangles can carry out an MOT on your vehicle. If you are still unsure then you can check your MOT status here: https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status. AP Autocare is an approved MOT Test Centre for BMW’s and many other types and sizes of vehicles.

How do I know if my BMW has a valid MOT certificate if I brought it second hand?

You should receive a copy of its MOT certificate when you first buy the car but if not you can check it here: https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status using your vehicle registration number.

If I brought a brand new BMW what date will it need to have an MOT?

Check your V5 Vehicle Registration Form and it will need to be MOT’d 3 years after its registration date to ensure it remains legally roadworthy and safe. You can get it MOT’d one month minus a day earlier than its registration date. 

As an example:

Car Registration Date: 5th August 2016

MOT Due Date: 5th August 2019

Earliest Date for MOT: 6th July 2019

What do the MOT outcomes mean?

MOT Fails:

Dangerous – Your vehicle has a dangerous fault. The vehicle cannot be driven until the fault has been repaired

Major – Your vehicle has a major fail. The repair needs to be completed as soon as possible and prior to its MOT expiry date

MOT Pass:

Pass – Your vehicle passes and meets the legal standard

Advisory – Your vehicle has passed its MOT but there is an issue that you need to keep an eye on and repair if it gets worse.

Minor – Your vehicle has passed the MOT, however, it has an issue that needs to be corrected as soon as possible as if you don’t get it fixed it could get much worse and become dangerous.

What should I do if my BMW fails its MOT?

If your BMW fails its MOT then if you have taken it to a professional and trusted garage to be MOT’d you should ask them to give you a quote for the work that needs to be carried out. If you feel you need to, you can always phone around a few other garages in the area and ask them to quote for the work you need doing but only if the car hasn’t failed with dangerous or major faults as you will then be unable to legally drive it. 

BMW Repairs

What should I do if there is something wrong with my BMW?

If you think or know there is something wrong with your BMW then you should take it to a BMW Specialist Garage like AP Autocare who have the diagnostic equipment and expert knowledge to quickly find out what the problem is and fix it. 

What should I do if my BMW isn’t driving well?

If your BMW isn’t driving well it could be a number of things that need resolving; power steering, wheel alignment, tyre pressure, suspension, brakes, clutch and the list goes on. A BMW Specialist garage like AP Autocare has the diagnostic equipment and expert BMW mechanics who will quickly be able to establish what is wrong with your car and provide you with a competitive and no-obligation quote. You can save up to 30% on repairs for you BMW at AP Autocare compared to a BMW dealership and the work they carry out is no different. 

What should I do if my BMW is using more petrol or diesel than it did?

You may not notice this immediately but if you realise that your BMW is using more petrol or diesel than it was then a BMW Specialist Garage will be able to find out why and fix it for you. 

What should I do if the engine of my BMW doesn’t sound right?

If your engine is making noises or it doesn’t sound right then you should check its oil levels straight away. This is something you should check every month as part of your standard checks to ensure your engine works as it should do. Driving your BMW with oil levels lower than they should be will cause damage to your engine and result in costly repairs. The engine can seize up, grind and completely blow without the right levels of oil. If your BMW is using a lot of oil then you may have a leak and you should always take it to a BMW Specialist Garage for them to diagnose the problem and fix it. You can save yourself up to 30% on repairs for your BMW at AP Autocare, compared to a BMW main dealer. 

What should I do if any warning lights come on in my BMW?

There are some warning lights that you can resolve yourself; oil, water, tyre pressure but anything else you should book it into your BMW Specialist garage straight away as continuing to drive it could be dangerous and could result in more costly repairs later down the line. 

What should I do if my BMW starts intermittently?

If your car starts sometimes and not others then it is likely that you have a problem with your battery. AP Autocare can test your battery quickly and let you know if it needs changing, or they will establish if there are other issues that need rectifying.

What should I do if I need the bodywork repaired on my BMW?

AP Autocare is a BMW Specialist Garage and can carry out small and large bodywork repairs on BMW’s. We only use BMW parts and paint and it can cost you up to 30% less, compared to a BMW main dealer. We have our own bodywork repair centre and can repair anything from small scuffs and scrapes to accident repairs, wheel refurbishment and classic vehicle restoration.

About AP Autocare

AP Autocare is one of the most reputable independent MOT, Repair and Service Centres in Bristol and have been in operation for over 40 years.

We are located within walking distance from Bristol City Centre and Temple Meads Train Station and are ideal if you work within the city or require a train home.

We offer a courtesy car service if you need to use your car whilst it is with us or can arrange a lift to work/home or collection and delivery to ensure that being without a car isn’t an inconvenience for you. 

The services we offer are friendly and professional at competitive rates, without the costs associated with manufacturer main dealers. You can trust us to be honest about the work that needs doing on your car as we want you to come back to us again and again. 

We offer services for all vehicles of any age and size from small cars to light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (Class 7). 

Our Services include:

• MOT’s
• Bodywork & Paint Repairs
• Engine Diagnostics and Repair
• Annual and Interim Services
• Air Conditioning
• Tyres & Exhausts
• Brakes
• Clutches
• Remapping
• Suspension & Steering
• Welding
• Battery Testing & Replacement
• Wheel Alignment
• Tyre Replacement
• Remapping

We are a specialist and recognised BMW garage and for many more car manufacturers including; Citroen, Peugeot, Mini, Porsche, Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda and Land Rover specialists with dealer level diagnostic equipment, saving you up to to 30% on main dealer services and prices.

If you are looking for an MOT, Repair or Service for your BMW, please contact us today on 0117 963 8916 or book online here and one of our experts will be able to answer any questions you may have and arrange an MOT or Repair appointment for you.