Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Stargazer57N on 21 May 2016, 01:47:21

Title: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: Stargazer57N on 21 May 2016, 01:47:21
Since buying my first ever Omega a few weeks ago I've been trying to sort out the noisy diff, possible wheel bearing noise,  handling and pulling to the left problems. Changed the rear shockers and diff oil which helped but still felt that there was something not quite right.
When to check the tread depths on the tyres today as I knew two of them are wearing a little , but still OK for a few thousand miles yet though. But check this out! I noticed the tyre sizes, OSF & NSR 225/55w16 XL NSF & OSR 215/55w16 XL. It's no wonder the diff was sounding noise as it was trying to cope with the 5.5mm difference in the rolling radius of the tyres.
 The car was MOTed before I bought it and this sort of thing makes me really P##ses off as it make a mockery of the MOT system, and of good MOT testers, of which I like to class myself as one. Plus it gives no a confidence view of garages to the general public and gives all mechanics a bad name.
I'm really considering applying to the DVSA for a job as a VI as shady dealers like this need shutting down. 
Rant over, on the plus side diff and possible wheel bearing noise has gone, so will the road noise when I get shot of the eXtra Load tyres.
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: 05omegav6 on 21 May 2016, 03:33:55
Presumably you actually looked at it when you collected it... ::)

Would strongly recommend retaining XL tyres as it's an estate,  even more so if it's used for towing...
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: BazaJT on 21 May 2016, 07:15:18
Must say out of all the cars I've ever bought,while I've looked at tread depth when picking it up I've never checked tyre sizes!
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: 05omegav6 on 21 May 2016, 08:28:09
Must say out of all the cars I've ever bought,while I've looked at tread depth when picking it up I've never checked tyre sizes!
They would look odd on the rim...
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: Lazydocker on 21 May 2016, 09:00:50
Must say out of all the cars I've ever bought,while I've looked at tread depth when picking it up I've never checked tyre sizes!
They would look odd on the rim...

Probably not enough to notice TBH :-\
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: Nick W on 21 May 2016, 09:17:32
Must say out of all the cars I've ever bought,while I've looked at tread depth when picking it up I've never checked tyre sizes!
They would look odd on the rim...

Probably not enough to notice TBH :-\

Especially as you can't see both sides at the same time.
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: 05omegav6 on 21 May 2016, 09:42:02
Opposite corners unless I read it wrong :-\
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: TheBoy on 21 May 2016, 10:01:47
An MOT is not a measure of how good a car is.  Its there to remove certain obvious deficiencies by either informing or enforcing the owner rectifies them.

It is not a guarantee of safety or roadworthiness...
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: Shackeng on 21 May 2016, 10:34:32
Must say out of all the cars I've ever bought,while I've looked at tread depth when picking it up I've never checked tyre sizes!

I was on an orchestra tour half way round Europe with a Tristar, when engineers arrived from London to change a wheel which had been fitted with the wrong type of tyre. :-[ I was happy with tyre conditions, which is critical, but checking tyre details was not normally included in the walkround! :-[ :y
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: henryd on 21 May 2016, 12:52:09
Since buying my first ever Omega a few weeks ago I've been trying to sort out the noisy diff, possible wheel bearing noise,  handling and pulling to the left problems. Changed the rear shockers and diff oil which helped but still felt that there was something not quite right.
When to check the tread depths on the tyres today as I knew two of them are wearing a little , but still OK for a few thousand miles yet though. But check this out! I noticed the tyre sizes, OSF & NSR 225/55w16 XL NSF & OSR 215/55w16 XL. It's no wonder the diff was sounding noise as it was trying to cope with the 5.5mm difference in the rolling radius of the tyres.
 The car was MOTed before I bought it and this sort of thing makes me really P##ses off as it make a mockery of the MOT system, and of good MOT testers, of which I like to class myself as one. Plus it gives no a confidence view of garages to the general public and gives all mechanics a bad name.
I'm really considering applying to the DVSA for a job as a VI as shady dealers like this need shutting down. 
Rant over, on the plus side diff and possible wheel bearing noise has gone, so will the road noise when I get shot of the eXtra Load tyres.

Who's to say the tyres were not the ones it was mot'd with ::)
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: Vicar on 21 May 2016, 12:55:23
I had similar on a vectra I bought many moons ago, listed with "abs and tc lights keep coming on" bought it for peanuts.  :)
When I got home I changed the front tyres for correct size so they match the rears. Usual 65profile on the rear but 55 profile on the front. Never had the lights ever come back on. ;D
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: 05omegav6 on 21 May 2016, 15:23:49
Since buying my first ever Omega a few weeks ago I've been trying to sort out the noisy diff, possible wheel bearing noise,  handling and pulling to the left problems. Changed the rear shockers and diff oil which helped but still felt that there was something not quite right.
When to check the tread depths on the tyres today as I knew two of them are wearing a little , but still OK for a few thousand miles yet though. But check this out! I noticed the tyre sizes, OSF & NSR 225/55w16 XL NSF & OSR 215/55w16 XL. It's no wonder the diff was sounding noise as it was trying to cope with the 5.5mm difference in the rolling radius of the tyres.
 The car was MOTed before I bought it and this sort of thing makes me really P##ses off as it make a mockery of the MOT system, and of good MOT testers, of which I like to class myself as one. Plus it gives no a confidence view of garages to the general public and gives all mechanics a bad name.
I'm really considering applying to the DVSA for a job as a VI as shady dealers like this need shutting down. 
Rant over, on the plus side diff and possible wheel bearing noise has gone, so will the road noise when I get shot of the eXtra Load tyres.

Who's to say the tyres were not the ones it was mot'd with ::)
Got that T shirt :-X

OP has started going through replacing bits before noticing, yet claims to be a tester... then gets all uppity blaming everyone else when he realises that he's potentially spent good money on a dog... ::)

Sorry, but does make I chuckle...
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: baggers on 21 May 2016, 18:55:19
Since buying my first ever Omega a few weeks ago I've been trying to sort out the noisy diff, possible wheel bearing noise,  handling and pulling to the left problems. Changed the rear shockers and diff oil which helped but still felt that there was something not quite right.
When to check the tread depths on the tyres today as I knew two of them are wearing a little , but still OK for a few thousand miles yet though. But check this out! I noticed the tyre sizes, OSF & NSR 225/55w16 XL NSF & OSR 215/55w16 XL. It's no wonder the diff was sounding noise as it was trying to cope with the 5.5mm difference in the rolling radius of the tyres.
 The car was MOTed before I bought it and this sort of thing makes me really P##ses off as it make a mockery of the MOT system, and of good MOT testers, of which I like to class myself as one. Plus it gives no a confidence view of garages to the general public and gives all mechanics a bad name.
I'm really considering applying to the DVSA for a job as a VI as shady dealers like this need shutting down. 
Rant over, on the plus side diff and possible wheel bearing noise has gone, so will the road noise when I get shot of the eXtra Load tyres.

Who's to say the tyres were not the ones it was mot'd with ::)

Seen that done a few times.
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: Stargazer57N on 21 May 2016, 19:01:06
Who's to say the tyres were not the ones it was mot'd with ::)
[/quote]

The seller told me the tyres were changed for the MOT obviously the tester didn't check them on the retest.

Harris I only replaced bits that needed changing anyway, and my Omega is definatly no dog. I wasn't getting uppity I was just posting this as a warning to others when buying cars.
Title: Re: Don't buy a car on the MOT alone
Post by: 05omegav6 on 21 May 2016, 20:46:23
Caveat Emptor springs to mind ::)

Post read as a dodgy MoT rant though...