Basic maintenance to get a car through its MOT

Lights are always a good one to check. I am amazed by how many cars I see driving around with a light out.

Also make sure to check wipers, windscreen washers etc etc..

I have a question is it worth adding redex or premium fuel before a test? Emissions tests are getting stricter.

All lights including headlight angle, tire pressures, and tread levels, fluid levels (oil, washers, brake, clutch where it’s a separate reservoir), wiper blades, washer jet alignments, spare wheel (where applicable), horn. A look at the brakes and a sharp break from 40 mph with hands hovering over the wheel on a long/straight/flat/empty road to check for pull. Handbrake test (most mornings on a steep approach to traffic lights hill start…)

Mostly things I do every 2-8 weeks anyhow.

Other occasionally checks I do but not specifically for an MOT, where applicable – A yearly look at suspension coils to check for paint chips indicative of future metal failure, a glance to check that leaf springs haven’t wandered back to the 18th century, a look at suspension arms and joints, rotate a wheel up in a jack and listen to it (typically just when changing to/from winter wheels and tyres), a look at the sump, transfer box and diff(s) for oil leaks. **** you X-trail secondary sump of crap and your ceased, deformed bolts. On the BMW I plug in a Carly OBD unit and read out the fault codes once or twice a year.

I should probably check the 12v battery occasionally but I never have on anything and have never had a problem. I’ve never even seen t on the 3-series. I think it’s in the boot somewhere.

My wife’s car goes in for its first MOT this autumn. I think all I will check is fluids (just brakes and washers), tires and breaks. Difficult though as my safe brake test road is far enough from home that the battery pack will be low enough for braking to use the motor/generator and regenerate so it’s not a pure-hydraulic brake test.

MOTs are only really about making sure the car is working ok atathe very moment it’s tested, It’s not like a service that’s intended to keep the car running well for the next year or more. Things like tyres, if you have 1.7 mm tread over more than 75% of the tyre without any uneven wear patterns that would be a pass with advisory note but I’d never drive a vehicle with tyres in this condition. Brakes are a similar case, so long as they work on the rollers efficiency test they will pass but the pads or shoes could be really thin. Things like engine oil aren’t checked

Book the MOT and take it in, most of the potential issues should have been picked up in your regular checks and maintenance throughout the year.

If you haven’t spotted them the MOT tester will, that is what you are paying them for.

Unless something is obviously hanging off or broken I just stick it in for test, fix what it fails on, free re-test.