Passed MOT

[Beaker]

Yeah George just passed his MOT trouble free :) :D :) ;)

Lindsey

[topgear]

Congratulations! :-)

[Maria]

YAY!! Go George!! :)

[malcsmaesty]

Well done George!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :cool:

[E_T_V]

Only just though as the emissions were a little worrying. The CO was 1.8% I think which is fine, but the HC were around 900ppm (the limit is 1200ppm) Any ideas why? The engine is about 14,000 miles old and runs sweetly no smoke and doesn't use any oil. I think possibly it is a little too lean and missing sometimes causing the HC to be high. Does that sound right?

[e692wtt]

As long as the results give a pass, don't worry. If anything, I'd say the mixture is a tad rich , as when in perfect tune these engines can produce emissions as low as a cat-equipped car.

Well done on the MoT pass. My Monty passed this year except on exhaust emissions, and that cost £15 but then my garage gave me a gallon can of Waxoyl, which was nice...

The other other Rich.:cool:

[Dave]

The high emmisions (that really aren't that high) could be just a result of a cold engine. If you let it get really warmed up before the test it will bring them down a bit. I usually get the engine hot and turn the mixture down a bit before the test... then turn it back after.

Dave

[E_T_V]

Don't think it is running rich considering how white the spark plugs are and the book figure for a maestro is 2.0%CO. Might be the fact that they didn't clear the inlet manifold before they took the readings. (Does anyone know if it is a compulsary part of the test?). I was amazed the difference that made during its last test when I could smell the petrol coming out of its exhaust on idle (as it was partially missing at idle due to a blown head gasket). I never thought it would pass but after revving the engine for a few seconds the test results came back spot on.

Just a tip for anyone who has similar problems, get the garage to clear the inlet manifol by revving it prior to the test, and also if it passes the CO test but fails the Hydrocarbons one at idle they have to retest it for HC's at 2000rpm which if it then passes the emissions tests it passes its emissions test.

Might be handy to know if you garage isn't the most helpful about the test. The last one I went to tried to fail it because it has air horns. When I asked the manager to show me the rule where they were disallowed he couldn't find it (not suprising really as they are fine). Needless to say I don't go back there anymore.

[e692wtt]

Not running rich exactly, just a tad rich . It passed the test, that's the main thing. Turning the wick down a fraction of a turn is all it needs for lower CO and HC, but you wouldn't notice any difference...

I shouldn't bother...

The other other Rich.:)

[MGTurbo]

900ppm is fine for an older carbed car. 1.8% is also quite low, i'd aim for 2.5% and you'll find the hydrocarbons may drop as a result.

Gareth

[matthewsemple]

Great to hear of another Maestro passing an MOT and being on the road for another year. The more the merrier, let's defy these morons who are trying to get our cars off the roads.

I have found a sympathetic garage in Bristol that passed my MG1600 first time last year and found only one fault on my Turbo. My experience is that garages that advertise cheap MOTs are paricularly likely to find tonnes of faults.

This garage really went out of its way to source a water pump for my R-Series MG1600 recently and saved me a fortune when they fitted some new brake pads after ATS Euromaster tried to rip me off and sting me for £298 - more than I paid for the car.

[e692wtt]

The key to it all... "find a sympathetic garage". Couldn't put it better myself:)

The other other Rich.

[John]

I found one called Kennedy's in Dutton near Runcorn and would thoroughly recommend them, they charge nearly full price for a test but will have a twidle here and there to get it through and are very reasonable on repairs. Test are done while you waitthey don't make appointments so sometimes there's a queue and there's usually a fortnights wait for for repairs because they are so popular. I've always found them very helpful if anyone is in that area.

[Beaker]

Well I am pleased to say another one in our family has just passed its MOT trouble free. My VandenPlas (Geoffrey)

It failed first time on the drivers side headlight beam being too high, washerjets not working (I had waxed over the jets by accident) and the handbrake apparently wasn't effective enough. Our MOT man seems to enjoy failing our cars (don't think he has passed any of them first time yet), altho he was very impressed with the condition of Geoffrey and asked me if it was genuine mileage :)

So now all thats on the list is to get him taxed and insured at some point.

[MaestroMatt]

Congratulations! Always nice to keep another Oporto Red R-series VP on the road. I am slightly saddened, however, that I shan't be able to have Geoffrey for spares for at least another year... ;)

[Beaker]

George (the ex-police white Maestro) went in for his MOT at 9:15am this morning, by 9:45am he had come out with a nice new MOT for another year :) Yaaah! :D

Couldn't ask for a more reliable car, it is certainly cheap motoring :)

[MG1600S]

My Oporto red VDP passed on Wednesday no problems too! It has recently been christened "Big Brother" for reasons you will see on MGM day! Was the VDP Maestro available in any other colours as well!!!!????

My MG 1600 Passed on Thursday - so in all a good result!

[Austin-Rover]

George is little short of becoming a legend. The Maestro that runs and runs...

:)

[matthewsemple]

Was the VDP Maestro available in any other colours as well!!!!????

http://i19.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/02/98/11_1_b.JPG

Vanden Plas S-Series with digital dash in Opaline Green - on ebay at the moment - no bids :worried:

My MG 1600 Passed on Thursday - so in all a good result!
Can't wait to see your black MG1600 - will be there in my blue one.

[tony]

well done george, my not be the most pristeen car i have ever seen but theres not that many cars that can sail through a mot with no work . even bmf failed its mot today too after 20 years the bottom ball joint has too much play in it, ho well

[matthewsemple]

It has recently been christened "Big Brother" for reasons you will see on MGM day!

Guessing here... Nicolette MacKenzie has taken on a Geordie accent?

Um.. the headline has sagged like the lowered ceiling in the Big Brother house?

[MG1600S]

Guessing here... Nicolette MacKenzie has taken on a Geordie accent?

Um.. the headline has sagged like the lowered ceiling in the Big Brother house?

Nope, its more the Geordie at the beginning of the programe - giving some commentry on the highlights.....

[B18 GPC]

mine cant fail on rust - *** filler dont rust ! :nonono: :rolleyes: :laugh: :censored:

[e692wtt]

Was the VDP Maestro available in any other colours as well!!!!????


Here's my VDP Maestro 'Cracow' in Arum White. Now on the road and minus the red tape on the bumper and had a damn good clean and some tlc. He will be at MG Saloon Day :) .

The rust in the third pic, on the front wing, is the worst on the car, he is solid underneath. Just needs 2 front wings and cosmetics :cool: .


We think he is the oldest VDP known to the Club. His body number is 116707 and he was registered 1/4/83.

[matthewsemple]

We think he is the oldest VDP known to the Club. His body number is 116707 and he was registered 1/4/83.
Got to be as it was registered less than a month after the car was launched. Probably the oldest Vanden Plas in the country, let alone the club.