NCT - Side Slip failure

sparktest

Howdi...

Had my NCT today, car failed on a VISUAL, guy said both bushes on front were worn. Problem is the FAIL was not picked up by the test equipment, the document shows that the 'side-slip' was within tolerance but on the result section of the computer test for 'side-slip', N/D is stated [not done]. He was looking under the wheel arches for ages and came back with the visaul fault of worn bushes even though the computer passed them.

Surely paying €50 i should get the car tested fully with the equipment, the guy testing my motor took twice as long as the other cars passing thru - I recon he was on the look out for something, anything to fail the car.


Has this sort of thing happened anyone before?
Intend ringing customer service tomorrow demanding they put car thru 'side-slip' test.
More than happy to get my car fixed if needed but i recon its not, set of bushes before labour is going to be €150+.

Car is in perfect nick - 320cd M Sport.

Thanks.
Its always good to vent...

Seth Brundle

I think they do a visual before they do the side slip test. Its likely that it would have failed the SS test and therefore it wasn't required.
Get the bushes fixed and get them retested and avoid the fight with them over something relatively trivial.

garyt24

Hey. I had the exact same problem as you. I failed on the left back bush on a visual expection.... I felt hard done buy as it was on a visual expection and not the computer.

I heard rumours that each worker has to fail a certain amout of cars each month. Dont know how through this is but noting surprises me..

Crosshair

At the NCT centre the side slip test is before the visual checks, on your sheet there will be a value for sideslip but to the right will be N/D. What has happened is that your car has shown all to be ok except the front wishbone rear bushes, which are worn (very common on this model assuming its an e46), when your car passed over the slip plates the value was within spec.
There is no computer test for play or slack in individual components, this has to be evaluated by the tester. The reason ND is on the sheet is that the fitting of new bushes will cause the front geometry to change therefore the sideslip will have to be tested again.
Also on this car you will find a noted improvement in stability when you have those bushes replaced and the reduced tyre wear will not take long to offset the retest cost.
For the record i have no affiliation with NCT, i run an independant garage and these bushes are a routine replacement on e46's

mickdw

Original post stinks tbh, complaining about the tester using common sense & skill to pick up a common fault on this particular model.
If he let the car out and you were told at next service that they were gone, you would be on here saying that NCT testers are stupid, depending on test equipment for answer when a child should have seen the worn components. Surely an intelligent tester is allowed to use previous experience to steer him to know problem areas and by the sound of it, that is exactly what he was doing by spending that extra bit of time looking at these compoments