MOT land

[creedon]

My first MOT on my first E21, it needs welding in 2 places and some lights for the rear number plate.

Anyone got rear number plate lights for an old E21 I can buy?

Also, Jim did you say that there was a guy near you on Atlantic St who welds?

If I get the work done within 10 days I get a free retest

Any help appreciated

Alan

[arshad76]

Hi Alan,

I'm not sure where you are in Manchester, but the mechanic I use for MOTs is cheap and fair. His names Hugh and the garage is in Hulme called Pat Rafters 0161 226 2797. Ask him for a quote, they do welding too and he's known as an honest bloke - even if he can get a little grumpy sometimes! Tell him Ash recommended you and that will help your cause. He charges me next to nothing, but that's because he'd rather have repeat business and he knows I recommend him to others.

I wouldn't bother with buying second hand lights if I were you. You can buy them over the counter. Williams is less than a mile away from that garage and they will cost you a couple of quid.

Good luck!

[e21-Mark]

New lights will be worth the effort/cost.

[creedon]

Hi Alan,

I'm not sure where you are in Manchester, but the mechanic I use for MOTs is cheap and fair. His names Hugh and the garage is in Hulme called Pat Rafters 0161 226 2797. Ask him for a quote, they do welding too and he's known as an honest bloke - even if he can get a little grumpy sometimes! Tell him Ash recommended you and that will help your cause. He charges me next to nothing, but that's because he'd rather have repeat business and he knows I recommend him to others.

I wouldn't bother with buying second hand lights if I were you. You can buy them over the counter. Williams is less than a mile away from that garage and they will cost you a couple of quid.

Good luck!

Thanks for that, Arshad. I live in Altrincham but have good connections in Hulme. Just double checking something, the number you gave looks like it's for Cedric's Garage in Hulme rather than Pat Rafter's which seems to be near MRI. Is it Cedric's you meant?

Thanks

[arshad76]

yep thats it

[creedon]

New lights will be worth the effort/cost.

£27.50 + vat each for the lights from the dealer but £1.10 each for the bulbs. It's gonna have to be sellotape repair while I save up for the new lights!

[e21-Mark]

Bloody hell!

I need a couple of those too!

[creedon]

yep thats it

Booked in for tomorrow. Name drop helped too

Ta for that

[arshad76]

No problem Creedon, I tend to have an on/off experience with mechanics, but Hugh a fair guy, so do let me know how it goes.

Apologies for the light advice, I actually miscontrued your question to think it was bulbs you were after and not the lights themselves. Somethings just dawned on me. If someone can confirm the light units on an American spec E21 rear light numberplates are the same as those from European models, I actually have one. It cost me £18 including P&P from ebay America, but I'd be happy with a tenner to put towards the fuel tanks I'm going to take off Jim

[creedon]

I'm not sure about the similarity between the american and european ones but I reckon it'll fit. If it doesn't i can sell it on anyway. I'll take it, good price!
What's the drill with arranging payment, etc as I've not bought anything through this forum before (apart from a car, of course!)?

Cheers

[drjim]

Procedure should be that you come to my workshop - ideally in your E21, but tricky if no MOT. Arshad comes at the same time.

I give Arshad some fuel tanks, he gives me money (lots).
Arshad gives you a light, you give him money (little).
I give you some headlamp covers, no money needed.
Arshad gives me a gearknob, no money needed.

We all look at your car
We all look at Arshad's motoronic conversion and compare it to mine.
We discuss E21's.
Maybe we take some photos.

I may have a spare number plate light somewhere too. If you need one desparately to get through MOT I can take one off the Baur as long as you give it back.

Jim

[creedon]

That's a kind offer, thanks, but I think as long as the bulbs are working they said they'd pass it. What happened was there were no lights in the bumper but I got a spare bumper (well, the original bumper really, which had been a bit bashed) with the car and found them still attached. One was a bit smashed but I think it'll get through the test.

That sounds like a plan, anyway. I have to pick the car up from Hulme once the welding has been done so I'm guessing that will be in the next couple of days, then it'll go in for the free retest, which of course will be hassle free, then i can buy a tax disc (ahem) and away we go.

If you let me know when you two plan to meet I'd be happy to come along ans pick up the light then and chat, etc

nice one

[arshad76]

Sounds good Jim, I plan to pick up E21 on Wednesday, although I might have to leave it until the weekend as it's a bit of a pain to get to donnie at the moment. Either way, no probs with looking under the bonnet or if you need me to send pics.

Creedon I actually have an apartment around the corner from hugh's. I doubt we'll bump into each other because of our work patterns. Anyway, I take it you've given it to him to get the work done - hope it goes well and let me know what happens

[creedon]

Sounds good Jim, I plan to pick up E21 on Wednesday, although I might have to leave it until the weekend as it's a bit of a pain to get to donnie at the moment. Either way, no probs with looking under the bonnet or if you need me to send pics.

Creedon I actually have an apartment around the corner from hugh's. I doubt we'll bump into each other because of our work patterns. Anyway, I take it you've given it to him to get the work done - hope it goes well and let me know what happens

Yes the two bits of welding cost £70 and included him spraying black stuff (can't remember the name of it) underneath too. Really decent, actually. Shame he's so far from Altrincham!

Cheers for that Arshad76

[creedon]

Next issue is I bought 2 new bulbs for the number plate lights, gave everything a bit of a clean, switched on the lights and...NOTHING. The garage guy reckoned the wires are live, but he thought they might not be earthed. I don't know much about this kind of stuff but it looked like where the casing of the light is screwed into the bumper is the earth.

Any ideas?
Alan