Sylvester
Registered user
This is my 3rd experience of TUV time in Cologne. I've had the bike for 7 years. 1st time was a disaster that took all day as I had to return the bike to totaly stock. 2nd I found a local bike shop that was no probs so I returned to the same place this year. I wasn't keen to dig the bike out as it was Minus 6 snowy as F$ck with a nice coat of ice under the snow but needs must etc so off I go.
Got the bill and two certificates. 1st was a fail for "Bad Brakes" and no rear reflector. Hmmm. 2nd certificate was a pass but still no rear reflector. Horray. So what was the problem with the brakes says I? Back brake is crap says Tuv man. Erm....all BMW drum brakes are crap says I, so why is it ok now. The shop "fixed it". How? Erm...they all look at each other. So, as I had replaced the shoes, pads etc last summer I knew the brakes were as good as they get and I was very supprised that they snagged the brakes. The shop tried to palm me off with "We adjusted them" (price 30€). So I asked how they did that as they feel exactly the same as when I rode the bike there. Basicaly they told me that as the bike is not totaly stock (how many are these days?) I am lucky to even get a certificate at all. The 30€ also included the preparation for the TUV. As the bike is pampered within an inch of its life and gets more maintenance per year than a helicopter how can you "prepare" it for the TUV? Did a Major last November when all the fluids were changed, even the brake fluid. It really pisses me off, I can't find an honest place, so totaly F&cked off with with this pantomime every two years. If I complain any more vocaly I'm sure I would be back to senario 1 and putting it back to as near stock as I can get. At least I didn't have the argument over the Wilbers shock again. First TUV I had to prove that the shock was a genuine replacement for the original. Even with the paperwork from Wilbers they would not believe the part number was for my bike. I thought I'd sussed it this time. Now I have a Triumph Sprint to TUV this summer. That should be fun. Sorry rant over, feel better now.
Got the bill and two certificates. 1st was a fail for "Bad Brakes" and no rear reflector. Hmmm. 2nd certificate was a pass but still no rear reflector. Horray. So what was the problem with the brakes says I? Back brake is crap says Tuv man. Erm....all BMW drum brakes are crap says I, so why is it ok now. The shop "fixed it". How? Erm...they all look at each other. So, as I had replaced the shoes, pads etc last summer I knew the brakes were as good as they get and I was very supprised that they snagged the brakes. The shop tried to palm me off with "We adjusted them" (price 30€). So I asked how they did that as they feel exactly the same as when I rode the bike there. Basicaly they told me that as the bike is not totaly stock (how many are these days?) I am lucky to even get a certificate at all. The 30€ also included the preparation for the TUV. As the bike is pampered within an inch of its life and gets more maintenance per year than a helicopter how can you "prepare" it for the TUV? Did a Major last November when all the fluids were changed, even the brake fluid. It really pisses me off, I can't find an honest place, so totaly F&cked off with with this pantomime every two years. If I complain any more vocaly I'm sure I would be back to senario 1 and putting it back to as near stock as I can get. At least I didn't have the argument over the Wilbers shock again. First TUV I had to prove that the shock was a genuine replacement for the original. Even with the paperwork from Wilbers they would not believe the part number was for my bike. I thought I'd sussed it this time. Now I have a Triumph Sprint to TUV this summer. That should be fun. Sorry rant over, feel better now.
MOT / TUV type tests over the entirety of the EU.
