Upcoming MOT

[bronty]

I have a Z3 2.8 auto 1997 90K that has been put away in a heated garage since last September.
My wife became ill last year and was housebound so the car only did 395 miles.The last mot had a few minor advisory which I have worked on over the winter.
When it was tested by an old school mechanic last year it struggled to get the emissions correct but the tester seemed to know this engine and said it was a problem with the breather to which he messed around and got it through.He told me to go home and engine flush the oil twice with engine cleaner which I did.
I assume he was referring to the crankcase breather value.I looked at replacing this but it looked a big job as the intake manifold had to be removed first.
I am not able to get my car into the same mot station this year so I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help to get a pass first time.

 

[Jam03]

Not sure it’s the same issue, but I’m under the impression that you need to take it to the MOT fully warmed. Sometimes the emissions can fail if the cats are cold I’m told.

 

[Lee]

Other causes of bad emissions: vacuum leaks and old Post lambda probes.

Give her an Italian tune up before the MOT get those cats pinging

 

[AntStark]

The ‘Italian tune up’ ..run it at higher revs and ensure it is fully warmed up prior to the test.

 

[bronty]

Thanks for advice
The Italian Tune up sounds fun

 

[z3ddie]

My tester who has looked after my 2.8 Auto for 20 years always reminds me to give it a good ragging before I take it in!

 

[Z Victor 1]

Agree with above, I never just drive to the tester, always have a good warm up before taking the car in.

 

[bronty]

One more question
When doing the good warm up is it better to uses E10 or E5 petrol?

 

[AntStark]

One more question
When doing the good warm up is it better to uses E10 or E5 petrol?

Shouldn’t really make any difference. E5 tends to have more cleaning additives but only really effective over time with continual use. It’s is higher octane so may burn slightly hotter.

 

[bronty]

I took it today and it passed after a good Italian tune up
A couple of advisors the main one being suspension ball arm which I will change when the weather gets better
Thanks again for the excellent advice

 

[z3ddie]

Shouldn’t really make any difference. E5 tends to have more cleaning additives but only really effective over time with continual use. It’s is higher octane so may burn slightly hotter.

when E10 came out my 2.8 Auto went into limp mode 3 times on one tank of this rubbish having to go to garage to get the fault codes cleared - since going with Premium fuel no problems

 

[AntStark]

I took it today and it passed after a good Italian tune up
A couple of advisors the main one being suspension ball arm which I will change when the weather gets better
Thanks again for the excellent advice

If you are doing the Italian tune up correctly you should get an advisory for low tread on rear tyres