Practical car care, MOT and driving advice for Perthshire motorists.
Notes from the workshop floor
This is where Bob writes up the things that keep coming through the door: the MOT failures nobody expects, the warning lights that mean something and the ones that do not, what parts and labour genuinely cost in the UK right now, and the seasonal jobs that catch Scottish drivers out every year.
Everything here comes from work actually carried out on customer cars in Perthshire, not from a content plan. Where a price is quoted it is a real UK price, and where a job is risky to do at home it says so.
What you will find most useful
If you are trying to work out whether a repair quote is fair, start with the cost guides. If you have a light on the dash, the warning light pages explain what each one actually means and whether the car should still be driven. For anyone buying used, the MOT history and vehicle check articles will save you far more than they cost.
Articles are updated when prices or rules change — MOT requirements, emissions testing and parts pricing all move, and out-of-date advice is worse than none.
Who writes it
Bob has 32 years on the tools, from apprenticeship through to running his own workshop in Birnam, Dunkeld. The writing is plain English on purpose: if an explanation needs jargon to sound convincing, it usually is not a very good explanation.
If there is something you want covered, ask. A lot of these articles started as a customer question at the counter.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the blog updated?
New articles go up regularly, and existing ones are revised whenever prices, MOT rules or manufacturer advice change.
Who writes the articles?
Bob, a working mechanic with 32 years in the trade, based in Birnam, Dunkeld.
Can I suggest a topic?
Yes — get in touch. Most articles here began as a question from a customer.