Print

[CrazyG]

Today I found out that there are now new extra/additional items that
are included in a vehicle MoT test, one of which will 'put to bed' a
long standing discussion thread on this forum.

(Bear in mind...this is only what I have been told is coming)
                       - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The following will be immediate MoT failures...without exception :-

1/ HID's...if fitted when they were not a standard or factory option fit.
    (Easy to get round that before the test...disconnect the ballast, remove
      the Xenon bulb, fit an original bulb and connect it up to the original
      bulb connector, bypassing the HID wiring loom. Afterwards change it
      all back again.)
2/ Catalysts and DPF's....if fitted as original equipment, then they or their
    replacement must be present. There is also a requirement for the
    tester to 'hammer-check' any CAT or DPF to ascertain that they are
    'full' and have not been emptied or gutted (they would sound hollow
    if they have been), with a further check for any signs of non-original
    welds as this would be a likely sign that they have been tampered with.
    If there is any suspicion of tampering, then the tester is within his rights
    to fail the vehicle, subject to further checking of the item by whatever
    means necessary. This would usually entail the removal of the CAT or
    DPF for a more thorough check of the insides of the item by the garage
    undertaking the MoT...with the expense of doing this down to the owner
    of the vehicle if such is proved to be the case.
    (Again, remove any 'bypass' pipework and refit original CAT or DPF.
    Revert back again after the MoT test has been passed.)
3/ If the brake fluid can be seen in the reservoir (without removal of the cap)
    and it looks dirty, then it's a failure !
    (No simple fix for that one....)
4/ If the EML (Engine Management Light) is on....it's an immediate failure.
    (No simple fix for this one either...)
5/ Engine or transmission oil leaks...immediate failure...however this is
     clarified as being 'excessive' fluid leakage...not streaks or smears etc.
     more the case of a quite noticeable drip that leaves a mark when
     stood during the MoT test.
     (And no simple fix for this one either...)

One thing however that did surprise me was an 'omission' to the list of
immdeiate MoT failures was in the case of vehicle tyres...
If the vehicle is fitted with 'asymetric' tyres, you know...the one's that
are directional and should be fitted to rotate in one direction...
and they are found fitted the wrong way round, then these do NOT
constitute an MoT failure...just an advisory !

I seem to recollect that there were maybe one or 2 other things, but
to be honest I've forgotten them for the moment, but I'll update/add
them as and when I remember them, or find them out again.

[BlackCDI]

Yeah.. Pretty much standard German TÜV / MOT for years.. It's catching up around it seems..

(remember this from years back..
12:33 onwards .. This is what police can call up if they find you on the autobahn and suspect your car was tampered with..

https://youtu.be/oYWpEj4OkcY

[mr singh]

on the HID side of things, how will they know if they arn't standard, other than the fact of having ballasts fitted somewhere. my forfour had headlamp washers fitted, they work and it look like any other vehicle with HID where they were factory fitted.

[Ocracoke]

Aren't these due to come in from the 20th of May? (ref: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles)

Looking through the draft for post 20th May, there is actually a whole raft of revisions which shouldn't be a problem to pass. Things that interest me are...

Section 5.1.3 - Looks like they'll check for duff wheel bearings during the test
Section 6.2.6 - You can't have a passenger seat that can't stay upright
Section 7.3 - I am going to have to agree with mr.singh here, how are they going to check that the anti-theft device is fitted as standard? VIN check?
Section 8.2.2.1 - Odd that whilst spark based systems mention the EGR specifically, this doesn't?

[CrazyG]

on the HID side of things, how will they know if they arn't standard, other than the fact of having ballasts fitted somewhere.....

The instant give away for HID's is they all flicker when you turn them on...
even the one's with 'fast start' ballasts, so that is a dead give away. Also,
most mechanics'/testers will know which cars have or could have them
as standard or optional fit, and it would take very little to look them up
via the Internet if they weren't 100% sure.

[Coverman]

What is needed to change an HID converted car back to standard headlights?

[Deszus]

@Coverman, here you go:

1/ HID's...if fitted when they were not a standard or factory option fit.
    (Easy to get round that before the test...disconnect the ballast, remove
      the Xenon bulb, fit an original bulb and connect it up to the original
      bulb connector, bypassing the HID wiring loom. Afterwards change it
      all back again.)

About picture down under post... We don't have DPF in diesel ForFours as they were made before 2008 (First ForFour gen. 2004-2006). But DPFs will be pain for some drivers.

At the end of story, it is not impossible to rebuild car in garage back to factory settings and then rebuilt it back to what it was before. Yeah, I know... but just possible. Isn't?

[CrazyG]

....About picture down under post... We don't have DPF in diesel ForFours as they were made before 2008 (First ForFour gen. 2004-2006)....

True, the CDi does not have a DPF....  B U T . . .
If you did read that picture/sheet that you have posted up then you
will have seen the bit headed  'This inspection is restricted to....'
where it clearly states "such as a diesel oxidation catalyst"....
The CDI has one of those, it being that big 'silencer sized' thing
that hangs down directly (after the Lambda sensor) from the turbo.

[mr singh]

The instant give away for HID's is they all flicker when you turn them on...
even the one's with 'fast start' ballasts, so that is a dead give away. Also,
most mechanics'/testers will know which cars have or could have them
as standard or optional fit, and it would take very little to look them up
via the Internet if they weren't 100% sure.

BUT if everything looks standard then whats the problem?
Factory fit HID/LED lights have headlamp washers fitted and without getting under the car, ride height sensors.

car where they have projection headlights with headlamp washers meet part of the factory requirements.

[CrazyG]

There's not a 'problem'....I was just pointing out there is a flicker
(from the ballasts starting up) when you turn on HID's. That in itself
is an instant pointer that the car has HID's.
And...if the vehicle is older than 2006 or thereabouts; then it's highly
likely it shouldn't have HID's...and even more so (as you rightly point out)
if it does not have the mandatory headlight washers fitted.
(I'm ignoring the crawling about to look for self leveling ride height sensors)

[Coverman]

When the car is up on the lift or over a pit it will be easy to notice the absence of ride height sensors during the MOT

[Problemchild]

It’s a shame

Hids cause no issue and the technology is accepted and fitted as OEM

Shall we all just swap to cheapo Chinese LED bulbs now?

What I’m finding more and more annoying is those people who are driving around on the morning or evening commute, in the dark, with only their DRL on - blinding from the front, invisible from behind!

I even stopped in the road the other day and got out as the car behind me was so bright it was giving me a headache and when I said they had no headlights on and this rear lights she was very much unaware the rear lights didn’t come on

If the mot test changes then so be it - at last it will be clear.

Just need to remember that not all OEM hid set ups have headlamp washers or auto levellers

JJ

[Problemchild]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/35636/watchdog-unfair-mot-failures

JJ

[CrazyG]

This is getting more complicated rather than easier, or so it appears to me.

So in reality then, HID's (as in retrofitted projector kits...not just ballasts and
bulbs) will be ok.  That's good to know for those who bought the Retrofit Lab
kits I negotiated a deal on.
And IF any cars have washers and/or self levelers (read that also as height
adjusters), then those will be checked to ensure they are working...good.

Now we've cleared that up....(at long last), what should really be
more thoroughly scrutinized is the beam pattern of headlights, as to
be honest most aftermarket HID bulb kits (just ballasts and Xenon bulbs)
are just slapped into headlights designed purely for halogen bulbs.
And that is were there are so many issues with poor headlights with HID's
as the beam pattern changes when they are fitted due to the light source
(focal point) of the HID Xenon bulb not being at the exact same point as
that of the halogen bulb. After all, halogen headlights were designed for
halogen bulbs....Xenon/HID headlights were designed for HID bulbs.
this is where and why there are so many vehicles with headlights that
give off so much so much unwanted and unfocussed glare that are so
distracting and annoying to other oncoming road users.
Yes, we know that headlight beam checkers are used (or should be) when
the car is MoT'd, but personally I think that aspect needs to have a more
thorough check or system of checks to ensure there is no glare.

I also think that any Officer of the Law should be able to stop and issue
any immediate notice of intent to fine...something like the 'producer' ticket
when you have to show your licence+MoT (if necessary)+insurance...
where one would have to take the vehicle to a garage to have the lights
checked to ensure they are set up correctly, and if so a certificate issued
by the garage that you then 'produce' at you local 'nick'.
That perhaps might resolve the massive amount of vehicles that we all
come across with terrible blinding headlights that we all see on the roads.

What do you think of that idea/suggestion ?

[mr singh]

to be quite honest, i think we may get away with them IF the car has headlamp washers (dont hold me to it till an MOT after May) as the forfour has projection lenses, be it the kit from Retrofit or standard. behind the projector lens there is a metal plate that shapes the beam flick, however on the cars that dont have projection lenses and have HID kits fitted will fail as the flick is shaped by the reflector and headlight cover.

either way its a waiting game to see what ACTUALLY happens to the forfours that have HID kits fitted