MOT regulation changes Jan 2012

[JUDGENINJA]

MOT Manual Jan 2012

There are quite a few changes taking effect from Jan 2012.

I would be interested to hear from both arm chair mechanics and professionals on some of the new criteria and suggested work arounds as I can see a few of our cars being taken off the road pretty quickly.

I notice that many of the changes will be advisories until April 2012..

Please correct any of the below if I have got any of the new regulations wrong and I will update accordingly:

Some of the notable issues:
JudgeNinja's 850 - no airbags fitted and SRS system removed
Pedro - Brake servo removed
Members with aftermarket HID
Members with ECU modifications
....plus other changes

Would a SVA or Q plate be a possible work around?

[dalhousie2008]

Also aftermarket suspension I.e coil overs, if springs budge when car is jacked depending on how you have them set up its a fail.

[p fandango]

they won't Q-plate a car if you re-SVA it as they know the date of manufacture

[Wobbly Dave]

The only thing I can see from this is that I will have to get my headlamp washers working. I don't have a self levelliing system - so it can't be inspected.

[Volvostorm]

Talk to my friendly MOT tester, the new rules are still really vague, like they always have been, what one tester will pass, another will fail.

[p fandango]

The only thing I can see from this is that I will have to get my headlamp washers working. I don't have a self levelliing system - so it can't be inspected.

so if you haven't got it them you shouldn't have HID's fitted?

[Wobbly Dave]

It doesn't say that. It says that if the self-levelling or washing facilities are fitted then they must work. Having spoken at length to an MOT tester about this - he said you have to have one or the other. I have wash wipe on my headlights - so I just need to replace the 7 inch wiper blades & plug them in again.

Worst comes to the worst - just stick some H7 bulbs in for the day.

[p fandango]

It doesn't say that. It says that if the self-levelling or washing facilities are fitted then they must work. Having spoken at length to an MOT tester about this - he said you have to have one or the other. I have wash wipe on my headlights - so I just need to replace the 7 inch wiper blades & plug them in again.

Worst comes to the worst - just stick some H7 bulbs in for the day.

i'm just swopping the bulbs for the day, but VOSA regulations say the car has to have automatic self-leveling & a wash system. Haven't looked at the new MOT changes for the HID's but would of thought its a copy of the VOSA rules

[Wobbly Dave]

Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.
Where such systems are fitted, they must work; however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given

TEST...
Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted.

Reason for rejection...
A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

How can you test for something that isn't there? You can see my headlamp wash system.

Still can't see how they can prove you don't have a self-levelling/suspension system - given that it is almost impossible to prove & MOT is a non-dismantling test. In the first instance I plan move my balasts so you can't see them anyway. The slimline balasts will fit in the gap between the outer & inner wing skin. I will probably put one in the ECU box. The other I will screw to the underside of the battery tray.

I will take H7 bulbs to the test just in case.

[JUDGENINJA]

Dave - Although reading the pages it makes no refereence to HID's I believe that the new regulations to have both will only apply to cars from 1st Jan 2012 (maybe completely wrong as I've only been looking at this today).

I get the impression that this guy on page 3 doesn't like Volvos or he has met too many of us:
MOT testers mag

[Wobbly Dave]

I will do my upmost to comply with VOSA regulations. This HID ££££ is not exactly a show stopper.

[JUDGENINJA]

nidirect.gov.uk advise

this one is quite a nice read as it refers to self leveling suspension as an option for HID regulations and or some high performance cars that can't carry anything significant(C70) just stiffened suspension would suffice...

[p fandango]

nidirect.gov.uk advise

this one is quite a nice read as it refers to self leveling suspension as an option for HID regulations and or some high performance cars that can't carry anything significant(C70) just stiffened suspension would suffice...

bit of a hijack. but i'm curious how the quad on page 6 got an MOT in the first place with the wheels sticking out the arches by so much

[Niles]

so the f'in law now states that if you dont have HID's as standard you fail. Fail on what? Cant see sod all on regular bulbs? Hids are MUCH safer to drive. My car has HIDs and if i drive Mrs Niles car at night I poo myself for not seeing sod all!!! Honestly, after HID driving and then regular bulbs its worse than having tiny candles in the beams.

[AndysR]

I've got HID's fitted to mine and I'm going to put it through for it's annual MOT in April as I always do. If the headlight self leveling is going to be an issue it will be advised, if it's not then it won't. If it gets advised then swapping back to normal bulbs will do I guess but I will be looking at having a self leveling device retro fitted so I can go back to the HID's. I have already been looking into this and instead of having the switch in the dash I think a simple level sensor will suffice to substitute the manually operated switch in the dash and operate motors on the lamps. If it doesn't work that way or isn't a simple retro fit then I may just have the level sensor fitted but so the tester can see it. As the tester can't really test the system's operation due to the nature of an MOT test then perhaps I may escape persecution under this little clause however, it is accepted that it may not be possible to readily determine the functioning of self levelling systems. In such cases, the benefit of the doubt must be given
and maybe it will be enough for MOT regulations

[Wobbly Dave]

I have a leveling device in the car - to lower the beam anyway.

I always keep this at 50% down just to reduce the glare & I am running H7R bulbs with the HIDs

TBH - I am going with them fitted & take it as it comes.

[AndysR]

I have a leveling device in the car - to lower the beam anyway.

I always keep this at 50% down just to reduce the glare & I am running H7R bulbs with the HIDs

TBH - I am going with them fitted & take it as it comes.

So do I, was just thinking ahead about the "self" part of the leveling that they appear to be looking for as of 2012 that's all

[Wobbly Dave]

I am not going to lose any sleep over this.

[AndysR]

I am not going to lose any sleep over this.

My thoughts exactly

[jayeastanglia]

headlights still need the correct markings for hid bulbs which are usually only on clear lens... bet a lot of cars will be failing on air bag light being on usually modeos and escorts. and volvos will be abs lights on seeing how many people have abs problems on theres.