MOT Question regrading Wheels, Tyres etc

1st March 2013, 18:03

Now I know what the rules are when it comes to a MOT but wanted to clear some issues up

Suspension
-My car is lowered, as long as it can be tested on the rollers/ inspected on the ramps then it should be fine?

- My tyres used to rub in my arches (not any more) but has scuff marks in the arch. Will they pick up on that?

Wheels + Tyres
-Wheels can't be damaged (I assume a few scuffs are okay?)

- Tyres can't be damaged (I have a nasty nick out of my front one) so Can I change the front two wheels to Steelie's and keep the back two Alloy Wheels? (I think ones 14" and the alloys are 15"

Exhaust
I have a Super Sprint manifold (Mk2 8V, Cat would had been in the manifold) and did a Mk1 oil conversion. Obviously I'll fail emissions (How strict are they at the test station that THIS must be done?, can the by pass it?)

-Will the standard Mk2 manifold + cat fit over and miss the Mk1 oil filther conversion or do I need to put my Mk2 oil filter arm back on?

-Would a Mk1 VTR cat fit under a Mk2?

Interior
- Momo Steering wheel with no Airbag (no air bag light on dash)... Okay?

- Bucket seats that slide?

- Harnesses fixed to the sub frame of the seat. Harness works, in tact and no tears. (Sub frame is bolted down in 4 places)

- Do you HAVE to have a passenger seat?

- Rear seats and seat belts are removed, Is this okay?

- Some of the LED's on the dials are blown so only half the dials light up... Fail?

- Does the interior trim have to be intact (Clipped to the doors?)

I know my headlights/ fog lights are too high but will that fail or is it a advisory and they would adjust it for me?

Many thanks

1st March 2013, 20:19

Now I know what the rules are when it comes to a MOT but wanted to clear some issues up

Suspension
-My car is lowered, as long as it can be tested on the rollers/ inspected on the ramps then it should be fine?

mine passed on this not even an advisory

- My tyres used to rub in my arches (not any more) but has scuff marks in the arch. Will they pick up on that?

no idea

Wheels + Tyres
-Wheels can't be damaged (I assume a few scuffs are okay?)

no idea

- Tyres can't be damaged (I have a nasty nick out of my front one) so Can I change the front two wheels to Steelie's and keep the back two Alloy Wheels? (I think ones 14" and the alloys are 15"

no idea

Exhaust
I have a Super Sprint manifold (Mk2 8V, Cat would had been in the manifold) and did a Mk1 oil conversion. Obviously I'll fail emissions (How strict are they at the test station that THIS must be done?, can the by pass it?)

depends on station mine failed no matter how much i tried to say to test the car next to it

-Will the standard Mk2 manifold + cat fit over and miss the Mk1 oil filther conversion or do I need to put my Mk2 oil filter arm back on?

no idea

-Would a Mk1 VTR cat fit under a Mk2?

yes i had to do this but it does tend to rattle more than the straight throu pipe

Interior
- Momo Steering wheel with no Airbag (no air bag light on dash)... Okay?

passed no advisory

- Bucket seats that slide?

got told long as they slide and the lever is spring action, then pass

- Harnesses fixed to the sub frame of the seat. Harness works, in tact and no tears. (Sub frame is bolted down in 4 places)

no idea

- Do you HAVE to have a passenger seat?

no idea

- Rear seats and seat belts are removed, Is this okay?

no idea

- Some of the LED's on the dials are blown so only half the dials light up... Fail?

no idea, but i would guess fail as all dial lights have to work

- Does the interior trim have to be intact (Clipped to the doors?)

again no idea, but guessing long as its safe no sharp edges fine

I know my headlights/ fog lights are too high but will that fail or is it a advisory and they would adjust it for me?

fail needs to be adjusted properly and they can adjust it

Many thanks

1st March 2013, 20:31

Pretty sure that with the rear seats as long as the belts are removed(like you`ve done)it`ll pass.

1st March 2013, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by logic_guy

Now I know what the rules are when it comes to a MOT but wanted to clear some issues up

Suspension
-My car is lowered, as long as it can be tested on the rollers/ inspected on the ramps then it should be fine?
As long as it can get in the brake rollers and be tested all is ok here

- My tyres used to rub in my arches (not any more) but has scuff marks in the arch. Will they pick up on that?
the tester will have the vehicle on lock to lock and will be checking to see if the tyres are fowling anything. As long as its not touching anything at the time of test, all will be ok.

Wheels + Tyres
-Wheels can't be damaged (I assume a few scuffs are okay?)
will only be an advisory if a rim is distorted, scuffs will be fine

- Tyres can't be damaged (I have a nasty nick out of my front one) so Can I change the front two wheels to Steelie's and keep the back two Alloy Wheels? (I think ones 14" and the alloys are 15"
tyres can have scuffs on them, but as long as there are no cuts in the sidewalls or cords exposed, or the tyre in a seriously weakend condition, you will be fine. Again another advisory.Wheels need to be the same size on the same axle aswell as tyres
Exhaust
I have a Super Sprint manifold (Mk2 8V, Cat would had been in the manifold) and did a Mk1 oil conversion. Obviously I'll fail emissions (How strict are they at the test station that THIS must be done?, can the by pass it?)
If there testing the car properly, if it doesnt meet the emmisions limits, it will fail. Your CO will be out and will subsequently fail, but it could pass, but highly unlikely

-Will the standard Mk2 manifold + cat fit over and miss the Mk1 oil filther conversion or do I need to put my Mk2 oil filter arm back on?
not too sure here
-Would a Mk1 VTR cat fit under a Mk2?
iirc i think this will work
Interior
- Momo Steering wheel with no Airbag (no air bag light on dash)... Okay?
providing the airbag light illuminates and goes out after a few seconds, your ok here aswell

- Bucket seats that slide?
as long as there secure your ok

- Harnesses fixed to the sub frame of the seat. Harness works, in tact and no tears. (Sub frame is bolted down in 4 places)
Bit of a grey area, down to the testers opinion and discression, i would think it would be ok
- Do you HAVE to have a passenger seat?
no, not present at the time of test, not a requirement so cant be failed, may incur an advisory
- Rear seats and seat belts are removed, Is this okay?
this is fine, will be an advisory as they arent present at the time of test so again cant be failed

- Some of the LED's on the dials are blown so only half the dials light up... Fail?
not yet, will be a pass this year, but in the near future it will be a fail ad the whole dash will need to illuminate
- Does the interior trim have to be intact (Clipped to the doors?)
No, as long as you can open the doors from the inside you will be ok

I know my headlights/ fog lights are too high but will that fail or is it a advisory and they would adjust it for me?
Front Foglights arent applicable for an MoT, if your headlight aim it soo high it will fail, very simple to adjust providing the adjusters work
Many thanks

hope this helps!

1st March 2013, 23:16

Thanks all.

It's mainly the emissions that im bothered about as I know these cars aren't too good.

I'm still not clear on the passenger seat weather it should be kept in or take it out for the test. I'm assuming that they test the seats are safe, not that you should have 5 seats in your car?

If anyone else can clear any more of the questions up then that would be great.

2nd March 2013, 16:29

I've found out today...

Quote:

-Will the standard Mk2 manifold + cat fit over and miss the Mk1 oil filther conversion or do I need to put my Mk2 oil filter arm back on?

That the Mk2 cat gets right in the way of the Mk1 oil filter. I need a new arm :/

2nd March 2013, 16:43

You would be better off (and easier for future MOT's) to leave your manifold and oil filter setup as it is and keep a standard mk1 centre section with the cat for mot's as its very quick and easy to swap between the two rather than arse about with the manifolds etc

2nd March 2013, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsy

You would be better off (and easier for future MOT's) to leave your manifold and oil filter setup as it is and keep a standard mk1 centre section with the cat for mot's as its very quick and easy to swap between the two rather than arse about with the manifolds etc

This is a much easier solution, if only the Cat's were in good nick and at a reasonable price.

2nd March 2013, 17:14

With regards to the height and rollers, it doesn't have to go on them.

If a car is to low then they'll road test it. They did with mine and I believe they did with LSOs too!

3rd March 2013, 01:19

I have a mk1 cat for MOT's and I works fine, it would be alot of work to swop manifolds over each year :s

3rd March 2013, 01:42

Yeah with emissions i'd swap to a mk1 setup for MOTs.
If needs be, i have 2 catalytic converters in my shed if you need one cheap...one was on the car when i got it and the other was bough for an MOT when i couldn't find my original one..

As far as i know if it's there it has to be tested...that was when i had my Saxo though, don't know what it's like now with modded cars.
As said, with the rear seats etc since you've removed the rear belts you should be okay.
With regards to passenger seat, my logic would say that if it's not there it can't be tested..simple as that but you'd have to remove all things that relate to that seat, and if you kept it in place it would have to meet the requirements.

Not too sure on other stuff but with regards to the tires the tester can go full lock on either side to check for rubbing, as logn =as there's no rubbing on inspection then you'll be fine.

3rd March 2013, 19:06

if it's not there they it can't be tested

basically if a seat is removed then (apart from drivers seat) the belt must be removed also then it can't be tested.
as for the height of your car if it cant be put in the rollers. then the garage should use the little manual brake test on a run (forget the name i'll check it out tomorrow)

emissions you'll need a cat in place. most places DO NOT over look emissions as it's their licence at risk.

best thing to do i just take it for an m.o.t and see what happens. at the end of the day you could spend all your time sorting above out, and it still fail .

3rd March 2013, 19:12

Dont need to put the passenger seat back in.

I just had a drivers seat in for my MOT, they put in as an advisory though.. stating that no seat was there at present. Just to cover there arses if something happened.