MOT tomorrow

[scruffygit]

Getting nervous!
LilyRoo the VVC is in for MOT tomorrow at 9.20.
£29.95 at Halfrauds....hope they don't live upto their name!

[Rob Bell]

Good luck!

[scruffygit]

Ta. Just checked the lights etc and got the missus to check the brake lights. All illumination present and correct!

[Androlyn]

A nervy time, I hope all goes well.
Interesting choice of testing station.......

[scruffygit]

Its pretty local and a bit cheaper at approx £30!

[scimitargtc]

from the old days of being like a nervous new dad in waiting when getting an MOT (sick feeling in pit of stomach when the garage called) I now find a) I have to call the garage - last 2 of our cars ---- 'its just on the ramps now' (@5pm)--- yes I know that as I'm sitting outside where the car was parked @ 8.30 this morning!!! & b) 'Oh didn't we call you ((this after 8 working days -- suspension parts supplied for them to fit as it needed a huge press so was expecting it to be 'fitted in as and when')) 'she doesn't need them doing yet and we did the MOT the day you brought her in and it passed' -- which would explain why my tracker showed she'd not moved since day 1! I DIGRESS - we use 2 garages alternately to share out our custom - 1 is mad 'conscientious to a fault' - 'I must find something that needs welding' but with superb customer service - drop whichever car it is off @ 08.30 - call at 10.00ish and either its passed (usual response) or 'it needs XYZ can we go ahead' t'other is laid back but has safety as a top priority --- as a direct result I am no longer stressed at MOT time and armed with the Gov.Uk on line MOT manual happy to challenge if need be - not needed for a while though! I am though genuinely worried at the non requirement for an MOT for older vehicles - seems illogical as Mr Spock (RIP) would say --- I accept I have a vested interest but reinstate the 25 (not 40) year rolling tax exemption first - more older cars kept on the road, safe as they can be, generating income for companies who supply parts/services OK RANT OVER

[Rob Bell]

A lot depends on who is doing your MoT. Even down to the individual!

My local centre is not too bad, although they are a bit annoying with Project Shed not having adjustable seats (the buckets are fixed - to save weight!) So I have to swap in an original seat just for the test. Other centres would accept that if adjustment is not fitted, it doesn't need to be tested! Hey ho.

Once it goes to MTBs and hotter cams, I may need to find a "friendlier" testing station!

[scruffygit]

Well she passed witn no advisories! Briliant.
I did notice that there were a couple of bulbs out on the high level brake light when he was doing the brake test, but that wasn't even mentioned. I'll be having a word with my brake light checker! She who must not be obeyed assured me all was well when checked last night!
Out of interest there was no mention of the LED front side lights or the HID headlights.
The most annoying thing is that LillyRoo had to go out in the wet!

[Rob Bell]

With the numbers of Mercedes you see with missing bulbs in their highlevel brake light clusters, probably just as well this isn't an MoT failure point! I don't know the threshold for failing a car on missing bulbs on the HLBL? Maybe they all need to fail???

LED and HIDs are not necessarily something that an MoT will routinely look for (again, individual variation I suspect). They will be more interested in whether the lamps work and will also check the light dispersion pattern. So long as these parameters are "OK", you'll pass.

[scruffygit]

I was a little hesitant about the HID's as there have been many debates on here and other forums about these types of kits retrofitted to "F's". Some saying they are an MOT failure etc. Personally I had the lights setup by a local garage after fitting good second hand reflectors and the HID kit myself, so it would seem that the few quid spent on the pro alignment may have paid off.

Has anybody fitted LED's in the high level brake light at all?

[Rob Bell]

Technically, HIDs are an MoT fail and a construction and use fail: the MGF was never homologated with HIDs and the car is not fitted with headlamp washers or self-leveling suspension. But if the MoT inspector can't be bothered to check, and the lights don't blind you and have a half-decent light pattern, you'll be fine.

I remain interested in HIDs - primarily to avoid the heat related deterioration of the plastic reflectors. What kit have you fitted?

[scimitargtc]

HiD without a self levelling system is/should be an instant MOT fail - rules changed a couple of years ago

[john_g]

I remain interested too.. but I would be worried about a crash and then an investigation ;(

the normal lights on my TF are a lot better than some cars though, thankfully

[scruffygit]

I fitted an ebay Chinese Xenon kit. It wasn't the cheapest available on there and has metal cased ballasts and appears really nice quality. It is 4300K / 35W.
I went for the 4300K as that gives a white light rather than a higher temperature that often looks blue etc. Also because the lights are more efficient I decided to go for 35W as that will reduce generated heat and help preserve the reflectors. This is the 2nd MOT that she's passed since fitting with the HID's. Both tests have been at 2 different garages and that's why I was worried how a different tester may view the lights.
Here's a link to the thread on here from when I installed the Xenons originally.........have to say as well that I have never been flashed by any oncoming traffic.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=19077&p=147122&hilit=xenons#p147122

[Geoff.F]

In the UK neither the Police or MOT know/bother with the fact that HIDs are not an Approved Fitment. The Import of Chinese Copies and UK Aftermarket Unqualified Specialists is a multi million Pound Buisness which the Government dare not interfere with.
Around Europe where the laws on Vehicle Compliance with ONLY OEM or TUV Approved aftermarket (which there are few) parts can be fitted is different. An accident or Roadside Inspection (Police or TUV) could well have a serious/expensive oucome.
Geoff F.

[Falcon]

My friend got pulled after he got HID's installed. He had the originals in his car, and the cop's just told him to sort it out when he got home. I think they only pull over people when they're either too bright, and / or the beam is too high and dazzles people.

[scruffygit]

I think if you have the beams aligned properly and you are not causing inconvenience or blinding other vehicles there's no reason to be pulled over. There's more chance of some of these cyclists who have hi powered flashing led front lights causing a problem than a decent set of Hids. Hopefully common sense should prevail