Just had my car MoTed, now under the new and much tighter rules. First time round it failed with "Major Defects"
- Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd idle exceeds manufacturers specified limits 8.2.1.2(a)
- Exhaust noise is clearly in excess of that emitted by a similar vehicle fitted with a standard silencer in average condition 8.1.1(a)
- Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard 8.2.1.1(a)


None of this meant much to me until I looked online to find this guidance material:
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov....-Nuisance.html


I believe the first defect would have arisen under the previous test definition, i.e the CO was above 0.2% at fast idle since the sports cat I have is knackered. With an MoT cat pipe fitted, the CO drops to 0.006%, so no worries. What's interesting is the other two "Major defects".


According to the guidance document at 8.1.1:
Exhaust noise from the vehicle must not be unreasonably above the noise level you'd expect from a similar vehicle with a standard silencer in average condition.


So it looks like we are going to have a lot of trouble with this. Most aftermarket exhausts are louder than stock. My exhaust is designed for track days, so is in no way particularly loud, but it failed.


According to the guidance document at 8.2.1.1:
This inspection is only for vehicles that must have a full catalyst emissions test (disregarding the basic emissions test). You only need to check components that are visible and identifiable, such as catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, and exhaust gas recirculation valves.
Defect Category

1. Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer: missing, obviously modified or obviously defective.

Major

1. An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions levels.

Major
So, regardless of how good your catalytic convertor is and how clean the exhuast gas is, if you have changed things (mine has no EGR valve), there will be a problem.


All this did get sorted out by Len at Subaru4you, but the new laws have big implications.


Anyone else share some experience, or comment?



David

 

 

My legacy has only got minor mods (2nd cat removed) and I got it into the MOT before the rule changes, but I did wonder if it would get spotted under the new regime.
I also suspect that garages are going to be fairly rigorous as the rules are new.
It'll be interesting to see how this works out.

 

 

Aye, right.
They want older cars off the roads.


So don't hold your breath.

 

De-Cat FTW

 

Unless they know every OEM spec and have pictures of how OEM should look how will they know?

 

Really? So why have they removed the necessity for older cars not to have MOTs then?

 

It's those A Beads who roll coal and shoot soot everywhere who are to blame,

With their DPF removed n black reg plates haha

 

Oh I'd imagine the "system" they use will provide a checklist once they've put in the vehicle reg. My experience is a good case in point, no EGR valve. I don't know what it looks like or where it should be, but they obviously did!!

 

i suspect alot will depend on where you take it.

 

Or who you know

 

haha yeah

 

Precisely.

Just another part of their plan to turn us into a nation of disenfranchised, obedient, compliant worker drone debt slaves, owning nothing, working beyond retirement just to pay off a huge mortgage and driving around in bland, new euroboxes on the never never.

 

My GC8 has a 2015 spec C Sti engine in it with STi 6 heads, syvecs ecu and 3" H&S exhaust with 100 cell sports cat and resonator.

when it went for its TÜV test at my local Subaru garage it failed as if it had no cat in it at all so the tester changed the settings on the machine until it just passed

 

Fair play.. thought the TUV was much stricter than our MOT, especially on a modified car.

 

My mechanic was telling me all cats need a code on them to show there approved by eu. All though Never had not garage say anything and that's all the years before new laws.

 

That's why my dads classic car no longer needs an mot lol

 

never quite get this one as my understanding is that the airbag is only guaranteed for 10 years so after that time why should it need to be fitted?

 

Maybe because pretending that a 1960's car meets emission and safety etc of modern car MOTs makes a mockery of the system?
The apparent theory that if your car is on the road after so many years it must be enthusiast owned which would make it looked after.
Not forgetting that its a conservative government, it was they who made the tax exempt rule for older cars (over 25 yrs, stopped at 72 with labour government), I get a feeling as a party they like motoring so relax the classic car enthusiasts rules / expenses.

 

Nope they changed car tax back believe in 2014.

https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/ne...g-at-40-years/

Although looks like its gone back again.


https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-exempt-from-vehicle-tax

 

Exactly my point, it initially stopped for 25 year old cars in 1997 when labour got back in. This meant it stopped with pre '72 cars. The conservative government have reinstated it again in a fashion. I don't get where you're going here?

 

So, trying to recover from the thread hijack, are we saying that despite the new rules, the best course of action is to make sure you find an MoT test station with some modded cars parked outside since they're more likely to be understanding?


Are the government trying to put a stop to people trying to enjoy their cars and preventing the likes of you and me from pursuing our passion? Is the environment being used as an excuse to kill off the car enthusiast?

 

 

Yes

 

They are, but fortunately the TÜV inspector didn't do the emissions test, they leave that to the dealer.

 

All those modded cars are parked outside because they all failed their MOT and are not allowed to be on the road

 

There will be a stop to that also I reckon.
In Northern Ireland, we are not allowed to go round the corner to Jimmy's garage, who if you throw him £20 notes he'll look after you.

We have official government test centres that you must go to.