In search of a slightly deaf MOT tester

[Geekman]

Took my MR2 turbo for it's MOT today at a national chain and they refused to test it as it would apparently fail on noise. It's a loud car, but not ridiculously so - it passed the noise test at Silverstone for instance.

I was wondering if anybody knows of an MOT tester ideally in North Kent (Dartford / Bexley area) who may be slightly hard of hearing and is willing to pass it as it is? With the amount of loud Imprezas / Supras etc driving around, there must be a few friendly testers about?

If anyone knows of someone who can help me, send me a PM.

Thanks

[mneame]

Geekman said:

Took my MR2 turbo for it's MOT today at a national chain and they refused to test it as it would apparently fail on noise. It's a loud car, but not ridiculously so - it passed the noise test at Silverstone for instance.

I was wondering if anybody knows of an MOT tester ideally in North Kent (Dartford / Bexley area) who may be slightly hard of hearing and is willing to pass it as it is? With the amount of loud Imprezas / Supras etc driving around, there must be a few friendly testers about?

If anyone knows of someone who can help me, send me a PM.

Thanks

Since when has noise been part of the mot? I could understand if it was blowing but didn't think noise came into it as the EU haven't got their teeth into it yet.

[MacW]

mneame said:

Since when has noise been part of the mot? I could understand if it was blowing but didn't think noise came into it as the EU haven't got their teeth into it yet.

It seems they have:

Googled VOSA manual said:

A silencer in such condition, or of such a type, that the noise emitted from the vehicle is clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle with a standard silencer in average condition.

[Red Devil]

Unreasonably is a subjective measurement...

[Vroom101]

MacW said:

mneame said:

Since when has noise been part of the mot? I could understand if it was blowing but didn't think noise came into it as the EU haven't got their teeth into it yet.

It seems they have:

Googled VOSA manual said:

A silencer in such condition, or of such a type, that the noise emitted from the vehicle is clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle with a standard silencer in average condition.

Red Devil said:

Unreasonably is a subjective measurement...

It could be argued that quite a lot of the MOT is subjective. One tester's 'play' in a component could be another's 'fail' - so the noise level is no different.

To make it unambiguous, it should be done on db level. Going by the VOSA guide above would render pretty much any aftermarket exhaust, not to mention manufacturers' 'sports' exhausts, a failure. It's a stupid situation. I suppose it all depends on how much of a petrol head your MOT tester is

OP, can't you take it back to where the previous MOT was given, or was the exhaust fitted since then?

[Geekman]

The exhaust was fitted long before I bought the car, but the previous MOTs were done in Lincoln, which was a bit far for me to go.

Thankfully I managed to find a tester very local to me who didn't think it was too noisy, and it passed with no advisories.

[WhiteBaron]

Geekman said:

The exhaust was fitted long before I bought the car, but the previous MOTs were done in Lincoln, which was a bit far for me to go.

Thankfully I managed to find a tester very local to me who didn't think it was too noisy, and it passed with no advisories.

Glad you got it sorted, unless its a lease car - National MOT chains should generally be avoided