New MOT regs

[TheLurker]

Having just had a look at the new MOT regs, who is going to have problems getting their car through this year?

Things like airbag components being removed and the drivers seats not being movable forwads/back may be an issue for some.

[TheLurker]

So do you reckon that if there is no airbag system at all it may pass? I read it as if there was a system fitted from factory and parts were obviously removed, it would fail.

I hope this is not the case. It is rather easy to see what should have been in that rather large hole in the middle of the steering wheel...

I know the local MOT testers quite well, but don't think they will let something so obvious through as it is their livelihood after all.

As far as exposed wires, I don't think it is too much of a problem as long as it doesn't look like it will cause a short.

[TheLurker]

andye30m3 said:

mine is, it just takes a couple of hours to unbolt it and bolt it back on

Quite annoying as I'd deliberately made sure my e30 race car was road legal

I suppose you could always pick up a standard seat from a breakers just for the test? Bit of a pain though.

[TheLurker]

s express said:

spoke to my MOT tester and he showed me the list. It says that you will fail if its 'obvious' that the airbag is missing. He read that as - if you have a non air bag steering wheel and no warning light on dash - then its not obvious and you will pass.
hence why my AirBag light has now mysteriously dissapeared!

I like the sound of that! I guess this is a good excuse to get a racing wheel then...

[TheLurker]

V8mate said:

TheLurker said:

s express said:

spoke to my MOT tester and he showed me the list. It says that you will fail if its 'obvious' that the airbag is missing. He read that as - if you have a non air bag steering wheel and no warning light on dash - then its not obvious and you will pass.
hence why my AirBag light has now mysteriously dissapeared!

I like the sound of that! I guess this is a good excuse to get a racing wheel then...

Just getting the wheel doesn't fix it.

I fitted a race wheel and then soldered a specific resistor across the airbag wires to fool the airbag ECU into thinking the bag is still there.

I think the ECU itself is likely to come out this year though.

There is nothing left of the original airbag system, and I re-wired the car so there are no lights on which shouldn't be, but it is rather obvious there used to be an airbag in the steering wheel!

[TheLurker]

jagracer said:

I've just spent half an hour on the MOT computer trying to find the failure section for an airbag light not working or missing, I've come home and found out that some of the new regs don't come into force until May. It's bloody annoying as it shows as a failure in the testers manual but there's no provision for failure on the computer. So where possible get your cars done before April/May and it may give you an extra year's grace.

Thanks, useful information that!