MOT and BR sports cats query
Discussion
Just dropped the DBS off at my local Stratstones AM dealer for it's annual service and first MOT. As some of you may know the exhaust system and manifolds were modified by Bamford Rose. I had the 200 cell cats installed as part of that modification. The service guy at the dealers has just phoned to tell me they will fail the car on it's MOT because it only has 2 catalytic converters instead of 6. I have to say that I wasn't aware when the cats were changed that this would be an issue. Stratstones say that it is because as an AM dealer they know the car should have 6 cats. He suggested if I take the car to another MOT tester it may be passed. I've tried to call BR to clarify the situation but at present no response. I wonder if any others with V12 cat changes have had issues?
Jockman said:
How can they fail it but say someone else may pass it ?? I thought the MOT was a government / industry standard 
Because I've never worked on Aston Martins apart from a 1971 DBS so I have no idea how many cats it should have so I'd pass it if the emissions were OK. Take it elsewhere.I suppose I should spend hours reading up on each individual car I test but life's too short and VOSA don't actually know these things to pass on the info.
Just because a car doesn't have the factory number of cats, it isn't a reason to fail the car.
I've a Cayman S which has four cats as standard. Most aftermarket exhaust systems bypass the secondary cats, leaving just the two in the manifolds.
With this setup the car sailed through it's MOT at Porsche without question.
If your car has failed because the emissions are too high as a result of removing the cats then you have no argument, but simply failing the car because it doesn't have all the cats it was built with is wrong.
I've a Cayman S which has four cats as standard. Most aftermarket exhaust systems bypass the secondary cats, leaving just the two in the manifolds.
With this setup the car sailed through it's MOT at Porsche without question.
If your car has failed because the emissions are too high as a result of removing the cats then you have no argument, but simply failing the car because it doesn't have all the cats it was built with is wrong.
Sounds like they just don't want the hassle if it fails the emissions testing.
The MOT test where the cats are concerned is basically:
o does it have cats
o are they damaged?
o does it pass the emissions test for the relevant gasses
o are there any visible fumes
The warranty covers MOT items (wear and tear), but not if parts have been replaced with non-AM bits.
The MOT test where the cats are concerned is basically:
o does it have cats
o are they damaged?
o does it pass the emissions test for the relevant gasses
o are there any visible fumes
The warranty covers MOT items (wear and tear), but not if parts have been replaced with non-AM bits.
lime1 said:
Just dropped the DBS off at my local Stratstones AM dealer for it's annual service and first MOT. As some of you may know the exhaust system and manifolds were modified by Bamford Rose. I had the 200 cell cats installed as part of that modification. The service guy at the dealers has just phoned to tell me they will fail the car on it's MOT because it only has 2 catalytic converters instead of 6. I have to say that I wasn't aware when the cats were changed that this would be an issue. Stratstones say that it is because as an AM dealer they know the car should have 6 cats. He suggested if I take the car to another MOT tester it may be passed. I've tried to call BR to clarify the situation but at present no response. I wonder if any others with V12 cat changes have had issues?
I smell bulls
t 
Exert of an MOT Special Notice:
" Item 1: Presence of Catalysts and Particulate Filters on Diesel Powered Vehicles
On 16 February 2014 Section 7.1 of the inspection manual will be amended to include a check for the presence of catalysts and particulate filters on diesel powered vehicles. Any vehicle where a catalytic converter or particulate filter is missing where one was fitted as standard will fail the test."
Current 'Reason for rejection' is "Cat or DPF missing where one was fitted as standard."
HOWEVER unless you know AM inside out how would you know if one was missing AND I'm not sure if its obvious when MOT inspecting the vehicle if said CAT(s) are not there - bearing in mind that no dismantling is allowed on an MOT inspection.
As your dealer says they know there should be six but......
" Item 1: Presence of Catalysts and Particulate Filters on Diesel Powered Vehicles
On 16 February 2014 Section 7.1 of the inspection manual will be amended to include a check for the presence of catalysts and particulate filters on diesel powered vehicles. Any vehicle where a catalytic converter or particulate filter is missing where one was fitted as standard will fail the test."
Current 'Reason for rejection' is "Cat or DPF missing where one was fitted as standard."
HOWEVER unless you know AM inside out how would you know if one was missing AND I'm not sure if its obvious when MOT inspecting the vehicle if said CAT(s) are not there - bearing in mind that no dismantling is allowed on an MOT inspection.
As your dealer says they know there should be six but......
Jockman said:
jagracer said:
t is a reason to fail
Why would MOT testers pass it then One other thing, can you even see the exhausts on newish AM? the one's (that'll be two newish ones) I've tested have had covers lining the entire length of the underneath of them
Edited by jagracer on Monday 14th July 13:10
jagracer said:
s I said in my earlier post, knowing how many cats are fitted is down to the tester's knowledge, yes we are supposed to know everything there is to know about every car in the world but in truth we don't.
Gotcha !!So the message here is if you have any cat reduction work done by any Indy under no circumstance should you have your MOT done by Aston Martin. Sound Right ??
L0TT0 said:
Exert of an MOT Special Notice:
" Item 1: Presence of Catalysts and Particulate Filters on Diesel Powered Vehicles
On 16 February 2014 Section 7.1 of the inspection manual will be amended to include a check for the presence of catalysts and particulate filters on diesel powered vehicles. Any vehicle where a catalytic converter or particulate filter is missing where one was fitted as standard will fail the test."
Current 'Reason for rejection' is "Cat or DPF missing where one was fitted as standard."
HOWEVER unless you know AM inside out how would you know if one was missing AND I'm not sure if its obvious when MOT inspecting the vehicle if said CAT(s) are not there - bearing in mind that no dismantling is allowed on an MOT inspection.
As your dealer says they know there should be six but......
Last time I checked my Aston wasn't Diesel " Item 1: Presence of Catalysts and Particulate Filters on Diesel Powered Vehicles
On 16 February 2014 Section 7.1 of the inspection manual will be amended to include a check for the presence of catalysts and particulate filters on diesel powered vehicles. Any vehicle where a catalytic converter or particulate filter is missing where one was fitted as standard will fail the test."
Current 'Reason for rejection' is "Cat or DPF missing where one was fitted as standard."
HOWEVER unless you know AM inside out how would you know if one was missing AND I'm not sure if its obvious when MOT inspecting the vehicle if said CAT(s) are not there - bearing in mind that no dismantling is allowed on an MOT inspection.
As your dealer says they know there should be six but......
handyman 1417 said:
I had my 200 cell cats fitted by the main dealer when I bought the car and it passed its first MOT in January without issue.
The test and service were done by the same dealership.
Now you've just confused me again... The test and service were done by the same dealership.
Are you saying the Dealer network is disorganised and inconsistent ??
How very dare you
Jon1967x said:
Last time I checked my Aston wasn't Diesel
Neither will it have a DPF but it will have a Cat HTHRfr 3
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s07000101.htm
edited to add: Read MoI3 then refer to RfR3 - the thick lines along side the paragraphs means its an update to the manual.
Just for the sake of clarity "spark ignition" is petrol engined and "compression ignition" is diesel engined vehicles
Edited by L0TT0 on Monday 14th July 15:13
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