The ask an MOT tester thread
Discussion
texaxile said:
How to I get the correct level for my headlights without the necessary gear?. I replaced a bulb and it was a headlight out job, since putting it back in the level on the OS is slightly higher than the NS, which I didn't really notice before.
Is there an easy DIY route to this ?
Check it against a wall, however we adjust them FOC, it will fail and get a PRS, Is there an easy DIY route to this ?
texaxile said:
How to I get the correct level for my headlights without the necessary gear?. I replaced a bulb and it was a headlight out job, since putting it back in the level on the OS is slightly higher than the NS, which I didn't really notice before.
Is there an easy DIY route to this ?
I would be thinking why has the beam pattern altered ?Is there an easy DIY route to this ?
have you got cut off points on a wall similar to the n/s or is it a mass of white light ?
surely the headlight bolts in with fixed mountings.
possibly is incorrectly seated bulb or a poor quality /faulty bulb.
MOT coming up soon on my 1995 BMW 318 to which I've fitted a larger 2.8 litre BMW engine and running gear (diff, brakes etc) from the same model year 328i. I used only OEM parts and it's not a bodged up conversion, am I going to run into issues when getting it MOT tested? As far as I can tell emissions is the only potential banana skin. Quoted from the MOT handbook
"If a vehicle first used before 1 September 2002 is fitted with an engine that’s older than the vehicle, you must test it to the standards applicable for the engine. The vehicle presenter must have proof of the age of the engine
If a vehicle first used on or after 1 September 2002 is fitted with a different engine, you must test it to the emissions standards for the age of the vehicle."
It has the full exhaust for the larger engine with a new catalytic converter so should pass emissions if being tested against the numbers for the 2.8l engine. But for example if the tester wants to test the emissions against the original 1.8l engine the car previously had, it would potentially fail. How could I prove the age of the engine? I know it's from a 1996 BMW 3 series but have no paperwork, I assume the engine number is printed somewhere on the block and but it's not easily accessible.
I understand that I'll also need to register the change of engine with the DVLA - is this something that a tester would insist on being done before the test? Any advice on how to go about this would also be appreciated as all the info I've seen online seems to be from 10+ years ago.
"If a vehicle first used before 1 September 2002 is fitted with an engine that’s older than the vehicle, you must test it to the standards applicable for the engine. The vehicle presenter must have proof of the age of the engine
If a vehicle first used on or after 1 September 2002 is fitted with a different engine, you must test it to the emissions standards for the age of the vehicle."
It has the full exhaust for the larger engine with a new catalytic converter so should pass emissions if being tested against the numbers for the 2.8l engine. But for example if the tester wants to test the emissions against the original 1.8l engine the car previously had, it would potentially fail. How could I prove the age of the engine? I know it's from a 1996 BMW 3 series but have no paperwork, I assume the engine number is printed somewhere on the block and but it's not easily accessible.
I understand that I'll also need to register the change of engine with the DVLA - is this something that a tester would insist on being done before the test? Any advice on how to go about this would also be appreciated as all the info I've seen online seems to be from 10+ years ago.
gj1245 said:
MOT coming up soon on my 1995 BMW 318 to which I've fitted a larger 2.8 litre BMW engine and running gear (diff, brakes etc) from the same model year 328i. I used only OEM parts and it's not a bodged up conversion, am I going to run into issues when getting it MOT tested? As far as I can tell emissions is the only potential banana skin. Quoted from the MOT handbook
"If a vehicle first used before 1 September 2002 is fitted with an engine that’s older than the vehicle, you must test it to the standards applicable for the engine. The vehicle presenter must have proof of the age of the engine
If a vehicle first used on or after 1 September 2002 is fitted with a different engine, you must test it to the emissions standards for the age of the vehicle."
It has the full exhaust for the larger engine with a new catalytic converter so should pass emissions if being tested against the numbers for the 2.8l engine. But for example if the tester wants to test the emissions against the original 1.8l engine the car previously had, it would potentially fail. How could I prove the age of the engine? I know it's from a 1996 BMW 3 series but have no paperwork, I assume the engine number is printed somewhere on the block and but it's not easily accessible.
I understand that I'll also need to register the change of engine with the DVLA - is this something that a tester would insist on being done before the test? Any advice on how to go about this would also be appreciated as all the info I've seen online seems to be from 10+ years ago.
Don't over think it. "If a vehicle first used before 1 September 2002 is fitted with an engine that’s older than the vehicle, you must test it to the standards applicable for the engine. The vehicle presenter must have proof of the age of the engine
If a vehicle first used on or after 1 September 2002 is fitted with a different engine, you must test it to the emissions standards for the age of the vehicle."
It has the full exhaust for the larger engine with a new catalytic converter so should pass emissions if being tested against the numbers for the 2.8l engine. But for example if the tester wants to test the emissions against the original 1.8l engine the car previously had, it would potentially fail. How could I prove the age of the engine? I know it's from a 1996 BMW 3 series but have no paperwork, I assume the engine number is printed somewhere on the block and but it's not easily accessible.
I understand that I'll also need to register the change of engine with the DVLA - is this something that a tester would insist on being done before the test? Any advice on how to go about this would also be appreciated as all the info I've seen online seems to be from 10+ years ago.
It is tested as its presented, as if it has always been a 328
It only becomes an issue if it doesn't go through a BET, and the flow chart goes through the engine type (on a sticker on the inner wing usually), which won't tally. But just goes to default limits for the vehicles age
Are you presented with intelligence from DVSA?
For example, lots of Mercedes are now suffering from rear subframe corrosion. If I was devising an intelligent system I might program it to recognise that there has been a statistically significant number of mot's where this has been identified, and flag it to other testers as they start the mot...
For example, lots of Mercedes are now suffering from rear subframe corrosion. If I was devising an intelligent system I might program it to recognise that there has been a statistically significant number of mot's where this has been identified, and flag it to other testers as they start the mot...
surveyor said:
Are you presented with intelligence from DVSA?
For example, lots of Mercedes are now suffering from rear subframe corrosion. If I was devising an intelligent system I might program it to recognise that there has been a statistically significant number of mot's where this has been identified, and flag it to other testers as they start the mot...
Nope.For example, lots of Mercedes are now suffering from rear subframe corrosion. If I was devising an intelligent system I might program it to recognise that there has been a statistically significant number of mot's where this has been identified, and flag it to other testers as they start the mot...
Athlon said:
surveyor said:
Are you presented with intelligence from DVSA?
For example, lots of Mercedes are now suffering from rear subframe corrosion. If I was devising an intelligent system I might program it to recognise that there has been a statistically significant number of mot's where this has been identified, and flag it to other testers as they start the mot...
Nope.For example, lots of Mercedes are now suffering from rear subframe corrosion. If I was devising an intelligent system I might program it to recognise that there has been a statistically significant number of mot's where this has been identified, and flag it to other testers as they start the mot...
Bainbridge said:
Hi testers
I've just changed my ageing flexible brake hoses for braided lines. I want to brush some waxoyl onto the threaded nuts at the end of the rigid lines, to stop them going rusty.
Would this fail an MOT?
Probably better and neater to mask the braiding and spray them with stone chip and then body colour.I've just changed my ageing flexible brake hoses for braided lines. I want to brush some waxoyl onto the threaded nuts at the end of the rigid lines, to stop them going rusty.
Would this fail an MOT?
Is there any meaning to MOT numbers? They seem to be 12 digits that may as well be totally random looking at them?
(Lest this sound nuts - I was looking at my car's MOT history to check how much mileage it's done in the last month, and I noticed that there was no rhyme or reason to the MOT number of its last few tests. They're certainly not sequential, and they don't seem to have anything obvious about who did the MOT or anything either)
(Lest this sound nuts - I was looking at my car's MOT history to check how much mileage it's done in the last month, and I noticed that there was no rhyme or reason to the MOT number of its last few tests. They're certainly not sequential, and they don't seem to have anything obvious about who did the MOT or anything either)
Somewhatfoolish said:
Is there any meaning to MOT numbers? They seem to be 12 digits that may as well be totally random looking at them?
(Lest this sound nuts - I was looking at my car's MOT history to check how much mileage it's done in the last month, and I noticed that there was no rhyme or reason to the MOT number of its last few tests. They're certainly not sequential, and they don't seem to have anything obvious about who did the MOT or anything either)
I can't answer regarding the syntax of the number/code but if you have the VIN I think you can find out more details about where a test was done, etc.(Lest this sound nuts - I was looking at my car's MOT history to check how much mileage it's done in the last month, and I noticed that there was no rhyme or reason to the MOT number of its last few tests. They're certainly not sequential, and they don't seem to have anything obvious about who did the MOT or anything either)
PorkInsider said:
Somewhatfoolish said:
Is there any meaning to MOT numbers? They seem to be 12 digits that may as well be totally random looking at them?
(Lest this sound nuts - I was looking at my car's MOT history to check how much mileage it's done in the last month, and I noticed that there was no rhyme or reason to the MOT number of its last few tests. They're certainly not sequential, and they don't seem to have anything obvious about who did the MOT or anything either)
I can't answer regarding the syntax of the number/code but if you have the VIN I think you can find out more details about where a test was done, etc.(Lest this sound nuts - I was looking at my car's MOT history to check how much mileage it's done in the last month, and I noticed that there was no rhyme or reason to the MOT number of its last few tests. They're certainly not sequential, and they don't seem to have anything obvious about who did the MOT or anything either)
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