Proving vehicle weight for MOT test?

[artois7]

I wasn't really sure where to post this, feel free to move if there is a more suitable subforum.

I recently took my 309 gti in for an MOT, and because the mot tester didn't have an official vehicle weight, he used the gross / maximum weight in the vin plate, which is 1350kg compared to the cars actual weight of around 980kg.

That extra 40% is a huge factor in a brake efficiency test. The problem I have is how to prove this? My v5 doesn't list a kerb weight, and I don't have an owners manual. I assume they wouldn't accept a random car websites quotes as they could have easily just googled this fit themselves.

Any ideas how I can get an 'official' kerb weight that would satisfy the MOT tester, short of finding a weighbridge?

[tapkaJohnD]

Find a weighbridge and ask to be allowed to use it.
Many industrial estates will have them, or corporation depots. MY "recycling centre" does, to weigh the trucks on and off, and the operator is happy for me to weigh my cars, "for a drink".
Also scrap dealers use them.
Or see: https://www.gov.uk/find-weighbridge

John

[GreenV8S]

tapkaJohnD said:

Find a weighbridge and ask to be allowed to use it.
Many industrial estates will have them, or corporation depots. MY "recycling centre" does, to weigh the trucks on and off, and the operator is happy for me to weigh my cars, "for a drink".
Also scrap dealers use them.
Or see: https://www.gov.uk/find-weighbridge

John

If the MOT testers won't accept random figures from t'internet, are they any more likely to accept untraceable numbers from an unknown weighbridge? I could happily weigh a mate's car and write a number on a bit of paper, but there's no reason for an MOT tester to trust that the number is accurate and relates to the car in question.

[C. Grimsley]

My test station, weighs the car in the brake rollers, then on the brake test you test it as vehicle weight presented.



Carl

Edited by C. Grimsley on Saturday 27th June 00:04

[stevemcs]

As above, our brake rollers will weigh the axel

[finishing touch]

I went to a local grain store and weighed my twin axle car trailer on their weigh bridge. I had to wait and fit in a gap between lorries.

They charged me £15 for the printed certificate stating 450kg. Happy with that.

I've never needed it but its one of those things its handy to know.

Paul G

[imagineifyeswill]

I havent been an MOT tester for 13 years now but when I was we had to have upto date wall charts with vehicle testing weights. That probably doesnt apply any longer as modern rollers automatically weigh each axle, they must be using fairly old rollers.

Aside from all that a 309GTI with disc brakes all round should have no problem passing a brake test calculated on a weight of 1340KGs

[Krikkit]

imagineifyeswill said:

Aside from all that a 309GTI with disc brakes all round should have no problem passing a brake test calculated on a weight of 1340KGs

I was wondering that - surely that's the whole point in the brake test, if it can't cope at max weight then they're not good enough anyway.

[artois7]

Krikkit said:

I was wondering that - surely that's the whole point in the brake test, if it can't cope at max weight then they're not good enough anyway.

With an extra 400kg in the car, there would be a lot more force on the brakes so it would behave differently.

I got a scan of the owners manual which shows the kerb weight at 930kg, this was accepted for the test.

[lexusboy]

Why is this a problem? You think 4 adults with luggage would probably exceed 400kg so if the brakes don’t work at the weight input in then you got st brakes kid

[Skyedriver]

C. Grimsley said:

My test station, weighs the car in the brake rollers, then on the brake test you test it as vehicle weight presented.



Carl

Edited by C. Grimsley on Saturday 27th June 00:04

My local MoT tester also weighs the car, 590kg with the driver IIRC, I must go on a diet.

[Little Pete]

artois7 said:

I wasn't really sure where to post this, feel free to move if there is a more suitable subforum.

I recently took my 309 gti in for an MOT, and because the mot tester didn't have an official vehicle weight, he used the gross / maximum weight in the vin plate, which is 1350kg compared to the cars actual weight of around 980kg.

That extra 40% is a huge factor in a brake efficiency test. The problem I have is how to prove this? My v5 doesn't list a kerb weight, and I don't have an owners manual. I assume they wouldn't accept a random car websites quotes as they could have easily just googled this fit themselves.

Any ideas how I can get an 'official' kerb weight that would satisfy the MOT tester, short of finding a weighbridge?

My brake test weight chart states 1070 kg for a 309 GTi.

[Krikkit]

OK so 1070kg vs 1350kg taken on the OP's test... By the MOT rules you have to have a 50 efficiency for pre-2010 cars. What did yours come out at OP?

That weight difference is 26%

[GreenV8S]

I don't know whether it's got better since then, but many years ago I watched a locaterfield really struggle to get through the handbrake efficiency test because the wheels locked up without registering enough force to pass the test. The problem seemed to be weight distribution, not total weight.

[Chris32345]

GreenV8S said:

I don't know whether it's got better since then, but many years ago I watched a locaterfield really struggle to get through the handbrake efficiency test because the wheels locked up without registering enough force to pass the test. The problem seemed to be weight distribution, not total weight.

Last I checked if both wheels lock up it's a pass regardless of efficiency reading

[Little Pete]

Krikkit said:

OK so 1070kg vs 1350kg taken on the OP's test... By the MOT rules you have to have a 50 efficiency for pre-2010 cars. What did yours come out at OP?

That weight difference is 26%

Interesting question. From memory though-admittedly it’s been a while since I tested one- I would have thought it would pass on enough wheels locking if the brakes were ok. Be nice to know though.

[GreenV8S]

Chris32345 said:

Last I checked if both wheels lock up it's a pass regardless of efficiency reading

It did eventually pass, but the examiner repeated the test half a dozen times first and seemed reluctant to pass it.

[PaulKemp]

At IVA test the car must lock fronts before rears

[chammyman]

Tester must have been 11 years old or maybe his first day.

The brake weight even if he put in 1400kgs would have been easily met. Maybe not the handbrake on the notoriously poor bendix rear calipers.

Matters not as long as they locked then even if the scale read what a push bike would read it's a pass.

A quick google would have given him an acceptable figure to put in if his rollers didn't measure the weight.