Q Plate MOT woes
Discussion
Think I've found my next kit car 
Quick question though.....
Can anyone clarify what the MOT requirments are for a Q plate car? As far as I'm aware they would correspond to the age of the donor parts, so for a car with a mid 70s engine and similar aged back axle, built in 1986, it would only have to conform to 1970s emissions standards etc.
Specifically, can anyone tell me whether or not a 1974/1986 car would now require side repeaters for the MOT? The cars last MOT expired about 6 months ago and apparently it sailed through that, yet I found a website where someone with the same model had failed an MOT due to the lack of repeaters.
Quick question though.....
Can anyone clarify what the MOT requirments are for a Q plate car? As far as I'm aware they would correspond to the age of the donor parts, so for a car with a mid 70s engine and similar aged back axle, built in 1986, it would only have to conform to 1970s emissions standards etc.
Specifically, can anyone tell me whether or not a 1974/1986 car would now require side repeaters for the MOT? The cars last MOT expired about 6 months ago and apparently it sailed through that, yet I found a website where someone with the same model had failed an MOT due to the lack of repeaters.
Q plate should be visible smoke test only. Im not sure on the side repeater situation though, even if its to the letter of the MOT law you may find you struggle to convince the average MOT man that's the case, and/or he may then look for other things to fail you on if he thinks you're trying to tell him how to do his job! 
To a certain extent that's waht worries me. Back home we used to know of certain 'friendly garages' who'd be realistic about what a car was going to be used for and wouldn't nitpick on something fundamentally safe if it had a minor technical infringement! I suspect with the new computerised records of MOTs these people have to be an awful lot more careful.
It's confusing though, because I'm sure the car I'm looking at has had an MOT, since the other example was failed for not having repeaters. I wonder if it was a case of discretion as above, and if so whether or not it would work these days
I suppose their could be worse jobs than having to fit a pair of repeaters.
It's confusing though, because I'm sure the car I'm looking at has had an MOT, since the other example was failed for not having repeaters. I wonder if it was a case of discretion as above, and if so whether or not it would work these days
I suppose their could be worse jobs than having to fit a pair of repeaters.
What car is it?
Q plate is definite visible smoke test only: see here.
MOT rules for indicators are here. The get out clause that I use for my Caterham is:
Lamps incorporating a side repeater are marked either with an 'E' mark in a circle or an 'e' mark in a rectangle above which is a number 5. Some vehicles are fitted with a wraparound lens with no European approval markings. These can be tested by standing approximately 1000mm to the side of the vehicles rear bumper with indicator on. If amber light can be seen coming through the front lens (not a reflection) this is acceptable.
Q plate is definite visible smoke test only: see here.
MOT rules for indicators are here. The get out clause that I use for my Caterham is:
Lamps incorporating a side repeater are marked either with an 'E' mark in a circle or an 'e' mark in a rectangle above which is a number 5. Some vehicles are fitted with a wraparound lens with no European approval markings. These can be tested by standing approximately 1000mm to the side of the vehicles rear bumper with indicator on. If amber light can be seen coming through the front lens (not a reflection) this is acceptable.
It's one of these. Well, to be precise, it is this,
A sylva Leader.
So, the above states that if you're 1m to the side of the rear bumper, you must be able to see the front indicators?
Can't see any way that's going to happen on the Leader, slightly surprised it works with other cars if I've interpretted it correctly.
A sylva Leader.
So, the above states that if you're 1m to the side of the rear bumper, you must be able to see the front indicators?
Can't see any way that's going to happen on the Leader, slightly surprised it works with other cars if I've interpretted it correctly.
Had a worrying feeling that would be the case!
It's been MOT'd regularly until last year. Maybe the previous owner was just on very good terms with the local garage, or maybe they'd had a few '7s through and thought all Q plate cars were exempt or something.
I suppose it's only a tenner for a self adhesive pair like these,
http://www.nfauto.co.uk/side_repeaters.htm
Having said that, the rear section of the front wings, where I think it would have to go is cruved, so I'm not sure they'd fit! Not looking forward to cutting flats in the fiberglass and so on to fit them
It's been MOT'd regularly until last year. Maybe the previous owner was just on very good terms with the local garage, or maybe they'd had a few '7s through and thought all Q plate cars were exempt or something.
I suppose it's only a tenner for a self adhesive pair like these,
http://www.nfauto.co.uk/side_repeaters.htm
Having said that, the rear section of the front wings, where I think it would have to go is cruved, so I'm not sure they'd fit! Not looking forward to cutting flats in the fiberglass and so on to fit them
Haha, yes it's fair to say the Leader isn't the best looking shape ever penned, but this one is very smart in it's own boxy way, so I'd like to keep it that way with an elegant solutions. That said, although we've sort of informally agreed a sale I haven't actually picked it up yet, just thinking ahead. And the reason for doing so is simple, it's pretty much an early Striker underneath for a quarter of the price. On my salary I can't justify a £4k premium for looking nice!
Back on topic, I'm not sure the side headlights would be visible from the angle stipulated in the MOT thingy. If so, the existing indicators would probably be sufficient. Will give the bloke a call in a second to see if he's tried to MOT it!
Back on topic, I'm not sure the side headlights would be visible from the angle stipulated in the MOT thingy. If so, the existing indicators would probably be sufficient. Will give the bloke a call in a second to see if he's tried to MOT it!
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