HELP - MOT Failure

Hi Guys

I urgently need some advice regarding a recent MOT Failure on my LR.

I have a genuine Bowler Converted Defender Puma XS Utility 2.2, the conversion was carried out from new by Bowler themselves.

It’s had a completely custom Bowler exhaust system built for the car and the car has been completely remapped by Bowler meaning it now does in excess of 110mph.

I’ve had the car for 4 years and every MOT it has passed without issue until yesterday.

The car has now failed on the basis that there is no original factory CAT fitted? But oddly the emission test past with flying colours.

So the fail was purely on the visual inspection stating - Catalytic Converter Missing

The garage has advised getting a new catalytic converter and standard exhaust fitted and having the car remapped again to standard to work with the new CAT before they will pass it!

Surely this can’t be correct on a genuine Bowler conversion LR? If so it would mean loosing 30-40% of the value of the vehicle as it currently sits as it would no longer have all the Bowler upgrades present?

Any genuine advise sought please!

Whittakerdan said:

Hi Guys

I urgently need some advice regarding a recent MOT Failure on my LR.

I have a genuine Bowler Converted Defender Puma XS Utility 2.2, the conversion was carried out from new by Bowler themselves.

It’s had a completely custom Bowler exhaust system built for the car and the car has been completely remapped by Bowler meaning it now does in excess of 110mph.

I’ve had the car for 4 years and every MOT it has passed without issue until yesterday.

The car has now failed on the basis that there is no original factory CAT fitted? But oddly the emission test past with flying colours.

So the fail was purely on the visual inspection stating - Catalytic Converter Missing

The garage has advised getting a new catalytic converter and standard exhaust fitted and having the car remapped again to standard to work with the new CAT before they will pass it!

Surely this can’t be correct on a genuine Bowler conversion LR? If so it would mean loosing 30-40% of the value of the vehicle as it currently sits as it would no longer have all the Bowler upgrades present?

Any genuine advise sought please!

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Have you changed your MOT garage?

Are they interpreting it from the new rules?

How did they know that there was a CAT fitted previously/as OE standard?

Could you not get a cheap aftermarket CAT and gut it out and get it TIG welded up and fitted just to circumvent the BS?

As it left the factory with a CAT it needs one on to pass MoT, same with DPFs and EGR valves etc. More stringent rules. Some testing stations turn a blind eye, most don’t now. Don’t know what options you have, best to speak to Bowler.

Isn't the simple answer to put a cover over the exhaust area where the cat should be? MOT testers can't remove bodywork/panels to inspect underneath. Just make sure they can't see

Yes unfortunately it went to a different garage to normal as I was away and the other half took it!

Spoke to my normal garage who have said they can’t overlook a failure if it’s on the system as failing with no CAT in case it’s inspected later by VOSA

I could buy a second hand CAT and smash the internals out but not sure if this would work with Bowlers remap? And presumably just rip it out again after the MOT? Although the only issue is the Bowler exhaust is one complete pipe so would need to buy a compatible exhaust to go with it too!

To be fair they also failed it for having the headlights pointing to high - IT HAS SELF LEVELING HEADLIGHTS IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING!

and failed the rear seat not locking into position even though the seats were presented in the folded up position - TESTER DIDN'T ENGAGE THE FLOOR LOCK (so basically has no clue what he’s doing)

Welcome.
I certainly understand your pain. I would only suggest.
1. Take it to a different MOT garage and try again.
2. Buy 1 of the aftermarket cats, have your pipe chopped and fit but also have a blank pipe made at the same time so you can fit for MOTs.

I know not strictly right but lots on here remove egr and get away with it. I think it’s a bit harsh as you pass on emissions, CATs reduce NOX? Which I don’t actually believe is tested yet.

Good luck and pics please


J

Thanks guys, yes they didn’t check the EGR as that’s blanked off to lol!

Just the cat and the other issues they did t know what they were looking at! Headlights and rear seat

I suppose you could appeal the failure to VOSA but then they would probably fail it on EGR blanked.
The MOT rules state that there must be no evidence of tampering with the emission systems.

Whittakerdan said:

Yes unfortunately it went to a different garage to normal as I was away and the other half took it!

Click to expand...

Only one solution to prevent this happening again. New missus!

Totally agree lol!!!

Speak to Bowler & see what they say about the cat issue.
After you have spoken to them make a complaint to DVSA that the testing station has wrongly failed your vehicle on the headlights & seats issue.

ETA https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/complain-about-an-mot

Whittakerdan said:

Hi Guys

I urgently need some advice regarding a recent MOT Failure on my LR.

I have a genuine Bowler Converted Defender Puma XS Utility 2.2, the conversion was carried out from new by Bowler themselves.

It’s had a completely custom Bowler exhaust system built for the car and the car has been completely remapped by Bowler meaning it now does in excess of 110mph.

I’ve had the car for 4 years and every MOT it has passed without issue until yesterday.

The car has now failed on the basis that there is no original factory CAT fitted? But oddly the emission test past with flying colours.

So the fail was purely on the visual inspection stating - Catalytic Converter Missing

The garage has advised getting a new catalytic converter and standard exhaust fitted and having the car remapped again to standard to work with the new CAT before they will pass it!

Surely this can’t be correct on a genuine Bowler conversion LR? If so it would mean loosing 30-40% of the value of the vehicle as it currently sits as it would no longer have all the Bowler upgrades present?

Any genuine advise sought please!

Click to expand...

If this was mine, I would remove the exhaust and purchase a cheapo “race cat” of the correct diameter for the current exhaust. Cut the cat in 1/2 along its length, gut it, wrap it around the exhaust and weld it back up. You then would need to dress the welds to make it look like it hasn’t been tampered with.

All cars built after 2001 have to have cats that have type approval.

brianconwy said:

All cars built after 2001 have to have cats that have type approval.

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Specialist manufacturers used to come under SVA rules, not sure if that is still the case? If Bowler got it before it was registered, then it's their name on the V5 not land rover, thus doesn't require a cat?
I'm sure someone with better and more up-to-date knowledge will put me right

kermit_rr said:

Specialist manufacturers used to come under SVA rules, not sure if that is still the case? If Bowler got it before it was registered, then it's their name on the V5 not land rover, thus doesn't require a cat?
I'm sure someone with better and more up-to-date knowledge will put me right

Click to expand...

Not sure that’s true.
Our OF630r never turned a wheel with engine (refund quoted for no engine on paperwork and delivered to them but with a reg number) but at the end of the day it was brought as a LR and converted.
At the end of the day it’s the same as you/me putting a different engine in any car. But if it says Range Rover 4.6 on the V5 that’s the way it’s tested (in our case) what was the bowler originally and is that what it says on the V5? This is where the problem lies.
As OP has said now it’s listed as a major fail even his normal MOT center cannot ignore this, then all I can say is option 2 in my original post.
Wouldn’t bother with gutting one and going through all that “it’s been tampered with” or a remap it’s only for the test.

Whatever there are ways and hope the OP doesn’t loose the will to keep such a great car

J

Whittakerdan said:

Yes unfortunately it went to a different garage to normal as I was away and the other half took it!

Spoke to my normal garage who have said they can’t overlook a failure if it’s on the system as failing with no CAT in case it’s inspected later by VOSA

I could buy a second hand CAT and smash the internals out but not sure if this would work with Bowlers remap? And presumably just rip it out again after the MOT? Although the only issue is the Bowler exhaust is one complete pipe so would need to buy a compatible exhaust to go with it too!

To be fair they also failed it for having the headlights pointing to high - IT HAS SELF LEVELING HEADLIGHTS IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING!

and failed the rear seat not locking into position even though the seats were presented in the folded up position - TESTER DIDN'T ENGAGE THE FLOOR LOCK (so basically has no clue what he’s doing)

Click to expand...

Sounds like they were just looking to fail it on something.... bloody jobs worth fkn d-heads some of these people.
I have another highly tuned motor & it has been mapped with no cat & my tester told me to get something
that resembles a cat even if it has no internals so once a year it gets fitted & I drive gingerly to the garage
& back again as long as im not on boost its fine also we took the car out & checked it with the decelerometer
as I wasn't happy with the car being on the roller brake tester as all my drive train is brand new.

I had the exhaust cut & flanges fitted then I can fit the sports cat when the time comes job done