Other MOT special notice 01-21: headlamp conversions

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My mot place knows I do all my own repairs so don't usually take the pi55. They have just given an advisory on a cv boot that looks fine to me o_O

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
  • Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
 
I think the thing with discs/pads is, now the cars service interval are so long if the brakes are for example half worn they simply wont make the next service, this in itself is not a problem but most mot testers used to be mechanics, so maybe they are applying the same logic?

Add in some good old human logic,
the customer is a dick
customer spoke to staff like poo
car is a pos that really should not be on the road
they cut you up last week
they have had way to many straight passes
 
If I am honest I have probably used my rear fogs less than a handful of times in the past few years.

As for front fogs I personally don’t see the point, I get that they are lower so you get less reflection back from the main lights but I haven’t seen fog like that for a long time and in less than the absolute worst conditions they don’t actually add anything IMO.


See if several times a year at the top of Bluebell Hill, but literally only for a few yards if that then its clear again.
 
To be fair, mot stations do like to fail on brake disks these days. Years ago, the ratio of pads to disks was about 6 to 1. 6 sets of pads changed to every I disk but now it's more like 3 to 1. There was a garage near here who failed our old Peugeot on its front disks a year after they had changed them, the car had only done 8k in that time.

Col
I can only speak from my own experience of owning an mot and repair garage. All my nominated testers and others I knew, and still do, were decent lads who did not fail anything unless it was required. In fact they often would put minor faults right (for free) so the vehicle didn't fail. e.g. windscreen washer fluid. headlamp aim, a blown bulb etc. VOSA ticked us off for doing this. They said we should "fail and record" then repair and pass, so it didn't mess up their bull**** statistics. They monitor every testing station's results, pass and fail rates and what items failed on. If they don't like your stats you get a warning and can have your licence removed. Please don't think all garages are there to rip you off. In my experience it is the opposite. As for failing brake discs, unless things have changed they need to be literally adrift to fail, worn, scored or rusty was an advisory only. Some customers, usually the rudest, wanted their death traps to pass with flying colours and got very belligerent when you explained the failure.
 
If my car fails on something dangerous then fine, I am more than happy to accept it.
What happen now if it fails with "do not drive until fixed" how are you supposed to get it home to fix it?
 
If my car fails on something dangerous then fine, I am more than happy to accept it.
What happen now if it fails with "do not drive until fixed" how are you supposed to get it home to fix it?

Ignore and drive it, unless its going to hurt you or someone else.
 
I can only speak from my own experience of owning an mot and repair garage. All my nominated testers and others I knew, and still do, were decent lads who did not fail anything unless it was required. In fact they often would put minor faults right (for free) so the vehicle didn't fail. e.g. windscreen washer fluid. headlamp aim, a blown bulb etc. VOSA ticked us off for doing this. They said we should "fail and record" then repair and pass, so it didn't mess up their bull**** statistics. They monitor every testing station's results, pass and fail rates and what items failed on. If they don't like your stats you get a warning and can have your licence removed. Please don't think all garages are there to rip you off. In my experience it is the opposite. As for failing brake discs, unless things have changed they need to be literally adrift to fail, worn, scored or rusty was an advisory only. Some customers, usually the rudest, wanted their death traps to pass with flying colours and got very belligerent when you explained the failure.
Yes, not all garages are just after the customers money. The place I use now are very helpful and reasonable when it comes to the mot. They know I'll fix whatever they find so give me some leaway. I take my daughters car there and they understand that I won't pay £600 to repair a £500 car so will happily fit secondhand parts supplied by me. The Garage owner is called Chris Fiddler, the name put me off at first but he is very honest and has been in business for decades.

Col
 
I can only speak from my own experience of owning an mot and repair garage. All my nominated testers and others I knew, and still do, were decent lads who did not fail anything unless it was required. In fact they often would put minor faults right (for free) so the vehicle didn't fail. e.g. windscreen washer fluid. headlamp aim, a blown bulb etc. VOSA ticked us off for doing this. They said we should "fail and record" then repair and pass, so it didn't mess up their bull**** statistics. They monitor every testing station's results, pass and fail rates and what items failed on. If they don't like your stats you get a warning and can have your licence removed. Please don't think all garages are there to rip you off. In my experience it is the opposite. As for failing brake discs, unless things have changed they need to be literally adrift to fail, worn, scored or rusty was an advisory only. Some customers, usually the rudest, wanted their death traps to pass with flying colours and got very belligerent when you explained the failure.

That sounds just like my local indie. By the way, they also had a look under the plastic covers on my Jag and it is a good job they did because the sill had disappeared so almost nothing was hokding the seat-belt mounting. Even better, they take pictures on their phones. Their only issue is that they're struggling with demand because their reputation is spreading and everyone wants to go there.
 
That is how I read it as well,

"Converted" not OK.ie. swap the bulb only.

Change the complete unit and it is OK, is how I read it. I guess people will find out how theMOT inspectors interpret the rules over the next few months.

Cheers
If you fit hid in standard headlights it’s a no go with a fail,if you replace whole unit with a led manufactured unit it’s a pass,then you may also need to consider automatic levelling & a lens cleaning system, that’s what I read on my Dvsa notices
 
If you fit hid in standard headlights it’s a no go with a fail,if you replace whole unit with a led manufactured unit it’s a pass,then you may also need to consider automatic levelling & a lens cleaning system, that’s what I read on my Dvsa notices

Are you an MOT inspector?

Cheers
 
My mot place knows I do all my own repairs so don't usually take the pi55. They have just given an advisory on a cv boot that looks fine to me o_O

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects):
  • Offside Front Outer Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot severely deteriorated (6.1.7 (g) (i))
Prob just a very small amount of perishing/cracking on the boot this is only advice from his inspection there’s not a lot of options when you input your decision, have a very close re-look at it
 
Prob just a very small amount of perishing/cracking on the boot this is only advice from his inspection there’s not a lot of options when you input your decision, have a very close re-look at it

The guy at the counter when I paid said he didn't understand how severely deteriorated could be and minor defect either but I'm not complaining as it's back on the drive where it will most likely stay for another 6 months of lockdown.
 
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