Taken from another car forum I frequent. Most interesting part is the 'illegal' engine tuning part. Not sure what that is going to entail at the moment but could cover any modifications affecting performance by the looks of it. I am sure time will tell, but it is quite concerning.

quote:

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There are to be some changes to the MOT test from 1st January 2012 which are being introduced in response to European Commission Directive 2010/48/EU of the 5th July 2010 and which will effect those with aftermarket HID headlights and remapped ECUs:

4.1.4 Compliance with requirements:
(a) Lamp, emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
(b) Products on lens or light source which obviously reduce light intensity or change emitted colour
(c) Light source and lamp not compatible

4.1.5. Levelling devices (where mandatory):
(a) Device not operating.
(b) Manual device cannot be operated from driver’s seat.

4.1.6 Headlamp cleaning device (where mandatory):
Device not operating.

For anyone with a remap, section 6.1.9 may be relevant.

6.1.9 Engine performance:
(a) Control unit illegal modified.
(b) Illegal engine modification.

(by 'illegal', it is assumed that they mean changed/programmed differently from OEM specifications)

There will also be a new check on the general condition of the wiring:

4.11. Electrical wiring
(a) Wiring insecure or not adequately secured.
(b) Wiring deteriorated.
(c) Damaged or deteriorated insulation

and on the function of airbag and seat belt pre-tensioner systems:

7.1.4. Safety belt Pre-tensioners:
Pre-tensioner obviously missing or not suitable with the vehicle.

7.1.5. Airbag:
(a) Airbags obviously missing or not suitable with the vehicle.
(b) Airbag obviously non-operative.

7.1.6. SRS Systems:
SRS MIL indicates any kind of failure of the system.

Some of the above won't be popular with some around here I know, but VOSA have confirmed that the necessary changes to the MOT test schedule will be introduced and from 1st January 2012 vehicles that fall foul of the new requirements will fail the test.

I think the biggest change is that they will now be able to detect re-maps and car will fail the MOT if this is the case.

I assume that this has been brought in because a lot of people who re-map their cars don't inform their insurance company




And:

Just picked this up from VOSA forum for testers:

Other items – such as headlamp bulb and unit incompatibility, headlamp levelling devices and illegal engine ‘chipping’ – will need further thought before we can get a workable solution for MOT stations.
Some of the new items may require extra effort on the part of the tester – when we know for sure what that is we’ll be talking again with our trade and DfT colleagues to work out what the impact will be.
The common EU test certificate should be relatively easy to achieve – the only data that the Directive expects and that we don’t currently provide is the symbol for the vehicle’s country of origin. Probably 99% of vehicles tested will have
‘UK’ entered here, but if you do test vehicles with a foreign plate, you will need to enter the correct country symbol. We may even be able to make this change earlier if there is a convenient opportunity.
The MOT trade can rest assured that VOSA is working closely with you to introduce any new elements as efficiently and effectively as possible, with the minimum of fuss. Just as importantly, we are also working closely with Siemens to ensure that any system changes due on New Year’s Eve 2011 go smoothly! We should know more by the time the MOT seminars take place – come along and ask the experts.

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is the re-map issue to address emissions?

If so, how will a map on a kit car work, as there was never an ecu for that car? I shall await with interest,...

please keep us posted,...

thanks

At least with most of our kit cars (and bikes!) it would be impossible to define what was "standard" as far as the engine was concerned, and few of us have levelling headlights, airbags, self-tensioning seatbelts, etc.

The ones who will suffer are the car modders, boy racers, etc who fit HID lights, re-chip their ECUs, etc. I guess that they are the targets for these changes.

Crikey.
I guess the HID thing is fair enough. But how on earth are they going to interrogate all the ecu's on std type cars?? OBD?

As for engine swap cars and kits, they will be stumped. I very much doubt they will outlaw modified cars, it would cause chaos.
Bound to be an emissions thing.

How on earth are they going to spot a remap?

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Originally posted by mookaloid
How on earth are they going to spot a remap?

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what about engine swaps? My 205 Mi16 for example?!?!?

Mmmm, I wonder how this will effect my plans to EFI my E Type, obviously they never were EFI, I know some running Jenveys, but none GSXR750 bodies and MS.

Better do some research....

I can't see any issue with the changes for 95% of vehicles on the road. In principle I agree with checing for re-mapped cars as I doubt many people doing this actually inform their insurer of the mod on the basis that it's not immediately obvious.

The kit car engine/mapping issue could probably be navigated by making the rule applicable only to type approved cars?


ETA....the emissions angle always makes me laugh. Just because a car is tested to a standard and found to emit a certain level of CO2 there's no guarantee of that in real world driving.

[Edited on 27/6/11 by nick205]

In Germany they only TUV (MOT) 'standard' cars. Any mods, such as wide wheels, have to be changed back to 'standard' and any extras, such as lamps, removed.

Good job it's only every two years.

AND, if the government follow EEC directives, how come the MOT is every year, not every two as in Europe?

quote:

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Originally posted by nick205
I can't see any issue with the changes for 95% of vehicles on the road. In principle I agree with checing for re-mapped cars as I doubt many people doing this actually inform their insurer of the mod on the basis that it's not immediately obvious.

The kit car engine/mapping issue could probably be navigated by making the rule applicable only to type approved cars?

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In Germany it's very difficult to even register a car unless it's a merc or BMW or vw.
They protect their car industry via these measures.

its got to the point where i just don't care any more. my tin top is standard and its fine that way. i got the one that did what i wanted it to do when i bought it. and as for the kit well im the manufacturer so what ever i say is standard is the standard.

quote:

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Originally posted by liam.mccaffrey
what about engine swaps? My 205 Mi16 for example?!?!?

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quote:

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Originally posted by fesycresy

quote:

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Originally posted by liam.mccaffrey
what about engine swaps? My 205 Mi16 for example?!?!?

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You're fuct.

I'll give you £100 now, save you all that aggro

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I read about this probably 6 months ago, but I still don't see how they are going to be able to detect "chipped" ECUs and more importantly why they need to? MOT compliance is nothing to do with insurance, and the emissions are already part of the test. The proportion of cars that actual get remapped must be pretty tiny in the scheme of things, why are they so bothered about it?

I'll be happy to see them clamping down on after market HIDs though.

I'm a Mot tester and I will tell you all now the only item extra to be included in the Mot test is towbar wiring socket check with the vosa approved tester

All the others on the list are in discussion
But I will say this in the future all emissions readings will be through the diag socket taking live readings from the o2 sensors and like all things it will not apply to all vehicles just the later ones

IIRC the only towbar electrics to be tested are the new 13 pin sockets, not the old 7pin type which is a bit strange when you consider how many trailer/caravans have dodgy lights but due to not being covered by a European standard they are exempt

Why people think the ECU thing will mainly affect Barry Boys/Yobs is a little beyond me, nearly every middle-aged diesel driver I know has a remapped ECU, a decent remap gives power and economy. For a couple of people I know remapping their new diesel rep-mobiles is as routine as fitting a set of footwell mats.

How they're going to Police this is going to be a big question, and surely its only illegal if the insurance isn't informed.

I suspect that it's more in relation to the variable road tax dependent on the emissions for newer cars. The 'greener' the vehicle the cheaper the road tax....chip it and that's all gone out the window. Some pen pusher will see that as fraud/illegal which in a way it is, by getting cheaper road tax but not complying.

Ian