MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: ad_car_08 on April 25, 2018, 18:07

Title: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: ad_car_08 on April 25, 2018, 18:07
Some of you may know I've stripped my car right out to use it as an occasional use/track orientated car for track days. I've spent a lot of time recently trying to get the airbag light extinguished and now I've been dealt a kick in the nadgers..  :(

I've been getting my car MOT'd at work (Honda dealership) for as many years as I've worked here....booked my car in for an MOT this Saturday and having a little chat to one of the workshop technicians. Long story short he told me not to bother bringing it in because he'll have to fail it!  :(

With the new MOT regs, I'll fail because of;

I called a local MOT testing station who said the only way around it, is to fit a full/half cage so the car is identified as a competition car.
This ring true with other folk on here? I'm trying not to sink a ridiculous amount of money in the car, as it's just a tatty toy... :(
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 25, 2018, 18:11
Quote from: ad_car_08 on April 25, 2018, 18:07
Some of you may know I've stripped my car right out to use it as an occasional use/track orientated car for track days. I've spent a lot of time recently trying to get the airbag light extinguished and now I've been dealt a kick in the nadgers..  :(

I've been getting my car MOT'd at work (Honda dealership) for as many years as I've worked here....booked my car in for an MOT this Saturday and having a little chat to one of the workshop technicians. Long story short he told me not to bother bringing it in because he'll have to fail it!  :(

With the new MOT regs, I'll fail because of;

  • the original steering wheel has been removed, and thus the airbag. I need to be able to remove the steering wheel to get in and out
  • the drivers seat is fixed, and doesn't move 'aft or fore'
  • the seat belt reels/pretensioners have been removed

I called a local MOT testing station who said the only way around it, is to fit a full/half cage so the car is identified as a competition car.
This ring true with other folk on here? I'm trying not to sink a ridiculous amount of money in the car, as it's just a tatty toy... :(
Yup. In a nutshell you're currently presenting a modified car with factory fitted safety systems removed. Cage and harness and you're back in the game.


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Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: wotugonado on April 25, 2018, 18:27
Didn't think the new MOT rules came into effect till middle of May  :o
Have I got that wrong ?
I'm presenting mine early for MOT this week to avoid the rule changes till next year or so I thought.....
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 25, 2018, 19:02
Quote from: wotugonado on April 25, 2018, 18:27
Didn't think the new MOT rules came into effect till middle of May  :o
Have I got that wrong ?
I'm presenting mine early for MOT this week to avoid the rule changes till next year or so I thought.....
Nope, you're right, it'll buy you a year.


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Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: ad_car_08 on April 25, 2018, 19:34
The new MOT certificate and regs are in force now!
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: 1979scotte on April 25, 2018, 19:37
I got my MOT in early for similar reasons.
No check engine light.

You guys are a bit late 20th May 2018.
Sorry
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: mr2stuff on April 25, 2018, 20:07
oh dear, so an aftermarket steering wheel without airbag is out of the question for the new mot.
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: 1979scotte on April 25, 2018, 20:16
Quote from: mr2stuff on April 25, 2018, 20:07
oh dear, so an aftermarket steering wheel without airbag is out of the question for the new mot.

Yes mate.
Just swap your old one back on.
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: wotugonado on April 25, 2018, 20:37
But we are still in April, so why are they in force now :-\ I'm well confused
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: 1979scotte on April 25, 2018, 20:38
Quote from: wotugonado on April 25, 2018, 20:37
But we are still in April, so why are they in force now :-\ I'm well confused

Yes we are still in April so what am I on about?
And what is the MOT tester about?
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: wotugonado on April 25, 2018, 20:52
 :-\
I'll soon find out on Friday........

Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 25, 2018, 21:22
Quote from: 1979scotte on April 25, 2018, 20:38
Quote from: wotugonado on April 25, 2018, 20:37
But we are still in April, so why are they in force now :-\ I'm well confused

Yes we are still in April so what am I on about?
And what is the MOT tester about?
I was scratching my head at that and ad's statement above too, don't come in until May for sure.


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Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 25, 2018, 21:26
Quote from: 1979scotte on April 25, 2018, 20:16
Quote from: mr2stuff on April 25, 2018, 20:07
oh dear, so an aftermarket steering wheel without airbag is out of the question for the new mot.

Yes mate.
Just swap your old one back on.
There's a bit of greyness with that one, as with some others, it's not the testers responsibility to check if it should have an airbag fitted and if you're reasonably modified you might get away with an advisory.
However the advisory system has all changed as well so it's a bit of a gamble.


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Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: ad_car_08 on April 25, 2018, 23:50
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 25, 2018, 21:26
Quote from: 1979scotte on April 25, 2018, 20:16
Quote from: mr2stuff on April 25, 2018, 20:07
oh dear, so an aftermarket steering wheel without airbag is out of the question for the new mot.

Yes mate.
Just swap your old one back on.
There's a bit of greyness with that one, as with some others, it's not the testers responsibility to check if it should have an airbag fitted and if you're reasonably modified you might get away with an advisory.
However the advisory system has all changed as well so it's a bit of a gamble.


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The technician at work said in no uncertain terms not to waste my time bringing it in...it'll fail.

Anyone recommend anywhere to get a half cage fitted? I seem to remember one knocking about a while ago - selling in Folkestone? I presume that's sold now??
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: 1979scotte on April 26, 2018, 06:18
Quote from: ad_car_08 on April 25, 2018, 23:50
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 25, 2018, 21:26
Quote from: 1979scotte on April 25, 2018, 20:16
Quote from: mr2stuff on April 25, 2018, 20:07
oh dear, so an aftermarket steering wheel without airbag is out of the question for the new mot.

Yes mate.
Just swap your old one back on.
There's a bit of greyness with that one, as with some others, it's not the testers responsibility to check if it should have an airbag fitted and if you're reasonably modified you might get away with an advisory.
However the advisory system has all changed as well so it's a bit of a gamble.


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The technician at work said in no uncertain terms not to waste my time bringing it in...it'll fail.

Anyone recommend anywhere to get a half cage fitted? I seem to remember one knocking about a while ago - selling in Folkestone? I presume that's sold now??

Take it elsewhere then. Unless it would have failed under previous regs.
New regs do not come in to force until 20th May.
Some MOT testers are more friendly than others  ;)
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 26, 2018, 06:28
Megillian Motorsport make cages/half cages that retain use of the soft top (can't remember if you ditched yours) but they're very busy at the moment so don't expect miracles.
It was suggested elsewhere that if you have a harness installed it negates the need for the airbag etc. (Your head would never reach the wheel/screen).


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Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: wotugonado on April 27, 2018, 13:21
MOT'd today and they have given me the new issue certificate, looks like THEY ARE  already implementing the new rules  :-\
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: ad_car_08 on April 28, 2018, 20:08
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 26, 2018, 06:28
Megillian Motorsport make cages/half cages that retain use of the soft top (can't remember if you ditched yours) but they're very busy at the moment so don't expect miracles.
It was suggested elsewhere that if you have a harness installed it negates the need for the airbag etc. (Your head would never reach the wheel/screen).


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Just found their cages on a Web search...they do look the job, don't they!!
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 28, 2018, 20:19
Quote from: ad_car_08 on April 28, 2018, 20:08
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 26, 2018, 06:28
Megillian Motorsport make cages/half cages that retain use of the soft top (can't remember if you ditched yours) but they're very busy at the moment so don't expect miracles.
It was suggested elsewhere that if you have a harness installed it negates the need for the airbag etc. (Your head would never reach the wheel/screen).


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Just found their cages on a Web search...they do look the job, don't they!!
Yup. They don't only do MR2s either so have quite a lot of experience in bespoke fabrication, the half cage retains full use of the soft top but you'll lose the doors to the storage bins.


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Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Bossworld on May 4, 2018, 12:09
So... called to book an MOT at a different garage and they've advised some of the new rules come in on 1st May (can't find anything to correlate that).  The car failed on two items back in April (but the previous test doesn't expire until June), so I've got time to get those two items fixed.

---

One other thing I've noticed reading through:

6.1.3

e: Fire risk due to fuel tank shield or exhaust shield missing where fitted as original equipment

Would the Cat heat shield count towards this?  Mine was removed when I had a new cat fitted and they never refitted it.
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: jonbill on May 4, 2018, 12:23
I would think a good tester would only interpret that as a problem where the exhaust runs directly under the fuel tank, which it doesn't in the roadster case.
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: ad_car_08 on May 4, 2018, 14:30
Got my MOT yesterday  :D  took it elsewhere, as suggested.

Now need to find somewhere to install me a half cage - i'm in the market!! 8)
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Ardent on May 5, 2018, 13:13
Fresh mot no advisories.
Asked tester if anything i need to worry about with new regs coming in. Basically. No.
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: m1tch on May 9, 2018, 13:53
Quote from: Ardent on May  5, 2018, 13:13
Fresh mot no advisories.
Asked tester if anything i need to worry about with new regs coming in. Basically. No.

The new test now includes the EML and removal of airbags unless the car is a competition car, most of the other aspects are the same (such as handbrakes etc) but there are a few additional items on there now - although its mainly going after anyone who has removed the DPFs from modern diesels.
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Ardent on May 9, 2018, 17:37
Yep
More geared towards dpf bandits etc etc.
Title: Re: MOT new regs - now need a half cage!?
Post by: Call the midlife! on May 9, 2018, 17:44
Quote from: Ardent on May  9, 2018, 17:37
Yep
More geared towards dpf bandits etc etc.
And illegally fitted HIDs which I for one am super happy about!


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