Failed MOT

[liquid079]

My E30 failed it's MOT earlier on:

Incorrect Headlamp lense on offside, projects too much light into oncoming traffic.

I have had the same smilie lamp for over 10 years, may have cleaned it but it's never failed an Mot.

Are lamps sided?


Dan.

[Stefan on probation]

Is it smiley the adjustable and is it the same place that has always done your MOT?

[liquid079]

Hi.

It is a smilie. Just reading the wiki guide I see you can adjust the lamps for left or right hand drive cars by loosening and twisting the section behind the lense.

I may have accidentally done this while cleaning my lense so I shall inspect this.

Dan.

[paultv]

IIRC you have to remove the screws to alter the beam for continental driving, so probably not possible to do this by mistake.

Paul:-)

[steve_k]

here you go,

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... Headlights

shows you how to alter the beam.

[liquid079]

Cheers Steve.

I think that's sorted my headlamp aim.

Tother thing it failed on was the brake pad warning light. This has been on since I changed my pads a couple of years ago. New sensor didn't cure it.

I've joined the wire near the fuse box and checked the loop connector at the fuel pump harness(my car has rear drums.

I also soldered the joints on the 220ohm resistor on the dash, still no joy though.

Any ideas?

[Brianmoooore]

Tother thing it failed on was the brake pad warning light.

This might generate an advisory, but a faulty pad warning light is not a reason for a MOT failure.
If you're sure the 220 ohm resistor is secure, and the instrument cluster ends of the pad sensor loop are firmly shorted together, then it's possible one of the other components on the main cluster circuit board has failed, although I've never come across this. There's a transistor involved, which would leave the light on if it went short circuit.

[liquid079]

Cheers Brian.

Yea I was a bit puzzled as it’s passed the previous 2 Mot's with the light on. I think the tester may have thought it was the brake fluid warning light, isn't that the one with the exclamation mark?

I shall check the connections again... I do have a spare instrument cluster kicking around, I might try that and see if it disappears.

Cheers, Dan.

[Brianmoooore]

Fluid level is explanation mark, pad warning is circle with dashes around it, handbrake is circle with P inside, and ABS is circle with ABS inside.

[liquid079]

Yep definitely pad warning light then.

Dan.

[steve_k]

was going to say i've never had a car (e30 or otherwise) fail the mot because the brake pad warning light was on,

going to be fun when i take my e30 for it's first mot in over 3yr's as the pad sensor has been removed from the front brakes (four pot calipers) & so has the one from the rear. mght just swap clusters for one i've got that ain't got that warning light.

[Brianmoooore]

mght just swap clusters for one i've got that ain't got that warning light.

would be easier to just remove the bulb!

[steve_k]

mght just swap clusters for one i've got that ain't got that warning light.

would be easier to just remove the bulb!

i think you maybe right

[Stefan on probation]

Does it light up when you turn the key though?

Have a word with the MOT tester as he "may" have made a mistake.