MOT Cat emissions test - Brianmoooore

[jmc330i]

Brian, have you still got the link to the MOT site for the rules on engine swaps and the emission test. The link I've got has gone dead and I can't find the thread that you posted in.

Cheers

[Brianmoooore]

You timed that right - I've had no internet access since last Saturday morning, as a result of a virus attack on my supplier, and don't know when I'm going to get it back. I've just called around to a friends house to nick his wi-fi!
To answer your question, yes, the link has gone dead. I googled MOT regulations, or similar, and found a pdf download of the whole lot, which now resides on my other laptop.

[maxfield]

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... hicles.pdf

MOT testers manual.

What's the query? There is a good flow chart in the manual explaining engine conversions.

[fixedwheelnut]

The vehicle is tested to whichever is the oldest engine or vehicle so a 1990 car with a late 1996 engine still tested to 1990 emission laws and vice versa a 1990 car with an 87 engine would be 1987 emission laws.

Section 7.3 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... hicles.pdf

[jmc330i]

Thanks Brian, will the pdf make it into the wiki or a sticked topic (when your internet is sorted)?

[maxfield]

The vehicle is tested to whichever is the oldest engine or vehicle so a 1990 car with a late 1996 engine still tested to 1990 emission laws and vice versa a 1990 car with an 87 engine would be 1987 emission laws.

Section 7.3 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... hicles.pdf

To add, if you had a 93' E30, and put a pre CAT engine in, if you can't prove to the tester year of the engine he would then have to do a pre cat test.

[jmc330i]

No real query Maxfield, more of an annoyance that I couldn't find the link on MOT day But it's always useful to have the info handy.

Just for reference, my car is 1993/94 fitted with a 1999 engine so would need a cat (and cat specific emission test), but because the touring was never produced with any 16v engine it goes through with a non-Cat test.

[Brianmoooore]

Not a car that BMW made, so tested to the pre '91 standard.

[jmc330i]

Not a car that BMW made, so tested to the pre '91 standard.

Pre August '92??

Yep and it was the now dead link that got my car through the last 2 MOTs because the tester didn't know. I remember putting up a thread about my near 3hr MOT because the tester wouldn't believe me (or the link to the testers manual ) about my car not needing a Cat and should be tested with the non-Cat emissions test.

[jmc330i]

The vehicle is tested to whichever is the oldest engine or vehicle so a 1990 car with a late 1996 engine still tested to 1990 emission laws and vice versa a 1990 car with an 87 engine would be 1987 emission laws.

Section 7.3 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... hicles.pdf

To add, if you had a 93' E30, and put a pre CAT engine in, if you can't prove to the tester year of the engine he would then have to do a pre cat test.

This is how I MOTd my '93 touring (with its original M40 fitted) without a Cat - I simply told the tester I had fitted the engine from my '89 touring and gave him the engine number from the '89 engine.

But in the testers manual it's says...
"Note: The onus is on the vehicle presenter to prove engine age."

I would take that to mean that if you can't prove the engine age, the car would get the appropriate emissions test for the cars age.

[Brianmoooore]

so tested to the pre '91 standard.

Pre August '92??

Yes, '92! That was written sitting outside my daughter's house, hijacking her broadband. Sun was so bright, I could hardly see the laptop screen.
Finally back on line, about two hours ago. Problem was a world wide cyber attack on the manufacturers of the micro wave link equipment I use, which apparently reset everything to 'factory settings'.

Both your car and engine are post '92, so the get out you have to use is the one in note 2 of 7.3 page 10, not the 'whichever is oldest' one.
I've discussed all this with quite a few MOT testers, and the majority have no idea what I'm on about!