New MOT Cat regs.. BB4's exempt?

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:31 pm

But the BB6 isnt UK spec and there isnt a UK equivalent.

My MOT is due soon so we shall see. My MOT guy is completely honest and wont put it through on the side.

kris_aka_edu · Post by **kris_aka_edu** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:14 pm

bb1boy wrote:
kris_aka_edu wrote:Sweet so my BB4 92 doesn't need a cat?
That's right

Sweeeeeet! Wonder if the rest of the car will pass though?!

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:21 pm

Another question, if your car needs a cat but you don't have/want one, could you get away with an empty box on your exhaust that just LOOKS like a catalytic convertor? An old hollow one, or something? ...providing your emissions are low enough, of course.

BMCC · Post by **BMCC** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:24 pm

bb1boy wrote:Another question, if your car needs a cat but you don't have/want one, could you get away with an empty box on your exhaust that just LOOKS like a catalytic convertor? An old hollow one, or something? ...providing your emissions are low enough, of course.

Yes the law states you must pass the emissions test not that the car must have a cat convertor on it. So as long as your car passes the emissions test then they can't fail you for not having a cat convertor.

Post by **Merlin** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:25 pm

I doubt the MOT tester is going to pull the exhaust apart to see if the CAT is hollow or not. If it failed I think they will just mark it as a fail, likewise if it passes and the CAT looks like it is present.

Confused · Post by **Confused** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:01 pm

I thought there was something about the presence of a cat, even if it had to go through a basic check, but it seems I was wrong:

7.1.3
On vehicles that qualify for a full cat emissions test, check the presence of the catalytic converter.

Reason For Rejection:
A catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard

So... assuming the vehicle doesn't require a full cat test, ie it only requires a basic cat test, it also can't be failed for non-presence of a cat.

But - if it requires a full cat test, then the cat must be physically there too. Although few vehicles will pass the full test without a cat, anyway...

3rd gen steve · Post by **3rd gen steve** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:55 pm

As merlin posted earlier I am newly qualified MOT tester so I had a quick look through the MOT manual and the bb4 is not listed so you could pass a non cat test, but only in some stations! It also mentions that the car must not be listed on the gas analyser data base so some newer machines might have a more up to date list than VOSA so it would have to sit a full cat test. I also know that VOSA are clamping down on cars without CATS that had one from the factory so they will probably be updating the list regularly.

Post by **Merlin** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 4:56 pm

Fingers crossed there are so few BB4's on the road that they wont bother investigating

How come may pass only in some stations?

3rd gen steve · Post by **3rd gen steve** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:14 pm

Depends on how new the analyser is as it will have a more up to date data base. My one is only a couple of months old but i cant look up the data base untill i get a car that fails a cat test. All cars 92 onwards must sit a cat test and if they fail then all the various rules and checks can be applied and i will then be able to check the data base. So if any one has a bb4 i can borrow ill let you know how it goes!!

3rd gen steve · Post by **3rd gen steve** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 5:15 pm

Also we are supposed to check if a vehicle had a cat as standard and fail it if its now missing.