Body mounting - MOT
 

Interestingly when I took my Rickman for MOT today the tester said (rather gleefully) "there's even more rules and regs we have to test now!"
I'm not aware of others, (maybe for newer vehicles), but he paid particular attention to the fixings for the body to chassis, stating that 'If it's a separate body we now have to check for any corrosion etc where body bolts onto chassis', also he checked very carefully all markings on the tyres - he said he was checking they were all the same size/loading. I wonder if that would give an issue if front/rear were different size? I guess not (as long as font were smaller than rear?)

The only recent change to the MOT regs I'm aware of is the rule regarding corrosion within so many cm of a seat-belt mount. That caused a failure in an Alfa GT coupe that I'd bought even though it was a non-structural decorative outer sill that was rusty. The rules on rust elsewhere might well have been tightened though, I'll ask my MOT chappie the next time I see him.

As for the tyres, the test schedule probably says to check that they are all the 'correct' size/loading rather than 'the same'. Quite a few production cars run different sizes front to rear: MGF; Z3; and Boxster all spring to mind without even googling.

Anyway, did your Rickman pass?

I thought the body mount corrosion thing was already in place ...not a new thing ...you'd want it to be solid in that area anyway ...
The only new thing that caught me out recently was that the drivers seat has to be adjustable ...The passenger seat can be bolted through the floor , but the drivers needs to adjust back and forward ...I was MOTing a S*mmio that has previously been ok and ended up modifying a Herald slider to re-mount the drivers seat ...

Re adjustable seat - Has that always been a requirement or is it new? If new then isn't that retrospective legislation? Some cars have a fixed seat and adjustable pedals (marcos for 1), does that now become a problem?

It came in a little while ago ...I'm not sure how its worded , but my MOT man said it was about drivers being able to reach controls safely ...based on that , I'd say adjustable pedals would be fine ...but don't take my word for it ....

Gary I suspect your MOT man may be taking the sliding seat regs a bit too literally. My MOT chappie said that it only applies to vehicles with sliding seat mechanisms to ensure they're in working order, and that fixed seats are fine.

Just point him to the first paragraph of Section 6.2 of the Car MOT Manual, which says Original Design characteristics and specialised modifications e.g. to enable wheelchair access are to be accepted.

Obviously, fixed seats in a specialist vehicle are original design characteristics so must be accepted.

http://www.ukmot.com/manual/6.2/Seats-and-Doors

Didn't early landrover's have non-adjustable seats?

My '68 Minor has fixed seats and they are not a problem for an MOT.

Gary - I printed out the section of the MOT guide book that Mr T mentioned just in case.

As my Swordfish also has fixed seats and it still passed its first MOT in August last year.

It will be having its second MOT as soon as I have finished with the painting, so I'll keep you posted on how I get on.

Cheers, Paul. :)

Paul, probably teaching you to suck eggs here, but I wouldn't mention the seat slider 'issue' unless your MOT guy raises it first. Same goes for anything else that might be a fail on a modern car, just produce your evidence if it's raised by the tester.

Best of British with your paint and MOT. :)

I would have to check the exact wording in the testing manual but i believe if the seat has an adjustable mechanism it must lock in all positions,if the seat is fixed in one position as long as secure it would be ok,many cars such as kit cars race/rally cars off roaders have one position seats

Fixed Seats