10 replies to this topic

[marco.h]

Model:1330
Year:1975
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible): Anyone know where there might be a super friendly MOT station that would pass my mini?, It now has a curley carbon boot floor fitted, still running a normal subframe not on a rear beam, anyone know of anyone who would pass this as it is without me having to fork out £300+ for a rear beam... The car is structurally sound and is fitted with a 16 Point Safety devices cage, with bars going literally everwhere you could imagine... so the boot floor is barely providing any structure at all...


HELP ME... obviously if you know of any super super friendly mot stations i am willing to pay more than a standard mot.... PM me if necessary


Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem? Curley Carbon Boot Floor

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

you could just seam seal it and underseal to hide it all so they wouldnt notice?

[markxe]

Why would it not pass with a carbon floor, theres plenty of minis with them. Fiberglass shell minis have no dramas so why should your car.

Edited by markxe, 01 May 2011 - 12:57 PM.

[tommy13]

Why would it not pass with a carbon floor, theres plenty of minis with them. Fiberglass shell minis have no dramas so why should your car.

This is why, from appendix C of the testers manual,

14. Panel removal or replacement with different materials
On a vehicle of integral construction the strength and stiffness of the whole structure may be seriously affected by any panel being removed or replaced by a panel of different material. If it is considered that a modification has significantly reduced the original strength and stiffness of the structure, the tester should fail the vehicle under the appropriate section. If there is doubt about the effect of the modification the tester should pass and advise. It is unacceptable for plastics to replace or reinforce corroded or weak metal in prescribed areas and load bearing sections


As you can see, it is down to the testers opinion of whether the original strength and stiffness has been significantly reduced. No mention is made regarding taking into account extra bracing which may have been added, and presumably cannot be considered as original.

As the OP has hinted, you need a sympathetic tester.

Edited by tommy13, 01 May 2011 - 03:07 PM.

[Tomf]

Why would it not pass with a carbon floor, theres plenty of minis with them. Fiberglass shell minis have no dramas so why should your car.

So from what your saying it would be ok to repair a rust patch with fiberglass?

[Scallywag630]

Why would it not pass with a carbon floor, theres plenty of minis with them. Fiberglass shell minis have no dramas so why should your car.

So from what your saying it would be ok to repair a rust patch with fiberglass?

No..fibreglass= GRP...Glass reinforced PLASTIC

[Tomf]

Why would it not pass with a carbon floor, theres plenty of minis with them. Fiberglass shell minis have no dramas so why should your car.

So from what your saying it would be ok to repair a rust patch with fiberglass?

No..fibreglass= GRP...Glass reinforced PLASTIC

Yes i know what fiberglass is... and i know you cant repair rust with it, in theory fiberglass boot floors shouldnt get through an MOT...

[markxe]

So from what your saying it would be ok to repair a rust patch with fiberglass?

No I never said that.

A carbon floor requires a hole cut into the boot floor not it's complete removal.
It is all down to the tester some will pass it and some jobsworths won't. When you look at some modded cars on the road cutting out a piece of thin metal and replacing it is hardly a show stopper.

OP go on http://www.rodsnsods.co.uk/ plenty of helpful chaps on there who will know an MOT tester with a bit of flexibility.(sense)

This had an MOT and so have loads of others, its just how the rules are interpreted.
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[Tomf]

Yea ok so you have got a dodgy MOT, take it to a VOSA test station and see if they pass it.

[Cooperman]

With a standard rear sub-frame, assuming it is still bolted through the steel at the rear mountings, the strength in the back nof he car is not compromised at all. The standard rear sub-frame is very strong.
The problem is the legislation which does not allow parts of the body structure to be replaced by plastic (in whatever form it is made).
However, if the plastic boot floor panel is sealed with body filler and painted in body colour, why would an MoT tester even try to ascertain its material? It just needs to look original. You could line it with carpet inside and paint it with body-seal underneath.

[markxe]

Yea ok so you have got a dodgy MOT, take it to a VOSA test station and see if they pass it.

TomF please stop assuming and misquoting me, the car is not mine just an example!!! It was also totally rust free and had a huge multipoint cage.

The tester obviously knows that the floor part cut out does not compromise the structure, the car pictured had a comprehensive cage as the OP says he has in his car so should not be a cause for concern as per the MOT.

14. Panel removal or replacement with different materials
On a vehicle of integral construction the strength and stiffness of the whole structure may be seriously affected by any panel being removed or replaced by a panel of different material. If it is considered that a modification has significantly reduced the original strength and stiffness of the structure, the tester should fail the vehicle under the appropriate section. If there is doubt about the effect of the modification the tester should pass and advise. It is unacceptable for plastics to replace or reinforce corroded or weak metal in prescribed areas and load bearing sections


And as I said there are loads of cars out there running modified shells, how many carbon roofed cars are out there and I doubt any MOT tester has batted an eye lid, I have never heard of any.
Also Vosa are not some bunch of evil doom mongers, as long as the modification is done safetly there should be no problem.
I was stopped near Chichester at a Vosa check and the inspecting chap commented on how sound my car was, mine has a 10" x 8" hole cut in the bulkhead for the gear linkage, however it is reinforced with a frame and the steel replaced with an aluminium removable panel, he had no problem with the mod what so ever.
My car has been through 4 different MOT testing stations and not one has ever mentioned the bulkhead. Were all the testers super friendly and willing to pass a car that does not confirm to "MOT standards" whilst risking their lively hoods I dont think so. They all used their knowledge, experience and sense.