7 replies to this topic

[mini mayfair]

hi all any one no if my mayfair 1275 1994 needs a cat on, needs mot. cheers bob

[leroy26]

believe so yes all post 1992 if it came out the factory with one

[Ethel]

I think the consensus is only injection Minis require a cat. There are model specific instructions which tell the tester if a cat is required. There are defo other threads on the subject.

[Mazuba]

My 93 1275 needs one, so i would assume so yes. But take a look at your engine code thats how i found out whether mine needed it or not.

[Mini_Magic]

Yes all 1992 onward Minis need a catalytic converter for the MOT, including carb models.

[AVV IT]

Yes all 1992 onward Minis need a catalytic converter for the MOT, including carb models.

This isn't actually the case and has been covered here a few times now. Unfortunately though, there appears to have been a fairly widespread misinterpretation of the change in regulations that came into effect last year. (even amongst MOT inspectors!! )

All the new rules actually say is :

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

and with the reason for failure then listed as being:

"A catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard"


So the tester is only supposed to to check for the presence of a catalytic converter where one was fitted as standard,if the car is actually eligible for a full CAT emissions test, in the first place, which no carb mini actually is!! (that is assuming that it was a carb mini as standard and not fuel injection model that has been converted to carb).

The only classic minis that require a full CAT emmisions test are those first used after 31/07/1995 (with the last carb model being produced in 1994) and also those 92-95 models with following engine numbers: (all of which are fuel injection)

Mini Model Code XN:

1.3l Auto TBi Engine Code X Serial No 059845 onwards
1.3l Manual TBi Engine Code X Serial No 059822 onwards
1.3l TBi Engine Code Y Serial No 060488 onwards
1.3l MPi Engine Code Z

All others require a Non Cat Test (i.e. - CO <= 3.5% HC <= 1200ppm) and therefore the inspector does not have to check for the presence of a CAT, regardless of whether one was fitted as standard or not.

So in answer to the OP's original question, it depends wether or not it is a fuel injection model. With 1994 being the crossover year from carb to fuel injection for the non cooper models, it could be either. If it's a fuel injection model then it will have one of the engine numbers listed above and will indeed require a CAT, if however it's a carb model then it won't.

I have a 1993 carb model with the CAT removed and because my MOT inspector is familiar with how the regs are applied to older vehicles (classic minis in particular), then my car went through the MOT last year with no problem. As I mentioned above though, even some MOT inspectors have taken the new regulations out of context and are of the belief that carb minis need a CAT when actually they don't. So if you have a carb model and have either removed the CAT or intend doing so, then you should probably check the MOT inspectors interpretation of the regs at the MOT centre of your choice, before going ahead. If the MOT inspector happens to be one of those that doesn't understand the regs, then find an alternative place with an inspector that does, (there are plenty of them out there!! )

Edited by AVV IT, 04 March 2013 - 09:35 AM.

[Samwise777]

Lol good answer

[AVV IT]

My 93 1275 needs one, so i would assume so yes. But take a look at your engine code thats how i found out whether mine needed it or not.

If your 1993 1275 is the sprite listed on your profile, then it will presumably be a carb model and it therefore actually it shouldn't. The only 1993 models that actually require a CAT were the cooper models, because they were fuel injection models (with engine numbers listed in my post above) and are therefore required to pass the full CAT emissions test.

So I'm a bit confused as to how you would have ascertained that you need a CAT from the engine number, as the only way your engine number should have provided you with that information is if your car had a later fuel injection engine transplanted in with one of the engine numbers listed above. In which case it still would not require a CAT as the regulations state that vehicles fitted with a different engine should be tested according to which is older, engine or vehicle. e.g. A 1995 car fitted with a 1991 engine (of whatever make), test to 1991 standards for emissions purposes.

Or is this a case of you having checked the engine number to verify whether or not your car was fitted with a CAT as standard, and then on discovering that it did have a CAT, you have therefore incorrectly assumed that it needs to remain just because it was fitted as standard?

Edited by AVV IT, 04 March 2013 - 09:58 AM.