28 replies to this topic

[dan13l2]

No don't worry you don't need head rests...

my dad's an MOT tester and as cambiker71 was saying as long as the seats are fitted properly

it should pass,

dan

[Dan]

I'm an MOT tester before we get the usual made up answers telling me i'm wrong.

Nice for someone who's only just joined the forum to come on and start throwing around insults like that. Cheers.

[mike.]

They might not be an MOT requirement but if your car came with headrests, fitting seats without headrests is illegal as far as i know. Saying that i have them fitted in mine and i doubt very much that police will notice - even if they pull you over for a check over. It comes down to how picky you are about the law. I also have the cheap angel eye halogen headlights fitted to my mini and although they are a massive safety upgrade and provide vast amounts of light more than standard lights - because they ae not 'E' marked they aren't techinally legal either...

Edited by minimadmike, 02 December 2007 - 06:00 PM.

[Jammy]

I believe its 1984/5 and you legally have to have headrests, but due to the carpness of DVLA and VOSA's websites I can't find anything about headrests!

Regardless of the MOT or the legalities, I know I would MUCH rather have a headrest supporting my neck and head in the event of an accident. Whiplash can be bad enough with headrests, I'd hate to experience it without!

[mike.]

Thing is due to the seat back being very low and the headrests being fixed at the same angle as the seat back - the headrests on these seats sit very far back behind your head. In a modern car the headrests are more like 2" from your head whereas with these seats the headrests are more like 6" behind your head. I don't think they can be raised/lowered or adjusted either.

When i was considering the seats at minispares i found that the headrest only reached the height of my neck and trying to rest your head meant you had to tip your head quite far back back anyway.

Bottom line is that with these seats i honestly don't think its worth paying an extra £50 per seat for the headrest - on these seats they are mostly for decoration.

[cambiker71]

I'm an MOT tester before we get the usual made up answers telling me i'm wrong.

Nice for someone who's only just joined the forum to come on and start throwing around insults like that. Cheers.

Not a problem just read too many BS answers on here, some extremely dangerous advice has been given by uninformed people, i've been here for long enough, also as others have said, the low back seats are, in my opinion, not safe as they offer very little protection in an accident, especially if hit from behind. There are plenty of other aftermarket seats with a classic look that offer better protection.

[Dan]

the low back seats are, in my opinion

Mine too, Cobra classics are far too low even when they do have headrests. In the highest position the head restraint doesn't even reach the shoulders of most average drivers. They are also really poorly built and I believe that in any kind of serious collision they would tear themselves to pieces, we're getting rid of ours currently.

Sorry if you've been reading for a while Cambiker71, you've only recently become a member so what you said before seemed a little odd like you were comparing us to other forums or something. Please feel free to pipe up against any dodgy or dangerous advice you see at any time and if it's really dangerous, PM us mods or use the report button. We can remove really bad advice.

Edited by Dan, 03 December 2007 - 12:26 AM.

[Pie]

minimegz went to take her driving test in her mini, which is tax exempt. the instructor walked out and refused to take the test as it "didnt have headrests" and also, an answer to amuse yourselfs with, and i quote;

"there is not reinforcment in the rear pillars, by the rear screen, its quite dangerous"

[insamoufonyx]

minimegz went to take her driving test in her mini, which is tax exempt. the instructor walked out and refused to take the test as it "didnt have headrests" and also, an answer to amuse yourselfs with, and i quote;

"there is not reinforcment in the rear pillars, by the rear screen, its quite dangerous"

examiners are *horrid people* i mentioned on my test that i had a mini and he jsut started moaning about how unsafe it was, luckily i passed and never had to see hima gain

[cambiker71]

the low back seats are, in my opinion

Mine too, Cobra classics are far too low even when they do have headrests. In the highest position the head restraint doesn't even reach the shoulders of most average drivers. They are also really poorly built and I believe that in any kind of serious collision they would tear themselves to pieces, we're getting rid of ours currently.

Sorry if you've been reading for a while Cambiker71, you've only recently become a member so what you said before seemed a little odd like you were comparing us to other forums or something. Please feel free to pipe up against any dodgy or dangerous advice you see at any time and if it's really dangerous, PM us mods or use the report button. We can remove really bad advice.

Thanks for that, i wasn't comparing to any other forums (they're all wildly different) so sorry if i appeared offensive, I'll soon pipe up with an answer if i do see something that's plainly wrong, cheers.

[orangerover]

if your mini came out of the factory with head rests then its going to need them at MOT time

And your reference for this is?

Alan...

MOT fail for mum's metro

They had your pants down if they failed it for not having head rests, it'll fail if the seat back can't be secured in an upright position, or it's insecurely fitted, for example it is only bolted in using the two front mounting with nothing to hold the back bits (unless it's an early one which was like that from the factory) But not having head rests is NOT an MOT reason for rejection, I'm an MOT tester before we get the usual made up answers telling me i'm wrong.

Dead right ,I was a motorcycle tester and if its not in the manual then dont fail it.
q plates on bikes are classed as 1971 for test purposes,not quite sure if this applies to cars though.

[cambiker71]

if your mini came out of the factory with head rests then its going to need them at MOT time

And your reference for this is?

Alan...

MOT fail for mum's metro

They had your pants down if they failed it for not having head rests, it'll fail if the seat back can't be secured in an upright position, or it's insecurely fitted, for example it is only bolted in using the two front mounting with nothing to hold the back bits (unless it's an early one which was like that from the factory) But not having head rests is NOT an MOT reason for rejection, I'm an MOT tester before we get the usual made up answers telling me i'm wrong.

Dead right ,I was a motorcycle tester and if its not in the manual then dont fail it.
q plates on bikes are classed as 1971 for test purposes,not quite sure if this applies to cars though.

Yup it's the same classed as pre '75 for all sorts of stuff including emissions

[Baldspeed Racing]

never heard of a style of seat failing a mot before unless it was loose, me bro use to run lowbacks in his min and never ad any problems. As long as your seat belts work and the seats are solid jobs a goodun

[flamejob]

The standard seats that Rover provided with headrests were simply modified to comply with the regulations. As has been said, they will do little better in a crash than the non headrest version as the headrest is still nowhere near your head.

It really irritates me when things like this are done to apease the regs. The mini was not originally designed with headrests, and the ones that do have them are really compromised when it comes to accessing the rear seats.

Unless you go for high backed seats the point of headrests is moot.