15 replies to this topic

[eden7842]

i know this will of been asked many times before but i carnt work the serch thing

what year do they become ilegal cheers

[mab01uk]

i know this will of been asked many times before but i carnt work the serch thing

what year do they become ilegal cheers

Vehicles constructed before 1st January 1973 may display traditional style "black and white" plates (i.e. white, silver or grey characters)

[Bungle]

now ask what the switch with the red light does

[minili]

now ask what the switch with the red light does

Answer - nothing! Brake fluid test light is it not? I RAN OUT of brake fluid but you wouldn't have known from the switch! It did exactly what it always does! Hmmph


And yes, as mab said, to legally wear black & silver plates your car must have been made before 1973. There is a 2001 Range Rover on my estate with them though!

[Guess-Works.com]

You do realise the switch is only there to test if the red light works.... it does not test the circuit

[taffy1967]

As luck would have it I've got my Mini owner's handbook scanned and pinned to the Technical section now and page 27 explains all: -



So no more having to explain it all folks

[minili]

Based on that, the red light should have come on while I was driving back from Newquay as I had sod all fluid (by the time I got home I almost literally couldn't stop, the pedal went all the way to the floor)... But it didn't

[taffy1967]

Well the 2 wires have to be connected on each side of the brake master cylinder cap (depending on model/age).

You can test the system is working by pressing down on the button that's in the centre of the cap, the red warning light should then light up. I don't know if you have to have the ignition on for that test to work though?

But when my fluid was running low recently (I had a leaking rear cylinder), the red light lit up even with the ignition off.

Edited by taffy1967, 07 September 2008 - 07:48 PM.

[1987_ParkLane]

I'm going to get some black and silver plates for my mini, even though it is a 1987 , but I won't tell if you don't

[sazal]

You have to get them before the 1st of November if your car cant legally have them. Places cant sell show plates anymore after that date You will need the V5 to get number plates made.

[james962]

You have to get them before the 1st of November if your car cant legally have them. Places cant sell show plates anymore after that date You will need the V5 to get number plates made.

Really? Is there going to be a new law on 01/11/08? Surely there will be another way the show plate manufactures will get around it?

[sazal]

I dont thinky so

It was in this months Mini Mag:

Big news on the concours scene is that as of November 2008 no one will be allowed to sell non-conforming numberplates in the UK.

Currently numberplate sellers can sell non-conforming plates for 'show use' allowing custom plates to be bought without identification. Although some suppliers advise customers non-conforming plates cannot be used on the road, vehicle registration authorities will ensure all plate suppliers in the UK (previously just in England and Wales) are registered and only selling road-legal plates from November 1.

Owners wanting to obtain original-styled plate-with raised lettering, or black or silver colouring-will still be able to do so, although ID and the V5 are likely for all purchases. Although this is likely to reduce the number of cars being ring, it will also likely affect genuine showgoers. Our advice? Better get your show plates quick!

[GraemeC]

Vehicles constructed before 1st January 1973 may display traditional style "black and white" plates (i.e. white, silver or grey characters)

Close but wrong. That is the date and rule for tax exemption and the key word there is constructed

Vehicles first registered on or after 1st August 1973 must display registration plates in the black on white (front) and black on yellow (rear) formats.

[Jammy]

Vehicles constructed before 1st January 1973 may display traditional style "black and white" plates (i.e. white, silver or grey characters)

Close but wrong. That is the date and rule for tax exemption and the key word there is constructed

Vehicles first registered on or after 1st August 1973 must display registration plates in the black on white (front) and black on yellow (rear) formats.

I believe Dan found out that your now both right. Apparently they recently changed something, and at the same time they changed the date of legally being allowed to show B&W plates from registered before 1st August, to the same date as tax exemption, so theres now this no mans land between 1st Jan and 1st Aug '73.

Incidentally, further to what I said above about the tax exemption and black and white plates being seperate things it seems that at the end of last year a bill was passed moving the date for black and white plates back to bring it into line with the historic class. If I owned a car that could legally show black and white plates until this happened I'd be furious. Sounds like the result of poor research into the subject to me because the end date for black and white plates was always simply the date that reflective plates became mandatory. Now there is a gap of a few months where a vehicle is legally permitted to show black and white plates and does not require reflective plates but will be braking a different law if it does so.

[GraemeC]

Damned that's stupid - I would hate to be someone with a spot on original, un-modified June 1973 car still wearing its dealer fitted plates only to be pulled up and fined for them being illegal!