7 replies to this topic

[iDemonix]

I'm sure this has been asked before, if so I apologize. Had a quick look with Google and couldn't find anything from a government website.

Went to see a family friend (who does all our mechanics) and got chatting, mentioned I was getting (or saving up for) a mini. He told me to make sure I got one before a J reg (1992) as if it's newer than that it'll need to pass stricter emissions laws? Is that true, would it make a '94 mini more difficult to fit an aftermarket exhaust to etc?

Might explain why my spluttery J-Reg VFR400 passed it's MOT

[Chris_R]

I believe he's right, but on your bike it makes no difference as there's no emissions testing on bikes!!

[Mini Cheddars]

Was it '92 onwards that a catalytic converter was mandatory? Thought it was late 80's.

[Chris_R]

I think that's right cheddars, my 1990 doesn't have a cat

[Dan]

No, not true. No Mini fitted with a carb as standard is required to pass the tighter emissions tests nomatter when it was made. Catalytic converters are not and have never been mandatory but most cars built since 1993 and all cars built since 1995 have to pass very tight emissions tests which are hard or impossible to pass without the cat. Carb Minis built between these dates are not required to pass the tighter testing, and no car built before '93 is. Injection Minis need to pass the so-called cat test but even so it's easy enough to fit a performance exhaust to them. You can either fit a full system that incorporates the standard cat or fit a cat back system, the exhaust manifolds fitted as standard aren't bad.

[iDemonix]

So what you're saying is you can have any other car up to a '93 before it has stricter laws, a mini with carbs can be up to a '95 without having to go through the stricter laws?

Cheers for your input

[Dan]

No not just a Mini, all sorts of cars were unable to comply with the tight emissions rules between '93 and '95. It was a period during which manufacturers were given allowances to move towards cleaner vehicles. And any low volume production or foreign import might not comply, there is a list of vehicles in the MOT manual that have model specific emissions levels, anything not on the list is tested at the pre-cat levels.

[Jacko-lah]

Was it '92 onwards that a catalytic converter was mandatory? Thought it was late 80's.

There are issues with Build dates and Registration Dates, basically car manufacturers were allowed to sell some stock, but If you have a K plate the emissions requirements are SOOOOOO much tighter. That's not to say the Cat is mandatory. It's just that at the time and still currently, nobody had the technology to actually pass the tests without it.

I once owned a K plate Astra that failed the emissions because the Cat had no insides (it fell apart and blocked the exhaust so I removed it with a pole), and the tester said if it had been a J it would have been brilliant, so close and yet so far from passing. but If you can prove the engine is a pre 93 engine, you can test a later car at the earlier standard.