7 replies to this topic

[pato280884]

is anyone on here a mot tester ? i like the idea behind the rear seat flush boot floor and door bin removal as see on this forum under "autotest" my question is would you have issues moting this car what aditional supports would you be happy with ?

[tiger99]

It is not MOT, but IVA, that you need to be concerned about if you are modifying the monocoque. There is no way that a Mini will pass IVA without major modifications, some very disfiguring.

[Tupers]

The main issue aside from the above is that you need to relocate the seat belt mount that would normally be in the rear bin. If you can provide a new and equally strong mount for the seat belt you should be OK at MOT time.

I welded another spreader plate with a captive nut to the inside for my sills on my estate.

[pato280884]

I hear alot about iva but know nothing about it, how are they going to find out what has been done? I can see that possibly in the event of a crash there might be problems but if your running any thing but standard you should be able to stat on your insurance, if the iva were to test a car and it was stronger than the original why would it fail it's the rear seat it's spot welded just the same as the wings on the car are spot welded people remove them to fit flip fronts should every mini with turbo box flip front be q plated ??? Im looking at the green auto test mini if anyone has seen it, your right tupers I'll have to put some new seat belt points in which I hadnt thought about

[Dan]

Do people think rules never change?

If a Mini is flip fronted now, it needs an IVA. If it was done in the past when the test didn't exist, then it didn't need one obviously. They will find out because the MOT station will tell them if they suspect the work has been done recently. IVA testing is done by the same agency as MOT testing and VOSA are getting more and more letigous. The MOT tester is required to tell them about stuff like this I believe. The Mini would probably fail an IVA in standard form yes, because the test is to modern and current safety standards whereas even the youngest Minis are built to a very old type approval.

Edited by Dan, 13 May 2012 - 07:22 PM.

[tiger99]

Yes, it will fail IVA on a large number of points. External radii on weld covers and gutters, etc, bumper ends, tailpipe and maybe more. Big one, is the radius of the bend on the outer sill between the vertical and sloping faces greater than 2.5mm? Internally, radii on door handles and window winders, lots of sharp bits, dashboard, heater (and yes, you need at least a demister), switches and instrument panel (ok if instruments in front of steering wheel, but central binnacle has features which would fail), edge radii on rear bins, and maybe lots of other bits. Fuel tank and filler location (must not be in boot, or passenger compartment). Steering column is not collapsible, but that would be ok, just, if the rack was positioned such that a front impact would not be transmitted up the column, which it would be. (Fix is possible with a universally jointed column.) Subframe intrusion into footwells in front impact likely to be a consideration. Brake balance, and efficiency of rear brakes. And that is only for starters,I have not gone right through the checklist.

But if the monocoque has been mindlessly butchered like some modified Minis the tester is likely to refuse to test it on the grounds that it is structurally unsafe, and in that case you don't get your test fee of £450 back.

Basically, if your Mini falls foul of IVA, you may as well scrap it.

[pato280884]

alot of good points there i have thought about this for a while and im not going to jump in and start butchering it without ALOT of thought and oppinions of others after all thats what most of us are here for to learn and teach

[pato280884]

well ive jumped in and its looking good mot q plate or auto test shell so be it