Rebody MOT and a new/old interior

[Pond]

So following on from another thread.....
If the Z3 has airbags (which it does) and you change the interior for a retro 1960s dash, wooden steering wheel, door cards, etc, and remove the airbags, how can it be MOTd?
I understand the dash will not bring up an airbag warning, as the lights will be gone.

This is starting to worry me!

 

[Dxbolton]

It shouldn’t pass, as the car had airbags from the factory so should retain them,
I think you might find that certain suppliers of cars we build no longer offer the ‘vintage’ dash as they could be complicit if an accident occurred and they had encouraged you to remove a safety option,
I’d expect the insurance company would stop injury claims too if they realised the airbags had been removed

 

[Dxbolton]

This is probably why I overheard someone at show questioning a friend over why I had fitted a modern interior into an old car

 

[Dxbolton]

And yes, I’m keeping the roll hoops too. The protection they offer is better than none at all

 

[Pond]

It shouldn’t pass, as the car had airbags from the factory so should retain them,
I think you might find that certain suppliers of cars we build no longer offer the ‘vintage’ dash as they could be complicit if an accident occurred and they had encouraged you to remove a safety option,
I’d expect the insurance company would stop injury claims too if they realised the airbags had been removed

I can buy a vintage dash, and can 'recreate' a 1960s interior easily. If I can't pass an MOT with those, then the car becomes just an ornament. I am not going to build an ornament. I am not interested in a modern interior TBH (no offence).

 

[Brocky61]

I'm having a ZGT built by Classiccoachworks and my understanding on this, from a discussion with Ian, is that if its there its tested, if it isn't it isn't. So, for example, after a period dash is installed with which there is no airbag light and no airbag visible then airbags are not tested. This is different to having an airbag light which has been disabled as the light is still there and hence would fail an MOT

 

[Pond]

I'm having a ZGT built by Classiccoachworks and my understanding on this, from a discussion with Ian, is that if its there its tested, if it isn't it isn't. So, for example, after a period dash is installed with which there is no airbag light and no airbag visible then airbags are not tested. This is different to having an airbag light which has been disabled as the light is still there and hence would fail an MOT

If that is the case, then I am happy, thanks!
I do have to get one of my cars MOTd very soon so will ask the question to my favourite tester.

 

[Duncodin]

My understanding is that if it's not there then the tester can't test it because he can't make any assumptions as to what specification/equipment the vehicle has/should have.

One exception though is seat belts where every car manufactured since 1965 must have seat belts fitted and working. So removing your seat belts is a NoNo because there's an Act of parliament that specifically says they must be there. But there's no such similar act referring to airbags.

 

[Stevo7682]

I have spoke to my mot ae today who is ex dvsa enforcement for clarification on this .
The rules are black and white.
If a car has an airbag fitted from the factory as standard then you categorically cannot remove it as it is a critical safety component.

There is a couple of exemptions to this but none of the things done to a re body z3 would allow it to become exempt from having it fitted.

@Brocky61 the if its not there its not testable does not apply in this case.

What he had said was if the car was presented as for example a tribute z507
With rebody and retro interior the tester may not realise the airbag was meant to be fitted and pass it but that would be his lack of knowledge rather than a proper get round.
So long and short of it is officially there is no legal way to remove the airbag unless the car has been fully converted into a rally car or has been adapted for wheelchair users.

Stephen.

 

[Stevo7682]

My understanding is that if it's not there then the tester can't test it because he can't make any assumptions as to what specification/equipment the vehicle has/should have.

One exception though is seat belts where every car manufactured since 1965 must have seat belts fitted and working. So removing your seat belts is a NoNo because there's an Act of parliament that specifically says they must be there. But there's no such similar act referring to airbags.

Drivers Airbags became compulsory on passenger vehicles in uk in 1991 but as you have said no specific act of Parliament to go with this
Stephen

 

[Duncodin]

I have spoke to my mot ae today who is ex dvsa enforcement for clarification on this .
The rules are black and white.

If a car has an airbag fitted from the factory as standard then you categorically cannot remove it as it is a critical safety component.

You're right. But how would the tester know, 100%, that a car had a piece of equipment fitted from the factory 20 years ago. He could go to ebay and look at cars for sale to see if they have airbags. But the data at his disposal at the time of the test, supplied to him by the DOT/MOT, can't tell him if "your" car had a specific piece of equipment.

But I wouldn't argue with my MOT tester otherwise you'll find yourself looking for a trailer to get your car home.

 

[Duncodin]

After all that though. For my 507 build I was originally planning on a full classic dash. But have since changed my mind. If I have a passenger in my car then I have no right to take away their protection. Same if I allow somebody to drive my car.

So I'm keeping my standard dash. Adding wood to the centre console and gear knob. Changing the wheel for a z3 sports wheel that has the small amount of wood trim and, eventually, get some modern 'classic looking' seats.

I'm sure by adding a few classic touches I can make the interior look classic enough for most people. Of course there'll those who'll pick holes such as the digital odometer but I won't lose any sleep over them.

 

[Pingu]

NEVER ask a question that you don't want an answer to.

 

[jaguartvr]

And I thought I was being a bit of a pansy fitting front seat belts to my 1962 Jag!

 

[Pond]

I have spoke to my mot ae today who is ex dvsa enforcement for clarification on this .
The rules are black and white.
If a car has an airbag fitted from the factory as standard then you categorically cannot remove it as it is a critical safety component.

There is a couple of exemptions to this but none of the things done to a re body z3 would allow it to become exempt from having it fitted.

@Brocky61 the if its not there its not testable does not apply in this case.

What he had said was if the car was presented as for example a tribute z507
With rebody and retro interior the tester may not realise the airbag was meant to be fitted and pass it but that would be his lack of knowledge rather than a proper get round.
So long and short of it is officially there is no legal way to remove the airbag unless the car has been fully converted into a rally car or has been adapted for wheelchair users.

Stephen.

I presume the only 'test' done on airbags during an MOT is to check the 'airbag' light goes out with the ignition on, to confirm the airbag system has no faults....is this correct? An airbag is a single use piece of equipment so they can't tell if it physically works, or is actually physically there, just rely on the monitoring system.

If the above is correct, then what about rigging an 'airbag' light in parallel with the battery/ ignition light? Then putting (removable) 'airbag' stickers in the correct places on the trim? I could tell a tester the driver's airbag was fitted into the steering column and would inflate through the spokes of my wooden steering wheel. He would not be able to prove otherwise without putting an OBD reader onto the car (which isn't done yet). Thinking out loud here. What do we think of that idea?

 

[Brocky61]

Regardless of whether you need to go to such an effort or the rights/wrongs, for this to work your airbag light would need to be on a timer so that it illuminates upon ignition then goes out after a short period.

 

[Duncodin]

I presume the only 'test' done on airbags during an MOT is to check the 'airbag' light goes out with the ignition on, to confirm the airbag system has no faults....is this correct? An airbag is a single use piece of equipment so they can't tell if it physically works, or is actually physically there, just rely on the monitoring system.

If the above is correct, then what about rigging an 'airbag' light in parallel with the battery/ ignition light? Then putting (removable) 'airbag' stickers in the correct places on the trim? I could tell a tester the driver's airbag was fitted into the steering column and would inflate through the spokes of my wooden steering wheel. He would not be able to prove otherwise without putting an OBD reader onto the car (which isn't done yet). Thinking out loud here. What do we think of that idea?

Don't try to fool the tester.

Just change the V5 to say the model is something other than z3. "Tribute 507". Then the tester must test it as a tribute 507. Not as a Z3.

 

[Pond]

Just change the V5 to say the model is something other than z3. "Tribute 507". Then the tester must test it as a tribute 507. Not as a Z3.

That's not what is posted above, by the member who has a mate in the DVSA! I don't like grey areas; I need to know that the car I build will be able to pass an MOT (not probably or maybe), otherwise I ain't going to bother spending £30k and many many hours doing it. I'm funny like that!

 

[Duncodin]

@Pond Has tribute started making your kit yet?

 

[Pond]

@Pond Has tribute started making your kit yet?

I am not getting a Tribute kit.