MOT Failure

[Alan Slade]

Well I had been quietly confident that my Z3 would pass its MOT today but yet again the tester has picked up something unexpected. He did show me the fault and I suppose I have to admit he is right.
The fault is the reflector in the rear near side light cluster does not reflect when shining a torch at it, of course I have never noticed this, the light unit is undamaged and the car hasn’t been used in the rain since the last MOT, it wasn’t noticed then.
Got to find another light unit before it will pass.
Used in the rain today.
Really peed off

 

[Shelly]

O no hope you find a light unit soon

 

[RB2]

I'd be finding another MOT tester and not a rear light

 

[Shelly]

I don’t blame you

 

[t-tony]

Not sure how a lamp unit loses it's reflectiveness tbh?
Has it been like it all it's life?

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

I'd be finding another MOT tester and not a rear light

Reflectors are there for a good reason, it's not just someone being pedantic it is a safety issue.

Tony.

 

[Zephyr]

I would buff it with some polish cream and try again with the torch light.

 

[RB2]

I used to get fails for the motorbikes when we had zero red on the back end. Stick on red reflectors used to get them passed. You could do the same thing but thats a pretty sh£tty fail. It's not like your oem lights are tinted to death

 

[AntStark]

That’s annoying Alan given how immaculate your car is

 

[t-tony]

Yes it is annoying, yes you could stick on a reflector (that’s what I would do as a temporary measure) but do not blame the tester, he is just doing his job within the rules set out for him.

Tony.

 

[Alan Slade]

I'd be finding another MOT tester and not a rear light

The problem I have with finding another MOT tester is all tests, failures, advisories, are held on computer records. It’s going to take a rare tester to pass something that failed the day before when the fault still exists.
I believe the actual reflector is a piece of shiny tinfoil behind the lens. Mine has either corroded or lost it’s shine.

 

[RB2]

The problem I have with finding another MOT tester is all tests, failures, advisories, are held on computer records. It’s going to take a rare tester to pass something that failed the day before when the fault still exists.
I believe the actual reflector is a piece of shiny tinfoil behind the lens. Mine has ether corroded or lost it’s shine.

This option will check the box and give you a year to find another.

 

[mwpe]

I have got one with a slight crack in the reversing light lens which you can have, I only kept it because of my magpie tendencies.

 

[t-tony]

The problem I have with finding another MOT tester is all tests, failures, advisories, are held on computer records. It’s going to take a rare tester to pass something that failed the day before when the fault still exists.
I believe the actual reflector is a piece of shiny tinfoil behind the lens. Mine has either corroded or lost it’s shine.

I would try shining a light on the reflector at dark Alan just see that it doesn't doesn't work and what difference there is between the 2 reflectors.. I find it difficult to believe a reflector doesn't reflect any light at all. If the reflective foil has become detached it will still be in the light body.
Another tester may look at the item and say it is acceptable, it is down to the tester's discretion after all. Out of curiosity was this a newly passed tester by any chance?

Tony.

 

[Stevo7682]

Strange the reflector is deteriorated when the lamp is not .
The reflector is made entirely of plastic ( little prisms at different angles to catch the light ) it is also behind the outer lense.
If possible could you take a picture like this to compare ( preferably at night) take picture directly behind the light at same level about 3 / 4 feet back with flash on .

Just took this and as you can see the number plate and the straight on part of the reflector lit up ( the angle bit only just catching the light as not straight on.
I would like to see the comparison

Stephen.

 

[Alan Slade]

Just to put an end to speculation about over zealous MOT testers On the advice of Stevo7682 I took two photos with a flash and they clearly show a defective reflector on the nearside. Thanks for your interest in my problem.

 

[Oddly Godly]

Maybe water has got in sometime

 

[Alan Slade]

Well I wanted to investigate why the reflector didn’t work and I think I found the cause.
The previous owner of my car has tried to fit reversing sensors and brought the wiring through the foam rubber seal, this has allowed the chrome reflector of the unit to get tarnished. I tried to dissemble the unit but it was well and truly glued and I managed to completely break the lens, I really do need another unit now. I cleaned the reflector and placed it back together to see if it worked and it did. Only fit for the bin now.

 

[t-tony]

Should be good enough to get it re tested Alan.

Tony.