Is this an MOT fail?

Scuzi

Scuzi

Scuzi

Man of Honour
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
20,622
Location
UK
Drivers side DRL on my V90 has partially failed. It runs at about half brightness, which during peak daylight makes it somewhat difficult to determine if it’s on or not. The pictures below show the difference but to the naked eye the difference is greater. Inside a garage or at dusk/night it is visible as on but obviously dimmer than the near side. Do you think this will be an MOT fail? Car was first registered June 2018.

fTrdhi0.jpg


arn7U2A.jpg


MOT expires tomorrow and Volvo won’t have the headlight unit until next week. It was originally scheduled to be fixed and MOT’d tomorrow but the part was delayed. I’m hoping it’s enough to pass so I don’t have to rent a car until my new one arrives Thursday.

On another note, if it does fail the MOT, will this impact the resale value even though it will be fixed and Retested prior to sale? I’m probably going to flog it through WBAC or Cazoo or similar.

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
The guidance says this:

"
You need to check DRLs and front fog lamps on vehicles first used from 1 March 2018.

Record a ‘major’ defect if a DRL or fog lamp does not work."

If it said "does not work CORRECTLY" then it's a fail, but this might be at the descretion of the tester.

It's technically "not working" because it should be a specific brightness to alert pedestrians to your vehicle, which it isn't doing correctly on one side of the car.

But, this is where things annoy me, my car doesn't have DRLs at all so my car is fine to drive without the sidelights on or any DRLs. Your car, even with one and a half DRLs working, is much better at alerting people to your presence than mine, yet yours might fail and mine is fine!

Don't get me started on how old emission chucking cars get by when modern ones fail or get charged more!
 
Scuzi said:
Drivers side DRL on my V90 has partially failed. It runs at about half brightness, which during peak daylight makes it somewhat difficult to determine if it’s on or not. The pictures below show the difference but to the naked eye the difference is greater. Inside a garage or at dusk/night it is visible as on but obviously dimmer than the near side. Do you think this will be an MOT fail? Car was first registered June 2018.

fTrdhi0.jpg


MOT expires tomorrow and Volvo won’t have the headlight unit until next week. It was originally scheduled to be fixed and MOT’d tomorrow but the part was delayed. I’m hoping it’s enough to pass so I don’t have to rent a car until my new one arrives Thursday.

On another note, if it does fail the MOT, will this impact the resale value even though it will be fixed and Retested prior to sale? I’m probably going to flog it through WBAC or Cazoo or similar.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

A fail for a headlight that was then fixed wouldn't put me off buying a car but an unblemished MOT history is definitely a plus, can you not reschedule the MOT until it's been fixed?
 
Nemiyen said:
The guidance says this:

"
You need to check DRLs and front fog lamps on vehicles first used from 1 March 2018.

Record a ‘major’ defect if a DRL or fog lamp does not work."

If it said "does not work CORRECTLY" then it's a fail, but this might be at the descretion of the tester.

It's technically "not working" because it should be a specific brightness to alert pedestrians to your vehicle, which it isn't doing correctly on one side of the car.

But, this is where things annoy me, my car doesn't have DRLs at all so my car is fine to drive without the sidelights on or any DRLs. Your car, even with one and a half DRLs working, is much better at alerting people to your presence than mine, yet yours might fail and mine is fine!

Don't get me started on how old emission chucking cars get by when modern ones fail or get charged more!
Click to expand...
If it’s up to the discretion of the tester, I’m hoping they’ll let it slide as they’ll be fitting the new unit next week. I’ll just have to see. The problem comes if it fails - as I understand it I shouldn‘t drive it at all, whereas if I delay the test until next week, I’ll legally be able to drive it to the garage with an expired MOT. It just leaves me without a car until the new one arrives on Thursday.

tyke_ said:
A fail for a headlight that was then fixed wouldn't put me off buying a car but an unblemished MOT history is definitely a plus, can you not reschedule the MOT until it's been fixed?
Click to expand...
I could, but I’d either have to drive it with the MOT expired or go without a car until Thursday.
 
tyke_ said:
A fail for a headlight that was then fixed wouldn't put me off buying a car but an unblemished MOT history is definitely a plus, can you not reschedule the MOT until it's been fixed?
Click to expand...
Not really a plus tbh. Car parts wear, main thing is they get fixed.
 
kona786 said:
Not really a plus tbh. Car parts wear, main thing is they get fixed.
Click to expand...
Yes but a history of things being picked up by MOTs indicates reactive maintenance vs proactive maintenance, which, depending on the specifics of the vehicle can make a big difference to a prospective buyer.
 
Zefan said:
Yes but a history of things being picked up by MOTs indicates reactive maintenance vs proactive maintenance, which, depending on the specifics of the vehicle can make a big difference to a prospective buyer.
Click to expand...
I agree, though depends on what's on the list.
 
Can't you just deactivate the DRL's? I can on my old audi a4.
They are not a legal requirement.
 
Zefan said:
Yes but a history of things being picked up by MOTs indicates reactive maintenance vs proactive maintenance, which, depending on the specifics of the vehicle can make a big difference to a prospective buyer.
Click to expand...
Good point, although I doubt I’ll go down the private sale route this time after my last experience. As long as WBAC and the like don’t reduce their offers as a result then I’m not that worried.

Itc said:
Can't you just deactivate the DRL's? I can on my old audi a4.
They are not a legal requirement.
Click to expand...
According to the Volvo tech, cars first registered from 2018 onwards have to have them working if fitted.
 
Scuzi said:
Good point, although I doubt I’ll go down the private sale route this time after my last experience. As long as WBAC and the like don’t reduce their offers as a result then I’m not that worried.


According to the Volvo tech, cars first registered from 2018 onwards have to have them working if fitted.
Click to expand...
I saw a youtube video on how to turn them off. Maybe the MOT tester wouldn't notice they were off?
 
Last edited:
Seems crazy that newer cars must have working DRL's. My older audi allows me to turn them off.
Just passed the mot with only one working reverse light also.
Just read this on Gov.uk... Makes it a little confusing

Daytime running lamps​

You only need to inspect daytime running lamps (DRLs) fitted as original equipment to M1 vehicles first used on or after 1 March 2018.

There must not be more than 2 DRLs fitted and they must emit white light.

DRLs might not operate when:

  • the engine is not running
  • the parking brake is on
  • the park position is selected on automatic vehicles
If DRLs have been manually switched off, sometimes they do not light up until the vehicle is travelling faster than 10km/h (6.2mph) or the vehicle has travelled 100m (328ft).

A DRL is permitted to switch off when the same side indicator is operating.
 
Last edited:
andy_mk3 said:
Why? They're a safety item.

That will most likely fail the MOT, I certainly would fail it anyway.

My bad, it would be a minor defect but not a failure. Blaming tiredness for that one!

7qBGv9q.png
Click to expand...
What i meant to say was i can turn my DRL's off and pass an MOT. The newer cars have to have them on.
 
It's annoying they didn't make LED lights replaceable. If you have a dead DRL the only way is to replace the entire lamp most of the time. So wasteful.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Itc
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom