MOT Decision Question

[Boddney]

Hi, I just fitted some aftermarket DRLs to my 2002 GS300. I fitted them at the correct height and width apart and they have the added facility to flash orange when the indicator is operated. I thought this would be a good feature as the modern day lights with the indicators in the headlights are hard to see in my opinion.

 I have just taken the car for it's MOT and the tester asked me to disconnect the indicator feature as when it is operated, the white light goes off for the the orange light to come on.

So just to clarify, the light is white when driving normally and when the indicator is switched on the light sequence is white-orange-white-orange etc. The standard indicator works as it should.

The tester said you are not allowed a flashing white light on the front of a vehicle but I argued that it was a flashing orange light. In actual fact it is a flashing orange and white light. 

Mind you he did not comment on the real failure point in that the DRLs did not dip or go off when the headlights where switched on.

Any help from from traffic cops or other testers would be great.

Thanks,

Bod.

Copied over from the Legal Motoring room.

[sorcerer]

I'm not an MOT tester or even a mechanic so take from this what you will but, Section 1.1 Page 19 of the MOT Inspection Manual (available as a pdf from here) states:

Daytime Running Lamps are not testable unless they replace the front position lamps. Where this is the case, they should dim when the position lamps are switched on and may extinguish when the headlamps are switched on. (so maybe a pass as they aren't testable and should be ignored)

Reason for Rejection 3e - where an obligatory lamp shows any colour other than red to the rear or white to the front - but aftermarket DRLs like yours aren't obligatory (so maybe a pass)

Section 1.4 Page 24, 'Method of Inspection' 2f states that the inspector must check:

that every direction indicator emits amber light (except vehicles first used before September 1965) (so maybe a fail)

Reason for rejection - f - shows light of an incorrect colour. (so maybe a fail)

Basically, to my untrained layman's eyes, the tester was right to ask you to disconnect the indicator flashing facility due to the colour changes as they flash.

[Boddney]

That sounds very logical. Thanks.

[sorcerer]

3 minutes ago, Boddney said:

That sounds very logical. Thanks.

You're welcome