BPU - MOT with double decat

[chp03bcd]

I am considering going BPU on my 1994 J-Spec TT and was wondering whether it will pass the MOT with no cats in place?

 

I know this question has been asked many times but the answers seem to vary from no, all cars irrespective of age/import require at least one cat to pass, to yes it's fine so long as the tester realises that as it's a pre 1995 import it wont need an emissions test. I was hoping for some clarity!

 

Out of interest has anyone recently passed or failed their MOT with a double decat in place on a J-Spec pre 1995 TT?

[SupraShaun]

I passed 2 times with double decat, then failed the 3rd because of it. This was at the same garage, the 3rd time my car was showing up on their system (which I think gets updated yearly). So I had to put my second cat back in to pass.

[AlanM]

Just the last 8 years mate, and that was at two different garages

[manny]

I recently contacted VOSA about this after my MOT, and got this reply:

 

 

"Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your e-mail enquiry dated 30th March 2010, concerning MOT emissions.

When testing the emissions of a vehicle for the MOT test, the MOT tester should check their "In Service Exhaust Emission Standards for Road Vehicles" book to check if there is an exact match for the vehicle they are testing and it's engine code.

If there is an exact match, then they would test the vehicle according to the emissions levels stated for it in the book. If there is no exact match then the vehicle would be tested according to it's age.

 

Passenger cars that have no exact match in the book and are first used between 1 August 1986 and 31st July 1995 would require a non cat test and would need to meet the following limits: CO

You can view the latest In Service Exhaust Emissions standards for road vehicles via the link below (click on section 1 or section 2 CSV).

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/inserviceexhaustemissionsstandardsforroadvehicles.htm

You can also view the MOT inspection manuals via the link below:-

http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/bl/mottestingmanualsandguides/mottestingmanualsandguides.htm

 

There is not an exact match in the emissions book for a 1993 Toyota Supra RZ, so it should be tested according to it's date of first use. "

 

So basically only a non-cat test is needed on older Supras. I'll be printing this out and taking it with me next year!

[chp03bcd]

I recently contacted VOSA about this after my MOT, and got this reply:

 

 

"Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your e-mail enquiry dated 30th March 2010, concerning MOT emissions.

When testing the emissions of a vehicle for the MOT test, the MOT tester should check their "In Service Exhaust Emission Standards for Road Vehicles" book to check if there is an exact match for the vehicle they are testing and it's engine code.

If there is an exact match, then they would test the vehicle according to the emissions levels stated for it in the book. If there is no exact match then the vehicle would be tested according to it's age.

 

Passenger cars that have no exact match in the book and are first used between 1 August 1986 and 31st July 1995 would require a non cat test and would need to meet the following limits: CO

You can view the latest In Service Exhaust Emissions standards for road vehicles via the link below (click on section 1 or section 2 CSV).

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/inserviceexhaustemissionsstandardsforroadvehicles.htm

You can also view the MOT inspection manuals via the link below:-

http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/crt/doitonline/bl/mottestingmanualsandguides/mottestingmanualsandguides.htm

 

There is not an exact match in the emissions book for a 1993 Toyota Supra RZ, so it should be tested according to it's date of first use. "

 

So basically only a non-cat test is needed on older Supras. I'll be printing this out and taking it with me next year!

 

 

That's a very useful statement!

 

I guess it would still be possible to fail the MOT on emissions if you were above either the CO or HC values but so long as you shouldn't fail simply for not having any cats then that's chance i have to take.

 

I've already contacted my insurance company to see how much the premium would increase by if i went BPU and found out today, £40 only! Seems like i running out of excuses not too.

 

Is there any advice you guys wish you'd been given before heading down the BPU road or any additional parts you wish you'd bought apart from the basic BPU bits?

[d_d]

If you leave the cats in place for the emission test, then remove them after the test is complete surely it shouldnt be on the road?

What insurance implications are there? And how does the insurance see BPU? Do they say decatted is BPU.

[chp03bcd]

If you leave the cats in place for the emission test, then remove them after the test is complete surely it shouldnt be on the road?

What insurance implications are there? And how does the insurance see BPU? Do they say decatted is BPU.

 

I guess there are many things you can do to a car after it had passed its MOT that would put it in a position where it would fail its MOT the next time round, like removing the cats. I'm hoping got avoid having to do this though and be legal on a good old fashioned technicality.

 

Technically BPU is a little more than just the decatting but i told my insurance company of exactly what i was wanting to change/add to the car (including telling them i would be removing both cats) and they had no issue with it.

[a98pmalcolm]

If you leave the cats in place for the emission test, then remove them after the test is complete surely it shouldnt be on the road?

What insurance implications are there? And how does the insurance see BPU? Do they say decatted is BPU.

 

"Dunno it was imported lik this?"

 

Im not telling you 2 do this but twice its worked with me.

I have had to accedents in my car (twice not my fault and 3rd party admitted to it) but when the assessor came out and spoke to the insurance i had the Question "are these bumpers standard and the car" so my reply both times was..... "dunno mate it was imported like this" and both times "ah ok" apparently acording to my insurance they will never get the specs 100% accorate on imports, hence one of the reasons for higher insurance!

[supra-ireland]

I've looked into this and I can get my car tested based on an emissions limit of 1200ppm.

 

My car has a full decat with a Blitz NUR-Spec.

I'm wondering with this setup should I pass the emissions test no problem?

What sort of emission figures can you expect from this setup,

presuming the engine, fuel, lambda, etc are all sound?

 

-Cheers...

[Rich8v]

If you leave the cats in place for the emission test, then remove them after the test is complete surely it shouldnt be on the road?

What insurance implications are there? And how does the insurance see BPU? Do they say decatted is BPU.

 

Its not illegal to remove the cats from your exhaust system. However the car must still be able to pass an emissions test, which most of our cars would fail. The chances of having a road side emissions test done on your car, are very slim. I belive VOSA can do this, and i dont know if they need a reason to or not. So as far as i'm concerned, the pros far out way the cons.

[Robzki]

I recently removed both cats but put back in a sard race cat in the catback. passed the cat test with flying colours. The best results he'd seen for ages. It was more suprising for him because it failed miserably the week before the only difference being that the first cat was in place the week before. oh and new coil pack connectors.

[Guest SupraTroopa]

My old 96 TT6 passed with no cats because it didnt come up on the computer. It can be a bit hit or miss so I've heard whether it comes up or not. Just put the second cat back in for MOTs, its definately the easier one to put back on.