Sunstrip Size

[wimmy]

Help!
My Bravo has just failed its MOT due to the sunstrip 'impairing the drivers view'. The strip is only as low as the visors when down! Anyway, the legal requirement is that the strip cannot be in the swept area. This leaves me a total of 1" for a strip. How have other people got away with it? How big are the cinq/sei wipers and will they fit the Bravo?

Thanks in advance

Bowling Champ Wimmy

 

[ben]

Swept area? My sun strip goes down just below the visors when down, although mine is transparent, so maybe this makes a difference.... Saying that tho, my tints are 2 shades too dark for mot as well, so i guess i've just been lucky

ben

bravo 1.6sx
looks: momo twin 17" alloys, debadged, smoked headlights, black side repeaters, black rear clusters, midnight window tint
feels: apex 40mm lower springs, apex sports shock's, k&n 57i induction
sounds: pioneer deh-7400mp, pioneer tse-6995 (rear)

 

[HP]

Go to another MOT station!!

Mine's a full depth Touring Car strip, the 17" wipers wipe over it by about 3" at the top (and they are supposed to be 18" !) and I've never had any bother in 3 MOT's.
My sun visors are lower than the strip too....

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
http://mysite.freeserve.com/close_to_cracking_up/

 

[wimmy]

Another MOT? Thats another £30! Cheaper to take the strip off and buy a new one after the MOT!

 

[Donz]

yeah but we all know how easy the buggers are to fit!

mine goes about 1" below swept area and i have standard blades - newish car so not had to face the MOT man yet but fingers crossed!

GONE IN 60 MINS​

 

[ben]

oh hang on, mine is on the inside... not one of those non see through ones, so i guess its just a tint.. dunno if the blades go over it.

ben

bravo 1.6sx
looks: momo twin 17" alloys, debadged, smoked headlights, black side repeaters, black rear clusters, midnight window tint
feels: apex 40mm lower springs, apex sports shock's, k&n 57i induction
sounds: pioneer deh-7400mp, pioneer tse-6995 (rear)

 

[wimmy]

How big are the sei wipers?

Bravissimo 80sx 16v
15" Valbrem alloys, debadged.
Sony MD head unit, CD changer, 900watt amp, 2x10" subs, 2x350watt 6x9's

 

[HP]

supposed to be 19", not 18 as I posted earlier... oops.

Pete.
Cinq sporting 1242cc
http://mysite.freeserve.com/close_to_cracking_up/

 

[wimmy]

Whoops, sorry, didnt see your earlier post. Just been to McHalfords and tried a different wiper size. I would have to get an 11" wiper for it not to sweep on the strip. It will look daft but it will only be on for half an hour.

Does anyone know if there are any MOT regs. re wiper sizes?


wimmy
Bravissimo 80sx 16v
15" Valbrem alloys, debadged.
Sony MD head unit, CD changer, 900watt amp, 2x10" subs, 2x350watt 6x9's

 

[Donz]

i'd just hope it don't rain

GONE IN 60 MINS​

 

[2.0 20v]

If the strips transparent and it's on the inside you can still fail your MOT, it happened to one of my best friends on his Saxo.
Wimmy, I'm sure theres another regulation that states you need to have 'x number' degrees of vision throught the windscreen, being 'x degrees' upwards from a horizontal plain from the drivers eyes and 'x' degress downwards from that plain, that your car would easily pass. I'm trying to find the details now.

Si.
2.0 20v HGT

 

[2.0 20v]

Here you go, you'll need to check the regs for the actual angles if you can be arsed, alternatively just go back and quote this directive (try and scare em) and tell them your car fully complies with it. Worth a try.....

Directive 77/649/EEC (as amended by Directives 81/643/EEC and 88/366/EEC)
Field of vision of motor vehicle drivers

Directive 77/649/EEC specifically covers direct forward field of view. This includes limits on the downward angle of view determining the nearest visible points in front of the vehicle and the upward angle of view in the windscreen.

Si.
2.0 20v HGT

 

[steveyensen]

See http://www.motuk.co.uk for a complete MOT Testers' Manual ... specifically http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_830.htm for the windscreen!

In fact, reading the particular section, it appears that "tinting films" are not a reason for rejection provided, as I assume, that they are not actually opaque. If you can see through them then your field of vision is okay I think.

You may have grounds to ask for a re-test. Most testers interpret the rules as they see fit and what could be considered okay to one tester could be a failure point in another!

Steve

Drives a Panda 1000CL [:0] but still has a sense of humour!

(I'm on [email protected] and [email protected])

1989 Fiat Panda 1000CL
Electronic Distributor
Metamec copper brake pipes
Currently immobile with a knackered gearbox and mouldy upholstery
Replacement 5-speed 'box and new QH clutch in garage ready to fit
and is likely to remain there for some time yet due to my EXTREME
LAZINESS (and it's cold and wet out there - okay, so I'm a wimp) ...

 

[Donz]

hmm its a strange one

from the link steve gives we find

reason for rejection 1 . In Zone 'A:

and
b. a Windscreen sticker or other
obstruction encroaching (Zone A) more than 10mm


Additional Opaque Films
Additional opaque films are subject to reason for rejection 1 whether fitted on the inside or outside of fhe windscreen.


but to me it seems that zone A is measured on the arc of the wiper blade, and therfore smaller blades *should* mean u pass MOT

GONE IN 60 MINS​

 

[steveyensen]

Yet it also says:

"Additional mirrors and tinting films are not subject to Reason for Rejection 1."

Strange indeed.

So is the sunstrip tinted or opaque?

Steve

Drives a Panda 1000CL [:0] but still has a sense of humour!

(I'm on [email protected] and [email protected])

1989 Fiat Panda 1000CL
Electronic Distributor
Metamec copper brake pipes
Currently immobile with a knackered gearbox and mouldy upholstery
Replacement 5-speed 'box and new QH clutch in garage ready to fit
and is likely to remain there for some time yet due to my EXTREME
LAZINESS (and it's cold and wet out there - okay, so I'm a wimp) ...

 

[2.0 20v]

Ah, i'll take the sunstrip as being tinted.

Gives me some ammunition to use against the MOT tester on Saturday if he fails mine.

Si.
2.0 20v HGT

 

[wimmy]

Mines solid therefore fail. Looks like an 11" wiper is on for next Saturday then!

 

[Donz]

if he fails it again just rip it off infront of the bloke

GONE IN 60 MINS​

 

[Kendz]

Do they not have any discretion???? You could remove it for the MOT and put the bloody thing back on straight after they've handed you the certificate. From my experience a good MOT garage would overlook a strip for this exact reason!!!

On the subject of MOT places, I can definately NOTrecommend halfords. My girlfriends car was failed because of an air freshner hanging from the rer view mirror, amongst i think it was a faulty window wiper. Goes without saying that they will never get a good word again.[!]

www.kendz.co.uk

 

[wimmy]

Hmmm, i could rip it off but it wouldnt go back on again! We'll see what happens Staurday. If he does fail it with the smaller wiper, I know has to give me the chance of minor changes there and then before issuing the certificate. That way i can put old blade back on an whip sticker off. Stamp on his foot and never go back again!
As for McHalfords - I love em! Said it loads of times on the Bravo forum. Great for lunchtime boredom. Try it for yourself. Ask one of the monkeys where the tartan paint is or the fallopian tube! One of them couldnt find the tartan paint, the other told me to go to the parts desk for the tube!!!!