is it a MOT failure if the backseats are not installed but the bench is?

 

More than likely

 

just take the bench out

 

I'd say yes also.
Remove it: if it's not there they cannot fail it

 

Not true. If the car says 5 seats on there computer, then it should have 5 seats. Never seen a car fail for not having them though.

 

my s1 failed because the rear seat wouldnt fasten in the upright position

 

That's a safety thing tho: stopping a 'load' from the boot flying forward and causing possible injury in an emergency stop scenario.

If the seats aren't there I can't see it being a fail as long as there's nothing loose in the boot.

 

When putting the vehicle data in for computerised mots, you are able to change the amount of seats on the screen.

If I was testing it, I would fail it unless you took the bench out too.

 

i pass m.o.t everytime without rear seats, just remove the lot then there is no problem.

 

i wen through the other day with one bucket and a harness and nothing else baring a dash inside the car... and mines listed as 5 seats yada yada

 

Just finished building my RS a few months back....took it for an mot, and they refused to even test it because it only had the drivers seat in there.
Said something about "it being different to whats on the computer etc etc"
Took it somewhere else the next day...and it went straight through