muffster

Is having a bulb out on a numberplate light an MOT fail?

It's on my 320D, it's got 2 lights and one has gone, the other one works.
It's not just a simple case of a new bulb, the holder is all corroded.
So is an MOT failure?

Cheers.

Oranoco

To the best of my knowledge if it has 2 lamps both need to work for a pass

Chopshop85

iTrader: (4)

I think its pretty much...If its there, its got to work from an MOT point of view.

RS2000CUSTOM

If you have 2 seperate number plate lamp assemblys each with 1 bulb per assembly and a bulb is not working in one of them then it is a fail

But (there are always buts in MOT) if you have one number plate lamp assembly (with no divider between internal reflector or the bulbs) with 2 x bulbs and one bulb is not working then it is a pass and advise

There is a new test criteria just been added that requires 50% of the light source to be working

This was mainly bought in to cover multi LED powered lamps but is relevant to bulbs as well

So if you have for example 6 leds in 1 single number plate assembly then 3 working LED's is a pass and advise

Hope this helps

stevieturbo

Certainly always been a fail here.

muffster

Great, thanks for the heads up.



Ta.

stevieturbo

On some of the BM's, you may need to replace the entire plate surround as the terminals for the bulb corrode badly

Matt Baxter

iTrader: (37)

Couldnt have put it better my self

RS2000CUSTOM

cheeRS Matt

I have just passed my Motorbike (class I & II) MOT tester course and no number plate lamp at all is OK - lol - Not even a testable item on Class I & II

cossiestu

There's a thread on bimmerforums on how to chop out the corroded holder an rewire in a holder from e-bay. Cheaper than paying £160 odd for a new BMW lamp. If you can find one in a breakers, the early e46 ones are different....

JACK1109

Guys,


I removed one of the number plate lights and fitted a reverse camera in its place. Will this now fail MOT. The other light is still there and working though.

john_p_b

iTrader: (4)

yes.

get some adhesive led light strip and fit that to get through test.

stevieturbo

Obviously it's entirely down to the tester but there should be working number plate lights.

JACK1109

thank you. Might have to do that.

JACK1109

hmm. Don't really want to take a chance. I got one light working so thought might get away with it. Will have to see if I can do what has been suggested before.

gingeRS

i found a faulty one on my old E39 and had to rewire the whole tailgate to get it working again

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Is this all the car failed on??

Lol. Its a 5 year old thread.