MOT related question about a backbox I had fitted!

[kristianbowler]

Hi there, I have a question about a new backbox I just had fitted. To cut things short I bought A universal backbox to be fitted onto my clio (I was happy with the size and thought it would not be to loud as a just wanted a little bit of a sporty sound). I asked the guy "Will this pass an MOT as I would like to keep everything legal" to which his reply was simply "yes". Once fitted I drove down the road and to my surprise this backbox is terribly loud! I still have my CAT on as the only bit he chopped off was the old backbox!. I'm now worried that my car won't get through it's MOT! Are they any MOT testers or knowledgeable CS fans on here who could shed some light on my situation? Thanks

 

[Owen92]

As long as it isn't blowing and the emissions are correct, there should't be a problem.

 

[kristianbowler]

As long as it isn't blowing and the emissions are correct, there should't be a problem.

Don't mean to sound like a total noob here but could you define blowing?

 

[16v_paddy]

Don't mean to sound like a total noob here but could you define blowing?

Any part of the exhaust that's letting exhaust gas out other than the tip of the tail pipe is what a blowing exhaust is, there's also no noise limit for the MOT for you to worry about
There is technically a legal noise limit for a car on the road but the test to show if your car meets that limit is so complicated to set up there's no point worrying about it

 

[Ryan172]

It's down to the testers discretion, if he decides it's too loud then he can fail you as its louder than standard, basically what he will judge it on is the sound difference if there was a standard car exactly the same parked side by side obviously yours will be a lot louder. So again down to the testers discretion. Just be nice and chatty and make him laugh a few times then your sorted, it always helps if the tester likes you. Ha

 

[lemonnobby]

There is a failure for noise. something like louder than a normal example.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

My loud cars have always passed.

Unless for some ridiculous reason this makes your ears bleed from 100 yards away, you'll be fine.

Put a gloved hand over the end of the tailpipe and get a friend / dad to look at the joints and see if it's blowing anywhere. If the pressure builds at your hand, then it's probably OK.

 

[Coops Mk1]

There is a failure for noise. something like louder than a normal example.

its not really a fail, its just the tester not wanting his name on the mot if he thinks you may get pulled for noisey exhaust by VOSA so he opts out, its happened to me before.

when you think of all the motorbikes screaming about with pieces of scaffolding on it does make you wonder why modified car owners get a bit of a hard time

 

[lemonnobby]

Well your thinking of a refusal to test.
The wording is a silencer in such a condition or type that the noise
is clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle with a standard silencer in average condition.
I have only known one to fail and that was silly loud.
to the op its down to the tester.

 

[Harpham]

Yup one of my old cars failed an MOT due to an exhaust that was "too loud". Tester discretion. I've never taken my car to that garage again.

 

[kristianbowler]

Thanks for all your replies everyone, ill keep my hopes high!

 

[ben lee]

its down to Tester discretion if its too loud it is in the mot test i have only ever failed one car for it as he had no silencers was all straight through pipe. there is 2 local garages to me that will fail any exhaust for being to loud if its a non standered part.

motor bikes are different most owners change there end cans and 90% of them have not for road use on they just swap them over at mot time.