The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

My 1300 Dolomite has failed its MOT on headlight patterns. I have a receipt from the 90s for a replacement headlight and it has a cut off beam pattern. The other one which I assume is original has more of a puddle pattern. In my ownership it has always passed and I can only assume all the previous ones, but this tester is refusing to budge. He says both headlights have to give the same pattern. Both are Lucas but have different numbers moulded into the glass and slightly different lenses. I have a generic unit and that also doesn't have the cut off pattern but he's refusing to accept that because the silvering is coming off in a small area in the corner.

Great. The speedo stopped working on the way, but the milometer still does, but he didn't fail it for that.

So in wanted adds a plea for both.

I know this won't help at the moment, but is he 'classic friendly'? By that I don't mean someone who would pass a dangerous car but some MOT testers don't understand the little quirks of old cars and try to test them exactly the same as a modern car. An enthusiastic MOT tester is worth his weight in gold.

If the glass has different numbers each side one of them may be an incorrectly fitted LHD unit. In your situation it is probably best to change both units to a halogen conversion unit. They do seem to be about on E-Bay.
Tony.

Just looked at new replacements and they are a bit pricey, but this item number on ebay might help you out: 351701612104. Click and collect from Argos so easy to get at too.
Best of luck,
Andy.

As in lhd country the lucas ones are even more expensive. I do fit Fiat ones in my rectangular dollies. It is a fit but a minor mod must be made. On your UK eBay there are new Fiat sets, two lamps, for around 30 gbp. This is my 1300 with Fiat lamps fitted. They are the 127 128 type.

Jeroen

Thanks jeroen I didn't know that. I now have a couple of possible sources of some but if they don't come off I will try to get some fiat ones.

You are a font of knowledge young man,

Bob.

MIG Wielder wrote:If the glass has different numbers each side one of them may be an incorrectly fitted LHD unit. In your situation it is probably best to change both units to a halogen conversion unit. They do seem to be about on E-Bay.
Tony.

Hi tony

Both seem to be rhd as they both point to the left just ones cut off pattern and the other isn't. They are not sealed beam so they just need a bulb swop to convert I am told.

Bob

AndyJ wrote:Just looked at new replacements and they are a bit pricey, but this item number on ebay might help you out: 351701612104. Click and collect from Argos so easy to get at too.
Best of luck,
Andy.

Thanks Andy

Had a look on eBay this pm and these didn't come up just one in a scrapyard. I will have another search.

Not worth arguing about it with an obstinate MOT tester unless you fancy appealing, but still it does pay to have a glance through the MOT inspection manual now and again, the lighting is all detailed in section 1.7 - 1.8 and gives the allowed patterns. A small bit of the reflector missing is not enough in itself to be a fail according to the manual:

inoperative, excessively damaged or
deteriorated or has a product on the lens or
light source so that the light output is well
below that required to illuminate the road
ahead

I have a couple of used square lamps with flat top beam pattern, the ones that take a 410 bulb.

As an ex tester, this guy is being unbelievably nit picking. The Carledo went through 3 MOTs without comment with a flat top on 1 side and a sealed beam (puddle pattern) on the other. I only evened it up when I got another bulbed type headlight cos I wanted to fit halogen bulbs.

Steve

I think he's going over the top to. In my ownership its passed twice like this. He is experienced with classics, the restorers the cars with now having the seat rebuilt and the electrics sorted use them every day vertically and took it in as the test was due so that any issues could be sorted in one go. After it failed I wanted to take it to the place I use but they had taken the seat out and were busy welding up the frame. Someone in the past had welded it then brazed on top and weld on top of braze. No wonder it broke. Anyway they said they are going to have a word with the owner if I can't get a replacement, and because they have registered as a fail they don't want to take it somewhere else.

As an MOT Tester who does 2 - 3 MOTs every day..
Your tester is being an arse. Go elsewhere.

I had a tester tell me the beam pattern on my sealed beams had degraded because there wasn't enough of a flick up on one side. I adjusted one light to point lower than the other, told him that was the best I could do and if he wanted to change the shape of the glass and bill me, to be my guest.

It passed..


Steve

Are testers being tested in the UK?

Jeroen

I believe they get random inspections but not regularly. The problem seems to be that some are not aware of old car beam patterns. Steve has sent me a down load of the testers manual and it is open to differing opinion. This guy is black and white where past testers have said its OK but commented. They said both sides are balanced lights same shape, don't dazzle, show enough of the road and bright enough. One paragraph says they have to have the same pattern and he's not shifting. The restorers working on the car said they are going to have a word with the owner.

Anyway I have obtained a replacement from a member so when that arrives I will take it over.

The problem with taking it to another tester is it is now registered as a fail on headlight pattern so I am told it could be difficult for another tester to put it through. Also got the problem that he hasn't knocked it back on the speedo that packed in on the way over, so still got to find one. Been given a quote to fix of £100 and 4/6 week turn around. Don't think so.

Its defo the speedo and not the cable because the milometer is still working.