NBR - Car MOT question

[WD Forte]

OK so here's the thing
The old Galaxy failed the MOT on a few things.
Split drive shaft and ball joint boots which will be dealt with next week by my local trusted mechanic Paul.
Brake light and number plate bulbs which I've sorted already.
( I know, should have checked them prior to test)

Now, the thing thing that took me by surprise was it failed on "headlamp levelling device inoperative"
WTF?
I knew the car had them but I never ever used them and they've been ignored since I had the car.
I had no idea it was a thing.

They're in a small double switch alongside the panel lamp dimmer which I set to how I like it years ago and have similarly ignored ever since.

https://imgur.com/9eIjdXG.jpg

Paul reckons I could just remove the switch and 'if it aint there it cant be tested' sort of thing
so rather than get into a long winded, time consuming and probably expensive kerfuffle of fixing something I have no use for,
I'm tempted to stuff it behind the panel and put a blanking plate over the hole

whatcha reckon?
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bikers smell of wee

[MCN]

Some testers are out to make a name for themselves so find the slightest of defects to fail a vehicle.

Some things can be disabled and therefore not tested but it depends on the thing.

Look through the net for current mot checklists. MOT testers are 'specialists' in mot tests.
Many mechanics may not be current. The rules change frequently.

Advisories last year might be compulsory this year.

I think the government.co.uk (or something will have thebexact words on it.)
Where there are anomalies, for vehicle options, models, year and etc. will be noted in that info.

I'm not familiar with your vehicle but headlamp leveling for each manufacturer/model/variant is maybe a subject for another forum @bcf.

Edit: I just googles it.

Fuk dat s4it.

I see linkage, sensor, lamp housing.

Am oot.



PS I don't think turning it off is an option.
Buy a used mechanism from the usual suspects or a scrappy.
(All scrappies are kunts too. They fukirz use highest ebay prices for their business model. At least ebay bastirts take the bits off for you. )

Edit 2 :
A bike mot-er gave me an advisory for the sprocket carrier bearing of a bike with 10000 miles on it.
I took the advice and ordered oem bearings for the back wheel.
The ones I received from bmw were double sealed, an upgrade to the factory originals.
The bearings that came out were 100% perfect.

So it can even depend on opinion and personality of a tester too. The kunts.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[stinkwheel]

Well, a lot of cars don't have them but it's apparently part of the test and a fail if it's inoperative.

I wonder if the two pots in that cluster are the same because i don't think a non functioning instrument backlight dimmer is a fail.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Easy-X]

Duct tape over the switch?
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[WD Forte]

Ah sod it
It's now been 'professionally removed' and the car has
simple common or garden headlights.

https://imgur.com/hTC4JaY.jpg

The headlamp aim itself was AOK and it isn't the modern self levelling system which I understand must work, just a manual one which as I said I've never used in 8 years so hope the tester isnt a nit picking jobsworth when it goes back for retest.
Just a bit annoyed and concerned two functions I never had any use for
make getting it MOT'd an arse ache.
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bikers smell of wee

[dave001]

someone probably knocked the self leveling sensor when they done the ball joints

go and look under the wheels and i bet the link has been knocked off


they do every time they when near my omega

[cresad]

You may have to be a bit careful , some testers are reading the rules as - If it left the factory with it/them they have to work now

Are the motors on the headlight units still working or seized ?

Been caught with this myself , just depends how well you know the tester I guess

Adam

[MarJay]

Does 'headlamp leveller' mean the potentiometer that moves the headlamps, or is it the auto levelling headlamps that my BMW had where it has a sensor on the front wishbone that dips the headlight when accelerating hard and lifts it when braking hard?
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Pete.]

Far as I know only HID/LED factory-fitted lights have mandatory automatic levellers. If it's manually operated with a switch then covering up the switch should render it un-testable.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[WD Forte]

It doesn't have automatic levellers
its a 2004 model and the level trimmer wheel is just to nudge the lights
down a bit when towing or it has heavy enough load to affect the aim.

I just RTFM and will have a look at them this weekend and removing the headlights doesn't look as bad as thought it might

It's basically a linear actuator module nested inside the shell which drives a rod in response to the pot position on the panel.
If I'm lucky it might just need a cleaning/lube job
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bikers smell of wee