To summarise my understanding of the situation as it currently stands (no doubt I will be corrected if I am wrong), a diesel vehicle presented for MOT wef 1 Feb will in addition to the emission check be checked for the presence of a DPF if it was originally fitted as standard. How a standard fitting is to be checked is interesting because I understand the same make, model and year could be fitted with or without a DPF when manufactured. Perhaps I am wrong on that point. I don't believe that emission standards prior to Euro 5 standard which I believe came into effect 1 Sep 2009, will be lowered to detect a non-functioning DPF. With the introduction of Euro 5, this has the made the use of the DPF obligatory because I assume the vehicle would fail the emission test otherwise. So, if all the foregoing is correct, a vehicle built prior to 1 Sep 2009, with a "non-functioning" DPF will still pass the MOT emission test irrespective of the legal issues. Obviously, a vehicle with a missing DPF will immediately fail.

As an aside, it is interesting the issue Ed raised about the Metro and Mini concerning the petrol MOT tests. In those days, a vehicle had to be within 4.5/3.5% CO and 1200 ppm HC at idle but they couldn't achieve these standards so the rules were changed to accommodate these vehicles and if they passed the 1200 ppm at fast idle, then it would be deemed a pass. Funny how rules can be changed if required. Also, I don't think there was any "boasting" on one of the postings when it was mentioned that a vehicle passed an MOT without a working DPF. I read it merely as an example that it could be done.


Regards

Pete M