Ah that’s big! Yes on the front of the V5 it says under special notes:
Plus that carvx check returned it as a eunos roadster, not an mx-5. Excellent news. These are the sorts of proof I need to stick under a tester’s nose. Reckon I probably have enough to go off from all that.
Look for MOT history on gov.uk, if you have the V5 it will tell you where previous MoT tests were conducted.
You may need to go to a different test station. A long time ago I acquired a Rover Metro which had an open-loop catalyst which was pre-1994, but for reasons too complicated to explain, it has a 1994 registration. The Rover dealer said it did not meet the MoT emissions standard for its registration, a more savvy MoT test station looked at the engine number and tested it against that. It passed no problem and I’ve been using that test station ever since as a way of saying thank you, even though the original tester has long retired!
Open-loop catalyst means there is no feedback on CO and NOx to the fuel and ingnition systems, your car is probably similar which is why it would be a miracle if it was able to pass the “post 1995 test” - summary below
1 August 1975 to 1 August 1986: Limits are 4.5% CO and 1200ppm hydrocarbons.
1 August 1986 to 31 July 1992: Limits are 3.5% CO and 1200ppm hydrocarbons.
After 1st Aug 1992 - catalyst system required, usually closed loop but open-loop has been homologated for some vehicles.
After August 19952 - only closed loop catalyst will be meet the standard
The uk.gov document someone else has posted a link to gives you the detailed standards for UK homologated vehicles , significantly the earliest MX-5 shown quotes a specific serial number, EUNOS models are not shown:
1.6l VDS Code NA18B2 serial number 131178
Several months later, it’s passed its MOT! (With corrosion advisories ofc) For anyone else having the same issue, here’s what I did.
The key was finding an MOT tester who knew what they were actually talking about when it comes to older cars, and being able to prove the car’s actual manufacture date and that it was indeed imported.
I spoke to a work colleague of mine who drives a clapped out mini as his daily, he recommended me a local garage that he goes to (John Oates garage near Warrington, thanks Woody). On the phone the tester was sceptical at first, but told me if I had the paperwork to prove it he could test it on the pre-1992 standard.
The proof I had was:
I showed all this to the MOT tester and he was happy that was enough for him, and sure enough he tested to the 3.5% CO limit, which it passed. The most absurd part is the CO emissions almost doubled from since the last test. So it failed on 1.7% months ago, and passed on 3.0% now.
Find a good tester, word of mouth from another car enthusiast is the best way. If not, try and find a reputable garage with good google reviews and make some phone calls. If the tester tells you all cars are tested by the same standard, go tell em to suck eggs.
Thank you everyone for your help!
Glad that you got it sorted but there really was no need for you to jump through all of those hoops. A tester who was following written procedure would have been able to just pass it at 1.7%.