One of things my Eunos failed the MOT on was illegal size characters on the rear plate. Easy to solve I thought so off to Halfords to get a new plate… 2 shops and 2 hours later it seems you can’t buy a plate with the larger car-size characters that will fit into the numberplate recess - the characters are physically too large to fit 2 rows in.
They sell what is labelled as an “import plate” for cars - physically it fits perfectly into the hole but it uses motorcycle-plate sized characters that are smaller than the car ones, and on comparison it appears this is what I already have, yet it failed the MOT for - "character(s) which are not the correct width [6.3.4a]"
So now I’m stuck - I can buy the same plate again but the chars are the same, so it will fail, but I can’t fit normal size chars onto a plate and still get it to fit into the recess on the rear of the car.
AARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!
The only option seems to be to mount a full size rear plate over the rear recess and wire in a new number-plate light, which seem like a right pain in the arse.
HELP!!!
I have one of these so called ‘import plates’ on my Eunos and have just passed an MOT at a Mazda dealer.
Dont know if this is worth a mention but my car initially failed its MOT on emissions (amongst other things) at a different mot test garage, ('92 Eunos, decat and s/s dual exit exhaust) however when i went to the Mazda dealer no problems with emissions. Apparently on the emission test machine (?) there is an option for Mx5 and an option for Eunos Roadster. The mazda dealer said the garage that failed me on emissions probably clicked Mx5 rather than Eunos, could this be the same problem with the number plate?? Different rules for imports??
Sounds likely re. the differences forimports - I’ve just searched the DVLA website and there are specific rules for the character size for imports with restricted plate space on the rear - they can use characters that are 64mm high, 44mm wide, 10mm stroke and 10mm spacing - my plate conforms to this rule exactly as I’ve just measured it.
I think the garage must have forgotten that the car was an import - fingers crossed that’s what has happened.
I would print it out and take it with you in case of problems. Good luck.
Yeah, will do. Hopefully they’ll realise they’ve made a mistake.
This is an interesting one, as it’s the first time I’ve heard of a Roadster failing the MOT for a number plate issue. The new regs obviously include checks for correct font size spacing etc
Well I rang the test centre this morning and the chap says “Oh, well bring it back and we’ll pass it”.
So that’s that sorted then. FFS.
This is like having a kit car SVAed all over again - I get the distinct impression that nobody really understands all these rules and regulations and that often passing or failing comes down to luck.
I think that the system has become a bit too complicated now, and as you say, “nobody really understands all these rules and regulations” - somebody really needs to sit down, and start from scratch with the rule books, and laws. (But we all know that will never happen)
What we’ve got is a system that has been updated and modified so many times, where things have been effectively bolted on, that it is just so inefficient.
I can’t think of a good analogy for it outside of computing, but think of it like a company’s website that was created when they were a small company with few staff & products, and it just doesn’t work well now that they have grown to offer more products and services, with so many links to get to products, a search function that just refine products well enough…
However, glad you have it sorted now.
Well I hope it’s sorted, suppose I’ll find out on Saturday…
good luck!
Finally passed no problems about the rear plate - as the old one had started to delaminate and had a small crack around the screw holes I had a local motorfactor make up what they class as a standard import plate, and indeed it does have chunkier letters than on the motorcycle style plate (and chunkier than the sizes listed as legal by the DVLA).
Very odd, seems to be quite a few font variations still around dep. upon which supplier you use. I now have 3 different styles and shapes of rear plate, all of which have been supplied as totally road-legal yet all are completely different.
Anyway, the test centre admitted they made a mistake re. it being an import and passed it straight away (once I’d sorted the handbrake problem) so it’s all good for another year!!
For future reference, I have just received a new rear (legal) plate from Craig’s Plates; they do a rear plate that is specifically sized for the Eunos Roadster.
Very interesting,
I’ll booked marked this for future reference
The rear plate on my eunos appears to have been cut top and bottom to fit the recess. This makes the letters at the very edge of the plate. Not the tidiest looking plate!
I will look at craigsplates.
Does anybody know if you can get a jap-style ‘show use’ plate. I have seen a trend recently for german style plate with UK reg’s on a few BMW’s (embossed plate with german style font) and would like a similar look with some jap lettering.
Try - these guys - never had a problem and can make any plates up for you…always deliver next day !!!
Mike