MOT on Defender

[Deleted]

So I tested a Defender 2015 plate this afternoon. Truthfully I don't profess to know very much about them. When I switched the ignition on the instrument display back ground was in RED, and each warning lamp had a symbol to advise of its presence, but the Air Bag lamp was missing. The steering wheel was a Moto without an air bag fitted. The headlamps fitted I don't really know whether they are standard or not, they looked like LED type.

So I failed the Defender for no air bag fitted, and advised the warning lamp not illuminating. I failed the headlamps for no E beam image break point present on the screen.

The customer being present complained and said that the steering wheel was standard from new, the Defender is a 2015 plate. Truthfully at time of test I'd no idea. The headlamps also I've no idea whether they are standard fitment or otherwise but the customers seems to think they are!

I've done a little research tonight on the web and found out that the original steering wheel on these Defenders more than likely did not incorporate an air bag. I have contacted a mate who works for Land Rover to advise me on this point along with the LED headlamps fitted.

Any views on this subject? 

[studabear]

The airbag unless absolutely certain it had been removed then I would give the benefit of the doubt.

The headlamps are a bit harder to call without seeing the beam images on the tester myself.

[Noberator]

Mar 5, 2019 20:26:26 GMT 1 @hybrid said:

So I tested a Defender 2015 plate this afternoon. Truthfully I don't profess to know very much about them. When I switched the ignition on the instrument display back ground was in RED, and each warning lamp had a symbol to advise of its presence, but the Air Bag lamp was missing. The steering wheel was a Moto without an air bag fitted. The headlamps fitted I don't really know whether they are standard or not, they looked like LED type.

So I failed the Defender for no air bag fitted, and advised the warning lamp not illuminating. I failed the headlamps for no E beam image break point present on the screen.

The customer being present complained and said that the steering wheel was standard from new, the Defender is a 2015 plate. Truthfully at time of test I'd no idea. The headlamps also I've no idea whether they are standard fitment or otherwise but the customers seems to think they are!

I've done a little research tonight on the web and found out that the original steering wheel on these Defenders more than likely did not incorporate an air bag.

I have contacted a mate who works for Land Rover to advise me on this point along with the LED headlamps fitted.

Any views on this subject? 

IIRC the Defender doesn’t have any airbags or seatbelt pretensioners as standard.


Also I can't find any information to verify the Defender has been independently tested by Euro NCAP.

[huffo]

I believe one of the reasons Defender production ended was because it was considered that there was no practical way to fit air-bags and therefore it couldn’t be made compliant with required safety standards going forward.

As I understand it, headlamps on a 2015 vehicle either have to original or have a visible E-mark. If you are unable to judge if they are original then isn’t it “pass and advise”?

I’m only an amateur (but like old Land-Rovers and know a bit about them), so my comments aren’t necessarily worth more than you paid me for them (nothing!).

Cheers, James

[Deleted]

huffo James all input is very much appreciated. Thank you. 

[valhalla]

Sorry for late reply, but yes, very much so as Huffo says above;

Defender never has had, nor will the L316 ever have, any airbags fitted. And that is why it "had to go", even though owners didn't give a hoot about having airbags. As far as the average Defender owner is concerned, "The other car is the crumple-zone". So the absence of an SRS system is no cause for failure.

The background illumination is strange, but these cars are often customized from the first month. As far as other "extras" are concerned, not all Defenders (even recently) have ABS/TC/HDC on the brake functions, so unless the vehicle is clearly fitted with ABS, then the absence of those is also not a cause for concern. The 2007MY onwards Defenders have the CCF (car configuration file) built into the instrument cluster, so if that is interrogated over a scantool, a full spec of the car can be gleaned.

The headlamps, if fitted as complete units rather than loose LED bulbs in the Wipac shells, are compliant in regards that the light source is compatible with the lens and reflector. I asked about this a wee while back last Summer, and that was the conclusion then. It is not specifically covered by the Testers Manual, as that only alludes to the aftermarket fitment of HID units/bulbs. You are correct that the E-beam break point will not be accurate, though, and this has been addressed by some of the more recent LED complete units on sale. I suspect your customer had the cheap ones fitted (£140) rather than the proper ones (£400+), so that is the price to pay for him to be a tightwad. However, LED headlamps were never fitted as factory-fit, but then again, neither does the Testers Manual say explicitly that they need to have been. The moot point is that the vehicle should be a 110", not a 90", wheelbase, and that it should be a StationWagon, as that is the automatic prescription that it will have self-levelling fitted to the rear axle, which then complies with the requirement for such with LED units.

The main issue with Defender is that almost every one is different and customized by the owner, so unless you are very conversant with the vehicle range, you will need to give a leeway for the benefit of doubt. I eat, breathe, and sleep Defender, and even I sometimes wonder.....

[oli]

Some very early 'Defenders' - like mine - technically 90s/110s - had a very strange system for dash illumination. There is a three position switch for interior light (no door switches) OR instruments (with headlamps), or nothing.

It might have been to make wiring military vehicles easier for convoy lights etc.

Oli