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Broken rear view mirror MOT fail?
Slimy38 - 17/5/22 at 08:04 AM

This is a question about my wife's Mazda 2 rather than a kit car, but hopefully someone might know. Yesterday we had the windscreen replaced and autoglass cracked the rear view mirror. It's still usable as a mirror but there is a visible crack in it. It still has both wing mirrors intact.

The problem is that we have an MOT booked next week. Will it fail?

I should mention that they are going to replace it, but these things always come at the same time.


ken555 - 17/5/22 at 08:33 AM

You need 2 rear view mirrors, one must be drivers side.

So assuming there is one at the passengers side you will be good.


loggyboy - 17/5/22 at 09:42 AM

Possibly still a minor fail if it is broken, as wording inspect all mirrors, but very much down to interpretation.

You must check that all mandatory rear-view mirrors or indirect vision devices provide an adequate view to the rear from the driver’s seat.

You do not need to adjust mirrors or devices for this check.

Indirect vision cameras may replace mirrors on some vehicles. If such devices are fitted, you must inspect the camera(s) and the screen.

Rear view mirrors and indirect vision devices can be any of the following positions:

a. an exterior mirror or device that provides a view along the offside of the vehicle
b. an exterior mirror or device that provides a view along the nearside of the vehicle
c. an interior mirror or device which provides a view to the rear of the vehicle


Defect Category
(a) Obligatory mirror or device missing - Major

(b) Obligatory mirror or device:
(i) slightly damaged or loose - Minor
(ii) inoperative, excessively damaged or insecure - Major

(c) Obligatory mirror or device not providing an adequate view to the rear - Major


Slimy38 - 17/5/22 at 09:51 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Possibly still a minor fail if it is broken, as wording inspect all mirrors, but very much down to interpretation.

You must check that all mandatory rear-view mirrors or indirect vision devices provide an adequate view to the rear from the driver’s seat.

You do not need to adjust mirrors or devices for this check.

Indirect vision cameras may replace mirrors on some vehicles. If such devices are fitted, you must inspect the camera(s) and the screen.

Rear view mirrors and indirect vision devices can be any of the following positions:

a. an exterior mirror or device that provides a view along the offside of the vehicle
b. an exterior mirror or device that provides a view along the nearside of the vehicle
c. an interior mirror or device which provides a view to the rear of the vehicle


Defect Category
(a) Obligatory mirror or device missing - Major

(b) Obligatory mirror or device:
(i) slightly damaged or loose - Minor
(ii) inoperative, excessively damaged or insecure - Major

(c) Obligatory mirror or device not providing an adequate view to the rear - Major



Ah perfect, that's what I was after. I thought it would be an interpretation thing. The crack distorts the image but I would regard it as still being 'adequate'. I'll highlight it to the tester and explain that it's getting replaced as well, hopefully that will limit it to a minor at worst.


loggyboy - 17/5/22 at 10:38 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Ah perfect, that's what I was after. I thought it would be an interpretation thing. The crack distorts the image but I would regard it as still being 'adequate'. I'll highlight it to the tester and explain that it's getting replaced as well, hopefully that will limit it to a minor at worst.


I'd be inclined to remove it, they cant fail whats not there and door mirrors will cover for the basic requirement of 2 mirrors.


nick205 - 17/5/22 at 10:46 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
Ah perfect, that's what I was after. I thought it would be an interpretation thing. The crack distorts the image but I would regard it as still being 'adequate'. I'll highlight it to the tester and explain that it's getting replaced as well, hopefully that will limit it to a minor at worst.


I'd be inclined to remove it, they cant fail whats not there and door mirrors will cover for the basic requirement of 2 mirrors.



That'd be my approach too.
The 2 wing mirrors cover the basic requirements.
If the internal rear view mirror's not there it can't be inspected or failed (+ it's being replaced anyway).


ken555 - 17/5/22 at 10:47 AM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Possibly still a minor fail if it is broken, as wording inspect all mirrors, but very much down to interpretation.

You must check that all mandatory rear-view mirrors or indirect vision devices provide an adequate view to the rear from the driver’s seat.



I would query the mandatory part, as 2 mirrors are mandatory, the third is optional.

I have three mirrors on my pickup, the centre mirror is pointless as nothing can be seen in it, due to the cab on the back.


tilly819 - 17/5/22 at 11:09 AM

My old van failed on having a cracked near side mirror not that long ago. Being a van it only had the side mirrors though. I thought it would be a minor but it was a major in there opinion. No big deal in my case as it needed some welding doing as well so it had to go back for a retest either way.


perksy - 17/5/22 at 07:27 PM

Friend took his Mazda 3 for an MOT and that had an ok interior rear view mirror and an ok passenger door mirror, but it failed on a cracked drivers door mirror

Maybe he was just unlucky, The daft thing was he checked with the dealer first and they said they would put an advisory on it and then their tester failed it


craig1410 - 17/5/22 at 10:38 PM

I think the offside mirror is mandatory since it's the one that gives you a view behind when pulling out into traffic. Yes I know you should always do an over the shoulder check too.
So if you have a good offside exterior mirror and either a good interior or nearside exterior mirror then all should be well. I don't believe an exterior nearside and interior rear facing mirror combo is sufficient.


chillis - 18/5/22 at 09:39 PM

I believe you will find mandatory is driver side (normally offside - not sure how it works for wrong hand drive cars) and interior or driver side and passenger side
If the fault is with the driver side then depending how the rearward vision is impaired it could be a minor or major. Can you not get a mirror glass before the MOT?


craig1410 - 18/5/22 at 10:08 PM

He said it's the interior mirror that is cracked and both exterior side mirrors are good so should be no issues.


Slimy38 - 19/5/22 at 12:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by craig1410
He said it's the interior mirror that is cracked and both exterior side mirrors are good so should be no issues.


Aye, it's the interior one that's cracked. As I was getting some tyres sorted today I asked them about it. They wouldn't even highlight it as an advisory because the side mirrors are good.

Now I've got to get back to Autoglass to find out when they're replacing the mirror...