Would I Be Wrong?

[Matheous-2]

Would I be wrong in thinking that my car can fail the MOT test if I wrongly adjusted my headlights via the dash controls inside the car?
Hope that makes sense....

[tonyav]

Yes I know what you mean, matheous. Could fail couldn't it if you adjusted your lights to say your rear seat was full of people.

[mastercraft]

I can't see the dashboard allowing you to make unregulated adjustments of your headlights... So, yes.
As long as the alignment is correct.

[Hymie]

Presumably the garage would charge you £10 + vat for making the adjustment (via the control) to correct the issue.

[joko]

those controls would not allow those functions if they were no allowed to be like that on the road

[bhg481]

I believe that headlamps pointing down too much, as well as up too much, can be an MoT failure. If you have left your switch in the wrong position you might find it has failed but, any garage wanting return custom would re-think if you pointed out to them what the problem was.
I once had a car fail its MoT because the ABS warning light was on. I pointed out that the car didn't have ABS and that I'd used the warning light for something else, so they just changed the "fail" to "pass".
I'm not sure Joko's argument is valid - there are lots of controls on a car that you can use to break the law; accelerator, fog light switch, horn etc. It's down to the driver to be in control of the car and use it legally.

[Dizmo]

bhg481: I have to agree with you on this. Most 'reputable' garages wouldn't dream of issuing a fail for something like this. They'd just adjust them - maybe at a small cost if they feel they can get away with it (but that would be immoral in my opinion).

[Dizmo]

Two years ago (I don't know if things have changed since then) this happened to a friend of my sister in laws. Which is why I know they can (or could) fail an MOT for headlight adjustment (incorrectly adjusted by the driver).

[TWR]

Yes.

[bhg481]

Excerpt from the MoT testing regulations:

"Where driver's beam aim controls are fitted the beam aim should be tested without altering the control setting except where this would result in failure due to the beam aim being too low. In such cases the beam aim should be re-checked with the control set at its "highest" position."

[Matheous-2]

Thanks guys for your input.....I think it might be worth a tenner to have the alignment checked before the MOT.

[bhg481]

What makes you think the alignment is wrong? If you point the car at a wall/garage door and both dipped beams are the same height the chance is that there's no problem. Many years ago headlamp alignment often changed if a bulb was replaced but it doesn't seem to do so any more. Perhaps bulbs are made to a higher tolerance.

[Dizmo]

Matheous-2: You know what you need to do? you need to not worry about it any longer. When you drop your car off for its MOT, tell the engineer your concerns about the light adjustment. Get them to look at the adjustment while your there with your car.

If your MOT testing centre isn't willing to reassure regarding this matter then I'd suggest using someone else.

[RATTER15]

I would say that yes your car could fail on this, if your lights are not in correct alignment, your light may be slightly out of alignment but they could be brought back into alignment by adjusting the control.

[hc4361]

Some cars allow adjustment for driving in Europe and if you chose this it would not pass the MOT but in my experience it would be a very poor garage that didn't simply reset them