Uhm, I wasn't quite correct about the UK law in my last post, so for my GB colleagues here's an update:
According to VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, our law enforcement body) it appears there's a 'get out' for cars first used between 1 August '92 and 31 July '94, I have no idea why but apparently these cars only need to pass:
CO: <=3.5%
HC: <=2500ppm
GREAT!
A prιcis:
Cars used before 1 Aug 75 Visual check only
Between 1 Aug 75 and 31 July 86 CO <=4.5%, HC <=1200ppm
Between 1 Aug 86 and 31 July 92 CO <=3.5%, HC <=1200ppm
Between 1 Aug 92 and 31 July 94 CO <=3.5%, HC <=1200ppm - strange but it's definitely in the flow diagrams (see below):
Between 1 Aug 94 and 31 Aug 2002 - does exact match exist in the In-service Emission book?
Yes Carry out CAT test using vehicle specific data
No Carry out non-cat test - CO <=3.5%, HC <=1200ppm
On or after 1 Sept 2002 does exact match exist in the In-service Emission book?
Yes Carry out CAT test using vehicle specific data
No - Fast Idle CO<=0.2%, HC <=200ppm, Lambda0.97 to 0.103, Idle CO <=0.3%
So apologies to the MoT garage whom tested my vehicle in '92 - they were indeed testing to the correct limits. Now - this is great news.
For more info and flow diagrams of UK testing procedure see here:
http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/specialnotice04-04inspectionmanualupdates.htm
For the 'In-service emissions data/vehicle specific data - see here:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_028499.hcsp