An end to modified cars???

[RacingSnake]

This is rapidly doing the rounds today on the www.

http://www.the-ace.org.uk/armageddon/#more-901

In essence, a new EU law set to make any modifications illegal.
it's not law yet, but has been submitted to be made law. A consulation "apaprently" happened in 2010, and no objections recieved.
There will also be a specific test for 'roadworthiness' too...
"The Commission proposes to introduce a definition for a roadworthiness test that components of the vehicle must comply with characteristics at the time of first registration. This may prevent most modifications to vehicles without further approval of the vehicle. (this will apply to many components and to all types of vehicle)"

This might all be scare-mongering, but if it is not, and it does become law, then as most cars on here are modified either by remap, wheels air-filter etc, we'll fall foul of this. and will either need to throw some more cash at the government for some more approval on the cars... or revert back to standard.

[Messerschmitt Owner]

Re: An end to modified cars???

yes, I've seen it on a few forums - the good news is that most garages who do MoTs will never know what modifications have been done.

For example, a standard Brabus roadster with its lowered suspension will be OK, but a lowered roadster light with Brabus suspension components will in theory not be OK. A garage will not know about a remap, and it is reversible. Mind you if it removes the badly done and downright dangerous sceneboy, retro rides and barry boy stuff off the roads, is that a bad thing? It would be a pleasure never to see another lowered VW Polo with wheels at a 35 degree angle, badly fitted bodykit and a big bore exhaust. ;-)

They are changing the definition of historic too to cover vehicles over 30 years old rather than pre 1960 and those vehicles will all be MoT exempt. It doesn't make sense though to effectively ban modifications from standard that make sense in both reliability and safety terms, such as uprated Marina brakes on a Morris Minor or an alternator instead of a dynamo or even electronic ignition over points.

[RacingSnake]

Re: An end to modified cars???

As I read it, the exemptions to Historic cars, only extend to the modifications being 'in keeping' with the original, so whopping great superchargers poking out of the top of your model T ford will not be allowed.... technically.

[Messerschmitt Owner]

Re: An end to modified cars???

the argument would be that if it was available at the time, it should be deemed OK - I have a Shorrocks supercharger at home and a Raymond Mays Aquaplane head, with triple SU carbs - the owners' club of the car concerned would never dream of not allowing the modification to fit those parts to the car my mum owns as they were a period accessory. Nor would they care if one of the early 1950s cars was running a more modern V8 and competed (and won) in speed trials sixty years after it was manufactured. See, that's the thing, these rules and regulations are all capable of being got round with a little thought.

[matty10]

Re: An end to modified cars???

just think of how many small companys will go bust if this comes in though what if your buisness if aftermarket parts for cars... suddenly it becomes ilegal for people to have these parts on there car so they stop buying them.. they dont think of these things.

[problemchild1976]

Re: An end to modified cars???

this has been hanging around for ages..... is it going to happen?? possibly!!

however, as matty states, the market for modding and even non OEM replacement parts is huge so are they really going to put all these people into unemployment just to stop people fitting better quality parts?? is it really a bad thing if someone wants to change their OEM brakes to a set of Brembo 6pots??

i don't understand the philosophy either. its stating that parts designed by large motor companies to fit as many of their vehicles as possible with every single scrap of cost removed from them is a better option than performance parts that have high levels of engineering and R&D invested into them!!

oh well

JJ

[smartypantz463]

Re: An end to modified cars???

I do know that in Spain, it is already illegal to have a modified car. Somebody I knew had a 4x4 and when she went to change it to Spanish plates, she had to remove all sorts of stuff that was not on the log book, like bull bars, and wheels. If she puts them back and gets pulled by the police, it is a €200 per item, so that is €1000 straight off. Let's hope it doesn't become law here

[matty10]

Re: An end to modified cars???

It's just people sat in an office who know nothing about cars thinking hmmmmmm.... What law can I make today to keep me in a job. I say there should be a law to stop these idiots ruining lives :p what are you gonna do if you love messing with cars. Suddenly just stop all together... No is all it will do is force people to have illegal mods and not tell there insurance making it void . Which will in affect increase the number of hit and runs tenfold. If you declare all your mods and bump into the back of some one at least your covered.

When it becomes illegal people will just drive off cuz they know there screwed

[ritzy roadster]

Re: An end to modified cars???

If it's no modification without further approval 'from the vehicle' can you get away with saying that you asked the vehicle and it flashed it lights in a herbiesque form of approval so its ok? the world is becoming an ever more boring place but I do loathe big bore exhausts tacked onto Corsa's and their ilk.

[davros7760]

Re: An end to modified cars???

I strongly suspect this forms part of an attempt to harmonise 'MOT' and associated laws throughout Europe,
and having talked to various nationalities there is a lot of variance.

The proposal seems draconian and will never see the light of day in this form, as when it is finally introduced
it will be a compromise of all the various standards in all the countries involved - and Germany (not France)
will have the biggest say.

They allow quite a lot provided it has been TUV approved and everything they produce is - I cannot see the
big car manufacturer's being given an effective monopoly of spare parts.

And I will bet a month's salary that it will only be applied to new vehicles and not be applied retrospectively.

[nikb]

Re: An end to modified cars???

its all ****. so this means i cant make parts for my car at all, what about all the modified cars currently on the road, Brussels need to keep their noses out, just like a nanny state, they will have everyone in non-descript cars and lead non-descript lives, pay taxes quietly, die quietly, shame on them

[OrangeDave]

Re: An end to modified cars???

Let's put this into perspective, shall we? The proposal is for the harmonisation of technical standards. Basically, any resulting Directive will contain a set of common "essential requirements" to which all new vehicles will have to comply. The purpose of this is to ensure that there are common standards throughout the EU and to allow all European motor manufacturers to operate from a level playing field.

It won't be retrospective, and even in the case of cars manufactured after implementation at a national level, modifications can still take place as long as the car continues to meet the Essential Requirements. It is not as bad as people think.

[nikb]

Re: An end to modified cars???

what about me chopping the roof off a smart, what about fitting homemade parts,engines from other manufacturers,non TUV parts, we will end up like switzerland when they cant fit L.E.D side lights, persecution on a massive level i think, whats wrong with us doing our own thing, we build som fantastic custom vehicles that the rest or Europe would love to copy but their government wont allow it, next thing we will have pressure to accept the Euro as our primary curency. i want to be an individual

[Thrumbleux]

Re: An end to modified cars???

what about me chopping the roof off a smart,

Isn't that already covered by having to submit to SVA (or whatever it's called today) as no vehicle retains its original type approval once a structural part (chassis) has been modified?

Nothing agains't you Nik - you seem capable of modifying competently - but tightening of modifying regulation was/is inevetable on account of the sheer quantity of morons who believe they know better than trained engineers.

persecution on a massive level

Whatever it is - it is not the above. Perspective please.

[madDan]

Re: An end to modified cars???

Nothing stopping people leaving the country if it does come into force.......