Exhaust System Modifications and the DSVA.

philw696

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25,461
I'm subscribed to a Garage Journal and in this week's edition is the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency are on the case of this in the UK with Big Fines and getting illegal vehicles off the roads.
Garages doing the work to cover themselves have to state on their invoice that the vehicle now not standard should not be used on the public highway.
I'm sure there will be people out there willing to report such behaviour as it happened to me in 1990 with my Ford Capri 2.8i after I'd put a complete Janspeed system on it.
 

Oneball

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It doesn’t affect your Bodie dreams. I think it’s about de-catting and removing DPF etc. isn’t it?
 

TimR

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Lets hope so..Noise detectoion is increasingly widespread in France, isnt it..? Those French love a bit of deep state people control...I can see that sh1t coming here 'nd spreading like French farmer's slurry, if it isnt already..!
 

allandwf

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10,994
Oh dear. The wee Abarths with Bombardone "for race use" exhausts, I was included. Lots of them on the road .
 

philw696

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It doesn’t affect your Bodie dreams. I think it’s about de-catting and removing DPF etc. isn’t it?
One of the main issues is the car is no longer design spec as now modified and God forbid if it's noisier.
 

philw696

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25,461
Lets hope so..Noise detectoion is increasingly widespread in France, isnt it..? Those French love a bit of deep state people control...I can see that sh1t coming here 'nd spreading like French farmer's slurry, if it isnt already..!
They don't do anything to the Muppets on their chicken chasers they put up with it so it seems but no MOT test for motorcycles.
 

Felonious Crud

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“Companies must satisfy themselves they are certain that vehicles which have had modifications designed for off-road use are not used on public roads. Modifications designed for off-road use are illegal on our roads and businesses will be held accountable."

Who determines whether a modification was designed for on or off-road use?

“It is illegal to drive a vehicle on the road after the exhaust system has been altered to increase noise levels or adversely affect emissions. They are anti-social, unhealthy and result in an MOT failure. DVSA takes this activity seriously and where appropriate, we will prosecute companies who offer similar services.”

This makes sense. Can we logically infer that modifications which do not increase emissions* or noise** are ok?

*once the remaining cats have fully warmed up, anyway
**with the valves closed
 
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TimR

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They don't do anything to the Muppets on their chicken chasers they put up with it so it seems but no MOT test for motorcycles.
I dont believe there are no checks at all..?
Not even when they are bought and sold..?
I remember about ten years ago, the EU proposed a superMOT. Absolutely no modifications and a twice yearly(?) inspection; included were drive trains, fueling, exhaust..the lot. That means sprocket ratios, even tyres had to be OE, as they were sold to the market ( bigger tyre diameters might do something bad....or smaller; or just make it up and look busy- the boss is coming !!!>!<! The mind boggles, honestly) It didnt come to pass but that hasnt stopped the ongong march of a kind political logic that lacks , well, sense, or purpose.
One of the arguments at the time was based on the notion of whether the proposed changes solved a problem. Senseless nonsense....

edit- controle technique for 2-wheelers, due to be introduced this April apparently…! :as001:
 
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Felonious Crud

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___

The law​

Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Regulations 61(7) and 61A(3)) and the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Section 42) it is an offence to use on a road a vehicle which has been modified in such a way that it no longer complies with the air pollutant emissions standards it was designed to meet.

The potential penalties are £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van, lorry or bus.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Section 75) it is an offence to alter a vehicle in such a way that the use of the vehicle on a road would be unlawful. A person altering the vehicle (if they knew or believed that the vehicle would be used on the road) could be found guilty of an offence under the Act.

Potential penalties are unlimited fines.
___
In the Aston world, Bamford Rose (this marque's answer to the late-lamented SportsItalia, i.e. well-respected expert indie) is very outspoken on the fact that their mods are fully legal as emissions are unchanged.
 

Felonious Crud

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Perfectly clear and not (IMO) unreasonable. Very different from:


C
Aye. Just goes to show, trust but verify. Actually, be sceptical of what you read online. And then verify.

For clarity, my post that you quoted above was itself quoted from the article originally posted. Which was, clearly, shittily* researched.

*an actual word. Trust me, I'm a verifier
 

spkennyuk

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5,960
Something that nobody seems to have thought about yet. There are a growing number of cars leaving the factory with an electronic exhaust sound changing system both internal and external systems.

As the mot rules stand if it hasnt changed the emission for the worse then an after market exhaust is legal. In fact any time you have used kwik fit or similar for an exhaust then its not likely to be oem but an after market part.

If the aim of stories like the article linked above is to put people off modding the sound of their cars then there is a whole newish generation of sound modification systems for exhausts that will also need to be addressed. Multiple speakers, higher powered amp to beef up the sound of your exhaust on your BMW M5, Volkswagen or Ford to name a few examples.
 

philw696

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25,461
Something that nobody seems to have thought about yet. There are a growing number of cars leaving the factory with an electronic exhaust sound changing system both internal and external systems.

As the mot rules stand if it hasnt changed the emission for the worse then an after market exhaust is legal. In fact any time you have used kwik fit or similar for an exhaust then its not likely to be oem but an after market part.

If the aim of stories like the article linked above is to put people off modding the sound of their cars then there is a whole newish generation of sound modification systems for exhausts that will also need to be addressed. Multiple speakers, higher powered amp to beef up the sound of your exhaust on your BMW M5, Volkswagen or Ford to name a few examples.
New vehicles are built to type approval so from the factory should be legal.
I know VW got caught out with the emissions scandal a few years ago.
After market parts bought from reputable sources like Motor Factors should meet type approval and be an acceptable replacement to a manufacturer's original part.
Stuff bought off the likes of eBay and Chinese web sites well most likely not to be.
 

ChrisQP09

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2,997
Just for clarity here in NI, an h or x pipe is perfectly legal? After all they essentially oem with the internal gutted removed?
 

rockits

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9,172
I wish they would deal with convoys of trailbikes that drive down our small lane at ear splitting DB's every chuffing weekend.