Modding could be outlawed

[X5Sport]

As Shadrack raised in a recent thread (Post #10) on Air Susoension, it looks as if the rumour about modding cars could lead to MoT failures could well be on the way!  EU Member states are looking at a revision to the term 'roadworthy'.

There is some new wording which says that "components of the vehicle must comply with the characteristics at the time of first registration".  From an article in this week's Auto Express, it seems that the Association of Car Enthusiasts is concerned that as worded this effectively means you may not deviate from the factory specification without having to possibly go through an Individual Vehicle Assessment to determine whether or not you P&J remains 'roadworthy'.

The fear is that the legislation will in effect outlaw changes to car audio, tyres, DRLs, added body kits, changed alloys (and tyres) as well as those parts affecting performance, safety and emissions.  Owners would be forced to buy only OEM spares and parts, kits etc....at OEM prices of course!!  Even fitting an aftermarket towbar would be outlawed!!

FFS What a load of cr&p!!  So does that also mean engine remaps become illegal?  What about Raj's just completed air suspension removal and replacement with non-puncturing 'proper' suspension?  If you change all your interior lighting from filament to LED...then what?

What are the EU trying to achieve?  Is there a problem somewhere in the EU motoring sector which is leading to this clampdown?  Is it part of some kind of drive to control emissions?  Improve Safety?  Or is it the manufacturers trying to regain the cozy little number they had a few years back when the 'Block Exemption' rules were ruled illegal?

And how on earth is the average MOT Tester going to know what is or isn't 'factory?  I can just see some poor tester having to thumb through pictures of all the possible combos of toys, colours, wheels, trims etc for each car and each manufacturer to work out whether the car he or she is testing is actually 'roadworthy' under the new definition.

Let's hope someone sees sense and the whole shebang is binned!!  But then we are talking the EU Parliament here. 

Richard

[graemeX5]

I agree why are the Eu doing this- leave us alone. They can't even control their own monies and budgets maybe they should get that right before tinkering with other things.

A friend of mine runs a car modification company and employs about 20 people so they would be out of work for a start.

Also I would not have spent the last 20 yrs or so involved with cars, cars clubs and spending
my hard earned on the cars and bits.

[Raj]

It is absurd but if they get their way then I can see most economies going down the plug hole as mentioned above the amount of businesses that will go bust wil be astronomical. Even Halfords is stocked to the brim with the aftermarket products. What servicing, brakes, exhausts, etc, etc, etc as any non genuine component could be classed as a modification from standard manufacturers specs.

I really can't see how this will go ahead, unless there is clever interpretation of the wording used to define a modification.

My X5 will become an oversized track toy...lol. But of course the X5 does come with full "proper" suspension so I could get away with it me thinks...lol

[shadrack]

i cant see how they would do it, i think i read its mercedes that are trying to get it pushed through, then any mods done to a brand would have to be manufacture spec i.e they sell loads of amg parts!!

[jaynana]

massive thread on this, in Piston Heads

There's also a petition, although the focus is on historic vehicles. 

[X5Sport]

[quote="jaynana"]
There's also a petition, although the focus is on historic vehicles.
[/quote]
Duly signed......

I may not have a 'historic' vehicle.......yet, but.....

R

[pvr]

Show me a single car over 5 years old that has no non OEM modifications of some sort ....

[Raj]

Petition signed.

[quote="pvr"]
Show me a single car over 5 years old that has no non OEM modifications of some sort ....
[/quote]

Exactly. The thing is the government themselves will lose billions from the revenue generated by modified cars. The loss of jobs, etc goes without saying for manufacturers and businesses that supply modifications. But then you have the vat/taxes, etc the government receive from fuel, road tax, insurance, etc etc that the government would be doing themselves out of if the majority of modified cars end up off the road.

[X5Sport]

[quote="pvr"]
Show me a single car over 5 years old that has no non OEM modifications of some sort ....
[/quote]

The way my use is going at present.......my X6... ) )

[pvr]

I think you were thinking of different LEDs somewhere if I remember well ... 

[X5Sport]

Thinking yes, doing.....err.....well.....not yet.  Angel eye type but none have been any good, so still factory...  :-[

[pvr]

Well, that is as good as mental adultery so you are guilty as charged  )

[graemeX5]

Signed petition for me and my wife but there is another link

Saying it won't affect us but i'm not too sure about that

http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/ECintheUK/pre ... incorrect/

[X5Sport]

It certainly seems to make more sense than the other comments abounding the Internet.  I can understand a desire to bring cars up to a common (and higher standard) across the EC to match the UK (and those others with similar test regimes) rather than banning mods outright.

Mind you there are some 'mods' who could do with banning........not mentioning any names... ) ) )

[jaynana]

makes a lot more sense now.. i hope now that this is the real truth  O:-)


as an aside i got my mot done today (passed, with my homework done though - 2 tyres replaced in advance!)

the bloke was explaining the much more rigour that is now in force, like MILs (Malfunction Indicator Lights not Mother in Law  ) on the dash, and that more are due to come pretty soon. battery, etc? which by the way u can never check in an E53!

re. MILs i also happened to read a nice story in a magazine while i was there. A guy who wanted to buy a van (i think); noticed a MIL, asked em to get it fixed before purchase. subsequently purchased with MIL fixed. the guy had suspected the behaviour of the MIL, investigated various aspects, not found a clue, eventually got around to removing the display to investigate. to find a bit cowboy wiring and circuitry slapped onto the back of the unit with insulation tape to make the light go away in a few secs  )