German Police and Stripped Out Cars
Discussion
I have an XJ8 that I'm decorating and using for a banger rally. It's a lovely drive but could do with being a bit faster so we've decided to strip out all non essential weight like carpets, door cards, headlining, etc.
Now I know German police have a reputation for seizing cars with unapproved modifications, but what about cars with missing bits? Obviously bumpers and the like will remain, I've decided to keep the roof (largely for mpg as it'll presumably drop from the current 14 if I increase drag massively), so the car will be externally complete.
Am I asking for trouble?
Now I know German police have a reputation for seizing cars with unapproved modifications, but what about cars with missing bits? Obviously bumpers and the like will remain, I've decided to keep the roof (largely for mpg as it'll presumably drop from the current 14 if I increase drag massively), so the car will be externally complete.
Am I asking for trouble?
Baldchap said:
I have an XJ8 that I'm decorating and using for a banger rally. It's a lovely drive but could do with being a bit faster so we've decided to strip out all non essential weight like carpets, door cards, headlining, etc.
Now I know German police have a reputation for seizing cars with unapproved modifications, but what about cars with missing bits? Obviously bumpers and the like will remain, I've decided to keep the roof (largely for mpg as it'll presumably drop from the current 14 if I increase drag massively), so the car will be externally complete.
Am I asking for trouble?
There is always a risk but I imagine it will be more down to how you are driving and if your on your own or in a massive convoy. Now I know German police have a reputation for seizing cars with unapproved modifications, but what about cars with missing bits? Obviously bumpers and the like will remain, I've decided to keep the roof (largely for mpg as it'll presumably drop from the current 14 if I increase drag massively), so the car will be externally complete.
Am I asking for trouble?
On your own driving safely I shouldn’t imagine they will give a monkeys about you.
On the other hand.
Large group of cars driving like dicks and being a menace to other road users I would expect them to be less than understanding.
I thought the "unapproved modifications" thing was for cars based in Germany?
cross-EU agreements mean that you can cross the continent in a car as long as it is suitably insured and roadworthy in its home country? So it needs an MOT and UK insurance that includes European cover, and that insurance would need to declare the modifications you have made to it.
cross-EU agreements mean that you can cross the continent in a car as long as it is suitably insured and roadworthy in its home country? So it needs an MOT and UK insurance that includes European cover, and that insurance would need to declare the modifications you have made to it.
Shakermaker said:
I thought the "unapproved modifications" thing was for cars based in Germany?
cross-EU agreements mean that you can cross the continent in a car as long as it is suitably insured and roadworthy in its home country? So it needs an MOT and UK insurance that includes European cover, and that insurance would need to declare the modifications you have made to it.
"cross-EU agreements" -I guess that's another thing that we will lose - at least if not in Feb once the transition period is over?cross-EU agreements mean that you can cross the continent in a car as long as it is suitably insured and roadworthy in its home country? So it needs an MOT and UK insurance that includes European cover, and that insurance would need to declare the modifications you have made to it.
One morning on Ring trip last year we were off to find somewhere for early breakfast and were pulled by the German police and waved into a lay-by not far from the island at the entrance to the track.
There were 5 cars in convoy some standard some modified, probably doing a no more than 25-30, certainly no reason to be pulled. We are all late 30’s early forties so certainly not boy racers!
The police went to town on the cars checking every modification, demanding tuv papers for every modification. They even went to the effort of phoning the mot station of one of the cars to find out if the supercharger we fitted had been done before or after the mot! We also had to argue and find pictures on google of my friends Clio as they didn’t believe the rear spoiler and side skirts were factory fit.
After an hour or so of checking the cars and paperwork (all mods 100% declared on paperwork, and all paperwork present and correct) they got a bit frustrated and decided to give my friend a 120 euro fine for not having padding on his roll cage door bar and an ‘illegal’ k&n filter. (It also had an engine swap, carbon panels, polycarbonate windows, different brakes, suspension, fuel cell etc etc, but they were fine apparently!) We had to pay there and then on their handy card machine or they were going to impound the car.
They also pulled my American friend out of the back of the car and gave him a road side interrogation! Some welcome to his first time in Germany!
I’ve been going there for about 19-20 years now, never experienced this before, and to be honest, put a bit of a dampener on the place for me which I absolutely love going to.
So to answer your question, you will probably be fine, that was the first pull I’ve had there in all those trips, just make sure your paperwork is in order and be prepared, if they want to fine you, they will.
There were 5 cars in convoy some standard some modified, probably doing a no more than 25-30, certainly no reason to be pulled. We are all late 30’s early forties so certainly not boy racers!
The police went to town on the cars checking every modification, demanding tuv papers for every modification. They even went to the effort of phoning the mot station of one of the cars to find out if the supercharger we fitted had been done before or after the mot! We also had to argue and find pictures on google of my friends Clio as they didn’t believe the rear spoiler and side skirts were factory fit.
After an hour or so of checking the cars and paperwork (all mods 100% declared on paperwork, and all paperwork present and correct) they got a bit frustrated and decided to give my friend a 120 euro fine for not having padding on his roll cage door bar and an ‘illegal’ k&n filter. (It also had an engine swap, carbon panels, polycarbonate windows, different brakes, suspension, fuel cell etc etc, but they were fine apparently!) We had to pay there and then on their handy card machine or they were going to impound the car.
They also pulled my American friend out of the back of the car and gave him a road side interrogation! Some welcome to his first time in Germany!
I’ve been going there for about 19-20 years now, never experienced this before, and to be honest, put a bit of a dampener on the place for me which I absolutely love going to.
So to answer your question, you will probably be fine, that was the first pull I’ve had there in all those trips, just make sure your paperwork is in order and be prepared, if they want to fine you, they will.
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