Loud and The Law.
Discussion
Hello all,
Non TVRer here (but I hope to put that right very soon).
A question about exhaust noise and the law: how loud can a TVR be and still be legal?
Years ago, I owned a Land Rover IIa 88" fitted with a 3.5 v8 and a single box exhaust. It was very very loud. Now, it passed its MOT and I was never pulled (lived very rural) but has anyone here ever had problems with BiB about noise?
Thanks.
Non TVRer here (but I hope to put that right very soon).
A question about exhaust noise and the law: how loud can a TVR be and still be legal?
Years ago, I owned a Land Rover IIa 88" fitted with a 3.5 v8 and a single box exhaust. It was very very loud. Now, it passed its MOT and I was never pulled (lived very rural) but has anyone here ever had problems with BiB about noise?
Thanks.
not sure on the legal answer, however in my mind a TVR is to cars the equivalent of what Harley Davidson is to motorcylces, and so long as the exhaust system doesn't leak, the car doesn't look like a shed, and you don't go acting like a hooligan in the high street then you shouldn`t have a problem, just use common sense and chose where you use the loud pedal and you`ll be fine.
I believe that cars originally registered after 2000 need to be sub 100dB, before 2000 I don't think there is a limit.
Limited production cars like TVR also had some other opt outs as I understand it.
I have just fitted the new quiet exhaust from ACT on my Cerb, I was noisy now I can do a 105dB trackday without cans on the back.
Quiet is the new noisy;-)
Limited production cars like TVR also had some other opt outs as I understand it.
I have just fitted the new quiet exhaust from ACT on my Cerb, I was noisy now I can do a 105dB trackday without cans on the back.
Quiet is the new noisy;-)
I've never had a problem other than a couple of 'Joe publics' in German and Belgium.
http://youtu.be/pYQKHZ06oRM
As said, they can be 'quiet' when necessary.
http://youtu.be/pYQKHZ06oRM
As said, they can be 'quiet' when necessary.
The only time I had my exhaust questioned was at an MOT, and they wanted to know if it was standard to which I replied "it's original" , response "oh that's ok, so long as it sounds like other TVR's and I've never heard one so I don't know"
what they couldn't see was box had been opened up and played with, but they had to empty the workshop at the MOT station due to the noise. (you couldn't stand next to car and hear someone talking to you on start up)
Also found out that lots of the local TVR owners used the MOT station at the time
what they couldn't see was box had been opened up and played with, but they had to empty the workshop at the MOT station due to the noise. (you couldn't stand next to car and hear someone talking to you on start up)
Also found out that lots of the local TVR owners used the MOT station at the time
Provided that there are no holes in the exhaust, then it will pass an MOT, they don't test the noise. As TVRs were never 'type approved' then they don't have listed emissions and I'd assume that applies to the post 2000 noise limit as well.
The biggest threat to cars with a loud exhaust is the potential to get collared under Section 59. That effectively gives the police to stop you if you are causing nuisance or distress. It was the legislation brought in to stop the Barry Boy cruise culture.
Paul
The biggest threat to cars with a loud exhaust is the potential to get collared under Section 59. That effectively gives the police to stop you if you are causing nuisance or distress. It was the legislation brought in to stop the Barry Boy cruise culture.
Paul
I had an MOT advisory a couple of years back that simply stated that the exhaust was 'very loud' 
That was with pre-cats removed, main cat still in place, and sleeved exhaust. It tested at 107db at Snetts... Its since had the main cat removed, (Clive F 'Y'), and the box put back to standard, recent noise test at Snetts it was just under 105db. I also got a speeding ticket before the full decat, the police officer was on a slip road onto a dual carriageway, and I'd given it a fairly hefty bootfull just prior to going past the slip road. I'm convinced he heard me coming from half a mile away and picked his ray gun up off the passenger seat in anticipation...
That was with pre-cats removed, main cat still in place, and sleeved exhaust. It tested at 107db at Snetts... Its since had the main cat removed, (Clive F 'Y'), and the box put back to standard, recent noise test at Snetts it was just under 105db. I also got a speeding ticket before the full decat, the police officer was on a slip road onto a dual carriageway, and I'd given it a fairly hefty bootfull just prior to going past the slip road. I'm convinced he heard me coming from half a mile away and picked his ray gun up off the passenger seat in anticipation... EU law current limit is 74db. There was a vote recently to reduce to 68db but from what I can see the idea to reduce the limit has been shelved for 7 years.
I am trying to find where I read this, but apparently the noise level for a vehicle is measured at 3000rpm, hence the introduction ov valves that open at over 3000rpm
eta: the last bit about 3000rpm and exhaust valves is b
ks, probably from Clarkson.
The measurement is taken in 3rd gear at 50kph. Then stationary at 3/4 of max power revs. The louder of the two readings is taken as the result.
Anyone interested can read it here, the relevant bit about measurements is from 1.4 and below.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?...
I will admit I am a bit bored!
I am trying to find where I read this, but apparently the noise level for a vehicle is measured at 3000rpm, hence the introduction ov valves that open at over 3000rpm
eta: the last bit about 3000rpm and exhaust valves is b
ks, probably from Clarkson.The measurement is taken in 3rd gear at 50kph. Then stationary at 3/4 of max power revs. The louder of the two readings is taken as the result.
Anyone interested can read it here, the relevant bit about measurements is from 1.4 and below.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?...
I will admit I am a bit bored!
Edited by steveT350C on Tuesday 31st December 13:43
Edited by steveT350C on Tuesday 31st December 13:45
steveT350C said:
EU law current limit is 74db. There was a vote recently to reduce to 68db but from what I can see the idea to reduce the limit has been shelved for 7 years.
I am trying to find where I read this, but apparently the noise level for a vehicle is measured at 3000rpm, hence the introduction ov valves that open at over 3000rpm
Is that level not the drive by limit at 50Kph so something like that and measured at the raod side a set number of meters away, I do not believe it is the exhaust noise at the tail pipe otherwise no 911 GT3 would pass.I am trying to find where I read this, but apparently the noise level for a vehicle is measured at 3000rpm, hence the introduction ov valves that open at over 3000rpm
Hello everyone, to clear up some misconceptions:
Tvrs were all type approved. It's a legal requirement to sell cars in the Uk /EU. They were however approved under low volume type approval which reduces the requirements
Current type approval noise legislation is 74dB(A) for a drive by. There is a static test however there is no EU limit for this.
New legislation is being brought in to reduce vehicle noise, however this will be for new vehicles produced by manufacturers, this will not affect cars already in service.
Finally with regards to MOT it is deemed the exhaust noise is suitable if the noise levels are of approximate levels of the orginal equipment...... At the testers discretion.
Tvrs were all type approved. It's a legal requirement to sell cars in the Uk /EU. They were however approved under low volume type approval which reduces the requirements
Current type approval noise legislation is 74dB(A) for a drive by. There is a static test however there is no EU limit for this.
New legislation is being brought in to reduce vehicle noise, however this will be for new vehicles produced by manufacturers, this will not affect cars already in service.
Finally with regards to MOT it is deemed the exhaust noise is suitable if the noise levels are of approximate levels of the orginal equipment...... At the testers discretion.
Not quite the tester's discretion though. Just make sure no one else is having an MoT and has an ACT quiet system just before yours though. 
http://www.ukmot.com/6-3.asp
http://www.ukmot.com/6-3.asp
LMMAC said:
My brother in laws modded RS4 has been impounded twice for un social behaviouir down to the exhaust noise ! Have to say its fookin loud !
I would say it was seized for another reason than actually being loud. Driving like a tit or intentionally revving it at standstill would be my guess. Driving a loud car normally along a road won't show on any cops radar.Message Board | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff