Could an engine swap make a car ULEZ compliant?
Discussion
So I've got a MK4 golf estate with the 1.6 8v engine currently it's annoyingly not ULEZ compliant, the 1.8T engine however is, given the fact that I've only ever seen one 1.8 estate for sale I've started to wonder about an engine swap. Well aware that it's a huge project but I'm not too worried about it sitting off the road for ages.
Wondering what the process would be for registering the car as having a new engine, would it need to be emissions tested for it to be put down as now ULEZ compliant?
Idk this is all very theoretical at the moment just wondering if the paperwork side would even work
Wondering what the process would be for registering the car as having a new engine, would it need to be emissions tested for it to be put down as now ULEZ compliant?
Idk this is all very theoretical at the moment just wondering if the paperwork side would even work
Just buy a 1.8 20VT.
Building something you can buy is a really slow, painful, expensive way of owning an unreliable car.
Anyone who tells you engine swaps on modern cars are straightforward has never done one or even met someone who has.
In answer to your question, you need an 'engineers report', a term suitably vague to allow a multitude of sins. DVLA will then change the V5 details and theoretically you are then ULEZ compliant from a legal standpoint.
https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-details-registra...
Building something you can buy is a really slow, painful, expensive way of owning an unreliable car.
Anyone who tells you engine swaps on modern cars are straightforward has never done one or even met someone who has.
In answer to your question, you need an 'engineers report', a term suitably vague to allow a multitude of sins. DVLA will then change the V5 details and theoretically you are then ULEZ compliant from a legal standpoint.
https://www.gov.uk/change-vehicle-details-registra...
I’d Beverly surprised if it could, the exempt cars are based on the CO2 emissions, just because you swap in a different engine, doesn’t mean your CO2 output is the same as the car the engine came from, there will be many other factors to it.
As others have said, it will be muncher cheaper to buy a ULEZ compliant car to start with.
As others have said, it will be muncher cheaper to buy a ULEZ compliant car to start with.
Contrary to the above, the ULEZ standard for petrol cars is based on nitrogen oxide levels, not CO2. OP, if you're really desperate to keep the car then there will be some way to check the NOx levels for that engine from VW, and if it is below the required threshold some manufacturers will issue you with a certificate which will prompt TfL to make it exempt.
I did it with a Vespa when ULEZ first came in, but that was relatively straightforward because Vespas didn't change much for about two decades and Piaggio were willing to issue the relevant document. There seems to be more support for this in the motorcycle community for whatever reason.
I did it with a Vespa when ULEZ first came in, but that was relatively straightforward because Vespas didn't change much for about two decades and Piaggio were willing to issue the relevant document. There seems to be more support for this in the motorcycle community for whatever reason.
TVR Sagaris said:
Contrary to the above, the ULEZ standard for petrol cars is based on nitrogen oxide levels, not CO2. OP, if you're really desperate to keep the car then there will be some way to check the NOx levels for that engine from VW, and if it is below the required threshold some manufacturers will issue you with a certificate which will prompt TfL to make it exempt.
I did it with a Vespa when ULEZ first came in, but that was relatively straightforward because Vespas didn't change much for about two decades and Piaggio were willing to issue the relevant document. There seems to be more support for this in the motorcycle community for whatever reason.
Every day is a school day! I thought it was based on the CO2 output, yep, it is NOX.I did it with a Vespa when ULEZ first came in, but that was relatively straightforward because Vespas didn't change much for about two decades and Piaggio were willing to issue the relevant document. There seems to be more support for this in the motorcycle community for whatever reason.
Robertb said:
Based on my experience of getting the utter t
ts at TfL to recognise my Euro6 car as ULEZ compliant following a private plate change I d say there is absolutely no chance.
Yep, no interest in them helping you out as means less money..ts at TfL to recognise my Euro6 car as ULEZ compliant following a private plate change I d say there is absolutely no chance. Still bitter about the scheme, in principle good. But the fact theres no way of having a car tested that has no nox reading from factory, is an arse.. beacuse tgen they would generate less money, which is the aim.
You are talking about a car that is over 20 years old, and there is a grand total of two 20 or more year old Golf estates (all engines) on Autotrader.
Am I right in thinking just about any petrol car post 2006 is ULEZ compliant? So the only sensible answer is buy something else that is ULEZ compliant.
There are almost 2000 petrol estates from 2006-2016 on Autotrader
Am I right in thinking just about any petrol car post 2006 is ULEZ compliant? So the only sensible answer is buy something else that is ULEZ compliant.
There are almost 2000 petrol estates from 2006-2016 on Autotrader
andyalan10 said:
You are talking about a car that is over 20 years old, and there is a grand total of two 20 or more year old Golf estates (all engines) on Autotrader.
Am I right in thinking just about any petrol car post 2006 is ULEZ compliant? So the only sensible answer is buy something else that is ULEZ compliant.
There are almost 2000 petrol estates from 2006-2016 on Autotrader
Almost any petrol car post 2001.Am I right in thinking just about any petrol car post 2006 is ULEZ compliant? So the only sensible answer is buy something else that is ULEZ compliant.
There are almost 2000 petrol estates from 2006-2016 on Autotrader
FilH said:
Unfortunately it dosent work that way, they are not interested in an old car with a clean engine. They just want their money!
Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
That isn't true, if the DVLA register the car with the later engine and give it the correct status, you can go to Tfl with the evidence. Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
It has to be registered correctly with DVLA first.
Doesitdrive said:
FilH said:
Unfortunately it dosent work that way, they are not interested in an old car with a clean engine. They just want their money!
Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
That isn't true, if the DVLA register the car with the later engine and give it the correct status, you can go to Tfl with the evidence. Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
It has to be registered correctly with DVLA first.
Assuming the engine swap doesn’t set you back thousands, the only realistic route you can take would be to get an IVA like they do with kit cars.
If you fit a more modern lower emission engine into eg a 2002 car, it’ll still be tested against the 2002 standard, and not have the correct paperwork for tfl, hence the need for IVA.
So you’d need a model report generating by a vehicle testing lab, that don’t usually deal with members of the public. That could cost anywhere from £2000 to £5000. It’d then need to pass the £200 IVA test (also nontrivial), you could present all this to TFL and they may STILL tell you it’s not compliant!
Honestly, just buy a newer car or wait for your car to reach 40 years old.
georgeyboy12345 said:
Doesitdrive said:
FilH said:
Unfortunately it dosent work that way, they are not interested in an old car with a clean engine. They just want their money!
Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
That isn't true, if the DVLA register the car with the later engine and give it the correct status, you can go to Tfl with the evidence. Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
It has to be registered correctly with DVLA first.
Assuming the engine swap doesn t set you back thousands, the only realistic route you can take would be to get an IVA like they do with kit cars.
If you fit a more modern lower emission engine into eg a 2002 car, it ll still be tested against the 2002 standard, and not have the correct paperwork for tfl, hence the need for IVA.
So you d need a model report generating by a vehicle testing lab, that don t usually deal with members of the public. That could cost anywhere from £2000 to £5000. It d then need to pass the £200 IVA test (also nontrivial), you could present all this to TFL and they may STILL tell you it s not compliant!
Honestly, just buy a newer car or wait for your car to reach 40 years old.
TFL cannot refuse if the V5 says it is complent. But you have to persist with them because they dont pay DVLA for updated records.
Why the guy putting a plate from a non compliant car onto a Euro 6 car is having problems, if they did pay it would show as compliant.
But hey, thousands paid TFL staff to alter records knowing they dont update from DVLA and are still driving non compliant cars that show compliant.
ITV news exposed this, Kahn got it buried within hours.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
andyalan10 said:
Am I right in thinking just about any petrol car post 2006 is ULEZ compliant?
Every single petrol car 2006 onwards is compliant. And every diesel 2017 onwards. Loads of petrol cars from pre 2006 are also compliant. And some diesels pre 2017. The idea of knobbing around with an engine swap on a £300 Golf to avoid the ULEZ is laughable though, you'll probably find half the parts will be seized and the other half will fall apart when you start stripping it.
Baldchap said:
Anyone who tells you engine swaps on modern cars are straightforward has never done one or even met someone who has.
This x 1000. You get threads on here with nonsense like "I'm thinking of putting X engine in Y car, can it be done" and the answer is always "probably, even if it's a st idea, but if you have to post on PH to ask then no it absolutely cannot be done by you". Also the idiot comments of "just put an XYZ in it and enjoy" from people who'd cry at the thought of dirty hands and a broken nail if they tried (unsuccessfuly) to change an oil filter.Edited by GeniusOfLove on Sunday 5th April 13:52
Doesitdrive said:
georgeyboy12345 said:
Doesitdrive said:
FilH said:
Unfortunately it dosent work that way, they are not interested in an old car with a clean engine. They just want their money!
Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
That isn't true, if the DVLA register the car with the later engine and give it the correct status, you can go to Tfl with the evidence. Unless 40yrs old, then your free to drive what you want.
It has to be registered correctly with DVLA first.
Assuming the engine swap doesn t set you back thousands, the only realistic route you can take would be to get an IVA like they do with kit cars.
If you fit a more modern lower emission engine into eg a 2002 car, it ll still be tested against the 2002 standard, and not have the correct paperwork for tfl, hence the need for IVA.
So you d need a model report generating by a vehicle testing lab, that don t usually deal with members of the public. That could cost anywhere from £2000 to £5000. It d then need to pass the £200 IVA test (also nontrivial), you could present all this to TFL and they may STILL tell you it s not compliant!
Honestly, just buy a newer car or wait for your car to reach 40 years old.
TFL cannot refuse if the V5 says it is complent. But you have to persist with them because they dont pay DVLA for updated records.
Why the guy putting a plate from a non compliant car onto a Euro 6 car is having problems, if they did pay it would show as compliant.
But hey, thousands paid TFL staff to alter records knowing they dont update from DVLA and are still driving non compliant cars that show compliant.
ITV news exposed this, Kahn got it buried within hours.
GeniusOfLove said:
The pre 2016 diesels that are compliant are often a real bargain because people assume they aren't. My 2014 F56 Mini Cooper D and a handful of 2015 Volvo V40s for example.
The idea of knobbing around with an engine swap on a £300 Golf to avoid the ULEZ is laughable though, you'll probably find half the parts will be seized and the other half will fall apart when you start stripping it.
Yep, and the F30 520D, with no Adblue (2 DPFs IIRC)The idea of knobbing around with an engine swap on a £300 Golf to avoid the ULEZ is laughable though, you'll probably find half the parts will be seized and the other half will fall apart when you start stripping it.
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