Noise limit for road cars

[Bibs_LEF]

I know that the MOT test doesn't check noise levels but is there a regulation under the Construction and Use regs?

I, erm, know of someone with a 113dB exhaust on their roadcar, my friends cousins brothers sister. Is there a chance of a ticket/ASBO?

[absolutely]

I'm glad they're talking about a noise test in the MOT, there are too many chavs/boy racers with loud exhausts! Loud cars are all very well but racing cars have to be noise tested so why shouldn't road cars? I saw a very loud Skyline 400R? at Hyde Park Corner, it looked like a Le Mans Skyline but without being stickered up, it shook the taxi as it past.

[henrycrun]

Hopefully

[bigdods]

no ! Thank god. The Tiv maxes out at 121db Only comment from the MOT man...*wow* dont these sound great !

ETA: I meant no theres no MOT test for it, I think there is some legislation that BiB can throw at you if they think its 'too loud' .

Edited by bigdods on Sunday 25th May 20:55

[spaximus]

The noise test will be introduced when they can agree one. At the moment the SVA iirc is 105 decibles but that is bloody loud too loud for most tracks. Now it is interesting to hear once again it is chavs in Novas etc, but this law will apply to all cars not just those who fit the profile of some on here, so will we feel the same when they reduce it to say 90 db? this would render most TVRs too loud and certainly many of the new cars with active exhaust systems like Ferraris etc. Remember before all saying how wonderful a new law will be think where it will stop and at what level before breaking out the beer

[Vixpy1]

An MOT tester can refuse a certificate if a car is 'excesively noisy'

There are no guidelines as to what this means, its up to the tester.

[tvrgit]

There are no max noise limits for road cars. There are max dB regulations for bikes but not for cars.

I think it's illegal to modify it so that it's louder than standard. Unfortunately I don't think there are reliable measurements of what the "standard" noise is for every car. I read recently about a police force who were measuring boy-racer-mobiles and nicking them if they were 5dB (I think it was) over a "standard" on tables they had.

Thin end of the wedge - today "boy racers" (whatever they are), tomorrow everything that doesn't float past as silent as an angel's fart (tm Arthur Daley 1978)

Edited by tvrgit on Sunday 25th May 22:04

[moparmick]

absolutely said:

I'm glad they're talking about a noise test in the MOT, there are too many chavs/boy racers with loud exhausts! Loud cars are all very well but racing cars have to be noise tested so why shouldn't road cars? I saw a very loud Skyline 400R? at Hyde Park Corner, it looked like a Le Mans Skyline but without being stickered up, it shook the taxi as it past.

Some cars will not perform if the exhaust is too restrictive, my car picks up at least 30 hp when the pipes are disconected and they are 3"
Mick

Edited by moparmick on Sunday 25th May 22:31

[absolutely]

moparmick said:

absolutely said:

I'm glad they're talking about a noise test in the MOT, there are too many chavs/boy racers with loud exhausts! Loud cars are all very well but racing cars have to be noise tested so why shouldn't road cars? I saw a very loud Skyline 400R? at Hyde Park Corner, it looked like a Le Mans Skyline but without being stickered up, it shook the taxi as it past.

Some cars will not perform if the exhaust is too restrictive, my car picks up at least 30 hp when the pipes are disconected and they are 3"
Mick

Edited by moparmick on Sunday 25th May 22:31

I know that one needs a modicome of back pressure but I wish my race car had a straight through exhaust. My Dad has been warned about his being too noisy.

[Brett928S2]

Hi

If they bring in an MOT limit, I am dead in the water lol

Mine is around 117 Db and about to go up to around 130 db...and its my daily driver

Generally speaking I find most BIB are fairly good on this, but I don`t rev it up at 11 pm in the middle of town ....

Even if they did bring in a limit, it cannot be enforceable unless the MOT centres and BIB are issued with Decibel meters which are type approved etc.

I am sure even then they have better things to do with their time.....

All the best Brett

[ash1986]

this is a quite funney subject. I think there should be limit but within reason. Like If there over the limit then they should cerfew the driver for example that he is not allowed in built up areas after 11pm at night.
Another point is there are more dangers on our roads.

Im guilty of havin a reasonably loud car. My 1st car (old mini) I had a str8 pipe and no silencers but I kept the exit to two inch twins. My Clio is not as loud but is still quite loud but I drive in built up areas as quietly as possible.

Trouble normally is caused by people who take the p!**.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Bibs_LEF said:

I know that the MOT test doesn't check noise levels but is there a regulation under the Construction and Use regs?

I, erm, know of someone with a 113dB exhaust on their roadcar, my friends cousins brothers sister. Is there a chance of a ticket/ASBO?

Have a look here

http://www.tinyurl.com/38ojga

Go to regs 65 to 72.

Whilst that shown are Co and Use for Norton Iron they almost mirror those for Ingerland.

Seen reports that they do now and again hold a check on noise with their meters and prosecute.

dvd

[tvrgit]

DVD

Even for somebody who's reasonably accustomed to interpreting the tortuous syntax used in legal Orders, that one is almost incomprehensible: so many "subjects to" and exemptions. It's hard to tell what it means for production cars. For example it appears to contain an exemption for "compression ignition" vehicles (ie diesels) so you could have a diesel as loud as you like?

NI may well be different in this respect, but there are no regulations specifically limiting vehicle noise in England (or indeed Scotland or Wales which are subject to the same regulations), apart from SVA wich applies to one-off vehicles at the time of test.

[GKP]

Bibs_LEF said:

113dB - ASBO

[herewego]

DVD’s reference reg 65 says:
(2) Exhaust systems and silencers shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and shall not after the date of manufacture be altered so as to increase the noise made by the escape of exhaust gases.

This means the exhaust must not be altered to a noise level above that when originally supplied. As I remember all vehicles when originally supplied meet European noise limits.

Are you not then breaking the law if your car is noisier than originally supplied?

[AL600-or-so]

herewego said:

DVD’s reference reg 65 says:
(2) Exhaust systems and silencers shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and shall not after the date of manufacture be altered so as to increase the noise made by the escape of exhaust gases.

This means the exhaust must not be altered to a noise level above that when originally supplied. As I remember all vehicles when originally supplied meet European noise limits.

Are you not then breaking the law if your car is noisier than originally supplied?

I don't think there are any "European noise limits", hence certain sports cars being loud straight from production.

[herewego]

AL600-or-so said:

herewego said:

DVD’s reference reg 65 says:
(2) Exhaust systems and silencers shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and shall not after the date of manufacture be altered so as to increase the noise made by the escape of exhaust gases.

This means the exhaust must not be altered to a noise level above that when originally supplied. As I remember all vehicles when originally supplied meet European noise limits.

Are you not then breaking the law if your car is noisier than originally supplied?

I don't think there are any "European noise limits", hence certain sports cars being loud straight from production.

Vehicle noise standards are laid down in Directive 70/157/EEC and subsequent amendments [3], which regulates the technical approval of new vehicles and currently sets noise emission limits of 74dB(A) for passenger cars and 80dB(A) for trucks.
Ref:http://www.transportenvironment.org/module-htmlpages-display-pid-20.html

Cars have to go through a european approval procedure which includes noise of course. I believe a couple of sports car manufacturers have gained approval for slightly increased noise levels.

This suggests to me that if you modify your exhaust to exceed 74 dB(A) then you are breaking the law.

Edited by herewego on Monday 26th May 11:22

[jj.]

A TVR main dealer once failed my TVR for being (excessively noisy!). Only 3 months earlier the same garage performed the ‘sports exhaust mod’ to the car. You would have thought they would have put 2+2 together..!

Never went back to them for an MOT, not been a problem elsewhere.
jj

[GKP]

herewego said:

This suggests to me that if you modify your exhaust to exceed 74 dB(A) then you are breaking the law.

I don't think car in question has had it's factory fitted exhaust modified. It's been replaced. Grey area?

[Vipers]

Bibs_LEF said:

I know that the MOT test doesn't check noise levels but is there a regulation under the Construction and Use regs?

I, erm, know of someone with a 113dB exhaust on their roadcar, my friends cousins brothers sister. Is there a chance of a ticket/ASBO?

Only takes 15 mins of that to give you permanent hearing damage........... does the noise make him feel better?, sad really.