Anyone here been nicked for a "sports" exhaust...?

[pupp]

After driving a Griff with a conversion done I was a bit surprised quite how loud the resulting racket was (although pleasing)...anyone had any grief? Just think if I made that much noise with my TLR 1000 (and that's on a full race system that does actually improve performance) I would get me collar felt toot suite. Double standards for hoorays in posh cars, natch?

[heliox]

I've thought the same thing about my pre-cat exhaust as that is LOUD, it came as standard so what can they say?

heliox

[EdT]

2 years with non-standard bits - all good times to date

Ed

[Ston]

The day that a Copper has time to stop you because your car is to loud is far off.

You will be okay untill someone complains about it. So I wouldn't large it in your 'hood, leave it for the open roads... and the high-street on a Saturday night

[budd]

Last week I removed the wadding (and clamped tubes over the perforated pipes )from the centre silencer the result of this action you would think would be a mega loud exaust note, not so no real change.
With some help from Julian(Joospeed) we found the reason, a collapsed cat (converter),fitted a decat pipe (nice work Mr Lamont, it arrived right on time).
The sound was amazing just like a Top Fuel dragster(ask Joolz),nearly as bad as my VTR on race pipes,call me a wimp if you like but just like the SP1 the noise had to go , so tubes out wadding back in and now it sounds perfect,(and is alot quicker guess the damaged cat was acting like a giant bung)waiting for the chip and resistor from TVR to complete the job.
I'll check the fueling on the dyno with the std chip and resistor then with TVR supplied bits to see what gains are made because it's over fueling with no mods bar the cats removed.I'am hoping the TVR decat chip and tune resistor will give gains in power and torque throughout the rev range over the std setup.

[olly]

For some strange reason, bikes are restricted on the noise they allowed to make, but cars aren't ! The only reason you will get the plod having a word, is if they get lots of complaints.... So keep them nice an LOUD

[mel]

Bikes may be restricted by their noise but it is impossible for plod to test this, they can only look to see if it has a BS kitemark and then nick you if it doesn't (or has "competition use only" or similar wording stamped on it which is a legal requirement for non BS). The actual regs for measuring the noise are extremely complicated and are "ride by" tested at set revs in a controlled environment away from buildings or other causes or resonance, the dB meter has to be tripod mounted and three readings taken (not something plod can do roadside). A few years ago an over zealous traffic cop turned up at Boxhill dB meter in hand and started dishing out tickets left right and centre, a word from the owner of one of the exhaust manufacturers who happened to be there was to no avail but a letter to the traffic inspector soon put a stop to that malarky.

I basically can't see how you can get nicked for noise only removing cats or failing emissions.

[steve-p]

The MOT Testers Manual says

"b. assess subjectively the effectiveness of the silencer in reducing exhaust noise to a level considered to be average for the vehicle"

and a reason for MOT failure would be

"b. a silencer in such a condition, or of such a type, that the noise emitted from the vehicle is clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle with a silencer in average condition"

In other words a louder than normal TVR is likely to be OK, because they are all pretty loud already. A hatchback producing the same noise level could fail the MOT, because it is much louder than the average for the model.

[filmidget]

An MOT tester once quoted those from the manual when my Midget had a very loud (knackered baffles) exhaust.

He followed it by saying that he would expect a sports car to have a loud exhaust, and proceeded to pass it

He was an older gent and realised, unlike younger 'fitters' (not really mechanics) that older vehicles *need* a little play in steering and suspension bits

Cheers, Phil

[trackdemon]

Funny you should ask this, I'm looking at a cost-effective way of making my 4.3 Chim louder. BUDD, I've been told the cheapest/easiest way to do this is to remove the gubbins from the silencer - if the cats are OK shouldn't it be a bit noisier without the silencer baffles?

[mel]

steve-p, does it say a similar thing for the orangeness of orange bulbs in clear lense indicators ??? I know someone who got failed because their indicators weren't "orange enough", and I doubt that was assesed using the patented orangeness measuring meter.

[steve-p]

The whole thing is online at

www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm

[KJR]

As of a month ago my 1989 400SE, standard TVR exhaust, is no longer the loadest car in the street, by a long way.

New neighbour, 4 doors up, has a TR8 with a Holly Carb. and a straight through system which makes an incredible amount of noise.

I would not be surprised if the other neighbours start to complain.

[jeremyc]

quote:steve-p, does it say a similar thing for the orangeness of orange bulbs in clear lense indicators ??? I know someone who got failed because their indicators weren't "orange enough", and I doubt that was assesed using the patented orangeness measuring meter.

They have a redness meter as well, apparently. I had a failure for one of my brake lights not being "red enough". WTF?

[jmorgan]

Festa failed the orange bit, not showing enough orange. Fair comment says I, can you change it to pass? Have to book it in says he!!!!! Did it myself there and then.

[Paul V]

It’s really at the testers discretion, but remember they are continually scrutinised by the vehicle inspectorate so for all they know you maybe one yourself. Also most of the important stuff (steering, suspension etc) looks after your safety, the way to look at it is a safety check for £30.

[madcop]

Just to p!ss on your fire a little. Beware of the below

Sect 67 Road Traffic Act 1988

Allows authorised examiners (All traffic officers are by virtue of consent form the Chief Constable) to carry out roadside tests on motor vehicle sin relation to brkes, steering, tyres, lights, and noise and fume emission.

Other examiners (DOT) may be authorised by Secretary of state but must show their authorisation before doing so if required by the victim.



REG 54 and 57 Road Vehicles Construction and Use Regs 1986

Regulate the fitting and use of silencers (Including attempts of some to increase the sounds from their engines)


REG 97 Road Vehicle Construction and Use Regs 1986

States that No motor vehicle shall be used on a road in such a manner as to cause any excessive noise which could have been avoided by reasonable care by the driver.

( This includes horn blowing, revving of engines and wheel spinning the tyres)

These are generally Non endorsable FPT offences but can be reported to Mags Court.

They are also offences which just have to have evidence of the opinion of the officer reporting.

Be careful where you sound loud