Engine swappers beware

[nickso]

I cant find any mention of it being the law that you must inform the DVLA of an engine change or modification, until I do I wont be telling them anything

DVLA booklet INS160 page 4 and 5 refers.
And also claims 'if you do not tell us about any change,you could be persecuted'...
Dezzy,get your miniskirt in the office to type you up a suitable letter!

do you mean prosecuted? i'm not sure the DVLA have a gestapo division yet.

[daimlerman]

That will me my mam then.

Shouldn't be a problem if I have a letter explaining the swap, the origonal log book and the engine number of the new motor?

Whoops!
If your mam can type you a letter/invoice style thing on your garage notepaper,you need to include;
engine number
engine manufacturer
fuel type
engine capacity
In your case,it will depend on how clued up the DVLA person is regarding engine capacity,they told me' 'manufacturer's rarely make an engine of exactly 1990cc'...
Far be it for me to suggest that you use the engine capacity that matches it's serial number!
As my 2.7 was built from at least 3 different engines,I felt that I would quit whilst I was ahead!
This current system is crazy,the damn paperpushers are trying to stop us,via a backdoor,from modifying our own property,
not on,IMO.

[daimlerman]

do you mean prosecuted? i'm not sure the DVLA have a gestapo division yet.

Hey!
Someone reads my posts
I am convinced that DVLA are the gestapo in disguise.

[Dezzy]

Well is there any reason for the Dvla or insurance company to ever have my engine stripped for inspection. I have changed bore size by 2mm and have a different crank. Also shrick cams in the head. The cams are machined from BMW blanks and only have BMW numbers on so they should never course ang issues.

I reckon it's getting insured as a 2.5 M50 convered 318.

I don't fancey trying to explain to them it's not a standard motor for the car it's not even a standard engine full stop. It's had bore and strock mods to take it to 2.926cc

cheers for advice guys.

[E30BeemerLad]

I never notified DVLA of the change of engine capacity on the touring. This remember is also after the car had been for a VIC check with some VOSA gestapos.

After I smacked it up, I got given a producer (despite having all documents and both parts of my license at the scene). I produced my docs at York police station where my insurance cert lists the mods. No problems.

I have no intention of telling DVLA of the M52 swap on the chromie either, but the insurance co will be informed of all the mods, as before.

[Dezzy]

I never notified DVLA of the change of engine capacity on the touring. This remember is also after the car had been for a VIC check with some VOSA gestapos.

After I smacked it up, I got given a producer (despite having all documents and both parts of my license at the scene). I produced my docs at York police station where my insurance cert lists the mods. No problems.

I have no intention of telling DVLA of the M52 swap on the chromie either, but the insurance co will be informed of all the mods, as before.

Right that's good enough for me mate.

[Banjo1981]

am i the only one wondering if i had a crash in a converted car and the insurance was notified but the DVLA wasnt, would the insurance possibly use this to get out of a claim?

i'm almost sure if you phoned your insurance right now and asked them they would say the DVLA have to be informed.

i made them aware of the m30 conversion i had but im not going to bother with the m52.

Insurance companies go by what YOU tell them.

Aslong as your policy states that your car has been modified then there should be no issues. The DVLA info is generally only used to find out who the actual registered keeper of the vehicle is or to veryfy any info you provide in the process of making a claim. (ie is it a sport? is it a tree? Is it actually a diseased badger with an empty can of sweetcorn on it's head? etc etc)

Often an engineer will look at it and ask the claims handler if the insurance co is aware that it hasn't got a standard motor. As long as they are it's all peachy.

[rubber_duck89]

Sometimes wonder why I bother modifying cars for a hobby,think I will take up knitting

Sounds like fun dad, maybe you could learn how to do it in your sleep like the dragon. I somtimes wonder what the DVLA are on i got a tax reminder for my touring (which i scrapped at the end of last year) through last week.

[DanThe]

i got a tax reminder for my touring (which i scrapped at the end of last year) through last week.

I hope for your wallets sake they know it doesnt exist anymore

Lee, did they manage to find the engine number? Did it raise any eyebrows?

[andrew320i]

I was going to send my log book off with my new engine number as ive gone from a 2.0 to a 2.5. Probably not worth it then, you think I should bother telling the insurance company?

Ask yourself this

Do i want to find out i'm not insured if I hit anyone/anything, or if anyone hit's me??

If it's not declared and your found out, the insurance is void.Meaning your liable for all repair costs to your motor and anything else involved,personal injury etc etc
Plus there's the court appearance for driving an uninsured car as well.

Good point I will be declaring it!