Roadworthyness / legality of your modified cars

[deian]

Hi again,

I'm just wondering here what is the deal with the law / regulations after you guys modify your cars. Some of you go all the way with insane projects like twin turbo 325's, and V8 e30's, etc.

Obviously all these mods require that you meet regulations and declare all modifications to the insurance companies. Or do some of you go so far that there is no point trying to meet regulations.

Here's an example, after a certain year: 1992 J/K reg, I think all cars produced with catalytic converters had to have them. I.E not take them off. (unless you had a diesel or an LPG converted car of course). So what do you do when you want to take it off to let it breathe more?

What if i made a V12 twin turbo (which i believe has been done), what would the insurance company say? How legal is that? Say you spend £7k on mods, can you cover this in the value of the car too?

Thanks

[e30_Turbo]

My car is fully legal, MOT'd, tax'd and insured.

The MOT station had no issues with any of the modifications, they even explained how the screamer pipe wasn't a problem, which was handy.

The emmision test was passed eventually and the rest of the MOT is non-engine based.

The car is "modified" and all of the mods are declared to the insurance, these are all listed on the insurance certificate.

There are some extra requirements that I have to adhere too because of the policy but overall it's about the same.

The engine hasn't changed size and the mods are all bolt-on, so can be removed and returned to stock.

There is agreed values for the car as a whole and the parts themselves.

After spending so much time, effort and money I wasn't going to risk not getting the legal side right but the peace of mind is worth the extra money.

If you swap a different engine in, V12 turbo, you should be able to insure it, but I doubt it'll be cheap.

HTH, Mark.

[e21Jason]

Any modified car can be made legal. engine swaps should be informed to the DVLA, and also there is a points sytem based on the orginal parts, In theory if you swap every the engine box & axles the car shlould be regeistered on a Q plate (non age related).

The cat issue is based on the age of the shell no the engine, On later cars I know some people run "empty" cats and with standalone they still make emisions, as the tester only visual checks the cat and emisions.

Also you can buy "race" spec cats which flow more.

Jason

[whipsey]

was told the issue with the cat was based on the age of the engine if it didn't have one fitted when it was made and you can prove it then no cat needed

[Brianmoooore]

The cat (or more accurately, emissions), requirements are based on the date of first registration of the car (doesn't matter when it was made), or the age of the engine, whichever is the oldest.
The last E30 I had MOT'd was a '93 registered car fitted with a '88 engine, and it was tested to the pre-cat standards.
There is also a loophole that can be used if the engine number is unreadable.

[Toby_Unna]

Inform DVLA of new engine number/capacity

Declare this and the rest of the mods to the ins company. Some apparently ask for an engineer's report; mine didn't.

As Mark says, MOTs are no problem, mine actually went straight through the emissions test.

My car is on a limited mileage classic policy as I have another car to use everyday, and the insurance on it is very reasonable (in the £400 region.)

[deian]

So the situation isn't so grim then. I'm actually thinking of LPG'ing my 'future' BMW when it comes to modifying it. So cat will be taken out.

I know what all you people think of newbies with big ideas, all talk no action etc, but there is a long period of thinking and planning about any major modification, it's just more fun with BMW's.

All I need to do now is to get married, find a better paying job, get the house (with a double garage), buy an E30, strip it naked, buy an E34 with the engine of my choice (thinking M30B35, S38B38), or maybe the M50B28 from the E36, LPG it, drop it in the E30, megasquirt it, and at a later date turbo it. I'm in no rush to do it, and I will take my time thinking about the whole idea. I'm always here reading what other have done, and I am taking notes.

Thanks so far.