Info/Guidelines/Laws Regarding Modifications

[froop]

Following on from that Youi insurance thread regarding the 'roadworthiness' of a vehicle I did a little research and I've come across a bit of information from the RMS (NSW) and from the Department of Infrastruction and Transport regarding modifications of vehicles.


http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...standards.html

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...n-creek-qa.pdf

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa.../vsb_ncop.aspx

The Eastern Creek PDF is a little discussion that the RMS held with motor enthusiasts in March to address concerns regarding modifications. Most of the questions are to do with modifications related to 4WDing though.

The VSB14 bulletin however has a lot more information in regards to engines, chassis, brakes, body modifications etc.

From a very brief look at some of the sections of the bulletin it seems that as long as they pass emissions and noise tests and don't affect the safety of the car (and its occupants) or paedestrians/other road users they are allowed. There's a lot to read though. Also they appear to only be 'guidelines' and not actual laws. It does also state that it doesn't override the laws or guidelines in the jurisdictions of other states/territories etc.

Enjoy.

[Tit]

oooh....4-point roll cages allowed!

[flinchy]

Ed: annnd yet again, jut found out the laws changed very VERY recently, my bad, going to have to re-learn it all..

Honestly, imo, most laws to do with modifications are preettty fair (can't undersize brakes or wheels, can't go so low you'll damage the road etc.)

And almost everything else can be 'made legal' for a bit of $, which is apparently even easier to do now

[sparoz]

Good find, as I will now require to do some reading. NCOP was introduced 1/11/2012 - that's yesterday, and there will be a six months phase in period.

[sparoz]

Quick summary without digesting everything:

1. Exhaust now needs to be approved (as it is now an engine upgrade)
2. Suspension (shocks and springs) as long as it doesn't raise the drive height or lowered pass the limit no approval required provided it uses the same mounts.
3. Tuning needs to be approved
4. Cars equipped with traction control can't be modified unless we have evidence that the modification doesn't affect the system through testing. If it does we need to modify the traction control.
5. FMIC, larger radiator, charge pipe, dv/bov, dci/cai should all be basic mods without the need of approval.
6. Brakes as normal needs to be approved, but should be straight forward.
7. All engine mods (exhaust, turbo, etc) now needs to have both emission test and noise test conducted, except Queensland currently have an exemption on emission test due to no facilities.

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by sparoz

Quick summary without digesting everything:

1. Exhaust now needs to be approved (as it is now an engine upgrade)
2. Suspension (shocks and springs) as long as it doesn't raise the drive height or lowered pass the limit no approval required provided it uses the same mounts.
3. Tuning needs to be approved
4. Cars equipped with traction control can't be modified unless we have evidence that the modification doesn't affect the system through testing. If it does we need to modify the traction control.
5. FMIC, larger radiator, charge pipe, dv/bov, dci/cai should all be basic mods without the need of approval.
6. Brakes as normal needs to be approved, but should be straight forward.
7. All engine mods (exhaust, turbo, etc) now needs to have both emission test and noise test conducted, except Queensland currently have an exemption on emission test due to no facilities.

Where's the ncop you're reading? I can only find the 1/jan/2012 one

All i can find on google is that a new ncop was coming 1/11/12, i just can't find it?

So confused

Or is it that qld adopted the 1/1/12 ncop as of 1/11/12 with a further 6mth cooling period?

Ed: sorry yeah i googled that and that's the case, i'll keep reading it in depth then, so far it's all pretty sensible and clearly explained


And on point 2-

So even if the suspension is CAPABLE of lowering below legal right height (still 100mm?), it's legal as long as it currently sits at a legal height?

7- is there any word on qld getting facilities? I quite like not having to get a basic (not too loud) exhaust mod plated

The traction control shouldn't be too worrying, as it seems to be generally fully functional still no matter what for 1ers yes?

[sparoz]

I have just rung TMR in Queensland. All modifications done before the 30/4/2012 can be done using the old standard as long as you have got the receipt to prove it.

Unfortunately, that might mean that we have to carry our receipts around with us in the car. Ie, if you are going to put any exhaust in, you have got till 30/4 without need a certification.

[MrBlonde]

Originally Posted by sparoz

..
7. All engine mods (exhaust, turbo, etc) now needs to have both emission test and noise test conducted, except Queensland currently have an exemption on emission test due to no facilities.

Game Over.

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by MrBlonde

Game Over.

You could pass an (emissions) test with a low boost e85 tune couldn't you?

Or are catalyst removals totally no-no non-engineerable?
...seems fully not legal, well that sucks a whole bunch.

[BMWlady]

Originally Posted by flinchy

You could pass an (emissions) test with a low boost e85 tune couldn't you?

Or are catalyst removals totally no-no non-engineerable?
...seems fully not legal, well that sucks a whole bunch.

My understanding was catalyst removal was a massive no-no
Although it's frequently done, there are few engineers that would say it was engineerable, because, well, illegal since mid-late eighties

RACQ have a decent section explaining it actually if you're interested

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by BMWlady

My understanding was catalyst removal was a massive no-no
Although it's frequently done, there are few engineers that would say it was engineerable, because, well, illegal since mid-late eighties

RACQ have a decent section explaining it actually if you're interested

defini8tely interested

i fully expect it to be a no-no... then a small part of me thinks 'well if you can get it to meet the super stringent emissions tests, it should be ok, if they're sensible, right?' ... which is of course not how it works lol

eh, it's such a complicated world (the car modification scene and policing it), so many ifs and buts and roundabouts.

on one hand, they could pass it emissions legal, then the owner could instantly flash a high boost non-legal map, and .. well obvious results
on the other, the whole car could be totally stock (exhaust etc.) with a totally invisible tune that would in no way pass emissions... but no one's the wise and the car is technically totally legal.

so much stupidity.

[BMWlady]

Originally Posted by flinchy

defini8tely interested

i fully expect it to be a no-no... then a small part of me thinks 'well if you can get it to meet the super stringent emissions tests, it should be ok, if they're sensible, right?'

eh, it's such a complicated world (the car modification scene and policing it), so many ifs and buts and roundabouts.

Sadly "shoulds" and "woulds" can't apply these days, noticed how its usually a matter of opinion of the person testing x, y, z.

Makes modding difficult sometimes, but also fun in a sense, challenging and the like.

Agreed, above average levels of stupidity are definitely noticeable

[pavo335]

Just give it up and accept that since the late 70's any engine mod is not legal. No government is going to make modding easier as we are all viewed by the general public as anti social hoons.

[micha3l]

Looks like Queensland will have some concessions.

http://www.ncop.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10


As of 1st Nov 2012, Queensland TMR vehicle modification legislation will implement & commence transitioning to the National Code Of Practice (NCOP) over a 6 month period, at which point we will see the revocation of the current QCOP legislation.

Both the new NCOP and older QCOP will run concurrently for 6 months until 1st May 2013, then the older QCOP will be retired, at which point all future vehicle construction & modification legislation will need to meet the requirements of NCOP.

If you have any vehicle modifications which have been made and installed based around the older QCOP legislation (and not yet approved by an engineer with TMR approvals), you should start to make plans to have these approved before the older legislation is phased out in May next year. That's assuming any modifications you've made were engineered for legal road use.

This one is good for us...

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Sa...ons/vsil20.pdf

[micha3l]

Whoops, never read Sparoz's post properly.

Looks like I'll need to get that supercharged M3 done before next year!

For an exhaust, it states "Substitution or replacement of components such as camshafts, carburettors, engine management systems, exhaust systems, etc. must not be carried out unless it can be demonstrated that the vehicle will continue to meet the appropriate gaseous and noise emission standards"

If the emissions test is waived in QLD, does this mean it only needs to comply with noise standards?

[sparoz]

Originally Posted by micha3l

Whoops, never read Sparoz's post properly.

Looks like I'll need to get that supercharged M3 done before next year!

For an exhaust, it states "Substitution or replacement of components such as camshafts, carburettors, engine management systems, exhaust systems, etc. must not be carried out unless it can be demonstrated that the vehicle will continue to meet the appropriate gaseous and noise emission standards"

If the emissions test is waived in QLD, does this mean it only needs to comply with noise standards?

Yes, it still needs to comply to the noise standards. There is a link through those documents on the tests involve for the noise test that measures a db level that it needs to comply at certain rpm whilst the car is stationary so that it will comply the dry by standards which is harder to measure. There is a table in there stating the db level require for each car model.

As far as emission standards, it still needs to comply just that a test is not necessary.