391 replies to this topic

[Phaeton]

I think this is the type of car the DVLA will be after, owner is claiming it's a 1972 so it's tax exempt, it's clearly not the car that was originally put on the road with that registration.

Alan...

[garrett3]

Prime example mate

[Pete649]

So just to recap (sorry if this has been asked before)

If you have a radically altered vehicle, say a Z-Cars mini, then as long as the relevant info on the V5 matches, then there is no problem.

[garrett3]

So just to recap (sorry if this has been asked before)

If you have a radically altered vehicle, say a Z-Cars mini, then as long as the relevant info on the V5 matches, then there is no problem.

If the V5 states Z cars or similar then you should be ok.

If it states mini 1000 HL and you have a fire breathing mid mounted monster then you may have some problems

[RyanFinlay]

After reading that. It would only apply to cars after 94.
And i don't see it differing much from an sva?

[miRon]

our minis would have fallen apart by 2012 anyway's,
we'll all be using hover cars....

the way i see it is that if your chassis is not as i was from new ie RWD then you May have issue's
other than that i think this is all been blown out the water by a few that do shortys and other major body mods....

Dont worry yourselfs.....seriously, just go and fix your cars...

[shnevpayne]

Quote "It will also become mandatory from 2010 for every car to have two exterior mirrors and one internal mirror, whereas current regulations only require one external mirror"

Does this mean all really old single mirrored classic cars will have to be modernised and "Modified"?

Dear Lord, they are taking away a form of freedom of speech. i know its gonna be one of those I totally agree speeches but this is ridiculous! For many of us our cars (espcially minis, bugs n buses) are part of our freedom of speech, we personalise them around ourselves, modernise them to help with the daily brawl of traffic and travel, and modify them for not only our own joy and satisfaction but to the joys and satisfactions of others, whether it be approval of a laugh in dismissal! Its like saying you can buy this house but you can't paint the interior in this way and the outside can't be bright yellow with butterflies on it (theres a house in taunton with that on).

So say for example, Limos, now if thats not an extreme modification of the original shasse, then I dunno what is, surely if that is true then all limos would be removed by law. The wonderful and extreme cars the top gear boys build, (limos, water cars, rocket minis) would also be removed from the scene. Agreeing with some earlier posts, surely businesses who thrive of the modification world would have huge financial difficulties (not like most have them already with the economic climate).

Not trying to take the yellow water but reading the origianl post and then reading this from DVLA "Talk to the experts –" EXPERTS? those guys in the clown suits? THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THEIR OWN MESSED UP SYSTEM!?!?!(Quote).

I say nut and bolt the lot of em. I don't care what they try and enforce on me on whatever I do to my cars, I'll do as I please with my own property for the satisfaction of myself and others. In the thinking and beliefs of one Jeremy Clarkson, I give my own personal 2 finger salute to the Bozos who thought this one up!

[daemonchild]

... It effects the builders out there at the moment but with the new computer system the mot inspector will be educated on tougher stances and the onus will be on them come MOT time to report you the car presented does not match the V5. then you will not be able to tax your car without further inspection ...

Would respraying a car a different colour would qualify as not matching the V5? I should think it would!
I'm not planning on that as it happens, but I know loads of people out there have minis that have been modified in this way.

My racing flame has a v5 that says 'multi coloured'. Now that could be interesting...

[ferrit]

... It effects the builders out there at the moment but with the new computer system the mot inspector will be educated on tougher stances and the onus will be on them come MOT time to report you the car presented does not match the V5. then you will not be able to tax your car without further inspection ...

Would respraying a car a different colour would qualify as not matching the V5? I should think it would!
I'm not planning on that as it happens, but I know loads of people out there have minis that have been modified in this way.

My racing flame has a v5 that says 'multi coloured'. Now that could be interesting...

Yes spraying a different colour would qualify as not matching the V5 and therefore any change of colour should be reported to the DVLA for ammendment of the V5. Thats an easy one

[mattdc2r]

I've read most of this thread and now feeling very confused as too just how far i should go with modifications.
I know in Cyprus you're not allowed to modify your car at all. Can't get insured if the car is modified. Thankfully this law is not strictly enforced, as there are lots and lots of seriously modified cars over there, and come MOT time you just have to find a garage that'll let you off. But it's not unknown for cars to be confiscated by the police and passed on to the vehicle inspection team where they are stripped to make sure it's all standard. They tried this with my modified integra type R. I just booked it on a ship and sent it back to the UK before theycould do anything about it. Otherwise my car could/would have been crushed.

Hope the british Government don't take a similar approach.

[Sherlock]

regarding engine changes, how is an mot tester going to tell the difference between a 998 and 1275?

No offence meant, but the differences between a 998 & 1275 engine are visually evident, the 998 has tappet covers on the block, behind the exhaust manifold, the 1275 doesn't, unless it's a genuine Mk1/2 Cooper 'S', in which case it will be distinguisable by an extra head stud outside each end of the rocker cover. Other differences, larger head with repositioned thermostat housing, different top hose, crank-case breather on the forward tappet cover on the 998, on the timing case on the 1275. There are more, so it's not worth the trouble of removing the engine number. I say this because if your Mini is a 1275 masquerading as a 998, there are insurance issues, & even if it's insured as a 1275 & has a 998 log book, a sharp eyed Police Officer would pick that up because all the details are on Swansea's 'big brother' database & I wouldn't like to see anyone's beloved Mini impounded and/or crushed.

[tadleysimon]

regarding engine changes, how is an mot tester going to tell the difference between a 998 and 1275?

No offence meant, but the differences between a 998 & 1275 engine are visually evident, the 998 has tappet covers on the block, behind the exhaust manifold, the 1275 doesn't, unless it's a genuine Mk1/2 Cooper 'S', in which case it will be distinguisable by an extra head stud outside each end of the rocker cover. Other differences, larger head with repositioned thermostat housing, different top hose, crank-case breather on the forward tappet cover on the 998, on the timing case on the 1275. There are more, so it's not worth the trouble of removing the engine number. I say this because if your Mini is a 1275 masquerading as a 998, there are insurance issues, & even if it's insured as a 1275 & has a 998 log book, a sharp eyed Police Officer would pick that up because all the details are on Swansea's 'big brother' database & I wouldn't like to see anyone's beloved Mini impounded and/or crushed.

good point, but most engine mods are1380's hiding as 1275's. you would have to have the head off to spot that and thatll never happen

[chrisj]

Sherlock Posted Aug 31 2009, 04:06 PM
QUOTE (1275 SPRITE @ Jul 13 2009, 10:43 PM)
regarding engine changes, how is an mot tester going to tell the difference between a 998 and 1275?
No offence meant, but the differences between a 998 & 1275 engine are visually evident, the 998 has tappet covers on the block, behind the exhaust manifold, the 1275 doesn't, unless it's a genuine Mk1/2 Cooper 'S', in which case it will be distinguisable by an extra head stud outside each end of the rocker cover. Other differences, larger head with repositioned thermostat housing, different top hose, crank-case breather on the forward tappet cover on the 998, on the timing case on the 1275. There are more, so it's not worth the trouble of removing the engine number. I say this because if your Mini is a 1275 masquerading as a 998, there are insurance issues, & even if it's insured as a 1275 & has a 998 log book, a sharp eyed Police Officer would pick that up because all the details are on Swansea's 'big brother' database & I wouldn't like to see anyone's beloved Mini impounded and/or crushed.

Although i understand your point regarding visual differences, how many mot testers are actually going to know about these unless they are interested in minis? hardly any i would have thought.

[less is more]

Ok, a great read if a little confusing at times, was seriously considering a "shorty" and may still go ahead, cant really see a problem with getting type approval as long as the job is done right.

My main question is: Has anybody got IVA approval on a mini yet for radically altered body i.e shorty / chop etc?
Also: say I shorten the mini and keep everything else original engine subframes etc, and it passes the IVA, but then next year decide I would like to change the engine to say Nissan micra engine, would I need another IVA @£450

alot of people have complained that the price is too high @£450 but surely it will add double that to the value of your car when you come to sell it on, I would rather buy a car with a IVA certificate than one that says "just needs IVA test" which I can see coming very shortly, eBay will be rife with custom cars soon


Andy

edit:
for people not knowing who Andy Saunders is you only have to do a Google I grew up loving his creations mini HA HA being a favorite then and still is today

Edited by less is more, 16 September 2009 - 10:25 PM.

[CMcB]

I believe Z-car Minis have to go through IVAs, perhaps speak to them.

You would need to also keep photographic evidence of the modification too to show DVAL/VOSA how you did it exactly.

It WOULD lose type approval, which is why it would need an IVA. Then you have to factor in 2009 safety regs. But Z-cars manage to do it so they must know what is an issue and what is not.