what are illegal mods for a car in Vic

[Nivlac]

Hi im from South Africa and live in Melbourne now
I read a short discussion about illegal mods for cars on a non specific thread but could not find all the info i require so i though this was a good specific thread to start.

I learnt wheel spacers are illegal and something about xenon lights with no cleaners, and on another form police scanners are only illegal if you act on the info you have gained ( don't quote me to the police offices)

so what is an illegal mod for a car as im doing mods to my car but don't want un necessary stuff with the police ?

in particle engine upgrades(engine,exhaust, air intakes,tyres , rims, suspension) and any thing else i may come across when mod'ing my everyday polo GTI car.

[Jarred]

Basically, everything that's fun, is illegal.

[Lucas_R]

Basically, everything that's fun, is illegal.

^ Nicely summed up. Haha.

Exhausts have to be under 91 Decibels (i believe its 91DB anyway) and you must have a catalic convertor fitted. Air intakes must be sealed (eg no pod type intakes). With lowering, i believe there must be 10cm clearance under your car. Wheel spacers are illegal.

Thats all i can think off at the moment.

[Bflat]

Everything is legal..........until you get caught.

[nightphotographer]

Does anyone know if Caliper Adapters are illegal - i.e. running Porsche Brakes on a VW? If wheel adapters are, then surely?

[The_Hawk]

With lowering, i believe there must be 10cm clearance under your car.

Ahhh, one I checked with the NSW RTA at one point and would assume it's similar in other states.

Lowering your vehicle or replacing the shocks/springs does not require engineering, it's simply within the law or it is not.
You must maintain 2/3rds of the original suspension travel.
The car must be no lower than 100mm from the ground at it's lowest point.

There used to be a guide of "factory" heights and a calculation of the max drop you could do but I have no clue where it was. All I remember was that it was horribly inconsistent. There were blatant errors… From memory the Mk4 R32 could only be lowered 1mm making pretty much any suspension sag a real problem

Tracking down the correct answers to these things can be a bloody time consuming and tedious process as most people don't actually know the rules and go with a blanket yes or no for everything.

The best bet is to write up a list of things you want to modify then ask very specific questions to the right people and get everything in writing where possible. By the right people I would suggest the local authorities that do RWC's or an engineer or the RTA equivalent in VIC.

[brimway]

Basically, everything that's fun, is illegal.

Ill eagle is a sick bird

[cstb_87]

See below the link to the vicroads website for modification laws.

Happy reading

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/9B3A858D-15A0-4572-90BF-3D08214BF7BE/0/VSInumber8Guidetomodificationsformotorvehicles.pdf

[gavs]

The modifications "laws" can be reinterpreted because a lot of the information the Vicroads and the nanny state try to enforce actually contravene the relevant ADRs. I spend quite a lot of time dealing with ADRs and compliance so there are many, many things wrong with what the individual governments try to pass off as "illegal".

For example, the Lamborghini aventador I looked at in Europe cannot be sold here. It is an illegal vehicle. Yet, they will still be sold because they comply to the ADRs. Same as a HSV Maloo, any STI WRX sedan, lancer Evo, any Ferrari or rear engined Porsche.

However.

A few things that you cannot do:

Bodywork that hangs below the minimum ramp over angle by greater than a distance of 100mm

Any system to bypass/alter the EPA approved emissions standards and documented compliance of the vehicle. Including but not limted to performance robbing idiotic wank "pfffft" valves, giant beer can intakes etc.

An exhaust system (when correctly tested) that complies to ADR 41 from memory. This is a maximum dB level of 90dB under loaded test conditions and 76dB when at rest(again from memory).

Any modification that interferes with the onboard safety systems of the vehicle I.e disabling stability control on a car that it cannot be disabled from the factory.

Any modification that adversely effects the handling of the motor vehicle and jeopardizes the safety of the driver and other road users.

Removal of seat belts.

Non compliant slick/semi slick rubber that does not match or exceed the placarded tyre rating.

An increase in rolling wheel diameter of (in simple terms) 2 standard rim diameters over the largest wheel diameter factory fitted to that vehicle series.

That's all I can think of for the minute....

Oh, turning off the flashing hazard lights when you really hit the brakes hard is actually an illegal modification, falls under a sub section of the safety and lights and light signaling devices ADRs.

The fits couple of paragraphs of the motor vehicle act contain a sentence along the lines of "it is illegal to modify a motor vehicle outside of compliance" which basically means whatever you do, if audited the vehicle must still comply to the relevant ADRs.

[Nivlac]

thanks guys,

so i will go with the Me - No Speeeek English.

I Just did not want to get pulled over and the copper says something is illigal when in know no different.

i am getting a BMC intake and miltec exhaust (should be "fine")

and dropping suspecting would need to be impractically low for it to be illegal on a polo GTI.

and bigger Caliper and rotter's (should be "fine")

Slicks is a no go

[gavs]

Any brake system changes need to be complianced by an engineer for legality as the GTI has the biggest brake package of all the polo setups so if you change it (other than just pads and rotors) you need compliancing.

[ill0gitech]

turning off the flashing hazard lights when you really hit the brakes hard is actually an illegal modification

This wasn't enabled by default in my 12.5 GTI, and still isn't after a play with VCDS. I'd say maybe it's just a Vic thing, but that wouldn't sound right?

[nightphotographer]

Any brake system changes need to be complianced by an engineer for legality as the GTI has the biggest brake package of all the polo setups so if you change it (other than just pads and rotors) you need compliancing.

Damn! Thanks for that! It is a bit silly though considering bigger brakes are 'safer' :/

[gavs]

This wasn't enabled by default in my 12.5 GTI, and still isn't after a play with VCDS. I'd say maybe it's just a Vic thing, but that wouldn't sound right?

Are you sure? It should have been as part of the ECU programming. Have you actually hit the brakes hard enough to make the hazards come on i.e as hard and as fast as you possibly can?

Damn! Thanks for that! It is a bit silly though considering bigger brakes are 'safer' :/

Not neccessarily......

[gavs]

Just to clarify, it is ADR 28 that refers to external noise of a motor vehicle. 77dB while in motion for a spark ignition engine in a passenger vehicle, 90dB at rest.