New EU proposals in conecction with mods.

I have just picked up the following from an article in the Newsweek section of this week's Auto Express.

Basically it says, that under new EU proposals, any kind of modification could mean the car fails the MOT. If the proposal gets the green light then "components of the vehicle must comply with characteristics at the time of first registration" effectively outlawing any deviation from the factory specification. This would make the rest of the EU the same as the situation in Germany. Any car fitted or modified in any way that is not TUV (the German car testing authority) approved would mean the car would fail an MOT. This would include wheels, bodykits, headlights and even towbars.

The proposal as it stands may well be a bit over the top and may get watered down, but German tuning companies manage to survive and prosper and they had this situation for many years. Probably this is why German tuning firms are so good. The thing is that these companies have to get the products and the services they offer approved by the TUV for the model of car. Once this is done anyone can buying the items and fit them to their own car or have the company carry out an approved upgrades without any further problems. What is does stop is 'cowboys' carrying out things to cars that should not be done on the grounds of safety or the environment.

Germany cars are, I think, subject to a TUV test every two years, but if the car is stopped by the police or involved in an accident and found to have items on the car that are not TUV approved they car be prosecuted.