Exhaust Flames? Is it legal?

[Gops]

Hi everyone!

This has been on my mind for some time.. For those who know, my S3 was 605bhp built and mapped by badger5 and occasionally will flame (meth helping) which I personally feel is cool! It would only happen on WOT and hitting the limiter. It happened to be that once I was spotted by the local plod, which he just pulled along side in tesco to question my car. He wasn't rude or anything but did say he saw flames. He also said it was illegal to have your car flame and could be towed away if it was seen again. (Must of thought I had some flame kit).

I just went on my way and never thought much of it, but what I can't get my head around is, if it is illegal then how come these Aventadors, mclarens etc.. Flame out from a standard car?? Surely this would be illegal too? I know my cars modified but only talking about the flame illegality, is it actually illegal? If so how do Lamborghini and co get away with their cars flaming the way they do?

Thanks

 

[RichMk3]

When I had my Escort cosworth I got pulled over when it spat a dirty great flame out the back with the police behind me. Luckily I wasn't speeding at the time, but I had been giving it some stick earlier, I just down changed coming up to a roundabout.

Anyways, he pulled me over and looked under the back for a flamer kit saying they where illegal, but it didn't have one so I was off on my way. A sound copper for once

 

[desertstorm]

As above if you have one of these flame kits then that would be illegal, If the car spits flame when you are doing 60mph then no pedestrian is going to walking behind the vechicle are they.

 

[Eigdoog]

You can have a flame kit just not for road use. Don't think they can do anything about it if it spits on normal road use.

 

[Oranoco]

Sierra Cosworth manual used to state that it was quite possible for the car to flame when driven exuberantly.

 

[Hugh1980]

When I had my Escort cosworth I got pulled over when it spat a dirty great flame out the back with the police behind me. Luckily I wasn't speeding at the time, but I had been giving it some stick earlier, I just down changed coming up to a roundabout.

Anyways, he pulled me over and looked under the back for a flamer kit saying they where illegal, but it didn't have one so I was off on my way. A sound copper for once

You mean you let him pull you over lol

 

[Hugh1980]

I had a flames kit on my old series1 rs turbo. I flamed at a set of lights and a bloke came running up to me banging on my window shouting your car is on fire the look on his face when I told him it was ment to do that was priceless

 

[CarbonMike]

Many moons ago I had a Nova with twin 40 carbs on that was forever popping, banging and spitting fire out on down shifts.

Never had any issues with plod.

 

[Ledgie]

This is an interesting debate -

It all comes down to the danger aspect

Causing a vehicle to emit vapour or sparks (I interpret this to include flame) where it causes or is likely to cause danger to a person is an offence (fine only as a maximum)

With that in mind a flamer kit is not in itself illegal, however, if it does cause injury (for example something catches fire) then the above regulation will be the least of your worries as it'll suddenly be an offensive weapon, which is a criminal offence, for which the penalties are a lot more serious (imprisonment as a maximum)

A car that naturally causes flame to emit that has not been designed or adapted to cause flame, would therefore not be an offensive weapon (so only caught by the above regulations)

 

[Richard46]

I had a flames kit on my old series1 rs turbo. I flamed at a set of lights and a bloke came running up to me banging on my window shouting your car is on fire the look on his face when I told him it was ment to do that was priceless

If it was a look a baffled incredulity I think I could relate to that and after all he had rushed over in an attempt to save you from harm at some risk to him self.

 

[Bristle Hound]

 

[Evil Derboy]

It’s illegal to modify a standard exhaust system. If an S3 emitted flames as prt of its type approval process and passed then plod has no power to seize it. But he’s probably working on the assumption that S3s (unlike McLarens etc) don’t do this from factory and so your car is likely to be illegal.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/modified-cars-what-you-need-to-know.pdf