Kitt Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Hello everyone, Just got the RSR and full de-cat on my NA and with the muffler removed the sound is amazing and extremely loud ! Unfortunately on the way to work yesterday I was pulled over by a " friendly " policeman who had a quiet word about the noise polution !! To avoid this I decided to put the muffler on today and to be honest it sounds sh*ite ! Just over 2000 rpm instead of a deep rumble my car sounds like a Vauxhall Nova ! Is there anything else I can do / can I purchase a different muffler / can I do anything to the existing muffler ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Complete rubbish mate I had concerns and spoke to a traffic officer at weetwood police station in Leeds. He was 100% sure that there is no enforcable law in existence that would lead me to being prosecuted by the police. If your neighbours complain to environmental health then they would initially warn you in writing and it would need further complaints for it to go any further. He did say to make sure that the insurance company is aware that it is a non type-approved exhaust (as are any custom and almost any after-market exhaust). I would suggest (for your own peace of mind) that you call your local plod and confirm the above (different constabularies may have different by-laws). I think he knew he couldn't do you or he probably would have done (by the fact that he bothered to stop you for it anyway). Mine has been on since about march and I make an effort to rev past mr. plod - never been stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarface GTti Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 My brothers a copper and he tells me that under a new law, Section 59 i think he said, that if you are driving in an inconsiderate manner, i.e loud exhaust, loud stereo, driving like a wanker, etc in a residential area then you can be warned. After the first warning they have the power to seize your vehicle. He says its extreme but they have done it in Brighton where he lives as it is adhered to in built up areas. He says that on your first warning though that they have to explain the warning correctly for it to be valid. If the copper just says " i hope you`ll have that sorted next time i come across you" then he can`t do jack next time he does. He thinks it may come under another section where you can get a fixed penalty but he says he`s not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lust2luv Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Agreed, with the baffle in it does sound a bit farty like a kevved up Nova. Plus mine rattles (maybe I sanded it down a bit too much, but it only just fitted even then). I say leave it out, I've got the exact same set up as you and haven't been stopped yet after 4,000 miles around the UK and Europe (just so happens that my old exhaust was even louder too). Just don't be silly and give it too much gas past policemen. If all else fails, dip the clutch as if you're passing a horserider or something - almost totally quiet then. If you're not driving like a tit, then it'd be a pretty sad anal policeman who'd pull you over I'd say - there are at least 3 cars in my little road almost as loud as mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam W Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 I ran around with no cats, silencer anything, just an open pipe for over a year. Bloody noisy but never ever got pulled or had MOT trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovatt Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 you can be done for this, i have seen it with my own eyes, on the way back from a rally in our old rally escort cosworth me and my mate were pulled because of the noise of our exhaust, they called on the radio for another unit, one came with a bloody machine to test the noise at idle, we were just on the DB limit and they had to let us off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 Originally posted by lovatt you can be done for this, i have seen it with my own eyes, on the way back from a rally in our old rally escort cosworth me and my mate were pulled because of the noise of our exhaust, they called on the radio for another unit, one came with a bloody machine to test the noise at idle, we were just on the DB limit and they had to let us off DB limit for environmental health maybe, but there is no DB limit for exhausts in the UK. He would have simply recorded the Db's being produced and passed it on to environmental health for them to follow-up. Like I say, it may be different for different areas due to by-laws etc so it is always best to talk to your local police station. Keep a note in the car with the traffic officers name (make sure it is traffic) the date and time of the call and what he told you. Then if all else fails you have a point of reference. The problem is that so many things are broadly covered by other laws. For example..... "what are you doing hanging outside this shop mr 17yr old" "nothing officer, waiting to meet a mate" It is quite possible that the officer in question could proceed with doing the young man for loitering. Despite standing outside a shop waiting for your mate being perfectly legal. It's only an example of course, but it highlights the possibility for interpretation. I personally wouldn't worry about it, but you have to do what you think is best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovatt Posted August 17, 2004 Share Posted August 17, 2004 well in the westmids were we were checked it would have been a fixed penalty and a fix it note, not an enviromental health warning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitt Posted August 17, 2004 Author Share Posted August 17, 2004 Thanks for all the responses and I also over-did-it on the sanding so muffler rattling is also annoying ! I've spoken to the bird and her friend is a local 'plodess' and she said that traffic cops can't do jack. Not meaning to sound in anyway camp, but during the normal trundle to work in the morning with the muffler out it does give you ear-ache every morning ! I think I'll continue with the Nova sound during the week then break the sound barrier at weekends Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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