ZeDefender wrote:

Lou Sparts wrote:

Prison sentence ?

Okay - I was overdramatising a bit but f*cking about with emission-related parts is taken VERY seriously here, as in: vehicle impounded, heavy fines, points on/losing license etc.
That's why an original LR pipe missing its bits would be the only possibility for me

T1G UP wrote:

i have taken a standard cat front pipe, filled it with water, drilled some big holes in the cat itself until it broke up. then tipped it out into our incinerator. repeat until empty...easy, standard looking and de-catted

rusty66 wrote:

ZeDefender wrote:

Lou Sparts wrote:

Prison sentence ?

Okay - I was overdramatising a bit but f*cking about with emission-related parts is taken VERY seriously here, as in: vehicle impounded, heavy fines, points on/losing license etc.
That's why an original LR pipe missing its bits would be the only possibility for me

Well, yes and no. By the law you are not allowed to do this. And it is not an environmental offense or one that concerns road safety, but a tax offense.

As such the TUV won't really 'look' for such missing items (if they know where and how to locate them). You might come upon an over eager police officer while driving your car, but again, would he know where to look and what to look for?

I have had no problems in the past 20 years with various Landrovers and the authorities and I none of my many Landrover friends here had. And there have been (and are) some highly modified vehicles.

I'd say go for it (and so will I), and simply drive in a responsible and friendly way and you won't be bothered.

Thanks for the advice, all of it sound
One question though - when the TÜV do the AU won't it be obvious from the emissions that the cat has gone? Have any of your your friends had problems?

Cheers
Matt

p.s. any idea what the penalty might be for "losing" my cat? Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...

tatra805 wrote:

quick question

Is there a part number for the non-cat ROW pipe and would it be possible to purchase this from a dealer inside europe?

(could ask my dealer of course but i am sure i get a no upfront if he has to look up something non-standard. Opposite i'm his best friend if i walk in with a list of part numbers he can just copy without having to search. )


I always like to keep the route-back open and this stops me from destroying the cat till now.

ZeDefender wrote:

Thanks for the advice, all of it sound
One question though - when the TÜV do the AU won't it be obvious from the emissions that the cat has gone? Have any of your your friends had problems?

Cheers
Matt

p.s. any idea what the penalty might be for "losing" my cat?

rusty66 wrote:

Yet, TUV won't do a AU as long as the ECU doesn't show up any fault codes. With modern engine management / ECUs they just look for error codes these days. AU no longer necessary

You know I heard this before but didn't believe it. Scangauge eliminates AU then?  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...

ZeDefender wrote:

rusty66 wrote:

Yet, TUV won't do a AU as long as the ECU doesn't show up any fault codes. With modern engine management / ECUs they just look for error codes these days. AU no longer necessary

You know I heard this before but didn't believe it. Scangauge eliminates AU then?

ZeDefender wrote:

TÜV (used to) test emissions pretty accurately and I believe our old garage had standard values for each vehicle. Probably just being paranoid but getting on the wrong side of the German tax authorities is certainly a bad idea.

If I can get hold of one of the Aussie(?) LR "fake" cat pipes I will install it. I've spammed about 20 Aussie dealers to see if they can give some info...

ZeDefender wrote:

Yup, read it and sounds like a good system - but rather than savaging my existing pipe and drilling big holes in it (point of no return ) or paying for an expensive new cat (700 Euros? ), I would rather buy a standard non-cat "exchange" unit (as long as it's cheaper) to just swap over. Then I could swap back again if need be. I realise your way is free and as good as any "official" unit but I haven't got the b*lls for it yet

I'd probably ask the local indie to fit it too, being the lazy sod I am

p.s. as you've no doubt gathered, I am rather cautious

the going rate for a cat pipes £40-50...thats what there worth at the scrap dealers. buy a S/H one...bash the guts out of it and keep your standard one for best.

the puma has brought a new bunch into landrover ownership! the whole idia of a defnder is thats its a DIY car...just nuts and bolts...and an old transit engine...there nothing fancy. part of the pleasure is working on the car itself