fred_ 166 Report post Posted October 7, 2011 So.... I'm thinking about buying an Innotech E92 exhaust for an M3. It has this valvetronic technology where you can press a button which opens and closes the valves making the exhaust quiet or super loud. Just wondering the legality on this in NZ? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huff3r 347 Report post Posted October 7, 2011 I imagine it would only be legal if you got it certified for the loudest it can go, i.e valves open or whatever.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted October 7, 2011 Just fit it, keep the valve closed for wofs etc, come tracks or a bit of country driving open the gates of hell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cliffdunedin 8 Report post Posted October 7, 2011 (edited) I bought one of those X Force adjustable ones a few years ago for my Subaru, as any aftermarket exhaust or tips will go over the db's for a WOF and i wasn't keen to have an ugly silencer installed. When I had my car certed I mentioned about getting one of these in the near future, they told me it should not require certed as when closed it should not sound near the db limit. Has been through 3 or 4 WOF's since and i've never been hit up about it (fully closed mind you) Here's a youtube video: Only thing i would find better is if it was adjustable, not open and close if you know what i mean!? Edited October 7, 2011 by cliffdunedin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fred_ 166 Report post Posted October 8, 2011 I bought one of those X Force adjustable ones a few years ago for my Subaru, as any aftermarket exhaust or tips will go over the db's for a WOF and i wasn't keen to have an ugly silencer installed. When I had my car certed I mentioned about getting one of these in the near future, they told me it should not require certed as when closed it should not sound near the db limit. Has been through 3 or 4 WOF's since and i've never been hit up about it (fully closed mind you) Here's a youtube video: Only thing i would find better is if it was adjustable, not open and close if you know what i mean!? I'm sweet about the wofs etc... I know where to go haha... It's more that I am planning on fitting the exhaust here in the UK and bringing it into the country with it on... Wondering if maf/customs will make a big deal of it ? If so Ill just ship the car back with stock exhaust and fit it when it's in NZ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
huff3r 347 Report post Posted October 8, 2011 I'm sweet about the wofs etc... I know where to go haha... It's more that I am planning on fitting the exhaust here in the UK and bringing it into the country with it on... Wondering if maf/customs will make a big deal of it ? If so Ill just ship the car back with stock exhaust and fit it when it's in NZ If they notice it they may do, as it is technically illegal to be able to easily modify an exhaust (which is why silencers are normally required to be welded these days) but thats only if they notice. And yeah I know Jags have them standard etc etc, but anything stock standard is legal by default (eg. fpv/hsv exhausts well over 96db) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sick Puppy 1 Report post Posted October 9, 2011 If so Ill just ship the car back with stock exhaust and fit it when it's in NZThis is a safer option IMO - from what I gather, cars are given a pretty good going over when first inspected here... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1043 Report post Posted October 9, 2011 Just get a center muffler / flanged straight pipe for the center section.. Swap them over as you please. Lots cheaper and gives actual performance increases. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HaNs 226 Report post Posted October 10, 2011 They are legal, they come factory on a lot of high end cars and we sell many systems with them on them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pureboiracer 0 Report post Posted October 11, 2011 Come standard on the FG XR8's Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AntonyG 0 Report post Posted October 18, 2011 (edited) Quoted from the VIRM (the WOF Bible) Reasons for rejection # 3. The exhaust system is so constructed or modified that its operation or effectiveness can be readily interfered with, eg the driver is able to interfere with the exhaust system by operating a manual switch" You may argue that this is referring to the systems effectiveness in regards to fumes. The WOF boffins that issue WOF inspectors with their authority seem fairly adamant that this refers to both the exhaust systems ability to deal with the fumes and decibel output. Edited October 18, 2011 by Antz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joshnz 2 Report post Posted October 19, 2011 Illegal. There was a write up about this, I read in a Performance Car magazine a few months back. Same question was asked and the Police officer that answered said anything that allows modification of the exhaust in that way would/should fail a WOF. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30-323ti 66 Report post Posted October 19, 2011 I would hope, that as long as it was quieter then the imposed maximum, and didn't breach any imposed emissions, then it should be fine. You may well be ask to prove it however... After all, how many vehicles have some form of OE 'valve actuation' in the exhaust system. An old E36 328i for starters..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AntonyG 0 Report post Posted October 19, 2011 After all, how many vehicles have some form of OE 'valve actuation' in the exhaust system. An old E36 328i for starters..... Loads of BMW's have muffler flaps. E46 330i, E90 335i, E60 545i, 550i, 645i, 650i E65 745i, 750i etc etc etc the F01, F10 even the Rolls Royce ghost. They're OEM and don't allow for driver interference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg111 13 Report post Posted October 20, 2011 Loads of BMW's have muffler flaps. E46 330i, E90 335i, E60 545i, 550i, 645i, 650i E65 745i, 750i etc etc etc the F01, F10 even the Rolls Royce ghost. They're OEM and don't allow for driver interference. Bit different though isn't it. When the second flap opens up on the BMWs it's not that noticable. The aftermarket ones work completely different. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cliffdunedin 8 Report post Posted October 21, 2011 Talking to some friends last weekend about this and one of my friends has had his SLR5000 fitted with a late model Commodore one and this was also certed, so i'm not 100% sure on the whole legal and illegal thing! Perhaps aftermarket are illegal and OEM parts are not...bit confusing though! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joshnz 2 Report post Posted October 21, 2011 From what I read its pretty easy to understand. Any exhaust that allows the driver to manually adjust the sound/output is illegal. Therefore standard exhausts which automatically open or close at certain RPMs (like my E36) are legal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AntonyG 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2011 Bit different though isn't it. When the second flap opens up on the BMWs it's not that noticable. The aftermarket ones work completely different. Indeed, my understanding is its more about killing interior "drone" on BMW's than outright Db ratings. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites