My orders to JDM land got cancelled. Also questions for the Germans

"Ricepuddin a shitty superhero" (ricepuddin) 01/29/2014 at 20:54 • Filed to: None

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Due to human error, I am not longer going to Japan as my next assignment. I am bummed because not only is it a rare duty station for the Army, in my field it's a a great assignment for folks wanting to be Warrant officers.

Thankfully, all is not lost and I will be going to Germany instead. The position isn't quite as beneficial for career, there is a lot of opportunity for schooling.

Anyways question for the German folks, I know most modifications to cars are Illegal but how legal are Factory Performance parts? I am looking at Gt500 Mufflers and maybe a boss 302 intake manifold, but don't want to spend the money if it's illegal over there

YSI-what can brown do for you > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/29/2014 at 20:56

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Its technically illegal to run decatted or without a muffler, but people still do it.

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > YSI-what can brown do for you 01/29/2014 at 20:57

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In germany? I hear the Polizi don't play around though

YSI-what can brown do for you > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/29/2014 at 20:58

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Well here in the states. I have never been to Germany. I imagine it is the same. I would ask around over there. People will find a way to modify their cars.

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > YSI-what can brown do for you 01/29/2014 at 21:00

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Everyone I know who has been there is Military, and are all scared shitless of the Police. I know we have a few Germans on here, figured they'd have a little more insight

YSI-what can brown do for you > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/29/2014 at 21:01

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I am sure they can provide more insight then me, but are the germans really that harsh on modified cars?

Aaron Brown > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/29/2014 at 21:03

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You're allowed to bring your car over?

lucky's pepper > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/29/2014 at 21:13

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Back in my day if you were an American and brought your car or bike over, or bought it new and had it delivered there, the German rules didn't apply. I knew a lot of guys who had modified cars and bikes that wouldn't have been legal if the owner had been German. Of course that was many years ago.

505Turbeaux > Aaron Brown 01/29/2014 at 21:16

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my Aunt had her 88 Fiero V6 over there for years

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > Aaron Brown 01/29/2014 at 21:17

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Military will pay for one car to be shipped

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > lucky's pepper 01/29/2014 at 22:20

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I guess their pollution laws have changed drastically, you can't even idle your car to warm it up in the morning

M54B30 > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/29/2014 at 23:06

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I had a Mustang and got close to the 90db limit with Flowmasters. When I left, they were transitioning from a USAREUR inspection to the much harder German TüV inspection. What sticks in my memory is that front window tint is verboten, oversized wheels (IIRC it is any tire size not factory equipped and is for sure anything that sticks out past fenders) are a no-no. Other than that, American cars didn't have much issue. They were exempt from obvious Euro/US Spec differences (turn signal color, etc) but the TüV is an all round inspection. - no cracks in the windows, parking brake has to hold the car at a standstill, no check engine lights, etc.

Where are you going to? I was in Darmstadt 01-08 and my wife was Rhein-Main until it's 2005 closure than Ramstein. I took night classes there and visited just about every base/post there.

Svend > YSI-what can brown do for you 01/30/2014 at 02:52

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I'm a Brit and was in Germany for a short time but they are quite strict (more so in some areas than others). If the vehicle is too loud, low or emissions off they will have a sturn word. I know a friend of mine who lives in a 'low emmissions zone' in the south of Germany and basically he wasn't allowed to register his Mitsubishi EVO (not sure what number) purely as the emmissions would of been too high and he had to leave it at his parents further north and ended up having to get an Opel Corsa to get around.

You'd be best off speaking to your commanding officer who can point you to a relevant person in regards to overseas posts.

Overseas points can be a cultural shock to the system so most countries forces have personnel to ease the transition and may be able to get information from the German police or ADAC about what is and isn't allowed.

Jobjoris > M54B30 01/30/2014 at 04:44

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When visiting the Nordschleife keep in mind that there's a local decibel limit of 95db. And yes: They check if they suspect you're making to much noise. Saw a USAF guy's Mustang being checked and rejected once. Remarks of 02BMW530 about windowtint/wheels are correct, not sure if the 90db is still in effect. I believe new cars aren't allowed that much anymore so it depends on the car you're bringing. Current law is something like an EU-wide directive capping ‘drive-by’ noise from new cars: they must not emit more than 80 decibels of sound.

Klaus Schmoll > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/30/2014 at 07:55

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You can modify your car with whatever parts you like, as long as they have proper documentation. You have to provide paperwork that shows that the parts are safe. A.k.a. that a bodykit won't into a thousand tiny razorblades upon the slightest impact etc. With factory parts, this should be no problem.

I'd check what the regulations for US personnel are right now. Is it still some kind of TÜV-light or are they doing full on TÜV now?

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > M54B30 01/30/2014 at 08:51

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Thank you for the information! I am going to pirmasens but will apparently live on K-town.

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > Jobjoris 01/30/2014 at 08:53

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I'll have check and see if I can find a decibel rating for it, can't imagine it's to much more than 80 dbs allotment

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > Klaus Schmoll 01/30/2014 at 08:55

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Ah okay, that makes a little more sense. I am not sure if it's full TUV or not, I am trying to find out but most of the info I've been sent is slightly outdated

M54B30 > Ricepuddin a shitty superhero 01/30/2014 at 11:16

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Let me know if you have any questions. Ktown is a great area, you'll find anything you need (that's available) there. We used to travel to Ktown since they had a nice sized shopping center on base. When I was leaving they were doing the KMCC (an all-in-one shopping center on Ramstein) and it was an absolute disaster. Google it if you're bored but it was a contracting nightmare.

Vehicle inspection is hit or miss. Sometimes you get a hard ass with a chip on his shoulder, sometimes you get someone easy going. When they were closing Darmstadt, all the German workers were so sour about losing their job that when I brought a Golf in for inspection I told him I'd give him a carton of cigarettes (unrationed ones) if he just passed me. He took my paper, stamped it, and said "Have a good day."