Polo sports exhaust / Exhaust Noise

[peterb1]

Hello

My 21 year old daughter is about to buy a 1996 VW Polo 1.4CL which I think is in pretty good condition for the age.

The only issue is that it has been fitted with a sports exhaust which, in my opinion is quite noisy and may result in problems when it comes to getting a new MOT next year.

A mechanic friend said that the MOT test does not specifically measure noise (only emmisions and leaks) but I read that the tester should:

“assess subjectively the effectiveness of the silencer in reducing exhaust noise to a level considered to be average for the vehicle”
“ a silencer in such a condition, or of such a type, that the noise emitted from the vehicle is clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle with a silencer in average condition.”
Can anyone advise us? How noisy is "unreasonable"? I think that the noise is clearly well above the level expected but one persons definition of unreasonable may be different. Should we just buy it and change the exhaust for a standard one?


Anyone want to buy a secondhand sports exhaust for a Polo??!!


Peter

[g40jon]

try advertising it of clubpolo.co.uk or uk-polos.net, both sites are frequented by youngsters who like mk4 polos with sporty exhaust bolted on!
and try leisureshack.co.uk for a cheap replacement backbox. they stock bosal which are a pretty decent manufacturer of OE quality exhausts.

[peterb1]

Thanks for that - I would still be interested to know if any one has had any problems getting a car through an MOT with a noisy (but otherwise sound) sports exhaust fitted. I m=know that aftermarket motorbike exhausts need to be "road legal" and stamped as such but, strangely the same does not appear to be true of cars...

[MalcQV]

I would have to hear it. Does it sound louder than this?

I think it is really down to the MOT testers discretion.

[g40jon]

i ran my polo gt without a backbox for 6 months, passed mot like it and never got pulled for it, just had a straight bit of pipe hanging out the back. twas very loud, compared to std.
To be honest if i were you i would be more worried about the insurance issues it may cause, make sure its declared and i doubt you will have much trouble.
my other polo has a custom made exhaust sys, this only has 1 silencing box. it isnt that loud though as the car is forced induction and the one silincer it does have is very large.