Mk2 Golf VR6 conversion. Import and NCT question

sflandango

G'day troops,

I would really appreciate some advice. I am considering buying a Mk2 golf with a VR6 engine fitted. I always loved Mk2's and I think it would be a little cracker of a motor. (I tried to post a link to the ad but I'm not allowed cos I haven't had a lot of posts.)

So my questions are around the legalities and technicalities of VRT'ing and NCT'ing this car. Naturally the engine and chassis numbers won't match and I wonder will that be an issue for VRT and NCT?

The ad says it's 1.8 so I'm assuming the log book details have not been amended and it still shows as 1.8 on the book. Will this create a problem during the NCT as the emissions will be through the roof?

I'd prefer not to change the details as the tax on a 2.8 is absolutely bananas so let's skip that for the time being. I'd just like to know if any of you can paint me a picture of where I stand as regards VRT and NCT with the car as it is (2.8 under the bonnet, 1.8 on the book)

Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Seweryn

sflandango wrote: »

Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

No problems with VRT IMO. The car will be inspected by a person that will check the VIN number, mileage and the colour of your car. They do not have any more power (or knowledge, usually) to tell what is under the bonnet.

NCT - once the car is safe and passes the emission test, will pass.

bazz26

Surely they will notice the engine number will not match that on the car's V5 log book? I certainly would not take it for granted that getting it VRT'd and registered as a 1.8 will be clean sailing.

sflandango

Thanks Seweryn. I wonder if you know how the NCT emissions test works? Will they be expecting a certain level of output that would corelate with the fuel burn of a 1.8? Will the higher emissions of the 2.8, even it is running well in it's own right, make it appear like 1.8 that should be in there has very high emissions?

Baz I'm not sure now how the VRT process works. Seweryn reckons they won't check that.

Seweryn

sflandango wrote: »

I wonder if you know how the NCT emissions test works? Will they be expecting a certain level of output that would corelate with the fuel burn of a 1.8?

If the engine is in good order, it will pass the same way as 1.8. It is the % of CO and HC that are measured. So your car may emit a ton of gases, but the % of CO / HC matters, not the actual weight or volume, if you know what I mean.

Seweryn

bazz26 wrote: »

Surely they will notice the engine number will not match that on the car's V5 log book? I certainly would not take it for granted that getting it VRT'd and registered as a 1.8 will be clean sailing.

The engine number does not need to match with the Fahrzeugbrief. You would need an expert to tell that, and the engine numbers are not easily accessible. The engine number is not on the VTR Inspector's list to check anyway.

sflandango

I get ya Seweryn, makes perfect sense. Thanks for that.

Seweryn

sflandango wrote: »

Did you mean that the engine number is NOT on the VRT inspector's checklist?

No, they normally don't check the engine numbers. An engine is a replacement part anyway.

kona

I'd say the conversation with the insurance companies will be comical! You should record them!

Henry Ford III

It'd be up to you to declare the car as a 2.8l OP. Failure to do so would be an offence I'd have thought.

sflandango

kona wrote: »

I'd say the conversation with the insurance companies will be comical! You should record them!

Jasus I don't know. Insuring a 1.8 golf should be fairly straightforward no?

Henry Ford III

sflandango wrote: »

Jasus I don't know. Insuring a 1.8 golf should be fairly straightforward no?

I hope you aren't proposing a fraud?

bazz26

A 1.8 litre yes, but a 1.8 on the log book with a 2.8 engine under the bonnet maybe not so straight forward.

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote: »

A 1.8 litre yes, but a 1.8 on the log book with a 2.8 engine under the bonnet maybe not so straight forward.

An understatement.

sflandango

No, I am definitely NOT proposing fraud. Thanks for the ideas lads. Keep them coming...

Pkiernan

sflandango wrote: »

No, I am definitely NOT proposing fraud. Thanks for the ideas lads. Keep them coming...

This is fraud:

"I'd prefer not to change the details as the tax on a 2.8 is absolutely bananas so let's skip that for the time being"

sflandango

So it seems that these days the car actually gets inspected at the NCT centre before it can be VRTd. Here is a quote from the NCT website:

At that test centre, the vehicle will be examined to ensure it matches the various characteristics described in the accompanying documentation for example, vehicle identification number (VIN), registration number (in the case of a used vehicle) make, model and variant, engine size, number of doors etc. If the requisite documentation is not available at the time of the examination or the vehicle details do not match the documentation, the vehicle will not be registered and a re-test fee will be payable on return with relevant documentation.

When it has been established that the vehicle is eligible for registration you will be presented with a document containing the vehicle details which you will be asked to sign confirming that you wish to register the vehicle as outlined on the declaration. Following confirmation, Revenue will assign a registration number to the vehicle and this will be issued to you by the NCTS on payment of the tax due.

Sounds ropey 😕

darragh o meara

I've had a few cars vrtd by not crowd, they usually don't bother checking what engine is in the car and most of them wouldn't know the difference between a 3 cylinder and a v8... If you are caught out though I'd imagine you'll be in a spot of bother.

The fun starts when you try insure it. If you insure it as a 1.8 and have an accident your fcuked cos whoever will come out to see the car will know what a 1.8 engine should look like and your insurance company will run so fast away from you, they'll make Usain Bolt look slow..

Insure it as it is and you'll also have hassle, firstly if you have a crash etc, the value will be based on what's on the logbook not the actual value of a vr6 conversion.. That's of course if they'll even insure it in the first place, most won't without a heap of engineers reports and paper work and even then may tell you no..

BTW, the cops are getting extremely good at spotting this kinda carry on, have seen a few bonnets pulled at checkpoints recently to check that the engine corresponds with what it's taxed and insured as.

Seweryn

sflandango wrote: »

So it seems that these days the car actually gets inspected at the NCT centre before it can be VRTd. Here is a quote from the NCT website:

At that test centre, the vehicle will be examined to ensure it matches the various characteristics described in the accompanying documentation for example, vehicle identification number (VIN), registration number (in the case of a used vehicle) make, model and variant, engine size, number of doors etc. ...

That is a very general description. The person inspecting the car for the VRT purposes has usually no mechanical knowledge and wouldn't tell the difference between a car's engine and a food blender. The engine numbers are not being checked during the VRT inspection.
The VRT department is a separate division to the NCT test centre, where at least you have mechanics on duty that know a thing or two about cars.

Insurance is of course a different matter all together and the insurer should be notified about the modifications done to the car to make sure your policy is valid in case of any accident (touch wood).