Quote:
Originally Posted by Turbo
That is not my interpretation. The law references modifying a MUFFLER not an EXHAUST SYSTEM. To me, that means hollowing out a muffler or otherwise modifying the muffler that came on the car. Installing an aftermarket exhaust system is fair game.
As for "pops" LOTS of cars do it - many from the factory, nowadays including every AMG and Sport Mercedes model. That makes those types of noises ROUTINE, not unusual. At least, that's how I see it.
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If you remove the original and replace it with an aftermarket you have modified the muffler.
Any change from the stock version is a
modification. A play on words will not change a cop nor a judges mind.
As far of the rest of the exhaust goes the laws covering the cats cover headers and pipes. It is illegal to do ANY modifications to the emissions system so this leaves very little that can be changed in an exhaust system that you could not get dinged for.
Noises that come from a stock car can be proven to be "normal". If they are not part of the stock setup they are indeed unusual and subject to the law. Saying that other cars do it does not make it usual for all.
You can try to twist things around all you want but they have heard all of that rationalization before and will hear it again. Everybody just needs to ride this blitz out and things will go back to "normal" soon. I went through this sort of crackdown in the at least twice in the 70s, once in the 80s and several times in the 90s and they always eventually just said "screw it it ain't worth the hassle".