Germany bans chip tuning

[emergent]

SEMA eNews, Vol. 11, No. 36 - Sep 04, 2008
GERMANY ENACTS BAN ON CHIP-TUNING MODIFICATIONS

The German government has notified the automotive technical approval services in Germany that, effective immediately, they are prohibited from approving engine-management software (“chip tuning”) modifications. The government has cited lack of knowledge on the effects these modifications have on exhaust emissions, as well as other vehicle systems, such as braking and steering.

Unofficially, the technical services are suggesting as a temporary measure to use the current tests utilized by the technical services to test aftermarket engine-management hardware modifications and engine tuning in general (headers, valves, engine swaps).

This recommendation would involve the generation of a test report (short of a product approval) and then consumers would be required to take this test result and apply for a “one-off approval” for that particular vehicle.

[M2381]

Wow..this is major news. Even though they dont have extensive knowledge about this subject their still gonna ban it anyways huh? Sounds like a lot of governments in the world.

[Sticky]

I don't really see how they can ban ecu tuning. People will get tunes and install them no matter what, good luck regulating that.

[ModBargains.com]

Lol another useless law. Goodjob Germany

[positiveions]

do you have a link on that? I would highly doubt that that law will enact. There are many tuners, like AC, ABT, MTM, etc... that are in the business of tuning and modifying vehicles.
We need to find out from our friends from Germany.

[Doc]

How are they going to enforce that law? roadblock and every car is hooked up to laptop to check its onboard map is the original? wont work I tell ya..

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by Doc

How are they going to enforce that law? roadblock and every car is hooked up to laptop to check its onboard map is the original? wont work I tell ya..

wont work? mind an accident! your insurance wont pay if you have any modifications which are not permitted by the gouverment, also you might get punished additional and so on...

you ve to go for a check-up with your car(afaik) every 4 years, here...

so far they wont get you when they pull you aside, but on the long run... dangerous!

[UltimateBMW]

Originally Posted by Doc

How are they going to enforce that law? roadblock and every car is hooked up to laptop to check its onboard map is the original? wont work I tell ya..

Confiscate any offending cars?

[positiveions]

I can forsee it, many of the tuners will leave German and set-up shops in different countries for software tuning-if it comes down to that. As far as checking your car every 4 years, I am sure these tuners will find a way around it.

[goldminer]

Originally Posted by Doc

How are they going to enforce that law? roadblock and every car is hooked up to laptop to check its onboard map is the original? wont work I tell ya..

Many countries have annual or biannual emission compliance checks. Here in Ontario I must do one to get my license plates renewed. I think that it would be a simple matter to add another check for a modified ecu wouldn't it?

[Kadarin]

A blanket ban on something isn't a good solution, IMO. I live in California, where we have some pretty strict smog laws in place, and even here there are processes for introducing aftermarket modifications.

Personally, I'm all for breathing clean air...

[Krueger///M3]

That stinks.