Hi all,

I, like a vast majority of 380 owners here, have or have planned to modify my car. Following the wise words of those before me, i'll be throwing on kings, a berklee and sooner or later some mags.

My question is, how easy is it for a policeman to say 'no, i don't like the look of you, take them off'. I obviously don't have a great understanding of the subject, but i can say that i'd hate to spend $$$ on kings eg and then be told to put the old ones back ones (from where ill have to put the kings back on)

Has anyone attracted boy-racer-esque attention and had to adhere to the law of a misunderstanding cop? Or can we get a piece of paper rather easily saying 'no this is legit'

thanks, mick

Hi all,

I, like a vast majority of 380 owners here, have or have planned to modify my car. Following the wise words of those before me, i'll be throwing on kings, a berklee and sooner or later some mags.

My question is, how easy is it for a policeman to say 'no, i don't like the look of you, take them off'. I obviously don't have a great understanding of the subject, but i can say that i'd hate to spend $$$ on kings eg and then be told to put the old ones back ones (from where ill have to put the kings back on)

Has anyone attracted boy-racer-esque attention and had to adhere to the law of a misunderstanding cop? Or can we get a piece of paper rather easily saying 'no this is legit'

thanks, mick

1.A 380 is not a cop magnet
2. Even with king superlows a 380 isn't what i would call a low car so should be fine there.
3. Exhaust is where you can get caught out....sorta, The only way you will get pulled up for exhaust noise is if it is very loud. (90DB+) Which is really quite a high figure and i would be surprised is just swapping to a berklee muffler would get you anywhere near an unacceptable noise level.

4. The most important one is not having outlandish wheels. Still very rare even if you somehow fit 22inch chromies. Most police won't bother with it but you can be caught out here. generally as a rule wheels should not be over 8inches wide on a FWD car but you should really get away with anything under 20s. The problem is finding load rated tyres, if your tyres aren't load rated it's more an issue with your insurance company rather then police as cops don't pick up on it too often. But if you crash with incorrectly rated tyres you may not get your insurance claim settled.

There are guidelines as to how you can modify your vehicle. Check out the RTA website. To sum it up for you...

The widely enforced rule for suspension is that you car must maintain at least 100mm of ground clearance at its lowest point, even when your car is loaded up.

There's a certain decibel level that your exhaust cannot be louder than - I believe it's about 90db. If you go to an exhaust shop and tell them that you want to keep it legal, they should be able to pick out something for you.

With your rims, you can go as big as you want as long as the rolling diameter remains within +/-15mm of standard. I think there's a law that says that you can't go more than 25mm wider than standard, but this does not seem to be commonly enforced. Your rims and tyres can't stick out of the guards, and the load and speed rating of your tyre cannot be less than standard.

For off-the-shelf modifications you can't get a modplate or some sort of certificate of legitimacy or similar. Given you drive a 380, you're unlikely to attract much police attention, and in the worst case scenario that you get defected for something that is legal, you can always fight it in court.

Ok, some proper info.

Anything that is not vehicle standard can get you a ticket. Saying that, it's pretty unlikely in a 380.

police actually feel sorry for us 380 drivers... we get away with anything :)

police actually feel sorry for us 380 drivers... we get away with anything :)

police drive 380's, nuff said :)

Not sure about NSW, but here in Victoria the VicRoads website has a downloadable document that states the modification guidelines such as the specs for what aftermarket wheels can be fitted, lowering limits, bonnet scoops, exhaust mods, window tinting, etc.
Maybe contact the NSW RTA and ask them what mods can be done whilst keeping the car legal.

Yep, check the guidelines.

But then again, if some irate strung out member of the mobile law enforcement brigade is attracted by your shiny wheels, he can still make your life difficult. Grandpa spec is the safest. Hide in the crowd. lol

You can be defected for your seatbelts not retracting fast enough, with fast enough being at the officers discresion, in a completely stock car of any type. Keep it 100mm or more off the ground, dont get wheels that are way too big, make sure its not overly loud, and unless your driving is bad you shouldn't get too much attention. It isn't an import covered in wings and held together with cable ties, or an old commodore with cut springs, so at a glance a 380 is just another normal car and not a defectable road hazzard.

Good advice all round.

Wheels: the legal limit for wheel widths is 8" on FWD and AWD cars, unless the factory standard was wider. It's also only allowed to be up to 1" wider than what is specified on the tyre placard, so have a look at yours. (inside drivers door opening)

Police can defect a car if they think that it might not be safe or within the rules.
This means that if they aren't sure of the rule, they can defect ANY vehicle for ANY reason.

If they give you a "canary" or yellow defect sticker, then you have to take the car for an inspection and they OK it (if it's within the rules) and remove the sticker and you're down a few bucks ($30?) and couple hours out of your day. This is only going to happen if an officer is really annoyed at you for some reason.
I've driven with loud exhausts, mags and loud stereo for nearly 20 years, I've hung out with real hoons and only once had my car inspected for a defect when an officer was concerned that I was driving too fast. My "ram pod" air filter was the only thing he said he could defect me for but even then he let me off because I was behaving nicely.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b129/Ogier/Applause/th_appengine.jpg (http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b129/Ogier/Applause/appengine.jpg)

I remember in Adelaide many years ago getting defected for window tinting (even though it was a legal tint in Victoria) because the cop was looking for something to get me on (he suspected I was speeding but couldn't prove it).
As others have said, they can get you on anything. Don't worry about it unless you are hooning (and then deserve it).
The 380 is the last car they pull over, trust me. In fact I was followed by a cop car very early in the morning a few years ago (in the 380) and I overtook a car in front, single lane, bit over the speed limit, as I didn't realise who I was being followed by (chromatic mirror - fail). They followed me and then pulled over the car I just overtook and defected them!

Easiest thing to do is not act like an idiot and give them the respect they deserve..

If they start acting all crazy and in your face, ask for their badge number and contact their station.

Its highly unlikely that you'll get pulled over or booked for anything, if you respect the law.

berklee muffler on a 380 isnt loud anyway gives a nice tone so you should be safe there

berklee muffler on a 380 isnt loud anyway gives a nice tone so you should be safe there

yep i'm running that. 20x8.5 wheels. King super lows all round and 15%tint. Not once have i caught the attention of the police.

This means that if they aren't sure of the rule, they can defect ANY vehicle for ANY reason.

If they give you a "canary" or yellow defect sticker, then you have to take the car for an inspection and they OK it (if it's within the rules) and remove the sticker and you're down a few bucks ($30?) and couple hours out of your day.

I find that very hard to believe. There is no way that you can be held liable for that cost and time (ie $30 and 2 hours of your time) if the car in fact meets the required standard.
If I was stickered for something which turned out to be completely legal, you can be sure the $30 and 2 hours of my time would be reimbursed, no matter how long that took.

As my best mate is copper, I will ask him if he can randomly defect a car for something even if he doesn't know if it is illegal. I highly doubt it.

I find that very hard to believe. There is no way that you can be held liable for that cost and time (ie $30 and 2 hours of your time) if the car in fact meets the required standard.
If I was stickered for something which turned out to be completely legal, you can be sure the $30 and 2 hours of my time would be reimbursed, no matter how long that took.

As my best mate is copper, I will ask him if he can randomly defect a car for something even if he doesn't know if it is illegal. I highly doubt it.

I'm pretty sure I've heard that they can defect on suspicion of something, without having actual proof. It's bullshit if they can - I'm interested to hear back when you find out!

I find that very hard to believe. There is no way that you can be held liable for that cost and time (ie $30 and 2 hours of your time) if the car in fact meets the required standard.
If I was stickered for something which turned out to be completely legal, you can be sure the $30 and 2 hours of my time would be reimbursed, no matter how long that took.

As my best mate is copper, I will ask him if he can randomly defect a car for something even if he doesn't know if it is illegal. I highly doubt it.

I can tell you that a Police Officer can give you a ticket if your car has "Any modification that is not vehicle standard."

At least in QLD anyway. It's in the traffic act.

Interesting topic.
At the end of the day a cop can defect a car straight off the factory floor if they need to. Even if the meets ADR standard.

You can only "legally" have mags that are 2inches above the standard size of the rim that came out factory. And its much the same with ride height, 2 inches up or down. (p-50 law)

It all depends on how you drive and how you treat the Cop at the time. I have had mates that have been defected for a warn brake pedal rubber.

There isnt much you can do to a car that doesn't require an engineers cert. For example, if you get a set of front seats out of a 380 and place them into a TF you will need an engineers cert.

When I put my 19x8.5 rims on I checked with my insurance - as back in the 80s there used to be a "widest available rim +1 inch" policy - but now they said anything is okay as long as it passes rego. My mechanic, who does rego inspections, just said as long as it doesn't stick out (and obviously is within same overall rolling diameter, isn't slammed stupid low, etc) then it will pass.
In addition, I had a head-on accident a few years ago (my fault but fortunately not too bad) and was unable to drive away, ie wait for tow truck AND cops. Cops came, saw the car, took all the statements, etc, but didn't fine me or defect the car against its mods (must have been lucky). Car had to go to insurance lock-up warehouse for repairs, where they could theoretically examine it with a fine tooth comb and reject my claim on any of my mods - but didn't. Nothing happened, nor ever has since.
As Knotched said, I also was followed by a cop on a motorway. As I entered, I swung straight over in the right lane to overtake a slow car. I was about 10k over the limit, and got a heart attack when I went back to left lane and realised it was a cop behind me. He just kept driving and soon took the next exit. So simple answer, while the cops could defect you on anything they want, I highly doubt they even worry about 380s. Keep your mods clean and sensible like the rest of us, and you won't have any trouble.

Accidentally doing 100KMPH down hill, (on p's) limit is 80 cops over take me and tell me to slow down (hand signal)and go past me, i think the 380s have something going on with the cops.<3

but now they said anything is okay as long as it passes rego. My mechanic, who does rego inspections, just said as long as it doesn't stick out (and obviously is within same overall rolling diameter, isn't slammed stupid low, etc) then it will pass.



Heres a photo of my truck that gets passed every year by my Mechanic. I get regular defect notices irrespective of the Rego check. Think of a defect notice as being on par with BLUE slip and not a PINK slip. Its very misleading and by rights they should be the same in regards to what fails and whats passed, my wallet hates it :(

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/benlyons83/clairescammera066.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/benlyons83/153.jpg

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/benlyons83/743.jpg

Accidentally doing 100KMPH down hill, (on p's) limit is 80 cops over take me and tell me to slow down (hand signal)and go past me, i think the 380s have something going on with the cops.<3

It must be that diamond advantage I keep hearing about :P. I have had some close calls with speed cameras but somehow haven't been pulled over yet.

lol yeah I should re badge my truck then :) I recon id be ok then ;)

Ah loving all of the replies. Yeah i won't be going too far mod-wise, i just know how potentially vulnerable we all are. and as for being a dickhead to the cop, what good is that? a few moments of feel good for heightened chances of an infringement.

Reckon the 380/cop harmony is impervious to the much loved P plates?

and i think i'll keep the wheels 17s or 18s due to $$$$

18s way better than 17s

19's better than 18's etc etc

he stated 17-18's I would have 19s but I like my 18's

18s way better than 17s


19's better than 18's etc etc

someone with 20s post please.. lol

someone with 20s post please.. lol

Ok ....... 20's better than 19's etc etc lol

Stop at 22's !!

17s better than 20s!

Yep, and I've had 'em all on my 380, 16s, 17s, 18s, 19s and 20s.

17s may not look anywhere near as schmick as 19s or 20s but for old farts like me they ride a helluva lot better, decent replacement tyres are a helluva lot cheaper, and they are a lot less unsprung weight = much better acceleration from low speeds and better fuel economy.

KJ.

Not sure about you guys, but i bought my car at an auctions off an ex-cop with all paper works and all!
Got my baby with 2xxx on the clock for 18k :D

Been couple years finally got the mods on 8)