17 replies to this topic

[Naggered]

Hi all, I'm about to move my midlife crisis from 2 wheels to 4. I'm looking at a couple of cars but having read a bit about the IVA test (was completely unaware of this previously) I've concerns about buying one with a fibreglass front. Is it really a huge concern if the car has recently passed an MOT? I accept this will be at the discretion of the tester but my mechanical abilties only extend so far and I don't want to end up with a lot of trouble. I understand about fitting the brace bars to replace the rigidity lost by trimming the inner wings and it seems that this could actually be stronger than the original inners? I also know that this is a very open ended topic but any advice would be gratefully received.
I think I may be leaning towards buying a car that is more straightforward and solid but needs a bit of paint etc rather than going with the pretty option that could potentially cause problems.
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.

[dave1293gt]

Imo this iva thing needs to be made clear by the dvla. A quick google search first brings up something about cars under 10 years old. Then reading other searches just makes it even more complicated.
I cannot see how they could make you change something that could of been carried out years ago.
If they can then my mini will never see the road again. Because its cirtainly not going on a Q.

[Bungle]

apart from a badly fitted flip front or rust around the brace bars there isn't anything to worry about having a flip front

but removing the inner wings (often done with a flip front) will land you with a shell with identity problems

if the car is cheap enough to fix these problems then go for it and don't let the flip front put you off, it could even be a bargenen point to get money off the lack of BIVA paperwork

[Shifty]

Personally I hate flip fronts. Give me a nice steel front any day of the week.

Its your car to do with as you will.

[Naggered]

I agree none of this seems very well explained by the powers that be. With reference to the identity issues, is this if the whole inner wing is modified or even if it's only been trimmed back to front shock mounts?
Thanks for replies.

[Bungle]

modifying of the monocoque

Edited by Bungle, 26 December 2011 - 01:38 PM.

[dave1293gt]

modifying of the monocoque

Bungle this is where i start getting confused, the way i read it from the dvla site is that you will loose 5 points. A total of 8 lost will require a Biva.

I also thought the couldnt enforce anything retrospectivly.

I also cant work out the things relating to vehicles over 10 yo.

Edited by dave1293gt, 26 December 2011 - 01:46 PM.

[Bungle]

the rules were made in the mid 70's i will try and find the date again

yes your mini must score 8 points to retain the registeration number but 5 of these must be for the non modified monocoque

hack the front off and it doesn't matter how many points you have as you don't have the 5 for the body


the 10 year thing is for registering imports from europe

Edited by Bungle, 26 December 2011 - 06:05 PM.

[dave1293gt]

77 just read it somewhere on yet another topic elsewhere.

[Bungle]

could be hard for some to prove that their metro turbo or honda v tec engine was installed before 1977

[racingbob]

my car has a carbon fibre front and separate bonnet

nicely fitted not flip front

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[tiger99]

The structural problem requiring bracing bars occurs as soon as you remove either the inner or outer wings. The inner wings themselves, being almost flat sheets of metal, have very little rigidity and can not carry subframe loads, unless they are braced by welded on outer wings, or some other means of stiffening. And, the outer wing is not very stiff without the inner wing. That is how a monocoque works. But fitting bracing bars is not very difficult.

But the IVA position is very confusing. From what I have seen, an IVA is allegedly never required for a vehicle over 10 years old, but there seems to be a lot of ambiguity. And, removal of inner or outer wings, or both, is definitely a modificaction to the monocoque, although some here claim otherwise. There are two issues, whether it keeps the registration, and whether an IVA is required. It seems that if you loose too many points, you get a Q plate, but allegedly don't need an IVA, because all Minis are over 10 years old.

We do need a definitive answer for this, because otherwise it is possible that many of our cars will be going to the crusher, and others will be getting a Q plate. Worse, passing an IVA will require massive and unsightly modifications inside and out. Much thicker edge trims, including on the roof gutter (or the structural disaster of deseaming), major modification to bumper ends, possibly other bits where the edge radius is too small, plus new steering cloumn (good idea anyway, for other reasons like having it adjustable), probably switchgear, in some cases dashboard, padding on dash rails, possible mods to handbrake and gear lever, maybe pedals, mirrors, even interior door handles.....

[Bungle]

can we get over the 10 year rule

IT'S FOR IMPORTING CARS INTO THE UK NOT REGISTERING MODIFIED CARS

[miniman24]

If you keep the inner wings you dont have to worry about any of these IVA/SVA tests! Ive done pretty much the same as racingbob and permanently fixed my fibreglass front, its rivited in place and dosnt flip. Ill put up a few pics to show how its done:

You can see the inner wings here:



How it looks from the outside:



Does chip easily though

[joakwin]

i have a clubby grp with A panels, cut the inner wings out and made some 1.25 cds bars to connect the front of the subframe to the roll cage inside the cage, still want to add in some plate to connect them to the top part of the inner wing, as most of that is cut out almost up to the shock mounts,
deseamed it and roof gutter
the rear of the car is getting a CF boot floor and a rear beam and coil overs

if i cut up my car to much, im not gonna put it thur the iva or whatever test, i will wait and when i move out of the uk, export it with me

i turn wrenches for a living, i know what is safe and whats not, would never put a unsafe car on the road but some of the rules are overboard,
been modifing vehicles for over 10yrs