The German Car Scene!!! - Team-BHP

TheBrother® · 3rd May 2008, 04:29

Ok guys, sorry that I've been absent for so long but I had a lot to do and a even more on my mind.
A few hours ago I have returned from the "Tuning World Lake Constance" a car and sound fair in Friedrichshafen. It was SOOOOOO cool! I wish I were back there, partying and listening to the Lambo engines. But let us start from the begining.

In Germany we have the TÜV which is a technical inspection every single car has to go through every two years. Without this inspection you are not allowed to drive your car on german streets and the fines are very high. Now what are you NOT allowed to do? Your car may not be too loud (engine or exhaust pipe), no sharp edges (spoilers etc.), no spinners on your tires, no lights which are on the outside of your car or that could shine outside from the inside or blind the driver, the tires must fit the car, every part YOU installed in addition or exchange from the standard car has to be registered to your car and checked if it is safe and hast to have its own technical certificate called an ABE. Besides that there is the normal stuff. Your engine has to be ok, the brakes have to work perfectly, the tread on your tires has to be a minimum of 1.6 millimeters blablabla.... The StVO which is the law book for cars and everything that has to do with cars and streets is a couple hundred pages thick, so go figure.
By now you might ask yourself what you could possibly do to a car in Germany without being busted by the cops. Well.... take a look!
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As you can see, you can do about anything to your car. Only you have to invest a lot of money so the parts you use apply to the law and are installed and registered correctly. You have to now your boundaries and the ways around them. For example, you may install every single light on your car you want, as long as they do not work while the car is on the street. So connect them to the car in a way, that as soon the ignition goes on, the lights go off. If you are able to turn on the lights while driving, they are illegal.

Most of the cars on our streets are standard and look quite good because of our high standards. We've got about anything you want, Volkswagen, Opel, Audi, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Suzuki, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, Daimler, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Ford, Mitsubishi, Skoda, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Smart and so on... So you can imagine that our car tuning scene also is quite big. You can find car clubs in every small town and places to meet with other tuners. We have fairs you can visit, for example the Car Tuning World Lake Constance or even open meetings with a few thousand visitors all over the country. It is impossible for me to describe everything here, so please just ask the right questions, I will answer as fast as humanly possible!!

Right here I wish to note, that after being at the fair, I decided to sell my car. But I will buy myself the same modell again, only with a bigger engine and only two doors. I want to take out the back seat for my sound system (I will have to have my car registered new because of that!)

I would use the car I allready have, but there isn't much you can do to the engine and I don't want to do only bodyworks.

So here my report on the German car scene ends. A few last pictures from Lake Constance (more shall follow) and I hope I will get quite some feedback^^

Enjoy, TheBrother®

ramie2400 · 3rd May 2008, 10:56

those ate great pics brother,but whats with the VW beetle is it still under painjt job procedd

,love the system installs they are hottt..!!

TheBrother® · 3rd May 2008, 12:10

That Beatle can really rock, it goes over 200 km/h and just looks very much like old school. It also had a wonderful sound system, but I couldn't get close enough for pictures.

TheBrother®

iraghava · 3rd May 2008, 13:17

Very nice Thomas! That was a short yet very clear description of the tough TUV process in Germany!

So you plan to buy an Astra 2.0 Coupe? TD or Petrol? And I think Sam would be very proud of the fact that you plan to remove the rear seat to put in an audio system! Do take some tips from him if you need, he does know a little bit about audio!

As for the cars, most of them look nice but are OTT! The Beetle I presume has a Hydaulic suspension system to raise its ride height once started, right? And is it powered by a Turbo'ed Beetle engine or a different engine, say maybe from a 911?

Sam Kapasi · 3rd May 2008, 13:25

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HEYY! I can see the Cute JBL Air Freshener Hangy Thingy that many Team-BHPians still have!!

Nice report Thomas. Great Pictures.

P.S. Love the pink modifications on that Lotus or whatever that car is.

flyingspur · 3rd May 2008, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

P.S. Love the pink modifications on that Lotus or whatever that car is.

Yes thats a Lotus, Sam. Interesting mods!

HAhahahahahhaaha

redrage · 3rd May 2008, 14:45

So not many modified exhausts on German "Tuv" certified cars or they shouldnt be "too" loud?

Jaggu · 3rd May 2008, 15:00

Nice report Thomas. I guess TÜV goes a long way in making the streets safe there, so i can only wish for our authorities learn a trick or two from Germany to make thing effective in India.

TheBrother® · 3rd May 2008, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

I guess TÜV goes a long way in making the streets safe there

Yes, it really helps keep our streets safe but sometimes it makes tuning a real pain in the ***...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

Attachment 12797

HEYY! I can see the Cute JBL Air Freshener Hangy Thingy that many Team-BHPians still have!!

Actually this car was the JBL represantitive on the Tuning World Lake Constance and it really had great sound!

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

So you plan to buy an Astra 2.0 Coupe? TD or Petrol? And I think Sam would be very proud of the fact that you plan to remove the rear seat to put in an audio system! Do take some tips from him if you need, he does know a little bit about audio!

When the time comes I will most likely talk a lot to Sam for information but first I need the car and then I will start doing some bodyworks and boost the engine.
I was thinking about getting a Petrol Astra Coupe but I am not sure yet if 1.8, 2.0 or 2.2... probably 2.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by iraghava

As for the cars, most of them look nice but are OTT! The Beetle I presume has a Hydaulic suspension system to raise its ride height once started, right? And is it powered by a Turbo'ed Beetle engine or a different engine, say maybe from a 911?

Okay, this might be so stupid, but was is OTT? Haven't seen that one before.
Yes, the Beetle has a hydraulic suspension system and the engine I believe was a NEW Beetle engine.

Also great at Lake Constance was the low rider show. They had an old VW Bus (12 Batteries, 1450 kg, no engine) which jumped 5 feet from the ground and almost tipped over. Then there was an old Chevy, a New Beetle (16 Batteries, 1700kg, no engine) and a few others. Every year our low rider scene grows and wherever you see these guys there is a huge crowd. Maybe I'll make it to an low rider meeting in north Germany sometime this year...

Be back later,
TheBrother®

Nitin · 5th May 2008, 22:08

Gosh!! Thats one helluva car scene!
keep em comin,Thomas.

iraghava · 5th May 2008, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBrother®

I was thinking about getting a Petrol Astra Coupe but I am not sure yet if 1.8, 2.0 or 2.2... probably 2.0

Try & get the Coupe with the 2.0 Turbo engine. That way you can boost it up more easily then the NA variants!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBrother®

Okay, this might be so stupid, but was is OTT? Haven't seen that one before.

OTT - Over the top!

n_aditya · 6th May 2008, 13:17

Excellent pics Bro. Love those Lambo's and the muscle car.

Interesting looking Elise i must say.

sujaylahiri · 8th May 2008, 01:47

Oh man I love that Beetle. The Germans were really on that one.

3rd May 2008, 04:29	#1 (permalink)
TheBrother® Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bad Nauheim Posts: 9	The German Car Scene!!! Ok guys, sorry that I've been absent for so long but I had a lot to do and a even more on my mind. A few hours ago I have returned from the "Tuning World Lake Constance" a car and sound fair in Friedrichshafen. It was SOOOOOO cool! I wish I were back there, partying and listening to the Lambo engines. But let us start from the begining. In Germany we have the TÜV which is a technical inspection every single car has to go through every two years. Without this inspection you are not allowed to drive your car on german streets and the fines are very high. Now what are you NOT allowed to do? Your car may not be too loud (engine or exhaust pipe), no sharp edges (spoilers etc.), no spinners on your tires, no lights which are on the outside of your car or that could shine outside from the inside or blind the driver, the tires must fit the car, every part YOU installed in addition or exchange from the standard car has to be registered to your car and checked if it is safe and hast to have its own technical certificate called an ABE. Besides that there is the normal stuff. Your engine has to be ok, the brakes have to work perfectly, the tread on your tires has to be a minimum of 1.6 millimeters blablabla.... The StVO which is the law book for cars and everything that has to do with cars and streets is a couple hundred pages thick, so go figure. By now you might ask yourself what you could possibly do to a car in Germany without being busted by the cops. Well.... take a look! As you can see, you can do about anything to your car. Only you have to invest a lot of money so the parts you use apply to the law and are installed and registered correctly. You have to now your boundaries and the ways around them. For example, you may install every single light on your car you want, as long as they do not work while the car is on the street. So connect them to the car in a way, that as soon the ignition goes on, the lights go off. If you are able to turn on the lights while driving, they are illegal. Most of the cars on our streets are standard and look quite good because of our high standards. We've got about anything you want, Volkswagen, Opel, Audi, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Suzuki, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, Daimler, Renault, Citroen, Peugeot, Ford, Mitsubishi, Skoda, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, Smart and so on... So you can imagine that our car tuning scene also is quite big. You can find car clubs in every small town and places to meet with other tuners. We have fairs you can visit, for example the Car Tuning World Lake Constance or even open meetings with a few thousand visitors all over the country. It is impossible for me to describe everything here, so please just ask the right questions, I will answer as fast as humanly possible!! Right here I wish to note, that after being at the fair, I decided to sell my car. But I will buy myself the same modell again, only with a bigger engine and only two doors. I want to take out the back seat for my sound system (I will have to have my car registered new because of that!) I would use the car I allready have, but there isn't much you can do to the engine and I don't want to do only bodyworks. So here my report on the German car scene ends. A few last pictures from Lake Constance (more shall follow) and I hope I will get quite some feedback^^ Enjoy, TheBrother® Attached Images __________________ Gott schütze uns vor Sturm und Wind und Autos, die aus Frankreich sind!!

3rd May 2008, 12:10	#3 (permalink)
TheBrother® Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bad Nauheim Posts: 9	That Beatle can really rock, it goes over 200 km/h and just looks very much like old school. It also had a wonderful sound system, but I couldn't get close enough for pictures. TheBrother® Attached Images __________________ Gott schütze uns vor Sturm und Wind und Autos, die aus Frankreich sind!!

3rd May 2008, 13:17	#4 (permalink)
iraghava Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 6,553 View My Garage	Very nice Thomas! That was a short yet very clear description of the tough TUV process in Germany! So you plan to buy an Astra 2.0 Coupe? TD or Petrol? And I think Sam would be very proud of the fact that you plan to remove the rear seat to put in an audio system! Do take some tips from him if you need, he does know a little bit about audio! As for the cars, most of them look nice but are OTT! The Beetle I presume has a Hydaulic suspension system to raise its ride height once started, right? And is it powered by a Turbo'ed Beetle engine or a different engine, say maybe from a 911? __________________ I'm killing time while I wait for life to shower me with meaning and happiness. Last edited by iraghava : 3rd May 2008 at 13:24.

3rd May 2008, 13:25	#5 (permalink)
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but watch this space) Posts: 6,445 View My Garage	HEYY! I can see the Cute JBL Air Freshener Hangy Thingy that many Team-BHPians still have!! Nice report Thomas. Great Pictures. P.S. Love the pink modifications on that Lotus or whatever that car is. __________________ Live the YetiLife® Ohne Dich ist alles doof. Last edited by Sam Kapasi : 3rd May 2008 at 13:27.

3rd May 2008, 14:45	#7 (permalink)
redrage BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Banglore Posts: 249	So not many modified exhausts on German "Tuv" certified cars or they shouldnt be "too" loud? __________________ 2003 Hero Honda Karizma 2002 Hyundai Accent GTX Tornado 2003 Suzuki Esteem Vxi 2004 Hyundai Getz

3rd May 2008, 10:56	#2 (permalink)
ramie2400 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,010 Infractions: 0/1 (4)	those ate great pics brother,but whats with the VW beetle is it still under painjt job procedd ,love the system installs they are hottt..!!

3rd May 2008, 15:00	#8 (permalink)
Jaggu Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,208	Nice report Thomas. I guess TÜV goes a long way in making the streets safe there, so i can only wish for our authorities learn a trick or two from Germany to make thing effective in India. __________________ The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference. -Calvin

5th May 2008, 22:08	#10 (permalink)
Nitin Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,878 View My Garage	Gosh!! Thats one helluva car scene! keep em comin,Thomas.

6th May 2008, 13:17	#12 (permalink)
n_aditya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Currently at Chennai. Originally from Blore. Posts: 1,483	Excellent pics Bro. Love those Lambo's and the muscle car. Interesting looking Elise i must say. __________________ Avoid hangover's.... Stay drunk !!! Yella OK, Cool Drink Yaake ???

8th May 2008, 01:47	#13 (permalink)
sujaylahiri BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Windsor ON Canada Posts: 498	Oh man I love that Beetle. The Germans were really on that one. __________________ I am an alien.

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