FMIC and the cops?

[Trickster]

Hi Guys

I've read now on a few posts there are issues (or potential issues) with FMIC and the cops. Why this is? Falcon XR6 turbos, EVOs, etc, all have FMIC. :confused:

Thanks

[MILO]

The only issue, I believe, you will have with the police, is you cut any support from the front bar, weakning any supports from the front of the car.

Also, you must make sure that no part of the cooler protrudes any part of Bar.

[27AME]

Milo is pretty spot on

Cars that come standard are fine becuase the fmic's are essentially part of the engine as standard and are clear of all supports and mounted properly.

The issues cops have with aftermarket fmic's is that they can often change the characteristics of the car and as mentioned, often weaken or create the need for supports to be modified. They also see a giant fmic protruding from the bar as a safety hazard if you unfortunately hit someone.

[Corosith]

It's the same old thing with cars these days, if you fit a FMIC, the car will have to comply with and pass emmissions testing and also comply with all ADR's. Now the only way you can do this is to get it properly tested & engineered to prove otherwise, until then, any cop can pull you over and hand out a defect.

Hence if you are worried about this sort of thing:

A: get a cooler that fits without cutting into any metalwork, so if you do get defected, then things will be easier to take back to standard. If you do cut any of the metal work, then it will be on your head (and cost) to go to an engineer to get a certificate issued as proof that the cutting does not affect the structural integrity of the body/chassis.

B: get a aftermarket cooler that will fit into the stock position that no one will ever bother to question! If you do have a big FMIC with Greddy spray painted across it, then it will probably be only a matter of time before being pulled over.;)

[Blaze]

My friends skyline had a big shiny cooler. He got defected and now has had it sprayed black. The core and piping is all black. Doesn't get any attention and looks stock now.

Cant remember the paint he used,

[Corosith]

It was black paint! - sorry:p

[Blaze]

Heheh. That was so obvious.

[stylo]

get it properly tested & engineered to prove otherwise

.. and pay the engineering fee ..

Spot on. Simple as that really. The engineers certificate (in NSW) is your get out of jail card.

[ommeh]

If you really want just get a larger sidemount. I know its possible and theres plenty of space in there and SABER is in dev off one.

The FMIC is now becoming one of those mods cops target cause of all the crap thats been happening with street racing and what not. I'm even going to consider spraying mine black as i dont think i need anymore attention.

[why_bother]

.. and pay the engineering fee ..

Spot on. Simple as that really. The engineers certificate (in NSW) is your get out of jail card.

Having had a vehicle in NSW that needed an engineering certificate due to an engine swap I understand what you're saying but would have to argue that point.

The bottom line is, cops can do whatever they want. If they look hard enough they'll find something to get you on, irrespective if it's actually legal or not. I got defected in my laser that was fully engineered for 'sharp edges' on an aftermarket front bumper (A jetspeed 200sx/wrx/skyline mixture bar). Ride height, exhaust level, engine swap, brakes, everything was on the engineering report. Here's the picture of the car

http://j_lincoln.gallery.netspace.net.au/albums/album01/LASER11.jpg

This is a very, very common front bar too.. I wrote to the (whoever it was) at the time with photos and a fairly large letter and got a reply that went along the lines of 'the police officer has deemed this un safe, and it's up to his/her discretion to make calls like that.'

It's a joke sometimes. The fact you've got an FMIC will attract attention, sometimes enough to be pulled up to have your engine looked at for dodgey things but I think most coppers these days are pretty good and are onto the fact that common sense says not to worry about just a cooler. Unless you meet the nazi-defect cop from hell or are doing something stupid enough to be pulled up in the 1st place they'd more than likely not even look twice.

[lovecolt]

Its more of a cop magnet thing than the actual legal issues with a FMIC. Most of the time, cops will pull you over and try to find other illegal mods in your car than the actual FMIC.

The only 1 time i got pulled over for defect in my previous 200sx, and they defect me for other little things like front windscreen sticker's too low instead of my obvious big HKS FMIC.

Honestly, if one don't drive like a d**k on the road, you will probably be safe most of the time.

[stylo]

Yeah your edges are WAYYY too sharp.

[Macca]

i find that trm a load of shit, a cp didnt do 4 years plus of engineering so a cop cant really deem it unsafe in his eyes, he has not got the training.

I wouldnt worry about a fmic and the cops.

[why_bother]

well said.

[lovecolt]

As much as any cop's not qualified for a engineering defect, but they have the rights to get you to bring the car to their certified engineer to inspect it. And engineering Cert is not a gurantee ticket out of jail. Cops can still defect you even with a cert. It will cost you money in the process of clearing (no matter if your defect's legal or not)

Loads of shit or not, that's just reality.

[MILO]

The other thing as well is the Rcolt comes standard with a FMIC, so in all fairness, as long as its 'within' the bar, and no metal cut away, you should easily be able to get away with it.

[Trickster]

So what I'm hearing is if you can mount the FMIC without cutting the bar and also keeping it behind the grill/mesh cops won't care cause she looks stock. Cheers :)

[filofaith]

just dont cut the chassis or intrusion bars and have it with in the current front bar and they shouldnt hassel you for it... ive had my fmic on for a couple of weeks no and havent had any police attention yet they just drive pass and dont even pay attention. but yeh if your worried paint it black.

[sabeli]

why is everyone worried about it.. ive heard intercoolers arent defect no matter how big they are aslongest you dont cut anything away and keep it behind the mesh its fine.. mine was black i sprayed it on purpose silver to see if they can spot me but nothing has been cut, other than a bit of mesh that nonone can see and its got nothing to do with defect anyway its the crash bar that will get you down if you cut it or modify it :)

i might be wrong too :)

[0dd0ne]

dont vent to atmo, have a visible pod in the engine bay, have the car to low, have carbon shit hanging off everywhere. they will struggle to ping you for much else.

[bikerboy]

In victoria you can have EITHER an aftermarket intercooler or pod filter. Not both unless engineered, and the intercooler must not protrude and the car cant have any cuts or holes that are not factory to mount or run pipes unless engineered and the pod must not be oil based unless boxed because it is classed as oil leak. So in Vic you cannot be defected for fmic unless *see previous sentance!* Like has been stated, it is more of a attention grabber to get defected for other things.

[junbvlgari]

In victoria you can have EITHER an aftermarket intercooler or pod filter. Not both unless engineered, and the intercooler must not protrude and the car cant have any cuts or holes that are not factory to mount or run pipes unless engineered and the pod must not be oil based unless boxed because it is classed as oil leak. So in Vic you cannot be defected for fmic unless *see previous sentance!* Like has been stated, it is more of a attention grabber to get defected for other things.

Yeah bikerboy is correct for the Victorian rules. Car is only allowed one or the other unless it came out stock with one, then you can leave that stock part and add the missing piece. Generally a non-painted front mount inter-cooler attracts a bit of attention but aslong as you don't drive like an idiot in front of the cops, should be sweet. Most my friends just throw pod and front mount because they rarely ever check unless you're like the only one on the road, hooning or if you're spooling up 15psi right next to a cop.

[lawocg]

Has anyone here actually got done in by coppers in syd?

[Macca]

Not to my knowledge.

I have driven by many and not had any issues.

The only part a cop has mentioned about my car is the brightness of the interior LED light I have. haha I always turn it on and get my license ready when Im at an RBT station.


Does my brother who keeps threatening to defect me a count, he just does it to shit stir lol

Thou he cant tell me why its a defect lol but he could tazer me

[espionage8]

sometimes cops just defect you just cos they have a quota to hit. traffic fines are one of the best forms of government revenue afterall...

[Adam]

Got a warning for for the driving lights driving ..... found out they are illegal

[0dd0ne]

Has anyone here actually got done in by coppers in syd?

Nope. Not for mods anyway lol

[Corosith]

Got a warning for for the driving lights driving ..... found out they are illegal

Only illegal if used in the wrong conditions, pretty sure they can only be used during times of low visibility, despite not being an actual foglight.