Best Engine to Meet Euro 4 or 6 Emissions? ULEZ issue

[silverbullet]

I can see a growth industry in out-of-ULEZ vehicle storage, similar to how a lot of owners already store their caravans and motorhomes already.
Of course, you will still have to get out of the emissions charging zone to get to your can parked up on a farm somewhere first...

[clift_d]

The problem will be with the proliferation of ULEZ zones - before long they’ll join up in the middle.

[silverbullet]

A bit like private land ownership you mean?

We'll be left with the 8% or less which will soon be only the roads and supermaket carparks

[Aidan]

and doubtless you'll be charged for the supermarket carpark before long, no more free for 2 hours........

[fh9977]

The best thing to do would be to get a 'birth certificate' from VW to confirm which year your van came off the production line, and then stick it out until it becomes exempt as a historical vehicle at 40 years.

Mine was made in 1988, so not long to go. I like the idea of historical vehicle, there is some cultural value in keeping a genuine unmodified West German turbo-diesel going. We should be given government grants for the work we do keeping the vans, not fines 

ULEZ will only expand, I believe that at some point even the historical vehicle rules will change. Like having to pay a "day-out fee" to be able to drive your historic vehicle, this being a lot more expensive than the £12.50 ULEZ and limited to only a few each year.

Oxford is now implementing what they call "traffic filters" throughout the city. Its like ULEZ, but residents can only go into that zone 100 times each year, and hefty fine after that. This is a trial, and the plan is that by 2040 you'll only be allowed to drive a 15 minute radius from your home. (search WEF 15 minutes cities).

[clift_d]

Our van also currently has a 1988 registration, but the birth certificate from VW actually shows that it was produced at the end of 1987. That means we'll be able to get it registered as a historical vehicle in 2028 instead of 2029, so it's definitely worth checking if you haven't done so already.

[fh9977]

how do I get the "birth certificate"? 

[clift_d]

You can either order a Certificate Of Confirmity from VW in Germany here, or you can try emailing the VW vehicle compliance department in the UK at type.approval@vwg.co.uk, who should be able to provide you with a letter confirming the date of manufacture of your van.

[ManicGTI]

I know it's an old thread but thought I'd jump on rather than start a new one.

My EJ25 is from a 2001 Legacy - Eur3 rather than Eur4, but Manufacturer NOx levels are well below requirement and it comes up as compliant on ULEZ checker.

I now have:
- V5 of the doner car (stating Eur3, and showing NOx level well below even current Eur6 Petrol requirement) 
- The CoC of the doner car from Subaru, but sadly the emissions section is blank.

DVLA have said they won't update an emissions info on the Vans V5  when I tell them about the 'possible engine change'.  But my plan is to send them a copy of the doner car V5, request they change it and offer the van up for test and see what happens.  I really don't want to do the IVA test, the van has been hacked about over the years and it wouldn't shock me if problems were found.

Anyone else had any luck so far?

[mrhutch]

No T3 will pass an IVA - not going to happen!!

Interestingly I checked my westy (1981 historic class) and it still says I have to pay ULEZ !

[clift_d]

No T3 will pass an IVA - not going to happen!!

My understanding is that the IVA only checks emissions to a similar level as the MOT, which is insufficient to establish a Euro classification. In any case, it wouldn't make any difference as TfL are only accepting conversions that have had extensive testing and type certification, which is generally only HGVs and coaches, and aren't accepting any one-off conversions. Your best bet is to pay the £12.50 for each day you use it and hang on until historic status kicks in.

Interestingly I checked my westy (1981 historic class) and it still says I have to pay ULEZ !

TfL have a webpage where you can pre-register vehicles that you think should be exempt:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/compli ... -you-start

[mrhutch]

TfL have a webpage where you can pre-register vehicles that you think should be exempt:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/compli ... -you-start

Many thanks chap!

[mrhutch]

Just signed up to that @clift_d 

Interestingly enough the westy now shows as ULEZ exempt!

[clift_d]

You should see if you can do something about that LEZ status as well - I think you can do it through the same link. A T25 Westfalia camper should also be exempt from the LEZ as it is a 'Motor Caravan' with a plated GVW under 2500kg, which is good as my understanding is that the charges for the LEZ are even higher than the ULEZ.

[mrhutch]

You should see if you can do something about that LEZ status as well - I think you can do it through the same link. A T25 Westfalia camper should also be exempt from the LEZ as it is a 'Motor Caravan' with a plated GVW under 2500kg, which is good as my understanding is that the charges for the LEZ are even higher than the ULEZ.

you're right, I think it's because it's an early Westy Vanagon (US import) and the details have gone into the DVLA a tad sparsely.

I'll get that done and report back.  A few years ago I was going to watch the cricket with my BIL - north london - and I thought I'd take the bus and camp..  Good job I checked the tfl site before setting off, I think it was £275 to go into town.