Hi,
I want to buy an mx5 in the uk, preferrably a bbr or turbo/compressor one.
Now y question is; if you have your car converted to turbo or compressor, does it have any paperwork to prove so. And if so, would any body be kind enough to mail me that paperwork (personnal details blanked out if you don’t trust me
) so i can check with Belgian goca i can put a car like that on the road over here.
Thanks, Ebbo
Hi Ebbo -
I’m not the right person to answer your question, seeing as I don’t have forced induction on my car, but as far as I’m aware, we don’t need any kind of permnsission to instal FI if we wish to do so, only official bodies we have to inform are the insurance companies. Somebody else with FI may say that we are supposed to inform the DVLA (our licensing body) that the car has been modified, but not aware of it unless someone says so.
In any case, what passses here may not pass over there, despite the EC, every country has it’s own '“if’s and but’s”, you would be better off just asking there first don’t you think?
Big puzzle to me is why buy a UK car? - For use on Right hand drive roads? - I’ve driven in France and Spain, and passing traffic when sitting on the blind side can be traumatic at times, we just have to be more careful. It would make more sense to buy a right hand drive over there, and if you are desperate for FI modification, come over here for a quick holiday, having booked in at one of our specialists to have the work done. Oh - and bring lots of Euros - - - - - 
Bear in mind that if you either buy a UK or a NE car with FI, if there is no service available in Belgium (or France?) then you may have to make return visits to the UK if there’s a problem - and at some point there will be one - sorry. Forget BBR’s - they are no-where when it comes to power., (150BHP - when new)
Gerryn,
I’ve alreaddy informed with our “licensing body” and a BBR or FI car can be subscribed in Belium as a separate case if it has the paperwork to prove that it has been legally on the road in it’scurrent state in another country. So it needs to say in the vehicles papers that it has a turbo/supercharger on it and how much bhp it has got. I think te BBR has this as it is a licensed convesion by mazda. That’s why i asked if there is some sort of paperwork accompaning FI converted cars (not from isurance company).
As i’v alreaddy stated driving Lhd cars over here is not a poblem for me we have a Jap mitsi RVR and w’ve been driving it for over 2 jears without any problems.
Another reason for buying one n the uk is monney, the yust cost only half from what they cost in Belgium.
As for maintenance or modifyng, that won’t be a problem, maintenance will be done by me. Parts will be ordered by me or via a mates garage (i’ve got 400bhp silvia and only thing i’ve given out of hand is the engine mapping and engine block build. Further we’re working on a ps13, an s13 with sr20det conversion, an ae86, two rx7 fd’s, an rx7 fc with 13B rew engine, 2 r32gr’s and an r33 gtr)
And lastly coming over to the uk certainly isn’t a problem for us, we love it over there.
Grt, Ebbo
Hi Ebbo -
Right - I’ve checked with my mate who has a modified BBR (Le Mans SE incidently) and he tells me that yes, his V5 (vehicle registration document) does say it is fitted with a turbo. He also says that owners of modified cars are supposed to tell the DVLA (Licensing Agency) that they have fitted a turbo (or supercharger) but he suspects that not all do so. Obviously you would need to see the V5 document before buying a car, or you are going to have problems in Belgium. I take your point about servicing and driving L/H over there (I like the Silvia by the way - nice car) Looks like you are a busy bee, that’s an inpressive ‘to do’ list!
My mate also gave me some info about his (original) BBR setup, which included a replacement ECU from BBR - he says the boost was set at 6 psi and when he tried to run the boost at 8 psi the ECU cut out, apparently the limiter is a hairline above 6. He has since gone for an FM conversion, but hasn’t got round to running a much higher boost yet. I can say - from an independant point of view, that various conversions have been done in the UK, some fair, some good and a few excellent, so examine any car you may want to buy with caution! - And check the V5 ! Oh - and the exhaust manifold fitted by BBR has been known to crack, with no replacement available, so it’s an obvious 4 to 1 conversion. Hope that helps?
Best regards
Gerry
Some BBRs were owner fitted, and hence regarded as modified. Mazdaspeed supercharged Roadsters are regarded by some insurers as equivalent to a BBR, but I don’t think they realise that just because a Mazdaspeed (JR) supercharger was fitted in Japan, it was approved by Mazda.
Look in the small ads here; someone is selling a NB Mazdaspeed turbocharged car, Aussie spec. This was the only factory supplied turbo model made by Mazda. Its the same as a MSM Miata, but rhd.
There are several TUV-approved kits for sale in Germany (eg. HGP). Currently, you can order a “new” BBR turbo MX5, from BBR, though in fact it is a rebranded BEGI kit.
http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.php?id=11646
The BBR conversion wasn’t exactly licenced by Mazda; it was commissioned by Mazda Cars Limited, which at the time held the franchise to import Mazdas, and they underwrote the engine warranty on these cars. The factory never approved the conversion.
I suspect you actually need a car that has been used in another EU country/member/prisoner, not merely in another country, otherwise it would be rather easier just to get a turbo’d Roadster from Japan, with Shaken paperwork.