5h4n3

First time posting. I'm from Singapore and wanted to purchase the Tanabe Medallion Touring for my IS250. Was told by the official distributor that the Tanabe exhaust is non compliant in Singapore. Wanted to seek confirmation on his statement so I emailed the Land Transport Authority (LTA) here and this is the reply I got: (It's a bit of a long read so bear with me)

We would like to clarify that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) does not engage in the type-approval of motor vehicle accessories. We will, however be concerned if the fitting of these accessories adversely affect the safety and exhaust emission characteristics of the vehicle.

For an after-market exhaust system/silencer approval, we would require the applicant to fulfill the below-mentioned requirements prior to the installation:

a) The after-market exhaust system should be specifically designed for that particular vehicle make and model and have undergone testing, either
by the product manufacturer or by any of LTA/NEA overseas recognised test laboratories, to show compliance with internationally recognised standards.
You may assess the web-link below for a list of LTA/NEA overseas recognised on Annex A; and

http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publis...le.tmp/Car.pdf

b) Every unit of such exhaust systems will come with a conformity certificate (e.g. EEC, JASMA or etc) from the product manufacturer stating
it is suitable to be installed for that particular vehicle make and model.

As we are unable to assess the Tanabe exhaust system/silencer based on the web-link (i.e. http://www.tanabe-usa.com/exhausts/medaliontouring.asp) that you have provided, we would appreciate it if you could provide us the following documents (in English), so that we can advise you more
specifically:

a) An application letter requesting for the installation of an after-market exhaust system/silencer (with the type, make/model of the replacement system/silencer and your vehicle registration number);

b) Conformity certificate (e.g. JASMA, EEC or etc) to show that the replacement exhaust system/silencer is suitable to be installed for that
particular vehicle make and model and would not adversely affect the safe operation and exhaust emission characteristics of the vehicle;

c) Technical specification and installation details (including pictures/drawings) of the after-market exhaust system/silencer; and

d) Evidence or test reports from the product manufacturer or LTA/NEA recognised overseas test laboratories to show that the after-market exhaust
system had been manufactured and tested (e.g. vehicular emission and noise) according to international recognised standards.

You can forward these documents to the Vehicle Engineering Division of LTA at 10 Sin Ming Drive, Singapore 575701. Alternatively, you may also wish
to check with your motor agent (i.e. Borneo Motor(S) Pte Ltd) for suitable replacement exhaust system to be upgraded.

Upon completion of our evaluation to your application, you would be required to present your vehicle that is fitted with the approved
replacement silencer together with our approval letter to you, to any of the LTA-authorised Vehicle Inspection Centre (i.e. STA, JIC or VICOM) for
an inspection. (Note: the inspection centre will charge a fee of $50/- (exclusive of GST) for such a service)

Was hoping that somebody have some knowledge regarding the requirements as stated above. Living in Singapore is a pain in the #$% if you like to mod cars. Too many requirements!

Many thanks in advance

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

What happens if you don't do all those steps? Do they impound the car, give you a ticket, or just fail your inspection?

5h4n3

They will ask you to strip off the mod and put the OEMs back. So that means I have to resell the Tanabes at a loss most likely.

In Singapore we have to take the car in for inspection on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th year. I can go ahead and install the Tanabe without going through the proper channels, but come inspection time, I will fail inspection (unless I do a swap) and get slapped with a fine and a mandate to uninstall the mod. Also I run the risk of getting stopped by the cops and they'll also do the same - slap me with a fine and issue the mandate. So really, I wanna do it the right way.

Like I said Singapore is a pain in the #$%. Even redouts are not allowed, but I'm doing it anyway.

fasteddy91

iTrader: (5)

changing the exhaust back to stock will only take 15 minutes.....probably 10 minutes once you do this often.

passnu2

iTrader: (33)

5h4n3...wow that is some stuff you have to go thru! Hope they can get you the info so you can have your Tanabe! hopefully we have some other members that are in Singapore that can be of better help on how you can have this exhaust! Best of luck!

budissy

does anyone know where to buy it for $549 like this person did?

tfz_hebe89

iTrader: (1)

singapore govt is full of B*!!

XprincoX

iTrader: (10)

$549 with free shipping.

http://www.showstoppersusa.com/produ...oducts_id=1671

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

You might not like it, but you don't live there either. Let's keep the comments constructive.

FWIW, I've been to Singapore and there are a LOT of reasons why it's a VERY cool place to live. Freedom to mod your car is NOT one of them though.

5h4n3

Yea I know dude. Hopefully someone can help me out. Got my IS250 RWD on Feb 14 (yeah my valentine) and have been slowly trying to add some stuff to it with the help of this forum. Redouts and tint are up. Shopping for some 18" rims and probably gonna drop it with eibachs. OEM trunk spoilers are on the way. Joez gunmetal intake will come as soon as the next stock comes into Carson... shipping is expensive though. I want the Tanabe exhaust real bad.

Well, if i get stopped by the cops, i'll get slapped with the fine and mandate. Hard to predict when the cops are out and about aye..

Singapore is a lovely place to live in though I wouldn't say it's perfect. Lots of development for this one tiny red dot of a country. F1's first night street race on sept 28th and I've got tickets for it already. 2 casinos are being built right now and will be up in 2010.. very clean country but too strict and the people here are too "kiasu", which literally means "scared to lose/die". And yea the biggest one of them all - Modding cars are a PAIN in the @$$

tfz_hebe89

iTrader: (1)

FYI, I studied there b4, and I hate my sch system, lots of strict n unneccessary rules, just like street rules

5h4n3

Was hoping tanabe guys can help shed some light into this matter..

Tanabe USA

Our products are ISO 9001 Certified which is probably the only certification that remotely applies to you. We have other certifications such as JASMA and TUV which apply to different countries. The products that we sell in the US somewhat conform to the US laws. The laws here change constantly and they vary from state to state. It seems that Singapore would require some sort of private testing at a facility of their approval.

5h4n3

As stated in LTA's reply:
a) The after-market exhaust system should be specifically designed for that particular vehicle make and model and have undergone testing, either by the product manufacturer or by any of LTA/NEA overseas recognised test laboratories, to show compliance with internationally recognised standards.

1) Did Tanabe do test on the exhaust for compliance with internationally recognized standards?

2) Has the Tanabe Touring Medalion been specifically tested on the IS250 - fitment, emissions, safety, etc?

3) Is it possible to get hold of a copy of the JASMA/TUV certs or perhaps have Tanabe scan a copy of the certs to the Singapore LTA? Ditto for the technical specs + installation details of the exhaust. (I wanna pay LTA a visit sometime soon and speak to them about this. Would be great if I could go in equipped with the proper docs and information. In Singapore, if you have all the corners covered, it'll be a homerun.)

I need to seek approval to install the exhaust. After installation I would then need to bring along the approval letter from LTA and bring the car for inspection at a LTA authorized vehicle testing center. But I need to obtain the approval letter first and this is where I would require Tanabe's help.

Thanks.. I know I'm being a pain in the rear for asking all these questions.. but hey i live in singapore!

A.C Milan

i thought the 350 & 250 share the same exhaust system?