Replacement car parts the the TUV

[Thud_Mcguffin]

Tag,

I am thinking of upgrading the suspension on my Elise which may involve using aftermarket parts bought from the UK. I seem to remember someone mentioning that replacement parts on a car need to be TUV approved? Is this right and does it mean when you by aftermarket parts they need to have a TUV approved sticker on them somewhere?

Please forgive me if I am talking utter twollocks....

[JMGS4]

You'd not necessarily need a TüV approval, possibly only an ABE (allegemeine Betriebserlaubnis), which if the parts are bought in Germany is a piece of paper packed with the parts.
However I doubt if springs/dampers etc, unless glaringly obvious (extremely shortened or painted funny coulours), would necessarily be noticed.

[Green Griffith]

...they will. you will need to find a tüv guy with a soft spot for exotics without the right papers. difficult, but not impossible.

[Thud_Mcguffin]

I guess we will find out when the car needs it's next TUV (May 2013). My only saving grace is that I installed upgraded Lotus suspension which were used in the Series 2 Elise. Still, I think I will keep the old set in box somewhere just in case....

[paul.deitch]

I changed the shocks and springs on the TVR here with UK aftermarket units, and the exhaust system and asked the workshop to help me set it up afterwards. At TUV time no one said a thing except the TUV guy said he didn't get to see a lot of TVRs - nice car!