TOO MUCH ALe IN Blood Stream!

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <3256C3A8.F22@netten.net> mike tipton writes:
> Phil, being on an island several miles off the main coast of Europe I
> can understand your complete lack of understanding of how things 
> function within the European community.

Should I answer from here, or from my office in Stuttgart next week?  Would it 
change the validity of my argument?

I lived in Germany for nearly ten years.  I was a car pool mamanger for a 
computer company, with over ninety vehicles registered to me at one time.  And 
I've been to get approval for modifications many, many times.  From the TUEV. 
Who _makes_ the regulations is one thing. Who (in practical terms) _enforces_ 
them is another.

> First, in an earlier message you completly deny the EC having anything 
> to do with Automotive Regulations. 

No.  Never did.  There is a difference between precision (or "stringency") and 
absolute values.  I've had to deal with this problem recently in another field 
- cable insulation.  The EC value was 0.5mm plus or minus 0.05 mm - the UK 
value was 0.6mm plus or minus 0.075mm.

The EC measurement is more stringent - although the insulation is thinner. 

So I don't doubt that there are more words in the EC regulations.  And that 
they are thus "more stringent" - there are more requirements to be met.  An 
inevitable result of trying to satisfy all countries' interests.

What I _do_ doubt - and what has not yet been addressed in _any_ of your 
quotes, is that the absolute requirement for braking capacity in the relevant 
international documents is greater than the absolute requirement specified in 
the relevant German documents.  What does Germany lay down for a specific 
vehicle weight and speed, and what do the EC and ECE lay down in the same case? 

There's nothing to stop a national standard _exceeding_ EC requirements, as 
long as trade between member states is not affected.  The classic example in 
Germany is beer and the Reinheitsgebot.

 > Then mysely and Hans requote the EC and German regulations, verbatim, from 
 > the books, and you still cant get it!

Not the point.  I know the scope of the regulations and the competence of the 
parties.  I have a lot of dealings with DG IV. 

> I sugest you brush up on things over on your island, and spout off, when 
> you have read, understand, and KNOW what you are talking about.

I have taken a modified car through the TUEV.  Have you?

> Also when your going to make it a "public specticle", be prepaired for
> return fire!

Is your spelling better when you're sober?

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club