Nudge Bar VUB501340

Hi all.
I have seen this nudge bar for sale on e-bay and I must admit I am tempted to buy one, however I would your help with a few questions.
1 Will it fit a pre facelift 2003 Freelander?
2 If so is it a difficult job.
3 Are they legal in the UK as I have heard different auguments for and against.
Thanks for your time, hope to hear soon
Slimboy

I've got the same one fitted to mine. Not a difficult job, just be careful with the drill.

Hi Duncp73
Thanks for the reply, I must admit I have just bought one from e-bay. My main concern is that once I fit it i'm not going to get pulled by plod or vosa as I have heard from various forums that bull/nudge bars are illegal if they are made from metal. I suppose I could say its been on since 2003 when the car was first registered.
Slimboy

PS.
What drilling has to be done and where?
Slimboy

slimboy said:

PS.
What drilling has to be done and where?
Slimboy

Click to expand...

You can get a copy of the original fitting instructions with pics if you register for free on LandRover Topix.

Link here: TOPIx - TOPIx

Cheers,

Singvogel.

slimboy said:

PS.
What drilling has to be done and where?
Slimboy

Click to expand...

The bumper needs drilling. I got fitting intructions with mine. I've never been stopped by the police. I need to wait and see what the MOT man says when it's due.

Duncp73 said:

The bumper needs drilling. I got fitting intructions with mine. I've never been stopped by the police. I need to wait and see what the MOT man says when it's due.

Click to expand...

The MOT tester will say nothing as it is not in his manual.

Any problems would / could be under C&U regs only.

My opinion would be that you 'might' have probs fitting a nudge bar to a new vehicle.

I sold mine last year as it led to too many discussions with European police. No fines or anything - just hours wasted on the journey in them radioing to HQ etc. I would have been fined in Germany if it had been a German registered vehicle - I 'escaped' as I was a 'crazy foreigner' - not good as I transit Germany every few months.

The rules are unclear as to whether it is illegal to sell them or illegal to fit one.

Vehicles already fitted with a bar when the 'ban' came into force are unaffected - apparently - in the UK only - travellers abroad beware!

As usual the law is an ass - and unclear. I for one don't want to be the test case in the courts.

Here is the best info I could find:

Bull bars vary considerably in size and form, and are usually made of welded steel or aluminium tubing, and, more recently, moulded polycarbonate and polyethylene materials. Due to the number of deaths and injuries caused by cars with rigid metal bullbars (in 2000 some 2,000 deaths/year and 18,000 serious accidents/year in Europe), the sale of metal bullbars was banned in the European Union via Directive 2005-66-EC.

In recent times bullbars have become popular as a cosmetic accessory, particularly on the larger four wheel drive and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs). Studies and media attention to them and their role in increasing pedestrian deaths led to an agreement with the European Union among carmakers not to install them on new vehicles from January 1 2002. This was followed by a full EU ban on the sale of rigid bullbars (e.g., by aftermarket fitters).

Notice they keep saying the 'sale' of them - not the fitting of them. But there are stll plenty suppliers.

Confusing - innit.

Singvogel.

Surely if you buy a car that was made before 2002 could float through the grey areas as most would assume it came with it from the factory?

I'm going to do it, if someone moans or pulls me over, i'll happily take them off if they can prove that it's not in accordance with the law.

Thoughts

Cheers Singvogel, like you say, a bit confusing. But as long as the MOT man is happy so am I. SnoopMarky, you may need a rivnut tool, or extra nuts to attach it. I think 8mm.

more reading

Directive 2005/66/EC- repealed with effect from 24 November 2009 - Automotive - Enterprise and Industry

Freelaner said:

more reading

Directive 2005/66/EC- repealed with effect from 24 November 2009 - Automotive - Enterprise and Industry

Click to expand...

Good god - what a mess of legislation.

Who on earth is going to make head or tail of this nonsense?

Not me anyway.

And certainly not members of the Polizei who have plenty to do with the speed kids, with big exhausts and blackened windows.

Thing is SV do they know whats legal anyway chances are they won't bat an eyelid until there is an accident.

Then they'll go through your motor with a toothcomb.

Hi all.
Thanks for all your replys I think I will go ahead and fit them and take a chance with plod/vosa.
Slimboy.

Hi All.
I have the fitting instructions however I cannot seem to work out the measurements for fitting the mounting brackets to the steel cross member. I have downloaded the instructions for STC 7933/34 which shows that there is a template supplied to show exactly where to place the brackets for drilling, can anyone tell me the measurements or tell me where I might be able to get a template from as I dont want to cock it up.
Any help will be much appreciated
Many thanks.
Slimboy

Sorry mate, I had already in the cross member. Any chance of a pic of your cross member?

Sorry mate no can do just yet as the other half has decided to wipe the smile of my face and is now stood over me as I decorate the kitchen. Will try next weekend.
Slimboy.

hi picked up my bull bar today but I got no fitting instructions
I was told there are some holes in the steel with the nuts already attached to take the bolts, but im not sure where to drill the bumper to locate these holes can anyone tell me the measurements or tell me where I might be able to get a template from as I dont want to cock it up. its a td4 52 plate
Any help will be much appreciated
Many thanks.
kevin