So what is this General Operating Permit?

[whitenemesis]

Found an interesting phrase in the latest owner's handbook......

"Modification work on the brake system and wheels is not permitted, nor is the use of spacer plates or brake dust shields. This invalidates the General Operating Permit for the vehicle."

So what is this General Operating Permit and how does it impact the owner if he undertakes said modifications?

 

[Myros]

is it the type approval thingy

I know the Germans are dead fussy about what you can mount on a car over there,and you won't pass their MOT if the part you have fitted isn't homologated for the vehicle, or wasn't homologated at the time of its production. If you fit spacers, they have to have a TUV certificate themselves, and you are supposed to keep that with the vehicle. If you have a shunt and don't have it, big trouble.
It's another way of making sure you only spend on MB, AMG,Kleeman Carlsson or the other tuners who pay their dues to MB.

 

[jberks]

to be fair, they have a point. They spend a fortune setrting up and testing brake components only for someone to come along and bolt something on that completely buggers up the ventilation. Then when the brakes fade out and an accident occurs, everyone says that merc brakes are crap. A dare say the GOP is a German thing but.....
I do wonder whether such a mod would require an inspection before your insurance co would still cover you. Risky if you don't ask, even if you claim that you've uprated them, technically you've changed the spec.

 

[Xtractorfan]

I tend to agree with Jb on this, especially spacers they do cause more problems than enough, wheel bearings and tracking ...in fact our local ford dealer has a brilliant 4 wheel tracker and now they wont track any vehicle unless it has the original factory fitted wheels, and certainly no spacers

 

[whitenemesis]

Interesting it also mention modifying the wheels. I'm taking this to mean fitting wheels who's specifications (width, diameter, offset) fall outside any wheels that may be offered as an option on the car by MB?