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Comment by cameronh90 | Hacker News Reader

In the UK, many modifications are restricted. For example, if I was to replace my halogen car headlights with LED ones, the car would be technically illegal, uninsured and fail inspection (if they notice). Exhausts can't be noisier than factory, which means in practice all aftermarket sports exhausts are illegal.

At some point, I assume modifying drive-by-wire systems will become legally restricted.

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Are those modifications illegal or is driving it on public roads after those modifications illegal?

In the US, for a while, car manufacturers could void your warranty over modifications. Something happened some-odd years back that made it so that they had to prove that the modification is what caused the issue to refuse service.

1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

https://www.autocare.org/government-relations/current-issues...

Well that's just not true.

You are talking about something subtly but crucially different. Replacing your headlights is not illegal, only the type of headlight you use is legally restricted. Modification itself is not legally restricted, only the end result.

Yeah, a better example is modifications to homes. Those are restricted in many places in the US. I can't replace a circuit in my homes wiring, even if I follow every code.

But even in that case, the restriction comes from law, not an arbitrary decision made by a private company.

And there are a number of competing, qualified, third party electricians who can make the change for you. You aren't locked-in to contracting with the company which originally built the house.

Who is going to stop you?

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