Can the Beijing BJ80 be modified into a Brabus and driven legally?
2 Answers
Modifying a Beijing BJ80 into a Brabus is not legal for road use. To convert a Beijing BJ80 into a Brabus, besides modifying parts such as the front and rear bumpers, exhaust, wheels, and body kits, changing the car emblem is also necessary. Otherwise, no matter how much it is modified, it can still be easily identified as a modified vehicle. However, altering the car emblem involves changing the brand and model of the vehicle, which, according to the 'Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations,' is not permitted. Below are the relevant explanations: Reasons why it cannot be modified: Although the modified Beijing BJ80 may closely resemble a Brabus, the number of Brabus vehicles in China is extremely limited. Therefore, once such a modified car is driven on the road, it will inevitably attract attention. If caught by traffic police, the owner may face fines and be required to restore the vehicle to its original condition. BJ80 modified as Brabus cannot be registered: According to the 'Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations,' altering the registered appearance and related data of a motor vehicle, especially when there are no legal or national mandatory standards for such modifications, the vehicle management office will not process the modification registration. In summary, modifications such as changing the front and rear bumpers, wheels, grille, body color, and exhaust tips can be registered if they do not alter the registered appearance and data of the vehicle. However, if the car emblem is changed, the modification cannot be registered.
I specifically checked the vehicle modification regulations a while ago. For modifying a Beijing BJ80 to look like a Brabus, changing the car emblem is definitely not allowed—it's explicitly prohibited by law as illegal modification. If you alter the body structure beyond the factory settings, such as widening the wheel track or cutting the bumper, it will also be directly deemed illegal. However, if you only change the paint color or add a small body kit, these modifications can be legally registered with the vehicle management office. Someone in our car club tried applying Brabus-style decals, and they got it approved in one go. If you really want to modify your car, I suggest checking the "Motor Vehicle Inspection Regulations" on the traffic management bureau's official website first—it has clear standards for dimensional changes. Otherwise, you might have to dismantle and restore the modifications if caught, which would be a hassle.
