Disco 2 Nudge / Bull Bars - What are they for?

sierrafery · Mar 9, 2020

Stanleysteamer said:
Air resistance increases drag exponentially i.e. if you go twice as fast, drag is not twice as much it is four times as much, hence the effect on fuel consumption.

and add the restricted air flow through the radiator/intercooler to that so bad for the cooling too and the higher the ECT is the more you must push the throttle for the same power... IMO any kind of bar in front of the grill especially if some big spots are fitted to it is just a useless triffle

john snoo · Mar 9, 2020

Thanks. One man's 'triffle' is another man's bacon and eggs.

But for most purposes I would agree, including on my truck. I love the front end as she is!

goonarmy · Mar 9, 2020

My bull bars made the steering really heavy. I only realised once a member off here ripped em clean off for me.

kevstar · Mar 9, 2020

Copied from the DVLA site..

It is not illegal for vehicles to be fitted with bull bars, although the department would not recommend their fitment unless it has been shown, through compliance with specified safety standards, that they do not pose an additional risk of injury to pedestrians or other vulnerable road users.

There are no plans for legislation to require bull bars that are already fitted to be removed. However, since 25 May 2007, it has been an offence for bull bars that have not been approved as compliant with those safety standards to be sold. Approved devices will carry an indelible ‘e’ mark (for example: e1 01 1471).

john snoo · Mar 9, 2020

Thanks. Ha ha, the usual guff. Guidelines, recommendations, not a word of "it's illegal to have them", but they sent around the usual mysterious impression and led people to cite such bunk. It's much like the firearms act and how the police 'spin' it to suit their Chief's unlawful laying down the of law without Royal Assent. I do get a chuckle out of how they get their way with so many people by blinding them with cleverly constructed sentences backed by the 'authority' of an organisation like the DVLA which sells personal data for £2 to any unscrupulous ex-clamping scum bag with an 'SIA' badge (or not).

Stanleysteamer · Mar 9, 2020

Big lumps of metal weigh a lot.
As I know having recently taken my tow bar off. Dragging this around all the time bound to add to fuel consumption although I have to agree with @sierrafery about airflow around the front.

discool · Mar 9, 2020

sierrafery said:
and add the restricted air flow through the radiator/intercooler to that so bad for the cooling too and the higher the ECT is the more you must push the throttle for the same power... IMO any kind of bar in front of the grill especially if some big spots are fitted to it is just a useless triffle

No dear, this kit on the front of my disco had been there since it left the showroom so that 22years + and without any issues, or hindering in servicing of the engine or vehicle performance on the road.

sierrafery · Mar 9, 2020

For example with that abomination in front of the rad more than half of the air flow is restricted

42676d1501378211-discovery-ii-brush-bull-bars-what-do-you-prefer-5i85ff5m83ic3fd3n1c7s4dee62b22f6b1a9d.jpg

sierrafery · Mar 9, 2020

discool said:
No dear, this kit on the front of my disco had been there since it left the showroom so that 22years + and without any issues, or hindering in servicing of the engine or vehicle performance on the road.

Do we compare Td5s with other kind of engines again ? V8s or Tdis are a different story

I watched live data on a friend's Td5 with and without such bar with spots fitted and the difference was up to 15*C which means around 90*C without and 105 with it same day

discool · Mar 9, 2020

sierrafery said:
Do we compare Td5s with other kind of engines again ?

I watched live data on a friend's Td5 with and without such bar with spots fitted and the difference was up to 15*C which means around 90*C without and 105 with it same day

Comparing engines and the perceived air is of topic for this threads title.
But I would say in my experience of petrol engine vehicles is... don’t worry if you u have an ‘A’ fitted

sierrafery · Mar 9, 2020

discool said:
Comparing engines and the perceived is of topic for this thread.
But I would say in my experience of petrol engine vehicles is... don’t worry if you u have an ‘A’ fitted

I wouldnt if i had a V8 ... which i won't, i can't afford to stop so often at the gas stations

john snoo · Mar 10, 2020

discool said:
No dear, this kit on the front of my disco had been there since it left the showroom so that 22years + and without any issues, or hindering in servicing of the engine or vehicle performance on the road.
View attachment 202568

That's nice. I imagine that would protect your rad in some circumstances like a shunt on the M25. Do you think so, or is just a vanity thing? (and it does look pretty I must say

)

goonarmy · Mar 10, 2020

john snoo said:
That's nice. I imagine that would protect your rad in some circumstances like a shunt on the M25. Do you think so, or is just a vanity thing? (and it does look pretty I must say )

I had a minor shunt int the fender which had a A bar (numpty site manager reversed into me), probbably made it worse. When my bull bars got ripped off they took the indicator cluster with it. I would expect no protection from crashes with bull bars, and possibly increased damage.

john snoo · Mar 10, 2020

Thanks, although I am not so worried about general damage, just the radiator/engine

Interceptorxj · Mar 10, 2020

Turboman said:
Metal full width bull bars are illegal on vehicles after (I think) 1997.
Foam/plastic type A bars are OK on vehicles after the cut off date.
Bars with lights fitted don't do much for your fuel economy at speeds greater than about 50 mph.

I don't think it is illegal to fit them but to sell them or for them to be factory fitted by the vehicle manufacturer they have to be EU compliant from 2007.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bull-bars/bull-bars
https://mocktheorytest.com/resources/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/EU-bull-bar-directive.pdf

Turboman · Mar 10, 2020

Interceptorxj said:
I don't think it is illegal to fit them but to sell them or for them to be factory fitted by the vehicle manufacturer they have to be EU compliant from 2007.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bull-bars/bull-bars
https://mocktheorytest.com/resources/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/EU-bull-bar-directive.pdf

2007, I was wrong about the 1997 cut off date.
The only vehicle I have had them on was made in 1989, so I didn't really have to worry about it.
I thought they were a waste of space, wouldn't get them again.

discool · Mar 10, 2020

john snoo said:
That's nice. I imagine that would protect your rad in some circumstances like a shunt on the M25. Do you think so, or is just a vanity thing? (and it does look pretty I must say )

Depending on the size of bump an ‘A’ bar it may prevent damage to the radiator but it could put a dent in the leading edge of the bonnet and slam panel below.
There’s already a bit of space from the front of a disco before reaching the radiator, so it should be still safe in a bump anyway, but because of an ‘A’ bar being fitted theres now damage to the bonnet which may have escaped, leaving damage only at the front bumper if the bar wasn’t there.
Assessing vehicle accident damage isn’t my field but that’s my take on A & bull bars.

The only thing I had attached to the front of my RR was lamp guards, but back then bull bars of the wrap around verity were a popular fitment, also popular was a twisted bull bar pushed in deep dent on the wing, and no other damage... but they did increase the width of the RR.

Also on sale was a bar for the rear of the RR a drop item a bit similar to a bull bar , I never saw one fitted or the after effects of a rear end bump.

As for “vanity” only a vain owner can answer that, I’m far from being vain so I don’t have an answer to your question

Turboman · Mar 10, 2020

john snoo said:
That's nice. I imagine that would protect your rad in some circumstances like a shunt on the M25. Do you think so, or is just a vanity thing? (and it does look pretty I must say )

If I was in a shunt on the M25, I think the radiator would be the last thing I would be worrying about.
I would be thinking more about the driver in the 38 tonne artic behind, wondering if he was asleep at the wheel, or on his phone, or if he would be alert enough to get on the brakes before he crushed my vehicle on the tarmac like a squashed fly.

Feathers McGraw · Mar 11, 2020

goonarmy said:
I had a minor shunt int the fender which had a A bar (numpty site manager reversed into me), probbably made it worse. When my bull bars got ripped off they took the indicator cluster with it. I would expect no protection from crashes with bull bars, and possibly increased damage.

Chap I know likened them to crash bars popular on older motorcycles. If they are strong enough to withstand an impact they're likely to transmit that energy into somewhere else and twist the frame or chassis. If they are not then they are likely to bend and spread damage over a wider area.
You pay your money and you take your choice.

blueovalcraig · Mar 11, 2020

Mine came with this already fitted

Disco 2 Nudge / Bull Bars - What are they for?

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Beer tester

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Beer tester

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Mab An Gov

Well-Known Member

Mab An Gov

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Similar threads