Converting my US 2002 C5Z to UK spec

[RobertR1]

Hi everyone,

I recently moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to Rickmansworth, Herts. My 2002 C5Z is en route with our household goods.

Per research since the car is over 10 years old, I only need to pass the MOT and not the other spec.

Does anyone know what is needed to do the conversion? I reached out to Mildenhallautocentre who came up a few times. In discussion with them, they seem a bit stuck on the rear light conversion.

Does anyone have a walkthrough or guide on what is needed to get this car road legal so I can use it for my daily driver?

Depending on how expensive and/or difficult this process is, I plan to have my C6Z Z07 sent over afterwards. Looking forward to meeting up with the Vette crew in the UK one of these days!

Anything I should know/be aware of would be of great help.

Thanks,
Robert.

[z06tim]

Hi Robert.

Congrats on returning to the UK with your C5Z - I did exactly the same as you back in 2008.

The lighting mods for the MOT are really quite straight forward. I sourced my rear lamps via Keith from Eurovettes (http://www.eurovettes.com/contact_about.htm). He is very reasonable, and was able to get hold of the right parts far easier than I could whilst i was still in the US.

I also have some superb instructions from another previous C5Z owner, which I think many folk have used. If you PM me your email I will send it to you?

Also, if you've not already found us, the CCCUK (Corvette Club) is a great bunch of people to talk with here: http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/ - membership is very reasonable, and may help reduce insurance and other costs.

Cheers

Tim

[PHCorvette]

As above, changes are not that big. You can look for looms and there are many simple options. I've recently upgraded my rear c6 lights to use Radio Flyer's wiring loom which gives me a nice set of circle outer and inner rears with fogs and indicators. It might be worth looking at them too.

For parts in the UK there are many places but these chaps are good http://claremont.corvette.co.uk/

[Sub8]

Robert, I'm about 6 months behind you. Bringing my 2nd z06 back as occasional road / track day car.

Anything you learn appreciated!

Pm'd ref rear light conversion.

Thanks.

[LuS1fer]

The original conversion was mine and I used a plug and play rear light kit from Ecklers in the US.
Aside from that. you need side repeaters, white front sidelights and a rear fog light with an illuminated interior switch.
You will also need to obtain UK plates. You can use a motorcycle font because the car has 12 x 6 apertures but carry a copy of the relevant S14A regulation.

[Sub8]

What do they require ref rear lights? Separate brake and orange tail indicator...or?

[z06tim]

Sub8 said:

What do they require ref rear lights? Separate brake and orange tail indicator...or?

Hi Sub8,

Yes you are exactly right. Something like this would work:

http://www.mamotorworks.com/Corvette/product/taill...

Although, they used to be much cheaper. I recommend talking to Keith from Eurovettes, he's always good at finding from other vendors.

Sorry I only just found your PM in my junk mail.

I will send you the full instructions tonight. They were originally done by LuSIfer above - many thanks again for this. You have helped a lot of us out!

Cheers

[Sub8]

WoW $695!

Do you actually have to have an orange lense? Can you achieve an orange light through the standard red lense? Is that allowed?

I think the wiring changes are probably easier to figure out to diy.....

Thanks again all.

[PHCorvette]

Sub8 said:

WoW $695!

Do you actually have to have an orange lense? Can you achieve an orange light through the standard red lense? Is that allowed?

I think the wiring changes are probably easier to figure out to diy.....

Thanks again all.

I have a set of UK lights here, you would need bulbs and loom. I replaced mine with a full set of LED's from Radio Flyer, I paid for the loom and the light units and it came to a lot less than that!

You would do well to speak to them to also check what options they have. Obviously as mine was a euro I had the illumited fog light on the dash etc but here the lights are solid red but the indicators work orange

here is a quick vid to show, just another option for you and something you could do and keep the car legal over there and pay a hell of a lot less on parts before bringing over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3BPvu5jqs0

[z06tim]

Yep. That price is just nuts. They used to be about half the price. I think the red/clear units were always cheaper too. Worth shopping around and looking at alternative options. As they say, there are many ways to skin a cat!

[Sub8]

Thanks chaps.

GM euro taillights appear to be around $90 each, so another option.

[PHCorvette]

is yours a 5 or a 6?