Pitfalls of buying a Japanese import ?
Discussion
I've seen a nice C55 I am tempted to buy. Apparently low miles and apparently a FMBSH. But it's Japanese. It has a new V% and MOT having been imported this year but what are the potential problems?
The speedo is metric and will simply have to be changed as the digital readout is too small. Will the lights be OK. Is it likely to speed limited? And so on...
It's just been serviced at MB but I didn't see if there were any advisories. It is a lovely car but I can't help feeling it culd be problematic in some silly ways.
The speedo is metric and will simply have to be changed as the digital readout is too small. Will the lights be OK. Is it likely to speed limited? And so on...
It's just been serviced at MB but I didn't see if there were any advisories. It is a lovely car but I can't help feeling it culd be problematic in some silly ways.
I'm only speaking from a 90's rally car kind of Japanese import but the speedo will read in km/h rather than MPH and it may have a 180 km/h speed limiter fitted. It will also need a rear fog light installing.
Apart from that, the spec may be slightly different top a UK car and dealers may scratch their heads for a bit but apart from that it should be ok.
Apart from that, the spec may be slightly different top a UK car and dealers may scratch their heads for a bit but apart from that it should be ok.
I have to admit that getting a MB from Japan seems like an odd thing to do, but I'm guessing it is a spec we never got?
- Harder to verify the MBSH, if you can read Japanese then this is no problem
- With the speedo isn't it just that km/h is on the outside and mph on the inside given that it's quite a young car. If so would it be worth changing it around? Could just get used to reading it the other way.
- already answered on the limiter above. The fog you could try and replace one of the reverse lights if it has two and you don't want one of this horrendous looking dangling extra light.
edit: do you know who imported it? Can check their reputation too, also if you have access to the auction sheet (if it went that way) then it's good
- Harder to verify the MBSH, if you can read Japanese then this is no problem
- With the speedo isn't it just that km/h is on the outside and mph on the inside given that it's quite a young car. If so would it be worth changing it around? Could just get used to reading it the other way.
- already answered on the limiter above. The fog you could try and replace one of the reverse lights if it has two and you don't want one of this horrendous looking dangling extra light.
edit: do you know who imported it? Can check their reputation too, also if you have access to the auction sheet (if it went that way) then it's good
Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 16th August 16:53
Biggest problem I can see is any in-built infotainment systems. The days of just banging a frequency modifier on to the back of the radio are long gone.
I was looking at a 'bargain' Japanese import E500 and ruled it out completely once I'd factored in the cost of getting the sat nav and radio to work over here.
I was looking at a 'bargain' Japanese import E500 and ruled it out completely once I'd factored in the cost of getting the sat nav and radio to work over here.
runboy said:
Domestic Japanese cars tend not to have underseal and therefore once they hit our roads and salt, rust very quickly. However I wonder if the likes of MB and BMW imports to Japan have the same underseal as if they were destined to the UK?
Blimey. Hadn't given that a thought....r11co said:
Biggest problem I can see is any in-built infotainment systems. The days of just banging a frequency modifier on to the back of the radio are long gone.
I was looking at a 'bargain' Japanese import E500 and ruled it out completely once I'd factored in the cost of getting the sat nav and radio to work over here.
The Command system was so utterly sI was looking at a 'bargain' Japanese import E500 and ruled it out completely once I'd factored in the cost of getting the sat nav and radio to work over here.
te after about a year, I'm surprised any survive. This car has a nice aftermarket media/nav thing it which seems to get Slough so can't be too bad....TommoAE86 said:
I have to admit that getting a MB from Japan seems like an odd thing to do, but I'm guessing it is a spec we never got?
- Harder to verify the MBSH, if you can read Japanese then this is no problem
- With the speedo isn't it just that km/h is on the outside and mph on the inside given that it's quite a young car. If so would it be worth changing it around? Could just get used to reading it the other way.
- already answered on the limiter above. The fog you could try and replace one of the reverse lights if it has two and you don't want one of this horrendous looking dangling extra light.
edit: do you know who imported it? Can check their reputation too, also if you have access to the auction sheet (if it went that way) then it's good
The spec seems pretty much the same but its a car with very low miles compared to most of the UK ones. Also a couple of fancy bits added on too.- Harder to verify the MBSH, if you can read Japanese then this is no problem
- With the speedo isn't it just that km/h is on the outside and mph on the inside given that it's quite a young car. If so would it be worth changing it around? Could just get used to reading it the other way.
- already answered on the limiter above. The fog you could try and replace one of the reverse lights if it has two and you don't want one of this horrendous looking dangling extra light.
edit: do you know who imported it? Can check their reputation too, also if you have access to the auction sheet (if it went that way) then it's good
Edited by TommoAE86 on Tuesday 16th August 16:53
Japanese cars are invariably in better condition that UK cars thanks to their strict Shaken tests and are normally single owner cars.
Ideally you'd want a BIMTA mileage cert and a copy of the auction inspection
Cars manufactured in Japan (for their market) aren't galvanised and don't use underseal (as a rule), but if your car was built here (Europe) and shipped to Japan then chances are this is irrelevant.
Normally Japanese cars have the indicator stalk on the correct side, which is a nice treat
I'd.much rather trust a Japanese car than a used uk car.
Ideally you'd want a BIMTA mileage cert and a copy of the auction inspection
Cars manufactured in Japan (for their market) aren't galvanised and don't use underseal (as a rule), but if your car was built here (Europe) and shipped to Japan then chances are this is irrelevant.
Normally Japanese cars have the indicator stalk on the correct side, which is a nice treat
I'd.much rather trust a Japanese car than a used uk car.
rlw said:
Blimey. Hadn't given that a thought....
That should always be a prine concern. Something which has survived 20 winters in Japan will look like st after a couple here, if you don't address the underseal. Many importers do a coat as part their process, but never just assume it's been done.rlw said:
runboy said:
Domestic Japanese cars tend not to have underseal and therefore once they hit our roads and salt, rust very quickly. However I wonder if the likes of MB and BMW imports to Japan have the same underseal as if they were destined to the UK?
Blimey. Hadn't given that a thought....People will think you're a cheapskate. Think Butlins v Bahamas, CentreParcs v Caribbean, Vinyl v leather, Skoda v Audi.
Owners of the Eunos suffered such a stigma especially when they first appeared on our roads. With their ugly square rear number plates, whacky colours & weird badges they stood out like a sore thumb.
Do it properly or not all.
Owners of the Eunos suffered such a stigma especially when they first appeared on our roads. With their ugly square rear number plates, whacky colours & weird badges they stood out like a sore thumb.
Do it properly or not all.
I have a Jap G Wagen and thus far all is good.
The underside is as it left the factory, no rust anywhere. At all. Perhaps look to getting it waxoyled though?
New radio and a few small bits and hey-presto MOT and taxed. Don't hold your breath on the DVLA being quick at registering the car.
The underside is as it left the factory, no rust anywhere. At all. Perhaps look to getting it waxoyled though?
New radio and a few small bits and hey-presto MOT and taxed. Don't hold your breath on the DVLA being quick at registering the car.
WJNB said:
People will think you're a cheapskate. Think Butlins v Bahamas, CentreParcs v Caribbean, Vinyl v leather, Skoda v Audi.
Owners of the Eunos suffered such a stigma especially when they first appeared on our roads. With their ugly square rear number plates, whacky colours & weird badges they stood out like a sore thumb.
Do it properly or not all.
Bar one stupidly priced UK car, its the most expensive C55 on the market at the moment. And the lowest mileage,Owners of the Eunos suffered such a stigma especially when they first appeared on our roads. With their ugly square rear number plates, whacky colours & weird badges they stood out like a sore thumb.
Do it properly or not all.
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