W124 Japanese Import

[robertdgcripps]

Hi

I have wanted a W124 estate for a while and have just come across one which is my preferred spec. It is a 1994 E280 and it is through http://www.specialistcars.net who import the (supposedly very good condition) Mercedes from Japan and service/mot/waxoyl/swap over speedo if nessessary/ UK register the car as part of the deal. From what I understand it is a low milage, good condition car having been kept in Japan's dry climate and un salted roads (no rust). I have been dealing with the proprietor Kristian Geldard.

Has anyone bought a Jap import Mercedes at all or had any experience with Kristian Geldard or specialistcars.net? Apart from potential insurance complications, I can't see any bad points from buying one of these as they are high spec German built cars which tend to be in better condition than UK cars. There is history with the car too.

[55palfers]

I looked at using them a while back for a G and I'm sure one of the guys involved with it came to an MB meet once or twice.

Not much help I know.

However, saw this one...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-W124-320-5...

[robertdgcripps]

Hi
Thanks for your reply.

Yes saw that Bradley James one - its been on sale for a while and is a little to much for me - and needs to have the extra seats put in the back!

I can't decide what to do about this potentially lovely Jap import

[55palfers]

I bought my G Wagen as a Jap import from these people.

http://www.cars2europe.com/

It was a bit of a long winded process but all was good in the end

The guy I dealt was called Christophe. I collected the car from his house in Virginia Water.

[r129sl]

www.specialistcars.net do not get a good press.

I visited their premises on spec a while back and was pretty shocked by what I saw. A lot of very ropey cars were awaiting preparation. It all looked very bodgy. A few people on PH have bought cars there and do not have good things to say.

You will have to make your own mind up, but my strong advice to you is not to buy a car without viewing it in person.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=153...

[Foodhoover]

I Have just bought a lovely E280 estate from these guys, ok so I probably paid about £700 more than I should but the process of importingit and fettling it were fine, All I would do differently is put a real mph set of clocks in it (Kristian has had a MPH overlay stiker (very well) done to go over the kph clock so the odometer is still in kph but the dial reads both. There waas an hour or so of faff whilst I got plates put on it (they were late from Kristians supplier, but the car is as spec'd and in fine shape. He has a very good auto audio guy who put in a DAB head set and upgraded the speakers very inconspicuously. The guys do take their time but they are finding you the right car

[nickod]

Foodhoover said:

I Have just bought a lovely E280 estate from these guys, ok so I probably paid about £700 more than I should but the process of importingit and fettling it were fine, All I would do differently is put a real mph set of clocks in it (Kristian has had a MPH overlay stiker (very well) done to go over the kph clock so the odometer is still in kph but the dial reads both. There waas an hour or so of faff whilst I got plates put on it (they were late from Kristians supplier, but the car is as spec'd and in fine shape. He has a very good auto audio guy who put in a DAB head set and upgraded the speakers very inconspicuously. The guys do take their time but they are finding you the right car

That looks really nice. W124 estate with DAB is all you need really. However, if anything breaks or goes wrong early on Kristian may suddenly become very hard to get hold of.

[originalracingsnake]

What was the outcome?

I too am looking to buy a Japan registered car....