Japanese imports in this country
Discussion
Chances are the service history will be missing (this doesn't mean the car hasn't been serviced, just that there is no means of being sure). The imports are often semi-automatic and leather is less common too.
On the upside, I think they had slightly more power and they're generally cheaper than UK cars and have often done fewer miles than an equivalent UK car.
A fair proportion of the imports around today will have had a JUMVEA certificate showing the mileage when the car left Japan. Can be useful if the service history isn't available to verify the mileage.
On the upside, I think they had slightly more power and they're generally cheaper than UK cars and have often done fewer miles than an equivalent UK car.
A fair proportion of the imports around today will have had a JUMVEA certificate showing the mileage when the car left Japan. Can be useful if the service history isn't available to verify the mileage.
Check with the insurence company as they 'may'
load the premium for an import.
The other thing is to check that UK dealers are
happy to service the car, and when ordering parts you may have to qoute a UK spec chassis NO. as an import may not exist on thier files?
Windows may have more tint so check if you get
Windscreen cover just a few things/ may help?
P.
load the premium for an import.
The other thing is to check that UK dealers are
happy to service the car, and when ordering parts you may have to qoute a UK spec chassis NO. as an import may not exist on thier files?
Windows may have more tint so check if you get
Windscreen cover just a few things/ may help?
P.
I've run 3 Jap imports in the past, GTO, FTO and an RX7. Insurers take the piss on insurance, even when parts are readily available.
The following advice is not specific to import 350Zs about which I'll admit I don't know a lot, it is more general advice about Jap imports.
Most dealers are helpful enough on parts although some part numbers are different for imports and things like the fuse box may be in japanese which is a bit unhelpful when you're at the roadside trying to work out which has blown!
I don't know specifically about 350Zs but on most Jap imports the audio systems don't work so budget for a new headunit (the frequencies in Japan are slightly lower in the scale than our FM frequencies plus the channel gaps are different IIRC). Also this may cause slight headaches if you have steering wheel audio controls, you will have to choose a head unit that interfaces with those. A decent car audio centre will be able to advice on that. Also most recent cars have integrated the head units into the dashboard so you will need a fascia adaptor to DIN or double DIN (the standard size for headunits), these aren't dear but make sure you can find one.
The car may be limited to 180KPH (about 113MPH IIRC) which can be removed with a delimit chip. The standard way to do this also changes the KPH speedo to MPH by changing the speed the needle rotates and using the same dial and numerals but with an MPH speedo stuck over the top.
Finally you might need to have the foglights and reversing lights added or modified to reach UK standards, there are various ways of doing this, the rough way is the way a lot of people take by just hacking into the rear bumper to fit the rear foglight but it looks bloody awful like that.
Also please don't expect UK prices for your car when it comes to part exchange time, you will pay less for an import and this is reflected when you come to swap it in. All too often I meet people who have got a bargain of an import (Jap or otherwise) and think they will get book price for a UK car when it comes to time to change.
Sorry if you find any of this doesn't apply to 350Zs, as I say I have limited knowledge of the import market for those.
The following advice is not specific to import 350Zs about which I'll admit I don't know a lot, it is more general advice about Jap imports.
Most dealers are helpful enough on parts although some part numbers are different for imports and things like the fuse box may be in japanese which is a bit unhelpful when you're at the roadside trying to work out which has blown!
I don't know specifically about 350Zs but on most Jap imports the audio systems don't work so budget for a new headunit (the frequencies in Japan are slightly lower in the scale than our FM frequencies plus the channel gaps are different IIRC). Also this may cause slight headaches if you have steering wheel audio controls, you will have to choose a head unit that interfaces with those. A decent car audio centre will be able to advice on that. Also most recent cars have integrated the head units into the dashboard so you will need a fascia adaptor to DIN or double DIN (the standard size for headunits), these aren't dear but make sure you can find one.
The car may be limited to 180KPH (about 113MPH IIRC) which can be removed with a delimit chip. The standard way to do this also changes the KPH speedo to MPH by changing the speed the needle rotates and using the same dial and numerals but with an MPH speedo stuck over the top.
Finally you might need to have the foglights and reversing lights added or modified to reach UK standards, there are various ways of doing this, the rough way is the way a lot of people take by just hacking into the rear bumper to fit the rear foglight but it looks bloody awful like that.
Also please don't expect UK prices for your car when it comes to part exchange time, you will pay less for an import and this is reflected when you come to swap it in. All too often I meet people who have got a bargain of an import (Jap or otherwise) and think they will get book price for a UK car when it comes to time to change.
Sorry if you find any of this doesn't apply to 350Zs, as I say I have limited knowledge of the import market for those.
If you're going to take it to main dealers for servicing or parts etc, then check with your local first about their policy on imports. My local toyota garage is only about 30 seconds drive from work, great I thought! They wont touch imports at all, and neither will the second nearest toyota garage. If I wanted a main stealer to even look at my car I'll have to drive 20 miles + away.
I've had 3 imports in the past and all were top cars.
Mileages can be iffy so buy on condition.
If, like me, you like auto boxes then the jap stuff is great - no UK 350z's are Autos!
If you prefer the look of the uk number plates, there's a chap in Rochdale supplies/fits uk bumper for £500....can't remember his name but he advertises on Autotrader (use a rochdale postcode to locate him maybe?)
The brakes are a different spec on the Autos apparently (but fine nonetheless) and the leather/BOSE stereos came together on their "GT" equivalent IIRC...
HTH
Mileages can be iffy so buy on condition.
If, like me, you like auto boxes then the jap stuff is great - no UK 350z's are Autos!
If you prefer the look of the uk number plates, there's a chap in Rochdale supplies/fits uk bumper for £500....can't remember his name but he advertises on Autotrader (use a rochdale postcode to locate him maybe?)
The brakes are a different spec on the Autos apparently (but fine nonetheless) and the leather/BOSE stereos came together on their "GT" equivalent IIRC...
HTH
Just search for an insurance co that does do imports without loading, try Lifesure for example.
As above has been said many of the little things like fog lights, stereo chips, speed limit chips will often be fitted by a dealer & overcome most of the niggles suggested. If not negotiate it into the price, the cost to a delaer is minimal for all the above & don't forget these cars need all the above for SVA testing which the car will have had to be registered.
Once you find a helpful dealer who does imports stick with them plenty do, do a forum search for the car model & people will point you in the right direction.
Other than that if your looking to source a car pm me as its what I do & sure could assist if you wanted to save some cash & have a bit of spare time available.
As above has been said many of the little things like fog lights, stereo chips, speed limit chips will often be fitted by a dealer & overcome most of the niggles suggested. If not negotiate it into the price, the cost to a delaer is minimal for all the above & don't forget these cars need all the above for SVA testing which the car will have had to be registered.
Once you find a helpful dealer who does imports stick with them plenty do, do a forum search for the car model & people will point you in the right direction.
Other than that if your looking to source a car pm me as its what I do & sure could assist if you wanted to save some cash & have a bit of spare time available.
Wadeski said:
what IS the insurance companies justification for loading an import nowadays, when they are so common?
i mean there are more Efini RX-7s in the UK than original UK cars!
FTO's are more expensive to insure than my GTV.i mean there are more Efini RX-7s in the UK than original UK cars!
makes no sense.
- its because its an import sir*
(i expect its the same with Supras, imprezas, Evos and the rest.)
_Batty_ said:
Wadeski said:
what IS the insurance companies justification for loading an import nowadays, when they are so common?
i mean there are more Efini RX-7s in the UK than original UK cars!
FTO's are more expensive to insure than my GTV.i mean there are more Efini RX-7s in the UK than original UK cars!
makes no sense.
- its because its an import sir*
(i expect its the same with Supras, imprezas, Evos and the rest.)
Wadeski said:
my favourite at the moment is all the differnt engine sizes available for an RX7 TT.
apparenlty if my the is a 2.6L TT, it costs a shitload to insure. If its a 2.3TT, its very cheap! Ever heard of a 2.3L RX-7? No me neither.
I think it comes down to when they are registered. Alot of cars are first registered wrongly, I.E My GT4 was registered as justa GT (This was later change) I've heard of peoples cars being registered as all kinds of strange nonsense as they couldn't find a uk equivilent (Even if there is one! Like in GT4's case!) DVLA numpties me thinks!apparenlty if my the is a 2.6L TT, it costs a shitload to insure. If its a 2.3TT, its very cheap! Ever heard of a 2.3L RX-7? No me neither.
Wadeski said:
my favourite at the moment is all the differnt engine sizes available for an RX7 TT.
apparenlty if my the is a 2.6L TT, it costs a shitload to insure. If its a 2.3TT, its very cheap! Ever heard of a 2.3L RX-7? No me neither.
Mine was reg'd as 1308cc which meant cheap road tax apparenlty if my the is a 2.6L TT, it costs a shitload to insure. If its a 2.3TT, its very cheap! Ever heard of a 2.3L RX-7? No me neither.
markmullen said:
I don't know specifically about 350Zs but on most Jap imports the audio systems don't work so budget for a new headunit (the frequencies in Japan are slightly lower in the scale than our FM frequencies plus the channel gaps are different IIRC).
If you're happy with the stereo an import comes with you can buy a band expander which is very inexpensive and allows you to use the radio to listen to UK stations. The display will read 10MHz (is MHz the measurement in FM?) less than it should though. Eg, Radio 1 is 97-99(ish), but on the display that would be 87-89.markmullen said:
Finally you might need to have the foglights and reversing lights added or modified to reach UK standards, there are various ways of doing this, the rough way is the way a lot of people take by just hacking into the rear bumper to fit the rear foglight but it looks bloody awful like that.
My experience is that there's never anything wrong with reserve lights, but yes they'll always need foglights. The tidiest way to fit one is to swap one of the reverse bulbs for a red bulb and rewire that to a fog light switch. No need for ugly extra lights. 
By the way Mark, didn't mean to be picking on your post, just wanted to correct a couple of things!
Wadeski said:
my favourite at the moment is all the differnt engine sizes available for an RX7 TT.
apparenlty if my the is a 2.6L TT, it costs a shitload to insure. If its a 2.3TT, its very cheap! Ever heard of a 2.3L RX-7? No me neither.
this was done because an equilivant to a 1.4 wankel is a 2.6 V6 apparenltyapparenlty if my the is a 2.6L TT, it costs a shitload to insure. If its a 2.3TT, its very cheap! Ever heard of a 2.3L RX-7? No me neither.
Gazboy said:
The brakes are different on j-spec 350Z's iirc.
I find it's the irritatingly small things that grind me down, like the search for lightbulbs, the 350Z appears to be the worst import for this, speaking to owners.
Are the breaks really different? we have an ST model (equivalent to a GT) and it has brembo breaks.I find it's the irritatingly small things that grind me down, like the search for lightbulbs, the 350Z appears to be the worst import for this, speaking to owners.
If little things like getting the spare parts, having to make a few modifications don't irritate you then you can save yourself a lot of money and get a decent 350z from Japan - they keep their cars really well and you can get a high spec with low mileage (well, if you're lucky enough to find an importer here who's brought an ST version over and not the standard model).
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