I am toying with the idea of importing a Nissan Skyline from Japan - probably around 7-8 year old example.
Has anyone done a self-import? I would be interested in first-hand accounts.
I've found a company on the web (www.autoadvan.co.uk) - seem to be based in Leicester - who will act as an auction agent in Japan for a few hundred pounds. Anyone able to recommend them?
I gather that vehicles under 10 years old will need an SVA test, which shouldn't be a problem, but I've read on some websites of the need to have a 'model report' for the SVA. Can anyone shed any light on exactly what is required in the 'model report'?
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hi Aprilia,
sorry can`t answer any of your queries, but if you go to:-
www.hmce.gov.uk
and enter motor vehicle in the site search, you may find the 7th title down of some help to you,( its a very small pdf download.)
billy.
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Thanks - took a look at that.
Anybody actually been through this import process - I'm keen to hear 'from the horses mouth'.
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Never done it but www.gtr.co.uk/forum/ have a few already imported ones for sale. There's also www.skylineowners.com/forum/ that have cars for sale. They should have links to specialist importers and someone might have used autoadvan already.
If you do import a skyline then leave the speedo reading in km otherwise it upsets the HICAS and the car doesn't handle as sharply as it should.
If you're interested I have a pdf of the full on service manual for the gtr-32. The gtr-33 which you are looking at is pretty similar in a lot of ways.
teabelly
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Easy enough to import and register a Skyline from Japan.Under 10 years and 1st reg pre 1/1/97 is just a straight forward SVA as long as the Japanese de-reg has the correct type/designation codes on it,this rules out modified cars,so stick to as near original as possible.Cars 1st reg after 1/1/97 need an ESVA and this will mean a model report and of course there are no model reports available at the moment.Cars over 10 years old just a simple MOT,you will need a fog light.If a Cartek KMH to MPH converter is used you will have no problems with any speed related gizmos.
As you are tech minded you would easily be able to do the conversions required for SVA,but the car would probably fail the 1st time you presented it for inspection,thats just the way it is.
Alternativly you could pay to have the whole SVA process taken car of for about £500.
I don't know who you have in mind to deal with in Japan,there are many exporters,from experience don't get involved with Kiwis,Aussies,Brits or Irish,stick with a Japanese outfit.
All the cars are graded,best to stick for out for a least a 4 or 4.5.
Your costs to get the car to the UK will be,the price of the car+any other costs in Japan,roro shipping to UK,10%duty,+port and agents costs+17.5%VAT +SVA.
As you a probably well aware,a good Skyline is one fun car.
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Thanks for that very comprehensive answer.
>>Cars 1st reg after 1/1/97 need an ESVA and this will mean a >>model report and of course there are no model reports >>available at the moment.
Does this mean '97-on Skyline is effectively not possible to SVA at the moment? i.e. to be avoided?
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I hope not - the R34 variant is by far the best looking.
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modelreportsdirect.com has them for R34&R35 manuals and autos.I have not used this company,so no experience of them.
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VOSA has model reports for them listed as being available along with lots of other recent cars which might be of interest to a few people.
tinyurl.com/4x2x4
It shows both modelreports.com and carimports direct having model reports available for skylines. I assume if they're on VOSA's website the companies can't be too dodgy!
I think you have to bring in a strictly standard car to pass the ESVA but I don't know whether you can modify it once it has been registered in the UK.
teabelly
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be too dodgy!I think you have to bring in a strictly standard car to pass the ESVA but I don't know whether you can modify it once it has been registered in the UK. teabelly
Yes, I have looked into this and the car has to be totally standard. Problem is that there don't seem to be any standard '98-2000 MY Skylines in Japan! The Japanese seem to love modifying Skylines.
To bring one in would involve returning it to standard spec. - not really economically viable in many cases.
I am now thinking about an older R33 Skyline - say a '96 model - which would escape ESVA.
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Or get an r32 as it is purist of the skylines, not that I am biased of course :-)
There don't seem to be many r34s on autotrader in this country either. Car imports direct seem to have a couple of standard ones for £29k but I don't know how that compares with the sort of prices you were looking at for importing it yourself. Middlehurst nissan in Wigan might also be worth checking out they were the official skyline importer so they might not face the same restrictions. Not sure whether it would cost you a lot more than importing it yourself though.
www.skylineowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13446 has a special edition le mans R33 v spec with 650 bhp... yours for a small £35k! www.gtr.co.uk/forum/upload/showthread.php?t=29238 is a more reasonable £20k for similar horses on another R33 vspec.
teabelly
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One for sale in local paper today.
NISSAN SKYLINE 1996
silver s/Turbo six months tax/MOT 51,000 miles immaculate condition for year. Too much spec to list £9,995
Tel 01952 - 541392 or 0779 332 3674
01952 is a Telford Number; perhaps No Dosh will have a look - but its not a diesel though!!
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