1 Previous Owner
"Manufactured for the Japanese market in 2015, before being privately imported to the United Kingdom in 2020."
Reads to me like someone moved to the UK from Japan with the car, so not sure you'd expect to see auction sheets etc.?
Imported car, what's the catch?
- Thread starter CaptainRAVE
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1 Previous Owner
"Manufactured for the Japanese market in 2015, before being privately imported to the United Kingdom in 2020."
Reads to me like someone moved to the UK from Japan with the car, so not sure you'd expect to see auction sheets etc.?
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Would the chassis number still be enough to determine it’s history?
type approval in uk market with respect to the MOT/TAX emissions standard ?
may need matched reversing lights - I needed to add one on right or left - I don't remember which
have never had MOT problem with km speedo - you just need to remember what the standard uk speed limits are.
may need matched reversing lights - I needed to add one on right or left - I don't remember which
have never had MOT problem with km speedo - you just need to remember what the standard uk speed limits are.
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Hadn’t thought of the Speedo! I assume it would have a mph digital display at least. Edit: yup, right in the middle. I rarely look at the dial on my current car.
It was brought over in 2020 and says ‘ready to go’ so I guess the question is whether all this has been done?
If it's not been through an auction then it may not show up but it's worth doing the CarVX. My Evo9GT went through twice, first as grade 5 then R 18 months later. It failed to meet it's reserve and was purchased from the auctioning dealer.
Says UK registered so no worries about putting it on the road. Just need to get it's history checked. Bare in mind history can be hidden etc. Would need a thorough check for hidden accident damage. Again, with my Evo, it's hard to see it's had a front impact.
When I was on my last e38 hunt I used these guys, https://www.beforward.jp/ , fantastic range of stock on the site and it explains the procedure in detail.
Often I.C.E. is a big problem with Japanese imports due to their unique radio bands, I was looking at a great 750i Sport which required a radio unit replacement to sort it, in the end, I didn't bother and went with a U.K. market model.
Often I.C.E. is a big problem with Japanese imports due to their unique radio bands, I was looking at a great 750i Sport which required a radio unit replacement to sort it, in the end, I didn't bother and went with a U.K. market model.
Ditto. My Alphard is a JDM. Bought from an importer that took care of the conversion, underseal etc. Had a double DIN Kenwood head unit installed, reversing cam. Insurance no problem with Adrian Flux.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I think it's one thing to buy a Japanese import because you want a particular car that is available only as a Japanese import - this is the experience it seems of most of the replies in this thread so far.
It is, however, another thing to buy a Japanese import of a non Japanese car just because its a bit cheaper. I mean fair enough at the bargain end of the market, or perhaps when buying old cars for which the supply of UK models remaining is quite low, but a 2015 AMG GT? What? I don't really understand why you'd even consider this, surely it can only be the price that is drawing you to this and with all due respect if you're that price sensitive why on earth are you considering an AMG GT?
It's hardly the sort of car you randomly decide to buy one day knowing little about them because you find one thats cheap is it?
It is, however, another thing to buy a Japanese import of a non Japanese car just because its a bit cheaper. I mean fair enough at the bargain end of the market, or perhaps when buying old cars for which the supply of UK models remaining is quite low, but a 2015 AMG GT? What? I don't really understand why you'd even consider this, surely it can only be the price that is drawing you to this and with all due respect if you're that price sensitive why on earth are you considering an AMG GT?
It's hardly the sort of car you randomly decide to buy one day knowing little about them because you find one thats cheap is it?
Soldato
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Yeah i'd be wary, like Fox says most of us here who have had Japanese imports (i've had a classic Subaru WRX and a Honda Integra) were models not available in the UK, i'd always choose a UK car if it was available as it was a faff to own a JDM car in my experience.
Insurance for one but lots of other niggles, you take want a part and and it can be a really pain even if a similar model is available in the UK as there are lots of differences. Then things like the radio may not work in the UK, lots of stuff can be in Japanese, the need to add a fog light which may or may not have been done, take the 112mph limiter off, the need to get it undersealed etc etc etc. Non of this is impossible BUT it is harder work, you need to look up part numbers and stuff where as a UK car you can punch the reg into eurocarparts no issue when you want a battery or oil filter let alone suspension or engine bits. And then having to phone up a handful of specialist insurers every year rather than just spending 5 mins on comparethemarket.
Plus it's really easy to export a crashed car into another country to lose all its markers, especially a high value one like that it's not like it's a JDM special that there's a huge call for over here.
If it is that much cheaper than a UK car as you say i'd be very wary, plus you'll probably have to sell it on for a lot cheaper too and it'd be harder to sell. Most mainstream dealers won't take one in trade i.
Insurance for one but lots of other niggles, you take want a part and and it can be a really pain even if a similar model is available in the UK as there are lots of differences. Then things like the radio may not work in the UK, lots of stuff can be in Japanese, the need to add a fog light which may or may not have been done, take the 112mph limiter off, the need to get it undersealed etc etc etc. Non of this is impossible BUT it is harder work, you need to look up part numbers and stuff where as a UK car you can punch the reg into eurocarparts no issue when you want a battery or oil filter let alone suspension or engine bits. And then having to phone up a handful of specialist insurers every year rather than just spending 5 mins on comparethemarket.
Plus it's really easy to export a crashed car into another country to lose all its markers, especially a high value one like that it's not like it's a JDM special that there's a huge call for over here.
If it is that much cheaper than a UK car as you say i'd be very wary, plus you'll probably have to sell it on for a lot cheaper too and it'd be harder to sell. Most mainstream dealers won't take one in trade i.
Agree with what your saying.
What drew me when I was looking was the e38’s I was looking at - albeit from the website pictures - was the price which compared to some I’d seen was very attractive, most were very good spec, many had exceptionally low mileage with interiors to back it up, steering wheels that looked new etc, the lack of road salt in most provinces of Japan meant the bodywork was very good, it all looked on the face of it a no brainier.
Then you had to factor in as said the near zero ability to check the car’s history for accidents which would be too late once it was sitting at a U.K. port waiting for you not to mention what state it would be in after a few weeks at sea inside a shipping container, having worked with containers in the past, that really put me off.
Then you’ve the faff of changing the instrument binnacle to mph, it was unlikely the radio would work correctly so that needed changing to a European model and I believe the same applied to the on board computer, it very quickly became apparent to be it was not the no brainier I’d initially thought, it’s an awful lot of faffing to change back to European spec when there’s European spec cars already available here…
For something unique to the Japanese market then fair enough.
In my case I ultimately decided on a U.K. car that I could go and seeing the flesh before I bought it and think I did the right thing.
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@Scania most of what you've written seems to be the general consensus from reading around since I first posted this. Excellent value for money, which is what has drawn me to this having watched GTs for sometime (and having one low mileage and in a cash purchase window), but not without its drawbacks - some of which aren't a huge problem (kph speedometer), some of which are unclear (no one seems to know whether a car like this would have been exported initially with underseal) and some would be frustrating (the radio and command systems). Ultimately I may just wait for a UK version. Having not heard from the dealer yet I assume they don't want my car 
It may be worth just saving another 10K for a few months and then picking up a UK version with a similar spec.
It may be worth just saving another 10K for a few months and then picking up a UK version with a similar spec.
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I know and I could live with some of the 'drawbacks', especially if its one I plan to keep. I might phone my merc indy and see how up for it they are. The Japanese seem to keep their cars well.
If all else it'll provide some good entertainment for motors
It wouldnt put me off, as I said, I had an import car before ran that for 10 years near enough was great other than the headlight thing which my usual garage would pass anyway.
Just the insurance thing you have to watch - maybe a bit naughty, but my import car I bought it at auction, I knew it was an import (long story), but there was nothing on any of the paperwork from the auction, and it was UK spec, registered etc I just played dumb and insured it as non-import, never had any issues lol.
Just the insurance thing you have to watch - maybe a bit naughty, but my import car I bought it at auction, I knew it was an import (long story), but there was nothing on any of the paperwork from the auction, and it was UK spec, registered etc I just played dumb and insured it as non-import, never had any issues lol.
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What was selling it like?
The biggest plus point in your case is the car is already imported which is half the hassle and worry dealt with, mine was more I’d effectively be buying blind and hoping it was still in one piece when the container was opened.@Scania most of what you've written seems to be the general consensus from reading around since I first posted this. Excellent value for money, which is what has drawn me to this having watched GTs for sometime (and having one low mileage and in a cash purchase window), but not without its drawbacks - some of which aren't a huge problem (kph speedometer), some of which are unclear (no one seems to know whether a car like this would have been exported initially with underseal) and some would be frustrating (the radio and command systems). Ultimately I may just wait for a UK version. Having not heard from the dealer yet I assume they don't want my car
It may be worth just saving another 10K for a few months and then picking up a UK version with a similar spec.
Japanese market cars (certainly BMW’s from what I was told) have minimal under seal, nowhere near as much as European or North American market cars which was another concern as no amount of rust prevention measures applied once you’ve got it is going to be as good as factory and your possibly also sealing in corrosion that’s already started.
I very nearly bought an imported e38 from Seymour Pope (a specialist) but it was actually more expensive than the U.K. model I eventually bought from KGF Classic Cars, it was lower mileage (22k vs 54k) but the one I ended up with was fully inspected with various reports verifying its past as opposed to the import which basically looked wonderful but that’s all I really knew about it in truth.
If the saving is significant enough and especially if your thinking of keeping the GT for the long term then a lot of the risk - assuming the dealer has a good reputation - is reduced in your case, it’s still a bit of a lottery ultimately.
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Helpful, thanks. I wonder whether undersealing is then as effective if you do it now vs from the factory?
Going to do some phone calls over lunch.