How to import Audi cars from Japan

[Scooby.Doo]

Hi Guys

I’m new to this website and I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice please.

I would like to buy an Audi/VW from japan and I would like to know if anyone has any idea of the process involved in purchasing the car from japan and getting it shipped over here.

I don’t have a Scooby Doo on where to start.

Thanking you in advance
Scooby Doo

 

[martin1984]

Hi Guys

I’m new to this website and I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice please.

I would like to buy an Audi/VW from japan and I would like to know if anyone has any idea of the process involved in purchasing the car from japan and getting it shipped over here.

I don’t have a Scooby Doo on where to start.

Thanking you in advance
Scooby Doo

Find a trader that sells imports would be my first call and see what they say

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Scooby.Doo]

Find a trader that sells imports would be my first call and see what they say

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Has anyone on here used any reliable import traders?

 

[Tj 0785]

Why would you want to import a German car from Japan? I get why people do it with subaru’s And skylines

 

[Scooby.Doo]

The German cars from Japan are a lot cheaper and right hand drive. Iv had a look at some japanse auctions and they are going really cheap but I need to do a little research in the hidden costs if any? Hence why I was asking on this forum as someone on here may have done something like this before.

 

[Tj 0785]

http://andrewsjapanesecars.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-import-a-car-to-the-uk-from-japan/

 

[B5NUT]

What model are you thinking of importing?

 

[Scooby.Doo]

http://andrewsjapanesecars.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-import-a-car-to-the-uk-from-japan/

Hey thanks buddy.

This website is amazing and extremely informative.

I’ll send some scubby snacks your way

Cheers

Scooby Doo

 

[Scooby.Doo]

What model are you thinking of importing?

VW golf R, Audi S3, Audi RS3 maybe even a VW polo GT

 

[B5NUT]

Depending on the year of the Audi you will have to replace the MMI system, as it will not be compatible in the UK, and if it's the later MIB platform you could easy be looking at £1000 for the parts, coding and component protection removal.

 

[Scooby.Doo]

Genuine VCDS cable and software will help with the coding. As for the navigation system... i have been told that if you put in a SIM card into the glove box tray then you can use google maps so you won’t need to update navigation system.

MIB can be changed from japanse to English language via the menu

 

[AeroMad]

Speedo won't have MPH

 

[B5NUT]

Japanese have a different radio system and navigation system, you cannot just load up "google map overlay" as the base maps will be will be for Japan, and you need the European maps for the over lay to work. So you have to change the 5F module or try and hack the European firmware onto the system, as the software and hardware ID numbers won't match up, if you get past that point you then need to load the European maps. The MMI system conversion is not an easy or quick job, and until that is done you car will always show as being in Japan, and your radio will never work.

 

[pxr5]

I shipped a Japanese spec Renault from Cyprus to the UK. That car was easy as it was almost similar to a UK version, so all I needed was a CofC that was generated by Cypriot Exports. However others I knew had to do light conversions and other things which I can't recall now, but mainly to do with safety - and that work had to be done in Cyprus before a CofC could be issued for import to the UK. Thing is though Cyprus was geared up for dealing with Japanese cars. I wouldn't have had a clue doing it from scratch myself.

 

[Scooby.Doo]

Speedo won't have MPH

That’s easy to get round, very cheap and there’s no coding involved.

Check this website out
https://www.kmh-mph.co.uk/

 

[Scooby.Doo]

Japanese have a different radio system and navigation system, you cannot just load up "google map overlay" as the base maps will be will be for Japan, and you need the European maps for the over lay to work. So you have to change the 5F module or try and hack the European firmware onto the system, as the software and hardware ID numbers won't match up, if you get past that point you then need to load the European maps. The MMI system conversion is not an easy or quick job, and until that is done you car will always show as being in Japan, and your radio will never work.

Thanks for your reply (and private messedge)

It’s not as big of a job as you may think. I know component protection is a pain but you can send your module to Ukraine and get it to work with UK maps/roads.

Check this for more details.

https://forums.ross-tech.com/showthread.php?2067-Golf-MK7-Gti-DSG-Japanese-Import-Help-Needed-!!

 

[simonali]

Strikes me as too much of pain in the scrotum to bother with. Even if you do all that stuff you're still buying a car you've never laid eyes on and when you do it's too late. They must be super cheap...

 

[Gaz78]

Strikes me as too much of pain in the scrotum to bother with. Even if you do all that stuff you're still buying a car you've never laid eyes on and when you do it's too late. They must be super cheap...

I know for some it is too much hassle, but my brother in law imported a Celica from Japan a while back. The car only had 28k miles on it, was literally immaculate, and was hands down the best car he had ever bought. He only paid 3k for it, and all the UK ones at that price were older, higher miles and tatty. He went through a decent import company (Can't remember who though!), and they did the speedo conversion too. Was a a very simple process. All the cars were rated A through to D on condition and I think his was a B rating. Worst part was waiting 3 months to get it delivered.
If your patient and choose the right car then it's worth doing imho.

Gaz