Scuba Steve

A friend of mine imports mini trucks (like Daihatsus) from Japan and gets them through a car auction site. Every now and then a 928 pops up on there and the prices are amazing. Is it possible to bring one over that's under 25 years old and convert it to pass US inspection, or is this possible only with older models? I don't know how this works since the model was sold in the US.

Fabio421

Your friend would be the one to ask.

Jim bailey - 928 International

Many of the 928s in Japan were originally sold in the US and exported to Japan. Those can easily be brought back to the US although the title in Japanese freaks out the local DMV . However all European spec or Japanese (right hand drive) require the full certification Lab process which can cost $10,000 or more before it is all done. The Canadians with their 15 year old exemption are sucking up many of the interesting Japanese cars. Also worth mentioning that your friend's selling as "parts only" or "off road use only" probably does not exempt him from any liabilities/fines /penalties for importing vehicles which do not comply with all the USA regulations. I noticed a add on Craigslist LA for a container of mini trucks just the other day....Jesse James recently paid a 1/4 million dollar fine for selling motorcycles which were not in compliance with all the rules and regulations. But he was just making choppers He promptly left the State of California.

Scuba Steve

Thanks for the answers. The friend of mine doesn't know about cars - the only modification he has to do with these things is to limit the top speed (he does this by welding a bar to keep people from accessing the top gear). They're the kind of thing you see at factories and warehouses, off-road stuff. There's some amount of customs that he has to pay also but not a lot.

From the pictures it looks like the 928s were left-hand drive. One was an S3(?) but they both had rest of world VINs (WPOZZZ...). I'll have to tell him to keep an eye out for US numbers but the other under-25 stuff is out. It'd be nice to just be able to bring over some euro bumpers - people go crazy for those on the 944 board anyway.

I did hear about Jesse James... wasn't that some kind of CA emission or noise regulation issue?

JHowell37

Jesse James got busted for installing loud pipes on a bike. California has gone over the top with their noise and emissions regulations, even going so far as to fine the shops who install loud pipes. It amazes me that we'll fine an individual $250,000 for noise violations, yet coal mines that don't adhere to the most basic safety regulations routinely pay fines limited to a few hundred dollars a day. So low that it's more cost effective for the mine owner to simply pay the fine rather then fix the problem.

RyanPerrella

I wouldnt bother importing an 928 unless it was a really rare one, like a unique low mile GTS or GT or had some options you absolutely had to have and the car was perfect.

Have you looked at the exchange lately? I was importing BMW M5's 5 years ago and went through all this. At the time though when the Euro came online it was trading at 0.80 to the dollar. Now its around 1.30 to the dollar. Very different price now. I dont know why you would want to import a car from Europe. Japan maybe different, dont know, never dealt witht hat market. But 928's are so cheap here in the states , just buy one here.

When you do federalize a car, it takes 6 months for the shop to release it, $10,000 plus in expenses, $1500 in shipping, $2000-$3000 for your trip to wherever you go to check it out before hand. It just dosent make sense.

I am now looking to export cars to europe, i can make a killing with the euro, I was thinking classic american cars. Was thinking SUV's but GM now sells the Hummer brand in Germany so that window is now closed.

trialattorney

Quick note on noise in California. The code section at issue does not define "excessive noise" - there is no db referece - so, what constitutes "excessive noise?" There are other code sections that prohibit the alteration or modification of a vehicle's exhaust system - but Jesse was making new vehicles, not modifying existing vehicles - also, his exhause probably was not "CARB" approved (California Air Resources Board) - so his problems were probably less related to noise than other issues.....

Jim bailey - 928 International

Sounds like it was more than noise. .."Fifty of James' custom-built bikes, sold via his West Coast Choppers shop in Long Beach, California, between 1998 and 2005, were found to have been in violation of the state's emissions standards, with some of the two-wheelers emitting up to 10 times the amount of pollutants allowed under state laws, according to the California Air Resources Board. "

Crisis

Speaking as someone who has imported a 928 from Japan, my advice is Don't Do It!! In addition to the obvious issues associated with bringing a car into the US, the same overriding advice concerning getting a PPI done is doubly important here.

Not to say that my experience is typical, but since my beautiful looking 1990 S4 showed up, I've had the following done:
Timing Belt, tensioner & water pump (Ouch!)
A/C fixed
Heads re-done (Really big ouch!)
Plugged cats removed & replaced with X-pipe (Good thing)

The attractive looking purchase price has been more than offset by this work, plus you have absolutely no recourse with the seller. I'm also aware of a handful of Japanese 928s that have suffered Thrust Bearing Failure.

928s are pricey enough to maintain. My expensive lesson is stick to ones for which you can get some background information and a PPI.

sendarius

I'm going through this at the moment - but importing to Oz from Japan.

We have what sounds like a similar exemption to Canada's for vehicles 15 years old (actually built before 01/01/89), even LHD is OK here in West Oz.

As long as I can demonstrate that the vehicle meets Australian Design Rules as of date of manufacture eg 1988 for MY 928S4 (by an inspection report from an automotive engineer if necessary), all is good.

I know this doesn't help in YOUR situation, but i had to tell SOMEONE that I was getting a new (to me) 928