Importing 2006 E320 cdi from Spain to UK

[Bono1]

I wonder if anyone could help.

I bought a new E320 Cdi Estate Avantagarde Sport Spec in November 06 from a MB main dealer here in Barcelona.

It now looks likely that I will be returning the UK and want to bring the car with me so I am wondering about the procedure of registering it in the UK.
I assume it will need some sort of MOT test to confirm that the car meets UK spec’s even though its only 12 months old.

The car has Xenon lights – does anyone know if I will need to change these or can they just be reset somehow to dip the other way?

The Speedo dial is in kmph but there is a setting that allows me to display mph in big numbers in the middle of the dial. Would this be good enough for the MOT test?

Rear Foglights – does anyone know what needs to be done if anything?

The last LHD car I had in the UK was a ‘95 E320 cabrio – that still had its LHD lights taped to cut the beam off and only a kmp/h speedo. I put that thru 3 mot’s and never had a problem with it.

Many thanks

Paul

 

[C250TDSportAuto]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/RegisteringAVehicle/DG_4022316

Try this.

 

[Bono1]

Update - now done it.

Just thought I'd update this post as I have now imported and registered the 320 in the UK.

It was pretty easy ....

Had to apply for British type approval under the Mutual Recognition scheme. Downloaded and filled out the form on this page:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motorin...cle/ImportingAndExportingAVehicle/DG_10028413

This is basically to say that it is an EU vehicle but the lights are set up for dipping on the UK side, the rear fog light lights on the right hand side ( not left) and the speedo will read in MPH.

I had to provide proof of this.

To prove the speedo could read in mph they were happy to accept a photocopy of the Spanish Owners manual with the relevant section highlighted which shows you how to select mph instead of kmph on the digital display.

The headlights were more tricky ... I knew that they could be reset by switching the lever over on the Xenons but I didn't fancy doing it my self. So I went to Mercedes of Manchester who claimed that this probably couldn't be done and suggested that I book the car in at £95 per hour plus vat for a look to see if it could be done - they said if it was possible it would likely to be another £250 odd to do the job but if not I would have to replace the headlights. They weren't sure if they could help at all with the foglight - though I was pretty sure this was just a software setting somewhere in the car as both sides are wired up.

I didn't fancy the idea of their charges so I looked around and came across Merc Star in Radcliffe
(North side of Manchester), http://www.merc-star.co.uk/

The guys there were absolutely fantastic. I took the car in – left for about an hour. They did the headlights and the foglight at a total cost of £70 plus vat and gave me a declaration to send off to get the type approval.

About a week later I got the necessary paperwork and back and went to the DVLA in Manchester. Two days later I was UK plates.

Cost: £80 odd quid for the work, £70 for the type approval, £50 to register it plus a year’s road tax.

Cheers


Paul

 

[Bono1]

Ok yeah - forgot say ..

Had to get insurance before I could register it.

Endsleigh were the only ones who would give me a decent quote on a LHD car still on a Spanish registration.

About a 20% price load on an equivalent RHD car.

 

[jberks]

good to see it was so easily sorted.
I'd also call the service manager at the MB dealer and point out that as his staff tried to rip you off (£250+ for a £70 job) and clearly knew their product so poorly they weren't even sure at that, you will not be having your car serviced with them either!
These people deserve taking down a peg or two.
Sorry but I couldn't let something as outrageous as that drop.
At the very least, they owe you a free service as compensation for trying to rob you.

 

[television]

What a joke from MB it takes minutes to look the the lights up as they are coded and the code tells you if they can be changed.


Thank you though for the feed back

 

[Bono1]

What a joke from MB it takes minutes to look the the lights up as they are coded and the code tells you if they can be changed.


Thank you though for the feed back

I've got to go in there today actually as the display is showing that the aircleaner needs replacing which it shouldn't do as its only just had a service at MB in Spain.

The guys at Merc Star told me this was a known fault with the display system and should be covered under warranty.

Now to see how my pan European warranty actually works .....

 

[C250TDSportAuto]

Just a little note on importing. You can't register an imported vehicle until it has valid UK insurance. Most insurance companies won't insure a vehicle that isn't UK registered. Managed to convince Highway to insure me. Endsleigh wouldn't insure me.

 

[benzo]

I hope you did write and call MB Manchester like JBerks suggested. Their charges were outrageous...