Importing a used SLK from Germany

[Peter Yaxley]

While it's a couple of months yet before I will be buying a 230SLK I was looking at a car site in Germany and the price of used cars seems much much lower. If I were to consider importing a 1999 car please can anyone advise me what taxes I would need to pay and if I would be able to reclaim any paid to the German dealer?

Also I would be interested to hear if it is more expensive to get a LHD car serviced and if the dealers tend to treat you any differently.

I guess the insurance will also be a bit higher.

I would also be grateful if there are any other things to watch like a much lower specification.

Thanks

All the best

Regards

Peter Yaxley

 

[Guy]

Peter,

Try reading this -

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/notices/728.htm

which deals with imports of new cars - and mentions at 1.3 the position if what you are importing is NOT an NMT, ie new means of transport.

You may conclude the wisest thing is to contact your local VAT office so that you can be sure of the position.

Regards,

Guy.

 

[Peter Yaxley]

Guy,

Thank you for this information it was most helpful. I contacted the VAT office help line and they confirmed that provided the vehicle is over 6 months old and has completed more than 6,000 kms no tax is due in the UK.

My next question to you or anyone else relates to getting a German car through a MOT. I guess the head lamps will need to be changed to shine the right way and I have heard that the Speedometer needs to be changed from a km one to a mph one. Is this true and is there anything else that needs to be changed?

Thanks

All the best

Regards

Peter

 

[Guy]

Peter,

A pal of mine recently wanted this info, so you're timing is spot on -

http://www.via.gov.uk/

is the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency; their number for imported cars is - ( I think - check on site)
0870 6060440

http://www.carcareclinic.com/MOT_Tips/mot_tips.html

is just a useful summary of what the MoT involves.

Hope it helps

Guy

 

[Andy]

Hi Peter,

The main thing that will need to be changed is the headlamps. Contary to popular belief. Changing just the headlamp glass is not enough. The reflectors are actually different as well. So a pair of head lamps I think really is the least you will have to replace. Speedo is not a problem as far as I am aware.

I doubt they would consider it mittegating circumstances if caught by the police for speeding and you tell them you didn't know what the speed was!!!! Maybe put some stickers on the speedo where the relavent speeds should be. Just a thought if money is an issue.

Regards
Andy@www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Peter Yaxley]

Andy, Guy,

Thank you for your helpful replies. I have really got the bug to get a LHD car now, especially for foreign touring, so you advice has been most useful.

Regards

Peter

 

[S A Smith]

Hi,

The speedo will be a problem.  It must read in MPH as well as KMPH, some continental cars don't do this.  It doesn't matter if the 'milage' is in miles though, it can still read in kilometers.  Therefore getting the dials recalibrated need not be as expensive as all that.  Replacement dial faces can be bought.  These can be got/ordered from any good car spares/accessory shop since boy racers often replace their dials with fancy coloured ones.

If Merc dealerships are anything like the Jap ones they won't touch your car when it comes to servicing.  As far as I can tell this just down to spite!  However other garages are identifying the growing market for imports and will service your car and will most likely cost less then a main dealer would charge for a british spec vehicle.

Don't let anyone fob you off about Brit spec and European spec cars using wildly different parts.  This is just bollocks!  In the majority of cases the cars are built on the same assembley line.  Using vastly different parts would cost Mercedes a fortune and would quickly make them uncompettitive.

Hope this is of use,

Steve

 

[Anonymous]

I think the MB German-market speedo's are also calibrated in MPH (in a small font).
You are correct that used cars are much cheaper over there - parts are a lot cheaper also, so stock-up on service items whilst you're there.

Eric