Imported Vehicles - Insurance

[SteveGoodz]

Howdy folks, enjoying the weather?

I'm thinking about buying a Discovery 1 that has been imported from Japan but my insurance company doesn't want to know: even though it's right hand drive and absolutely bog-standard (as in "that's how it left the factory").

Has anyone here insured an imported motor? Which insurer did you use?

Any suggestions gratefully accepted :-)

[JumboBeef]

I used to have a left hand drive Saab convertible, imported from Sweden.  I think I used Flux for that: I didn't have any problems, I know that much.

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

Peter Best 01621 840400

If you phone them, the call is answered quickly by a real person who speaks English clearly!! A rarity eh!!!!

[v8kenny]

I think you need to have another chat with your insurance company
It's not really an import like a skyline etc. as it would have been built in this country and will have a UK chassis no.
I have a Jap P38 range rover and have had no problem with insurance once the facts are explained
Both the NFU and my current insurers the AA had no issue at all and no increase in premium once I had explained the circumstances
 

[Range Rover Blues]

Shop around, if they don't know what they are talking about, go somewhere else.

Now, not sure where youstand on SVA or type approval :-k yes it's a UK built car but to Jap standards, stuff like the central locking radio frequency, the ICE system, possibly the lights etc will be different (might not have rear fog lights).

[discowoman]

I had heard horror stories about insuring Imports - then when we insured the Pajero it was a piece of cake - through Swinton and insured by Highway - about £30 dearer than our last disco!

[UKJeeper]

Shop around, if they don't know what they are talking about, go somewhere else.

Now, not sure where youstand on SVA or type approval :-k yes it's a UK built car but to Jap standards, stuff like the central locking radio frequency, the ICE system, possibly the lights etc will be different (might not have rear fog lights).

Is it over 10 years old? If so then there's no SVA. Bung a fog light on the back, MOT it, then register it. Insure it with Adrian Flux. No problems.

[Disco Matt]

I often wonder if the Japanese have the right idea where a lot of motoring things are concerned. They don't fit foglights (so the stupid prat who left it on when it isn't foggy doesn't blind those behind them) and they don't salt their roads. I don't think this results in mass carnage, people just fit studded tyres and learn how to drive. It also means that their cars last much longer!

You should be able to rewire the rear light clusters in your Disco to have standard fogs rather than needing to bolt one of those extra ones on. I doubt LR made a different tail light fitting for the Japanese market.

[SteveGoodz]

Shop around, if they don't know what they are talking about, go somewhere else.

Now, not sure where youstand on SVA or type approval :-k yes it's a UK built car but to Jap standards, stuff like the central locking radio frequency, the ICE system, possibly the lights etc will be different (might not have rear fog lights).

Perhaps I should have explained better. The vehicle has been back in the UK for about 4 years and is currently registered and MOT'd with a full V5, so is already street legal.

[SteveGoodz]

I often wonder if the Japanese have the right idea where a lot of motoring things are concerned. They don't fit foglights (so the stupid prat who left it on when it isn't foggy doesn't blind those behind them) and they don't salt their roads. I don't think this results in mass carnage, people just fit studded tyres and learn how to drive. It also means that their cars last much longer!

One of the reasons I was looking for a Jap import model is that they haven't been subjected to months of road salt every year. This particular one has had a section of the boot floor replaced and some welding to one of the inner wings. Aside from that I can't find any signs of rust in it anywhere ... unlike my Tdi which is slowly falling apart.

You should be able to rewire the rear light clusters in your Disco to have standard fogs rather than needing to bolt one of those extra ones on. I doubt LR made a different tail light fitting for the Japanese market.

UK tail light clusters have already been fitted by a previous owner :-)

[SteveGoodz]

So, folks, what would you think is a reasonable/realistic price for what is effectively a 1995 Discovery 3.9 V8i (with LPG conversion) that has no signs of rust, is mechanically sound, drives/steers/stops just like it should ... but has a peeling dash :-(

It has 5 almost new tyres on it and the alloys look in very good nick - no scuffs or scrapes - and all the electrical bits work as advertised.

[SteveGoodz]

Just thought I should wrap this thread up by saying I bought the Discovery for £1600 and the seller threw in a roof rack and rear door ladder. Very pleased with it so far but two niggly problems need to be sorted at some time.

Firstly, the dash is peeling up at the front. This used to be a fairly common problem but I don't remember the tried and tested remedy.

Secondly, the stereo doesn't work properly ~ very low volume and poor sound quality from the speakers. It looks like someone has replaced the wiring loom with a plate of spaghetti so I'm planning on re-wiring the speakers completely  :shock:

I went back to my insurance company and managed to persuade them to insure the vehicle. We decided that it isn't an imported motor but a re-imported one (havng been built in the UK and temporarily exported to Japan). What's more the insurance was cheaper than the 300Tdi  :dance:

Anyway, thanks for the comments above - much appreciated  :)

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

That's a good price for a Disco which has been used on unsalted roads.

You can get dash trim kits - a PITA to fit though.

Remember where the radio came from - My Disco had the same loom of spaghetti and a radio which doesn't work on our frequencies. I could get one station right at the end of the dial! Chucked the lot and fitted a Sony which powers my Ipod - no wire hanging out of the front!!

Well done.

[SteveGoodz]

Hi Rob,

Yeah, I thought it was a reasonable price considering the complete absence of tin worm  :D

I guess one of the car's previous owners had already replaced the standard radio and I'm fitting my own anyway. I spent a whole day re-wiring the speakers from the ISO plug backwards and was really pleased with the results ... great sound quality and plenty of volume ... until I put the radio back into the dash - then nothing!? I'm confused but it's likely to be a loose connection somewhere.

Right now I've got bigger troubles ... see my new post "blessed thing won't start" 

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

great sound quality and plenty of volume ... until I put the radio back into the dash - then nothing!? I'm confused but it's likely to be a loose connection somewhere.

Gotta be - especially if it works when it is away from the dash. Is there anything blocking/pressing the connectors?