Jump to content
SAU Community

Importing from AUS

Alf
 Share

Recommended Posts

Alf Proficient

Alf

Posted
Posted

I have some questions about importing a skyline from AUS to the US.

You would think that the US would be snapping up skylines but from what I've heard on US Nissan forums this isnt the case. Apparently the regulations are so tight that only a dozen or so can only be registered in the US per year.

There is hardly any businesses that import lines :cheers:

Ok the questions, Would there be any custom issues when shipping a 33 GTS25T to California?

There is no problem with shipping arrangements to Main beach cali. But what am I to expect in when it enters the US?. :Bang:

I have heard many stories about imports being cut up becoz they are illegal even tho they are not registered. :bs!: I know North America has high standards when it comes to emissions and safety. I've read on US sites saying that RHD cars are not as safe as LDH cars, I think this is just biased BS!. :usuck:

Does anyone know how the US system works.? I've read up on the procedures of importing into the US but i can't work half of it out. They use abbreviations like RI, VSP,VCP,VAS,FMVSSn HS-7 and so on.

The reason I ask about these ridiculous regulations is I may be moving to CA, USA in the near future and the last thing I want to do is leave my line behind and may bring a few more over later on. :ufo:

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/70778-importing-from-aus/
Share on other sites
mini2 Community Regular

mini2

Posted
Posted

Their rules is quite different to our SEVS yet it's based on the same principles - allow cars that weren't released for the market in order to be driven on the road.

In order to register the 'line, it must be imported by the company that does the legalization then handle the conversion. Pretty pricey stuff...

http://www.motorex.net/

zohnny Rookie

zohnny

Posted
Posted

I'm in the US and I can tell you that it is impossible to legalize vehicles from overseas. You have to go thru all the emission test and safety test (ex. crash test, etc) which doesn't make sense at all. I was once tried to import two stroke bike (it's illegal unless 50cc) and I found that it was impossible.

If it was easy to bring cars here, you would see skyline/JDM cars everywhere. All I seen around here is the engine swap from JDM engines or clips.

Why do you want to go through all the hassle? Reason I'm saying is car is really cheap compare to Australia. For example, you can get new 350Z base model for $27k USD or new M3 for around $47k USD.

Alf Proficient

Alf

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Their rules is quite different to our SEVS yet it's based on the same principles - allow cars that weren't released for the market in order to be driven on the road.

In order to register the 'line, it must be imported by the company that does the legalization then handle the conversion. Pretty pricey stuff...

http://www.motorex.net/

The info is much appreciated. :D

The US definitely are missing out on such an awesum car. This monopoly that Motorex has is definitely pricey as I'm discovering.:goddam:

Most of the imports they have brought in have taken more than a year to get on the road. Say If i was to remove the running gear from the car and ship them over seperately as parts, as far as I know this is legal to do in the US (shipping isnt a problem for me). Would this still have to be registered under the import laws.?

If they convert it to LHD I wouldn't do it sorry but that's just wrong.

Also in theory they're right - LHD is safer for the side of the road they're on.

From the skylines I've seen legaly imported to the US, they seem to keep them RHD. :werd:

zohnny Rookie

zohnny

Posted
Posted
Most of the imports they have brought in have taken more than a year to get on the road. Say If i was to remove the running gear from the car and ship them over seperately as parts, as far as I know this is legal to do in the US (shipping isnt a problem for me). Would this still have to be registered under the import laws.?

If you know "someone" in the DMV(Department of Motor Vehicles) you might be able to register it legally. Plus I assume you need to know someone who can pass you state inspect. But if you get an accident or get pulled over by cops and if they finds out, you are in big big trouble(law suit/prison term or heavy fine)

Alf Proficient

Alf

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Why do you want to go through all the hassle? Reason I'm saying is car is really cheap compare to Australia. For example, you can get new 350Z base model for $27k USD or new M3 for around $47k USD.

Why? It's coz i'm putting so much $ and work into the car, esp the running gear. I've driven a 350Z and it's nothing like a skyline, the sentimental value and fact that it's a skyline makes it hard to part with.

When it comes to cars I'm very fussy. If I was to buy a new car I would have to pull it apart and rebuild it to suit the way I like a car to be.

PS: The RB that's being built is almost done so what ever happens it's staying in my sight.

Alf Proficient

Alf

Posted
  • Author
Posted
If you know "someone" in the DMV(Department of Motor Vehicles) you might be able to register it legally. Plus I assume you need to know someone who can pass you state inspect. But if you get an accident or get pulled over by cops and if they finds out, you are in big big trouble(law suit/prison term or heavy fine)

Thanks for the warning, will need more research on the matter :D

zohnny Rookie

zohnny

Posted
Posted
Why? It's coz i'm putting so much $ and work into the car, esp the running gear. I've driven a 350Z and it's nothing like a skyline, the sentimental value and fact that it's a skyline makes it hard to part with.

When it comes to cars I'm very fussy. If I was to buy a new car I would have to pull it apart and rebuild it to suit the way I like a car to be.

PS: The RB that's being built is almost done so what ever happens it's staying in my sight.

I wasn't trying to compare a skyline with a 350Z. I meant most of car in the US is cheaper(except skyline) than Australia. I understand your point though.

If you are bring it for temporary, I think there is way. It was something like personal use that you will be exporting after certain period like one year.(I don't remember well)

I remember reading an article in the Road and Track Magagine that the author brought Honda Jazz to the US for the cross country trip.(It took really long time).

But if you are going to staying in the US permenantly, I don't think it is possible. You might have to buy over priced motorex skyline and start again.

mini2 Community Regular

mini2

Posted
Posted

RBmotoring is another authorized importer.

However there are loopholes with the Canadian laws that allowing R33 to be registered there but whether you are allowed to drive Canadian registered cars in the US of A is another matter altogether.

It's true though, why buy a Skyline when there's Porsche, M3 and other exciting machinery that's overpriced in Australia? I'd drive those if I gonna be in the US then hop back in a Skyline once you return. Make far better financial sense too.

Alf Proficient

Alf

Posted
  • Author
Posted
It's true though, why buy a Skyline when there's Porsche, M3 and other exciting machinery that's overpriced in Australia? I'd drive those if I gonna be in the US then hop back in a Skyline once you return. Make far better financial sense too.

That's a good point.

PS:It's a permanent move.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • r32-25t
      R32 Gtr Long Term Love, Now Project

      By r32-25t · Posted

      to fix the voltage drop issue I swapped out the old 150amp alternator which turns out is a brand known for having issues and replaced it with the black 180amp alternator beside it 
    • S1_C34
      A31 Digital Climate Control

      By S1_C34 · Posted

      For anyone interested, the Way Back Machine has that Japanese website archived with pictures, etc: https://web.archive.org/web/20051023225805fw_/http://www.a31cefiro.com/air_con.htm "Simply swapping the wiring of the harness will not allow it to function properly. For the outdoor air sensor and sunlight sensor, disconnect the wiring connected to CN1-11 of the air conditioning harness from the harness and connect the sensor side wiring to earth. For the indoor air sensor, disconnect the wiring connected to CN2-3 of the air conditioning harness from the harness and connect the sensor side wiring to earth. The connector PIN numbers listed here are the genuine A31 PIN numbers. To avoid incorrect wiring, check with a tester before wiring. Also, disconnect the wiring in a location close to the sensor. The disconnected harness side wiring will not be used, so be sure to insulate it." Wish someone sold a conversion harness to just plug-and-play a Kouki 180sx digital climate control into C33/A31. I'm decent with wiring but feeling kinda lazy about taking this on. Edit: Did some more digging and found a helpful Minkara blog post about the conversion as well: https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/1831116/car/1360568/2284209/note.aspx "After installation is complete or the battery is replaced, you need to go into self-diagnosis mode and set the internal air recirculation. The way to do it is to "hold OFF with the key on for more than 5 seconds, set the number to 5, then press 卍→C." ↑↑↑It probably won't make sense unless you actually try it (・∀・)." Lol wtf
    • MBS206
      Skid pans in/around Sydney?

      By MBS206 · Posted

      Maybe SAUNSW could see howany members would do a motorkhana day if Schofield's is still available for a reasonable price...
    • MBS206
      Skid pans in/around Sydney?

      By MBS206 · Posted

      Skip the concrete, we just need to smooth a field. Mark knows how to drive a grader Duncan   I reckon 100x100 flat area for skid pan style, and then some sort tracks for rally... Duncan's already got a rally car on the premises to...
    • GTSBoy
      PRP RB26 cast block + head prototype running

      By GTSBoy · Posted

      Well, yeah, the RB26 is definitely that far off the mark. From a pure technology point of view it is closer to the engines of the 60s than it is to the engines of the last 10 years. There is absolutely nothing special about an RB26 that wasn't present in engines going all the way back to the 60s, except probably the four valve head. The bottom end is just bog standard Japanese stuff. The head is nothing special. Celicas in the 70s were the same thing, in 4cyl 2 valve form. The ITBs are nothing special when you consider that the same Celicas had twin Solexes on them, and so had throttle plates in the exact same place. There's no variable valve timing, no variable inlet manifold, which even other RBs had either before the 26 came out or shortly afterward. The ECU is pretty rude and crude. The only things it has going for it are that the physical structure was pretty bloody tough for a mass produced engine, the twin-turbos and ITBs made for a bit of uniqueness against the competition (and even Toyota were ahead on the twin turbs thing, weren't they?) and the electronic controls and measuring devices (ie, AFMs, CAS, etc) were good enough to make it run well. Oh, and it sounds better than almost anything else, ever. The VR38 is absolutely halfway between the RB generation and the current generation, so it definitely has a massive increase in the sophistication of the electronics, allowing for a lot more dynamic optimisation of mapping. Then there's things like metal treatments and other coatings on things, adoption of variable cam stuff, and a bunch of other little improvements that mean it has to be a better thing than the RB26. But I otherwise agree with you that it is approximately the same thing as a 26. But, skip forward another 10 years from that engine and then the things that I mentioned in previous post come out to play. High compression, massively sophisticated computers, direct injection, clever measuring sensors, etc etc. They are the real difference between trying to make big power with a 26 and trying to make big power with a S/B50/54 (or whatever the preferred BMW engine of the week is).
×
×
  • Create New...