[Traxing]

New to the club here and I’m moving to the UK soon with my 2006 NA 300C. Looked around without finding any decent answers.

What I’m trying to find out is everything I need to make it road legal in the UK and if it would be easier to buy the parts before leaving the states. All I’ve read (generally) is that US imports need their lights changed and that it can get pretty pricey. Any one out there gone through this?

 

[Largecrease]

I think it would be easier and cheaper to sell your car there and just buy a UK spec car here. Definitely a hassle, just isn't worth it.

 

[badgx]

^^^x2

Yes would be easier to sell and purchase a UK spec. The steering wheel will also be on the correct side for uk roads.

 

[OzKen]

I agree with above, buy one there.

I can't speak for UK cars, but I am in Australia, so our cars are the same RHD. THAT is same as UK cars, but do UK cars have the same HID/auto levelling lights we have here????

The thing is, IF the UK uses/mandates those lights for 2006 (mine is a 2007) the lights alone are two and a half grand EACH here (AUD) and wreckers know what they cost, so THEY want $700 each for them at least. Then they would not be fully functional, as US cars (I believe) don't have the "auto level module".

(I read that the auto level lights weren't fitted in the US, as US legislators wouldn't allow/trust them back then, not a "luxury/spec level" thing. Please correct/chime in if anyone knows better. A GOOD thing not having them, ALL of them here periodically "search the trees" and blind drivers, you DON'T want them. I had to "Fix" my sensors to stop it.)

If they aren't fully functional, then the UK MOT may fail it anyway (UK guys know far more than me, chime in where you like); so if it HAS to have that level feature, then you may have to replace loom to fit level control module (unless loom has "extra plugs to allow"; and I would assume a RHD/LHD loom would be different anyway, etc etc............. it goes on and on.

And do US cars still have flashing stop light for rear indicator? That means changing all the rear lights as well, because I thought UK was same as Oz, with amber indicators on a separate cct to stop lights, again, different loom????

And THEN they just may fail it because "import, not designed for UK, too many differences.........." Here in Australia they have a "local compliance plate" and you can get around that with old/unusual/rare cars. But with cars that are freely available in that market with their own build versions, a LOT harder. We used to get low mileage Japanese imports here, and they only came in through 2 states, because the other states would NOT allow them, as "not intended/built for this market/no compliance plate" = CAN'T REGISTER. That was back when we had tariffs and new cars were 45% dearer than they should have been, once tariffs gone, new ones cheaper, low mileage imports not needed. But I digress.

Again, I am talking about here; but for years we modeled our rules from the UK/half our cars UK derived. UK guys can confirm or deny.

We all love our cars (ie the one we have grown to love), but I reckon too much to change to make it worthwhile.

 

[magnuman]

I think it would be easier and to sell your car there and just buy a UK spec car here. Definitely a hassle, just isn't worth it.

^^^x2
Yes would be easier to sell and purchase a UK spec. The steering wheel will also be on the correct side for uk roads.

Good luck. When you get over there, buy either a hybrid or all electric vehicle. Way cheaper to operate and maintain.

 

[devilmaycare]

do UK cars have the same HID/auto levelling lights we have here????

Yes

ALL of them here periodically "search the trees" and blind drivers, you DON'T want them. I had to "Fix" my sensors to stop it.)

I've never experienced this problem. LED headlights are much worse.

If they aren't fully functional, then the UK MOT may fail it anyway

I've never had an MOT problem.

 

[devilmaycare]

Good luck. When you get over there, buy either a hybrid or all electric vehicle. Way cheaper to operate and maintain.

Although running costs may be lower, they are more expensive to buy. Also, you need to consider your driving habits; short trips and off-road parking with access to a charging point might be OK for all-electric, but if you want longer range, you will have to pay a premium for a Tesla or similar.

I can get a range of 600 miles with a full tank in my CRD.

 

[OzKen]

Yes

"I've never experienced this problem. LED headlights are much worse."

I concur re LEDs.................. LED lights here are unregulated (the shops do their bit, and put a sticker saying "for off road use only", pfft, as if); so everyone fits LED lights that have lousy spreads/blind everyone. Some are blinding in daylight...............

But "while you have never experienced this problem" - I DID. I noticed that when I have cars same as mine approaching - occasional blinding by the lights doing the same "sweep/cal" that mine do. It is normal for them to do that "search through elevation range then settle" on start up. But they then do it "every now and again"
while driving - or DID. Which was unacceptable to me.

I read the forum. MULTIPLE people with same lights as mine saying that theirs do same. Multiple people saying that they have taken to dealer/dealer says has recal'd/still does it. If I have checked everything and done everything the book says and it is STILL a problem, rather than "take it to the dealer multiple times" and then (based on forum results) get it back with no result (dealer will only do same resets as manual says that I have already done, so????...................) I then fix it/make it work for me.

When it does do it, and you get sick of people flashing you because they think your lights sweeping up and down are you flashing them. I fixed the sensors on the suspension, and now they NEVER sweep up and down/blind people; ONLY do their cal search on start up and settle at correct set height, and stay there. My lights are now as good as they need to be, my car doesn't pitch enough/is never loaded enough for the self leveling lights to ever be needed, ie, the hassle of their "recal. at random" outweighs the not needed self leveling.

"I've never had an MOT problem."

I think you missed the point. You have never had an MOT problem, because your car probably complies. What I was trying to say was that IF a car is a US market car cobbled together with a mish mash of LHD/US spec car parts trying to conform to UK spec; that COULD be a problem. Rather than chance that; it is easier to buy a local market compliant car. IF you have taken a US car, imported it and then made mods/had it MOT'd with no drama; then fair call/sorry.

 

[Sidthesnake]

Expect to pay about £5 - £6k for a 1st gen 300c with 50-100k on the clock if you're buying over here in blighty. After shipping and import costs, then registering and any mods required to meet DVSA standards, buying over here would likely save you money.
Oh, insurance on a left-hooker is also most costly and these aren't the cheapest cars to insure. Also remember to factor in road tax whichever be about £330'ish a year. BTW, if you're going anywhere near major cities -London, Birmingham, Bristol... they also have congestion zone charges priced per day and prices generally increase for larger engines or diesels. And prepare yourself for the cost of fuel, currently around £1.50+ per litre. I hope you have a good job if you have the 6.1 Hemi, lol!
What I would do is look at any specialist items you might want to add - rims, interiors, sports shocks/bushes, etc. It'll be easier to source these in the states and you can arrange to ship em over before you leave to add your personal touch. There's very little custom stuff over here for these beasts, and what there is is expensive.