Pre-89 Import worries justified...?
Discussion
Hi all. Mrs Roop and I are looking into moving to Aus next year. Lots of hurdles to clear before we get there including the question of importing my Sierra RS500 Cosworth.
I read the comprehensive and extremely useful importation thread elsewhere on PH, but I have a few concerns that maybe some of you can calm.
The car is not standard, but the modifications are there because the original parts are unavailable. (Shocks and springs). I'm a bit worried about it passing the required inspections.
Similarly, will there be any butchery required to the car to make it compliant...? The car is very much a collectible and in cracking condition having done just 30k miles in its 24 years and is a multiple concours winner. I'm buggered if I'm going to hack it about.
Third, is the importation duty costs any diffent for pre-89'ers...?
Finally, for the past 4 and a bit years the car has been with me here in Switzerland. Are there issues importing from on EU countries, or does it make no difference...?
Whether or not I can take the car genuinely affects our decision to go to Aus, so it's biggie...
Thanks in advance,
Rup
I read the comprehensive and extremely useful importation thread elsewhere on PH, but I have a few concerns that maybe some of you can calm.
The car is not standard, but the modifications are there because the original parts are unavailable. (Shocks and springs). I'm a bit worried about it passing the required inspections.
Similarly, will there be any butchery required to the car to make it compliant...? The car is very much a collectible and in cracking condition having done just 30k miles in its 24 years and is a multiple concours winner. I'm buggered if I'm going to hack it about.
Third, is the importation duty costs any diffent for pre-89'ers...?
Finally, for the past 4 and a bit years the car has been with me here in Switzerland. Are there issues importing from on EU countries, or does it make no difference...?
Whether or not I can take the car genuinely affects our decision to go to Aus, so it's biggie...
Thanks in advance,
Rup
Are the only modifications the shocks and springs? If the car essentially looks standard from outside and under the bonnet does not look modified you should be able to get it in...unfortunately you cant tell for sure until you put your import application in and they approve, deny or ask for clarification on something. If it is basically a stock car and does not really look modified I wouldnt worry about it. Even if it gets knocked back I have read of a number of people appealing and having the decision reversed.
Import rules are the same no matter where the car is coming from.
Import fees and duties are the same whatever the age of the car.
Things I changed on a pre-89 import I did included ADR marked seatbelts (80's Jap ones do not inertia lock), clear fog lights (Jap ones were orange), high level brake light, side impact beams welded in to the doors and we had to bodge a stupidly restrictive muffler on to get it past noise tests and we also had to dick around to get the ride height to where it would pass.
Where are you looking to move to?
Import rules are the same no matter where the car is coming from.
Import fees and duties are the same whatever the age of the car.
Things I changed on a pre-89 import I did included ADR marked seatbelts (80's Jap ones do not inertia lock), clear fog lights (Jap ones were orange), high level brake light, side impact beams welded in to the doors and we had to bodge a stupidly restrictive muffler on to get it past noise tests and we also had to dick around to get the ride height to where it would pass.
Where are you looking to move to?
Some stuff does change from state to state but more to do with modifications than anything else.
The high level brake light is ADR 60 so all applicable vehicles should have one however the application of ADR's and the new NCOP regs seems to vary depending on who you get on the day. A major annoynace for the car modification scene has always been the lack of knowledge from infrastructure and the police so you never know where you stand with this sort of thing.
When I did my pre-89 import it had to go over the pits twice. First time they were actively looking for ways to knock it back.
It passed on ride height but then the inspector ummed and ahhed and reckoned it still 'looks to low to me' (despite the pass?!) and he then got his fat mate to plonk himself in the car and it was then measured again on that side, of course it failed by about 4mm.
They then did an exhaust noise test which it passed but then the inspector sucks air through his teeth and said 'hmm still sounds to loud to me' (again despite it passing) and he did another test which it passed, and another and another each time with different RPM held and with the meter held where he felt like it...it passed every time but he just kept going until he found a spot it would fail..."sorry its to loud."
No consistency in application or testing of ADR's!!
The high level brake light is ADR 60 so all applicable vehicles should have one however the application of ADR's and the new NCOP regs seems to vary depending on who you get on the day. A major annoynace for the car modification scene has always been the lack of knowledge from infrastructure and the police so you never know where you stand with this sort of thing.
When I did my pre-89 import it had to go over the pits twice. First time they were actively looking for ways to knock it back.
It passed on ride height but then the inspector ummed and ahhed and reckoned it still 'looks to low to me' (despite the pass?!) and he then got his fat mate to plonk himself in the car and it was then measured again on that side, of course it failed by about 4mm.
They then did an exhaust noise test which it passed but then the inspector sucks air through his teeth and said 'hmm still sounds to loud to me' (again despite it passing) and he did another test which it passed, and another and another each time with different RPM held and with the meter held where he felt like it...it passed every time but he just kept going until he found a spot it would fail..."sorry its to loud."
No consistency in application or testing of ADR's!!
Thanks for the replies chaps. I'll formulate a more substantial response when I am not on a smartphone. Plan is to have a look at a few cities in Aus before deciding on where we want to be. As for the car, it's very low at the front but RS500s are because of the splitter. Other than that it's about 20mm lower than standard, which is about the same as it was on it's old sagged springs. St the moment it's tuning more power, although looks totally standard. I can soon put that back if required though.
The thing that worries me is all this welding in door bars and such. There is no way in hell I'm doing any of that crap to it. Being an old Sierra, I'm assuming it doesn't have them. Also, from what it sounds like, being a Ford, if I get some redneck Holden fanboy at the inspection, he'll fail it on having the wrong badge out of spite. Especially as the RS500 has somewhat of a reputation amongst Aussies who know what they are.
I'll contact the authorities and give them every detail they need including dimensions ride heights, whatever, but what I want is a guarantee of a pass provided it is exactly as I tell them, otherwise I'll be leaving the country as fast as I arrived which is a somewhat expensive affair...
The thing that worries me is all this welding in door bars and such. There is no way in hell I'm doing any of that crap to it. Being an old Sierra, I'm assuming it doesn't have them. Also, from what it sounds like, being a Ford, if I get some redneck Holden fanboy at the inspection, he'll fail it on having the wrong badge out of spite. Especially as the RS500 has somewhat of a reputation amongst Aussies who know what they are.
I'll contact the authorities and give them every detail they need including dimensions ride heights, whatever, but what I want is a guarantee of a pass provided it is exactly as I tell them, otherwise I'll be leaving the country as fast as I arrived which is a somewhat expensive affair...
Edited by Roop on Tuesday 13th December 05:58
Edited by Roop on Tuesday 13th December 05:59
Minimum ride height will be 100mm at its lowest point...be that something under the car or the front bar or whatever.
Dont worry about welding in the door bars, they are spot welded in so the only difference you will notice is a couple of marks on the end of the door that can be painted up again. Your car may well have them from factory.
Although not my car or picture mine looked something like this:
You will probably get some piss taking from Holden fans but it is just the Aussie way. Everyone likes a good natured ribbing with some underlying respect and genuine appreciation for the car in question (or your footy team, music tastes, favourite beer, BBQ cooking style). They wont knock you back because it is a Ford.
You will never get anyone to give you a cast iron letter to say your car will or will not gain registration here, they will just tell you to consult your local authorities. What you will get though is permission to import the vehicle, you can then work on getting it on the road when you are here.
You might want to employ the services of a local engineer or workshop that does compliance work. http://www.chalker.com.au/ import Cossies so they might be able to help you. I notice their website details the IM240 emissions test, IIRC this isnt applicable in all states.
Dont worry about welding in the door bars, they are spot welded in so the only difference you will notice is a couple of marks on the end of the door that can be painted up again. Your car may well have them from factory.
Although not my car or picture mine looked something like this:
You will probably get some piss taking from Holden fans but it is just the Aussie way. Everyone likes a good natured ribbing with some underlying respect and genuine appreciation for the car in question (or your footy team, music tastes, favourite beer, BBQ cooking style). They wont knock you back because it is a Ford.
You will never get anyone to give you a cast iron letter to say your car will or will not gain registration here, they will just tell you to consult your local authorities. What you will get though is permission to import the vehicle, you can then work on getting it on the road when you are here.
You might want to employ the services of a local engineer or workshop that does compliance work. http://www.chalker.com.au/ import Cossies so they might be able to help you. I notice their website details the IM240 emissions test, IIRC this isnt applicable in all states.
deviant said:
Minimum ride height will be 100mm at its lowest point...be that something under the car or the front bar or whatever.
If you have to go over the inspection pit the perimeter lip is 100mm all round and any touch is a fail so best aim for 115 to be on the safe side ( beg / borrow a wheel size up ) Importation and registration are two different things. The import part should be straight forward. As I think that is a federal process.
The registration criteria will be state dependant.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_reg...
I am looking to import my pre 89, LHD M5 to Victoria in a couple of years and looked in to it recently (I think I have posts on a thread with a few details)
In Victoria, if a car is over 25 years old, you can apply for a 'club plate' that exempts you from some stuff (http://go.vic.gov.au/DQlPov) , can't check at the moment as Vicroads seems to be down.
You may be able to avoid the regular RWC (Road Worthy Check) and get your car assesed by a club certified scrutineer.
You can also import this car under the personal import scheme, which may be less restrictive.
Deviant, were your issues with the importation of the car or with state registration?
The registration criteria will be state dependant.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_reg...
I am looking to import my pre 89, LHD M5 to Victoria in a couple of years and looked in to it recently (I think I have posts on a thread with a few details)
In Victoria, if a car is over 25 years old, you can apply for a 'club plate' that exempts you from some stuff (http://go.vic.gov.au/DQlPov) , can't check at the moment as Vicroads seems to be down.
You may be able to avoid the regular RWC (Road Worthy Check) and get your car assesed by a club certified scrutineer.
You can also import this car under the personal import scheme, which may be less restrictive.
Deviant, were your issues with the importation of the car or with state registration?
Edited by vetrof on Tuesday 13th December 11:40
Thanks chaps. Not only will the car be >25 years old but there's also a good owners club schene in Aus. Also, the Cossie specialists look like they are well worth a call. My mind is now much more at ease. I'll report on how I get on as and when.
Thanks again guys -I'm most geateful for your inputs.
Thanks again guys -I'm most geateful for your inputs.
I think contacting the Cosworth clubs is a very good idea. I wouldn't be suprised if you found someone who had done exactly what you want to do and will be able to walk you through it.
I've also found the federal and state department contacts to be very helpful with email enquiries.
I think you'll have no problem.
I've also found the federal and state department contacts to be very helpful with email enquiries.
I think you'll have no problem.
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