Towing with a grey import.

[602]

Hi,

I've raised this on another forum, but not yet got a definitive answer.

I'm pondering on buying a Land Rover Discovery from Japan. The dealer says they don't have towbars fitted, because they are not allowed to tow in Japan. Other forum disagrees with that statement, things have changed since the Japanese have discovered the joys of jet-skiing.

But assuming the dealer is correct. That means that the makers will not have approved that vehicle fot towing. So no towing limit shown on the VIN plate.

1)Does that mean there is no limit, other than common sense?

2)Does that mean the vehicle is not allowed to tow anything?

3)Vehicles imported into UK require a SVA. Does that include towing limits?

4)Vehicles imported into UK, which are more than 10 years old, do not require a SVA. Are we now back to question 1)? And what do the new rules say?

5) If there is a problem, is there a way around it?

If a vehicle cannot tow, the makers should stamp a ZERO onto the VIN plate.

602

 

[seth1]

Hello 602,

would it not be possible to have a new vin plate made from landrover?

or PURCHASE an other body,with vin attached and use these new details.Send the logbook for the replacement body to DVLA to register your original engine no on the replacement body logbook.

I,ll wait for the remarks!

 

[602]

Hello 602,

would it not be possible to have a new vin plate made from landrover?

or PURCHASE an other body,with vin attached and use these new details.Send the logbook for the replacement body to DVLA to register your original engine no on the replacement body logbook.

I,ll wait for the remarks!

Hi Seth,

My first reply seems to have gone missing.

You are not allowed to fit spurious number plates to your car. In the situation you describe, it would probably lead to my car being crushed. Making one car out of two, if you tell them, means a SVA and Q-plates.

As the car would not be the registration it is pretending to be, the tax disc would also be wrong. That counts as Fraudulent Use, which leads to arrest, a big fine, and a criminal record.

It is better to drive without tax, than to borrow a tax disc. OT, but best everybody knows.

602

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi 602,

An interesting situation! The circumstances are quite unusual, so unless someone has been through this process already I guess that the any advice of the forum will lack authority.

Without any doubt you need to seek some proper advice form reliable sources. Are you a member of the AA or RAC?,

You could ask the DVLA/VOSA.

I seriously doubt that Land Rover deliberately produce a 'weaker' car for the foreign markets, unless local legislation dictates it, so I guess that your 'grey' Disco will have the same physical towing attributes as the UK models but for technical/regulatory reasons do not include the data in their specifications.

If the zero limit does apply, then, it is no longer an attractive proposition!

 

[seth1]

602,

Having just read your comments,lets not get mixed up in what i suggested.Im not implieing carry out a ringing eposode.The main difference i suggested would be the donor would have a reciept and not be stolen.Infact would there be much difference in what i suggested compared to if say a genuine LR dealership was carring out a body or frame swap.Either way seems very longwinded,without being rude is it worth the effort?

 

[602]

Hi Seth,

I wasn't suggesting that you were suggesting I produce a ringer. Its just that its so easy to break the law. There are frequent adverts on Ebay, for tax exempt (pre-1973) Land Rovers, driving around on coil springs (post-1984). I'll give the vendors the benefit of the doubt, maybe they don't know that what they are trying to sell is illegal.

Fitting a NEW chassis is permitted, and I've done it myself. But I wouldn't want to do it on something as modern/complicated as a Discovery.

The object of buying a grey import is to have a vehicle that has never met a salty road, is low milage, and probably top of the range with all the toys. Cars in Japan have to go through a very expensive (

 

[Dustydog]

Our MX-5 is a grey import. As 602 says , it comes with all the whistles and bells, is a limited edition ie special paint and leather springs shocks etc. And the only difference it's called a Eunos MX-5 just like those in Japan and the rest of Europe! The USA versions are Miata MX-5s.

Ours came with all the paper work, SVA etc.

I think if you follow John L's advice and speak to the correct authorities you shouldn't have a problem.

As you say all the Shoguns we see often turn out to be badged Pajeros.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[EmmanuelMuldoon]

I would have thought you could have asked Land Rover (UK) what the towing limit is for the model they supply to Japan.

My guess is that it would be the same as it's equiv. UK model?

BTW, towbars fitted to imports do not have to be CE approved; but this probably won't be applicable to you as I would expect the "standard" Witter (say) one for the UK model would fit.

.

 

[Jonathan_374467537]

Grey or not, a disco will be unreliable. Check the surveys. For the same money you can buy something japanese that will work.

 

[Jonathan_374467537]

Grey or not, a disco will be unreliable. Check the surveys. For the same money you can buy something japanese that will work.

Sorry, that message sounded more terse than I intended. I just wanted to warn people, that's all. Disco ownership can be expensive when things fail. But I'm sure the driving dynamics are impressive.

Worth checking out the JD Power survey on the what car website.

 

[Martin24]

Grey or not, a disco will be unreliable. Check the surveys. For the same money you can buy something japanese that will work.

Had a pajero no probs just got the appropriate tow bar and electrics and fitted them, only other adjustment was to remove the rear step which I sold on ebay.

I would just buy and enjoy, however remember that an import landie, although in better condition is mechanically still a land rover so don't forget your Green flag membership. They are also very expensive when you consider the age of vehicle you are buying compared to a much more reliable jap import. Pajero etc,. We replaced our four year old TD5 disco with a 13 year old pajero and i know with my head which I would have again.

 

[tromsharry]

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