Add high range / low range

[Arapiles]

There's a number of very low km Discovery 4s available in Japan - as an extreme example:

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SE | 2014 |
BROWN | 4000 km | details.- Japanese used cars.Goo-net Exchange (https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/LAND_ROVER/DISCOVERY/700957180630200909007/index.html)


https://picture1.goo-net.com/7009571806/30200909/J/70095718063020090900700.jpg


But not cheap ... and this one doesn't have low-range:

https://picture1.goo-net.com/957/9571806/J/9571806A30200909W00717.jpg

Presuming that someone could import these under SEVS/RAWS, is it feasible to add low range?


Ps, check out this D2 ....

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SE | 2003 |
BLUE | 46000 km | details.- Japanese used cars.Goo-net Exchange (https://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/LAND_ROVER/DISCOVERY/700057065530200419006/index.html)

[DiscoJeffster]

Japan. Rust buckets. Salt on roads means you’ll have all the issues the UK do with rusting out parts.

[Tombie]

And often not serviced because disposed of before problems start.

[libertyts]

What was said above is your first concern. Second is that I highly doubt you could import these any other way than personal owner import or whatever it's called. ie. You would need to live in Japan and own the vehicle for a minimum of 12 months (might be more now) prior to moving here and bringing your vehicle with you.

From my understanding SEVS and RAWS exclude any and all full volume vehicles (SEVS & RAWS) under 25 years old (RAWS). They are designed for bringing in low volume specialist/enthusiast vehicles. In the case of RAWS, it allows for vehicles older than. 25 years old to be imported. The D4 is definitely full volume.

As for adding "Low/High Range". It won't be cheap I suspect. There are a number of parts required. New I suspect you are going to be looking at over 10k at a guess (bare minimum I assume the transfer case would need to be replaced, electrics added, computers flashed/added, etc.) and if you are buying something for the fact it has super low KMs would you really want to put second-hand parts on it?

I personally don't think it's worth it. Each to their own though, not everything has to "make sense" to everyone, just to you. No different to making a D1 into a ute. It's cheaper to buy something that's already a ute, but that's not necessarily the point.

[Arapiles]

Japan. Rust buckets. Salt on roads means you’ll have all the issues the UK do with rusting out parts.

The Japanese don't use salt on their roads, they use sand, so rust isn't an issue.

[DiscoJeffster]

The Japanese don't use salt on their roads, they use sand, so rust isn't an issue.

Well that doesn’t show up on all the imports I’ve seen. Rust is definitely an issue.

[Arapiles]

What was said above is your first concern. Second is that I highly doubt you could import these any other way than personal owner import or whatever it's called. ie. You would need to live in Japan and own the vehicle for a minimum of 12 months (might be more now) prior to moving here and bringing your vehicle with you.

From my understanding SEVS and RAWS exclude any and all full volume vehicles (SEVS & RAWS) under 25 years old (RAWS). They are designed for bringing in low volume specialist/enthusiast vehicles. In the case of RAWS, it allows for vehicles older than. 25 years old to be imported. The D4 is definitely full volume.

As for adding "Low/High Range". It won't be cheap I suspect. There are a number of parts required. New I suspect you are going to be looking at over 10k at a guess (bare minimum I assume the transfer case would need to be replaced, electrics added, computers flashed/added, etc.) and if you are buying something for the fact it has super low KMs would you really want to put second-hand parts on it?

I personally don't think it's worth it. Each to their own though, not everything has to "make sense" to everyone, just to you. No different to making a D1 into a ute. It's cheaper to buy something that's already a ute, but that's not necessarily the point.


Yes, I suspected that there was no easy way to fix it. Maybe low range is there and it's just the button that's missing?

Re importation, ironically, the fact that these vehicles are in a configuration that doesn't exist in Australia means, on my reading of the regulations, that they could be imported.

[Arapiles]

Well that doesn’t show up on all the imports I’ve seen. Rust is definitely an issue.


It wouldn't be anything like the corrosion that you'd see on something from the US where they do use salt.

[DiscoDB]

With only 4,000 kms I doubt it has seen much salt. Bit expensive though.

[Eric SDV6SE]

Importing from Japan via a registered vehicle broker is no issue. Having to live there etc. is BS - sorry.

There are plenty of late model Toyota's plus exotics (for Japan anyway) that can be easily sourced and imported into AUS. They just need an inspection here when landed to ensure ADR compliance.

Benefit is you can get some pretty rare (for AUS) cool cars pretty cheap.

If engine and transmission specs are the same as our Low range spec D4's fitting a transfer case should not be an issue, but check the transmission type, as you need the ZF box with the external transfer case adapter, otherwise its not possible without a transmission and ecu swap.

How do I know? Mate just imported a Japan spec Toyota crown via a broker. This one is a sleeper that looks like a std crown but has the turbo 2.5l straight 6 that was used in the supra. Landed here in his driveway for 14K.

[DiscoJeffster]

Importing from Japan via a registered vehicle broker is no issue. Having to live there etc. is BS - sorry.

There are plenty of late model Toyota's plus exotics (for Japan anyway) that can be easily sourced and imported into AUS. They just need an inspection here when landed to ensure ADR compliance.

Benefit is you can get some pretty rare (for AUS) cool cars pretty cheap.

If engine and transmission specs are the same as our Low range spec D4's fitting a transfer case should not be an issue, but check the transmission type, as you need the ZF box with the external transfer case adapter, otherwise its not possible without a transmission and ecu swap.

How do I know? Mate just imported a Japan spec Toyota crown via a broker. This one is a sleeper that looks like a std crown but has the turbo 2.5l straight 6 that was used in the supra. Landed here in his driveway for 14K.

To import something that has been sold here it needs to be 25 years old, unless it met the special vehicle exclusions - which means it was considered a vehicle of interest that was not sold here previously. A discovery won’t meet either. So yes, you would have to use the personal import route which requires ownership.

A Toyota crown is both old and was not sold directly here so meets the low volume (aged vehicle) import scheme. I don’t believe this has changed recently though I’m friends with an importer so I will ask.

I too know because I personally imported a vehicle from the UK (which was sold here previously) and was only legitimate because I owned it for more than twelve months.

[libertyts]

Importing from Japan via a registered vehicle broker is no issue. Having to live there etc. is BS - sorry.

There are plenty of late model Toyota's plus exotics (for Japan anyway) that can be easily sourced and imported into AUS. They just need an inspection here when landed to ensure ADR compliance.

Benefit is you can get some pretty rare (for AUS) cool cars pretty cheap.

If engine and transmission specs are the same as our Low range spec D4's fitting a transfer case should not be an issue, but check the transmission type, as you need the ZF box with the external transfer case adapter, otherwise its not possible without a transmission and ecu swap.

How do I know? Mate just imported a Japan spec Toyota crown via a broker. This one is a sleeper that looks like a std crown but has the turbo 2.5l straight 6 that was used in the supra. Landed here in his driveway for 14K.So you've stated exactly what the requirements are under SEVS/RAWS. They have to be a low volume vehicle, usually specialist or enthusiast. Under RAWS you also have the option to bring in vehicles older than 25 years.

The Crown is likely 25+ years old.

As for the later model stuff you have seen. It could be that they are considered low volume or they may have come across in under one of a couple of loopholes (closed in changes a couple of years ago), such as importing as a "light truck" by removing all but 2 seats for import and then putting them back in after registration with a compliance modification.

There are some other options for importing later model vehicles into Australia, but they are specialised import categories with usually very low numbers available to them.

A different set of options don't make a vehicle low volume as it is a variation of the same vehicle with a high volume. Just because only 5 of a particular vehicle were bought in purple doesn't make those purple vehicles eligible for import under SEVS/RAWS.

You can call it bs as much as you like just because your mate brought an old car in from Japan, the fact still stands that it IS how our import laws work. There are a couple of large changes to our import laws happening at the moment (delayed from last year) that may open up other options, but until then we are stuck with it.

[Arapiles]

So you've stated exactly what the requirements are under SEVS/RAWS. They have to be a low volume vehicle, usually specialist or enthusiast. Under RAWS you also have the option to bring in vehicles older than 25 years.

The Crown is likely 25+ years old.

As for the later model stuff you have seen. It could be that they are considered low volume or they may have come across in under one of a couple of loopholes (closed in changes a couple of years ago), such as importing as a "light truck" by removing all but 2 seats for import and then putting them back in after registration with a compliance modification.

There are some other options for importing later model vehicles into Australia, but they are specialised import categories with usually very low numbers available to them.

A different set of options don't make a vehicle low volume as it is a variation of the same vehicle with a high volume. Just because only 5 of a particular vehicle were bought in purple doesn't make those purple vehicles eligible for import under SEVS/RAWS.

You can call it bs as much as you like just because your mate brought an old car in from Japan, the fact still stands that it IS how our import laws work. There are a couple of large changes to our import laws happening at the moment (delayed from last year) that may open up other options, but until then we are stuck with it.

There are a couple of grounds for the importation under SEVs/RAWS - primarily that it's a model or variant that wasn't sold here, hence all the people-movers that have wheelchair carrying capacity.

As I said, I'd suspect that a D4 that doesn't have low range might actually therefore be importable.

[Arapiles]

Importing from Japan via a registered vehicle broker is no issue. Having to live there etc. is BS - sorry.

There are plenty of late model Toyota's plus exotics (for Japan anyway) that can be easily sourced and imported into AUS. They just need an inspection here when landed to ensure ADR compliance.

Benefit is you can get some pretty rare (for AUS) cool cars pretty cheap.

If engine and transmission specs are the same as our Low range spec D4's fitting a transfer case should not be an issue, but check the transmission type, as you need the ZF box with the external transfer case adapter, otherwise its not possible without a transmission and ecu swap.

How do I know? Mate just imported a Japan spec Toyota crown via a broker. This one is a sleeper that looks like a std crown but has the turbo 2.5l straight 6 that was used in the supra. Landed here in his driveway for 14K.

Agree with the above, and I'd love to have a Crown Majesta or a Y50 Fuga.

But not sure what you mean by "Having to live there etc. is BS" - personal import is one of the ways you can bring a car back and that's how I brought our car back to Australia.

[Arapiles]

So you've stated exactly what the requirements are under SEVS/RAWS. They have to be a low volume vehicle, usually specialist or enthusiast. Under RAWS you also have the option to bring in vehicles older than 25 years.

The Crown is likely 25+ years old.

As for the later model stuff you have seen. It could be that they are considered low volume or they may have come across in under one of a couple of loopholes (closed in changes a couple of years ago), such as importing as a "light truck" by removing all but 2 seats for import and then putting them back in after registration with a compliance modification.

There are some other options for importing later model vehicles into Australia, but they are specialised import categories with usually very low numbers available to them.

A different set of options don't make a vehicle low volume as it is a variation of the same vehicle with a high volume. Just because only 5 of a particular vehicle were bought in purple doesn't make those purple vehicles eligible for import under SEVS/RAWS.

You can call it bs as much as you like just because your mate brought an old car in from Japan, the fact still stands that it IS how our import laws work. There are a couple of large changes to our import laws happening at the moment (delayed from last year) that may open up other options, but until then we are stuck with it.


No, that's not how it works. For a car to be importable it has to fall within the regs (basically, a model or variant that was never sold here) and someone has to go to the trouble of registering it to their workshop. You can actually get brand new vehicles like the current Mitsubishi Delica diesels.

Have a look at this website to see what's actually available.

J-Spec Imports (https://www.j-spec.com.au/)

[DiscoJeffster]

No, that's not how it works. For a car to be importable it has to fall within the regs (basically, a model or variant that was never sold here) and someone has to go to the trouble of registering it to their workshop. You can actually get brand new vehicles like the current Mitsubishi Delica diesels.

Have a look at this website to see what's actually available.

J-Spec Imports (https://www.j-spec.com.au/)

What do you mean that’s not how it works. It is. It’s on the list because it’s considered interesting and hasn’t been sold here previously, OR, it’s 25 years or older. [emoji2369]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201103/1cf45fe114fe9699ae65482adcbf87bd.jpg

[PeterOZ]

Well that doesn’t show up on all the imports I’ve seen. Rust is definitely an issue.

I've had a grey import from Japan, a Toyota surf, no rust whatsoever.

[101RRS]

If it is a private import under 30 years of age you need to have owned and used the vehicle for 1 year immediately before importation so not BS. However yopu can still bring it in without the ownership but the taxes are so prohibative to not make it worthwhile.

However the grey import companies can bring in models - usually models not sold in Aust with minimal additional taxes - just GST and Import taxes etc. Basically the company is importing the vehicle and you buy here in Aust even though you pick the vehicle OS and commission the grey import company - but only if the model is on the import list.

Now as we no longer have domestic car production, the rules are expected to change to relax the models that can be brought in but as usual the Govt moves slowly and nothing has been done as yet.

If this Disco is on the list of allowed vehicles then get the grey importers to do it for you.

[Tombie]

The Japanese don't use salt on their roads, they use sand, so rust isn't an issue.

Yes, but the Japanese don’t rust treat their vehicles for their domestic market - even on the production line.

Our vehicles come sprayed inside doors etc.

[Tombie]

It wouldn't be anything like the corrosion that you'd see on something from the US where they do use salt.

It’s actually very bad. JDM vehicles aren’t given the extra coatings ours are, and rot quite quickly.

[Tombie]

On a D4.....

Transfer Case and Adapter,
New front diff
CV joints
Hubs
Half shafts
Associated mounts
Front driveshaft
Rear driveshaft
Loom changes
CCF changes
Control module changes - TR

Big $$$$ and lots of time.

[Tombie]

I've had a grey import from Japan, a Toyota surf, no rust whatsoever.

You were lucky.

If it didn’t overheat each summer you were even luckier!

[DieselLSE]

On a D4.....

Transfer Case and Adapter,
New front diff
CV joints
Hubs
Half shafts
Associated mounts
Front driveshaft
Rear driveshaft
Loom changes
CCF changes
Control module changes - TR

Big $$$$ and lots of time.
Why would these need to be changed? It's currently a standard D4 with all the traction control stuff except for a transfer case.
Agree it would be a somewhat expensive, pointless and frustrating exercise and you'd have to pull the whole car apart to do it. And in the end, assuming you could find all the bits you'd need, you'd finish up with what you could go out and buy next weekend for half the price.

[PerthDisco]

Why would these need to be changed? It's currently a standard D4 with all the traction control stuff except for a transfer case.
Agree it would be a somewhat expensive, pointless and frustrating exercise and you'd have to pull the whole car apart to do it. And in the end, assuming you could find all the bits you'd need, you'd finish up with what you could go out and buy next weekend for half the price.

You know current RRS are sold with no low range option in Australia currently. With 8 speed TR and EAS still very capable off-road for most uses. Tyres their bigger constraint most probably.

[Tombie]

Why would these need to be changed? It's currently a standard D4 with all the traction control stuff except for a transfer case.
Agree it would be a somewhat expensive, pointless and frustrating exercise and you'd have to pull the whole car apart to do it. And in the end, assuming you could find all the bits you'd need, you'd finish up with what you could go out and buy next weekend for half the price.

Looking at a parts cat, it seems they are different part numbers - whether this is correct I cannot guarantee. However without the torque of Low Box, I’d say it’s likely.

[Arapiles]

What do you mean that’s not how it works. It is. It’s on the list because it’s considered interesting and hasn’t been sold here previously, OR, it’s 25 years or older. [emoji2369]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201103/1cf45fe114fe9699ae65482adcbf87bd.jpg

Point is that it's not special editions - the Delicas and Alphards being brought in are mass-market vehicles in Japan.

[Arapiles]

It’s actually very bad. JDM vehicles aren’t given the extra coatings ours are, and rot quite quickly.


Not that I'm aware of, and I lived in Japan for a long time - I don't recall seeing any rusted vehicles over there. I'd expect that if anything it would be our vehicles missing out on stuff, not the JDM ones.

What destroyed my JDM personal import wasn't rust - it was 15 years old and didn't have a speck of rust on it, and it had also been in the UK prior to shipping it back to Australia - it was a Hilux with a bullbar.

[Tombie]

A friend runs one of the Grey Importers here in SA.

He assured me they spend a lot of time sorting wheat from chaff.

Yes the JDM have more accessories but far less body prep/treatment. When they get here they can deteriorate far quicker than a domestic version.

My friends company spends time treating the insides of the body shell and panels / chassis as necessary. Depending on make and model they often have to add side intrusion and treat the doors whilst doing so.

[101RRS]

You know current RRS are sold with no low range option in Australia currently.

That is not true. The basic RRS does not come with low range but if you option the Offroad Pack you get a dual range transfer case.

165961

[Arapiles]

A friend runs one of the Grey Importers here in SA.

He assured me they spend a lot of time sorting wheat from chaff.

Yes the JDM have more accessories but far less body prep/treatment. When they get here they can deteriorate far quicker than a domestic version.

My friends company spends time treating the insides of the body shell and panels / chassis as necessary. Depending on make and model they often have to add side intrusion and treat the doors whilst doing so.


The thing is that Japan is a much wetter and more humid place than Australia, so salted roads aside, I'd expect that rust would be an issue of concern there and that they would prepare the cars accordingly.

[DiscoJeffster]

The thing is that Japan is a much wetter and more humid place than Australia, so salted roads aside, I'd expect that rust would be an issue of concern there and that they would prepare the cars accordingly.

You ignore the fact they don’t keep cars more than ten years so long term life isn’t a consideration for them.

Why The Japanese Don't Keep Their Cars For Long - Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1998-06-14/why-the-japanese-dont-keep-their-cars-for-long-intl-edition)

[Arapiles]

You ignore the fact they don’t keep cars more than ten years so long term life isn’t a consideration for them.

Why The Japanese Don't Keep Their Cars For Long - Bloomberg (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1998-06-14/why-the-japanese-dont-keep-their-cars-for-long-intl-edition)


That article that you linked to is 22 years old. I know plenty of people in Japan who keep their cars for longer than the shaken. I also know plenty of people in Japan driving second-hand cars. And given that I have a 1986 Suzuki Alto running around the farm that's got over 250,000 kms on it, and there's an old Camry there too with about the same kms, I'd suggest that they do last well longer than 10 years.

I'm not aware of any rust problem with Japanese cars sold in Australia.

I'm also not aware of any rust issue in Japan.

Given that the rustproofing takes place when panels are galvanised I doubt that there's one process for cars to be sold in Japan and another for export models, but let me know if you have any evidence of that.

[libertyts]

Rust from JDM imports is a big concern for those in the performance vehicle scene. Especially some of the older vehicles. Have a look at places like the YouTube channel Mighty Car Mods, most specifically recently their MR2 build or some of their K car stuff.

I'm not sure a Hilux, as a designed off-road vehicle, is a good yardstick for rust in Japan.

I've seen a number of rusty (some minor, some crazy) JDM imports. I got lucky on my own import when I was younger, but I also spent a lot of time searching for the right vehicle. Friends weren't so lucky in many cases.

[DiscoJeffster]

Rust from JDM imports is a big concern for those in the performance vehicle scene. Especially some of the older vehicles. Have a look at places like the YouTube channel Mighty Car Mods, most specifically recently their MR2 build or some of their K car stuff.

I'm not sure a Hilux, as a designed off-road vehicle, is a good yardstick for rust in Japan.

I've seen a number of rusty (some minor, some crazy) JDM imports. I got lucky on my own import when I was younger, but I also spent a lot of time searching for the right vehicle. Friends weren't so lucky in many cases.

Yep. My opinion is based on personal experience too. I had a JDM Nissan 180SX. Rust issues though not structural. Mate with an Evo VII, shocking rust - admittedly it was JDM > UK so probably got most of the rust in the UK, but showed they weren’t as well prepped to cope with salt.

[Arapiles]

I'm not sure a Hilux, as a designed off-road vehicle, is a good yardstick for rust in Japan.


I'm not sure if some confusion's creeping in, but the issue was that my personal import Mazda was written-off after it was t-boned by a Hilux with a bullbar.

The Hilux that did it may have been rusty, I didn't check.

[libertyts]

I'm not sure if some confusion's creeping in, but the issue was that my personal import Mazda was written-off after it was t-boned by a Hilux with a bullbar.

The Hilux that did it may have been rusty, I didn't check.Yup, read that differently to how you intended it. Words are hard...

[josh.huber]

Yes liberty, I've been reading this post and having a giggle to myself. I too read he imported a Hilux with a bull bar!

My 2c on a car they are asking 93 Grand for that will probably break the crankshaft. Why would you bother? If you do go ahead give me a call I've got a spare transfer case here.

[DiscoDB]

Haha - I read it the same way. Was thinking why would you import a Hilux from the UK. Was going to ask if it was an ARB bull bar as well......[emoji13]

[DiscoMick]

Suggest you talk to a vehicle importer or broker. They may search for a vehicle of your choice.
Another option might be to investigate importing from NZ as they have a very open system for vehicle imports.

[ramblingboy42]

Well that doesn’t show up on all the imports I’ve seen. Rust is definitely an issue.

I had an imported Pathfinder not a rust spec on it anywhere

[Plane Fixer]

In NZ I had an Isuzu Bighorn which was a Japanese import. Was in good condition with no rust, but the odometer had been tweaked. I tried to bring it back to Australia, but because Jackaroos were still being sold, I was unable so ended up with a ZD30 Patrol which blew up. Hence now the D4 with 250,000 km since new.