Thread: Jap Discos in Aus

Hi Guys,

Was reading the jap nas 90 rhd thread and decided to have a sticky around discos that are available in Japan, just for kicks really.

A thought occurred to me while doing this, I know we can't get these rego'd in oz because they are not on the sevs list, but what if I was to import one for parts for my own disco?

The reason I ask is that my D1 TDi, while mechanically is pretty tight, the body and interior are a little sad and was planning on either slowly replacing bits and bobs over time (rolling resto) or finding another more tidy one in Aus. The price of some of the low kay jap ones are going for, including delivery, would make it financially doable (although I'm not sure of the sting at the end, tariffs, customs?) and the condition of them seems to be right up there, some look near new inside, and while plastics seem faded, the outsides look straight and tidy enough.

Another side query also is does the aussie VIN belong to the body or the chassis? Could you theoretically get one from Japan, swap bodies to my aussie chassis and have a complied, insurable, Australian delivered disco? Having a look through Rave makes me think there are subtle differences between the 2 electrically, are there any other differences?

My thinking is that they are really just "parts" and if I had bingled my car, and re-bodied it i don't see any real difference, as long as SRS and ABS systems (which I have) remain intact, although things that seem simple enough to me get very complicated once some sort of bureaucracy gets involved....

Your thoughts?

Pando,
I used to have a fully imported 200Tdi from Japan, The books wewre all in Japanese & so was some of the warnings on the scuttle panel under the bonnet.

The vehicles that are sent to Japan are normally higher spec than ours as the one i had, had twin sunroof's, 2 remote plips with 4 keys & all of them were original LR keys. It also has extra switches for fog, driving lifgts & a few other bits that i donr recall.

The vehicles that are sent to Japan are normally fitted with transfer case interlocks & as someone has already said dont go offroad much if at all.

When the D2 was in run out prior to the D2a being introduced we had to remove a whole bunch of interlocks from Jap Spec vehicles as Australia was in need of vehicles as we could not get enough, So Japan didnt want all of there shipment so we stole there's. They were all ES spec with shift/tcase interlock, dash dimmer, something we dont get & a few oithers that i dont recall as it was a few years ago.

The ADR's on these vehicles are all very similar & don't require much for Australian Compliance if anything at all.

As JC has said the 300Tdi has a lot going for it as the equipment fitted to it is a better spec than we ever got...Just think a 300Tdi with "Factory" cruise control...Oh how much i wanted cruise on my 300...

Dont give up, get prices while u can & see what it wil cost all up & you may be suprised.