Importing and registering US car in UK

[w113abudhabi]

Hi

Are there any members here who have experience of importing and registering a US spec 280SL in the UK. I will be doing this in the coming months and would like to be ahead of any challenges that may occur. I anticipate that most issues may be lighting related.

All feedback much appreciated.

Pierre

[JamesL]

Your shipper should be able to help with most of it and one of the better regarded is Kingstown
https://www.kingstown-shipping.co.uk/
But yes, lights are the obvious physical thing once it's cleared customs (not that officially it needs an MOT but will need a V5) and I think you will likely need soe sort of proof of age of the car (Datacard/letter from Classic Centre?) and do some paperwork to get that. You'll need a NOVA from the seller side
https://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=63697&hilit=registering#p575427

[PeterPortugal]

I have imported several cars from the UAE and USA to the UK. I used "shipmycar" in Milton Keynes and they provided a good service which I was happy with.

It all seemed straightforward enough with nothing unexpected occuring as they have done it many times.

[w113abudhabi]

Thanks. I have already been quoted by ShipmyCar. I have also been in discussion with SpecialisedShippingServices. I will contact Kingstown.

I have owned the car for several years now but we drive on the other side of the road here in the UAE, hence the lighting concerns. This is a LHD Pagoda so am I likely to need to buy different headlights or lenses? I have already replaced the original US spec headlights with European style ones. Or does the lack of the MOT mean I may avoid such costs?

[FGN59]

If memory serves me well, I believe switching from LHD to RHD beam shape is a simple matter of adjusting the orientation of the light bulb holder inside the headlights.

[Garry]

The headlight glass is manufactured either left or right hand. It is actually the shapes in the glass that deflect the light correctly in addition to just correct adjustment of the internal lens.

[w113abudhabi]

Thanks guys - positive news! Now rear lights and orange indicators / turn signals (whatever you call them where you are from) is another matter...

[JamesL]

I don’t think rear red turn signals are legal in the UK so you’d need an amber lens cover. That might be picked up on first registration.
If you have Euro headlights, by rights you should get RHD glass on them as the scatter pattern is different - again, with no MOT, who’s gonna know/ and may not get noticed at first registration.

[hansr433]

I imported my US-spec W111 from Canada to the UK with Cars UK (www.carseurope.net) with good results. 

Costs in 2018, FOB Felixstowe were

USD 4000            = Eastern Canada to Felixstowe in dedicated container
GBP 650.00          = UK Arrival Handling
GBP 250.00          = UK Customs
++ UK Import Taxes Payable to HMRC at 5% (Payable on vehicle value & transport fees)
 
I arranged UK insurance with Haggerty once the registration came through. Fee for broker to register the vehicle in UK was GBP 500.00 + VAT.  They also arranged for a MOT.  You will need an ORIGINAL registration document for the DVLA and a UK address in order to register the car in the car.  If you know you are doing, are in the UK and have the time, you can do this probably yourself.

Hope this helps.  PM me if you want specific info.

[w113abudhabi]

Thank for all previous responses. On a closer inspection, I already have orange rear indicators so that is one less issue (I assumed they would be red for USA). It appears the main issue will be that the car is required to have a rear fog light to meet UK legislation. Having read various posts on this forum am I best having this wired directly to the existing headlight switch? I certainly don't have the additional switch mentioned by some owners near the ashtray. I'm just a bit concerned about a switch suddenly appearing in my car somewhere that I don't want it and wrecking the interior's originality.

[Paul & Dolly]

abudhabi

I know little about IMPORT Regulations into UK, but I would check those Regs for an old car wrt Rear Fog Light,

 I do not know any Pagoda owners here in UK that have a rear Fog Light on their car.

Paul

[JamesL]

Paul, I thought  it’s built into the rear cluster. But tech manual says otherwise

[w113abudhabi]

Further research suggests the rear fog light may not be required due to the age of the vehicle:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/11/made

I'll go back to the company handing the import, legalisation and registration

[hansr433]

Whom did you end up hiring to do the importation?  They should know that a 25 year old car is exempt from many regulations.  I changed nothing from my US version car upon importation to the UK.

[w113abudhabi]

Hi again. I am working with Specialised Shipping Services who handle all the legalisation work for Kingstown. I am trying to source details of the original registration of the vehicle in the US. I know that the original owners lived in the Tampa Bay, Florida region. I have tried checking the vehicle on the Florida State website and it only shows the title prior to my purchase which was issued in 2003. Can anyone advise how to source older records from 1970? I have reached out to the Mercedes dealership in Florida and am waiting for a response. However I have no way to know if they retailed it or even existed in 1970.