personal import

[Gary Spalton]

Guys, I'm coming back to the UK this summer after 3 yrs abroad, planning to bring my German 1996 993 C2 with me. Been on to the DVLA and they seem to require a mountain of admin before I can register it. Most of the technical stuff looks doable, but they insist on a MPH speedo. Mine only has KM. .Can I just buy a UK speedo and connect it up? I've also heard that the lights can just be adjusted to dip the other way, but the OPC parts list shows different part numbers for LHD and RHD L and R lights - what's the real story?
PS, anyone doing the June SPA track day?

Gary S

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I am intrigued about the MPH speedo issue. There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of LHD cars in the UK - Porsches included - which are running with KPH speedos. To my knowledge none of these cars have any issues when it comes to MOT time (mine included) so where does this insistance come from?? I can understand that it might form part of the type approval for new cars but I can't believe that second hand cars which are being imported can't be exempt from this nonsense. Are there any links to Government web sites which might elaborate??

Regards

Dave

 

[burrow01]

Hi

I brought my 3.2 Convertible back from Holland with me a couple of years ago

DVLA refer to lots of documentation / possible inspections etc, but in the end the process was quite simple. No Inspection was required, only an MOT - my car was US spec so it already had an MPH speedo, but I've seen them on E-Bay fairly frequently

You will need to change the lights, although the car would probably pass the MOT with the flat beam setting, but if you do this the lighting covers about the first 10 feet of the car

if you happen to be in the UK with the car prior to importing it, you can get the MOT done beforehand - they enter the chassis number in the registration field

cheers

Pete

 

[jboult]

Interesting - I ran an imported LHD 944 for 7 years, with a KPH speedo and the original LHD lights, and I never had a problem (in fact the MOT station used to put a new bit of masking tape on the lights for me every year, very nice of them). Mind you, even 'pointing the wrong way' the lights were better than the standard 993 set-up...!

Admittedly I didn't import it myself, but I never once had a problem. If, of course, you discount passengers referring to the ride on their side as being sat in the suicide seat...

Cheers/John

 

[harry]

1. Headlights: Just look in the handbook - it tells you haow to change the beam pattern. Not difficult, you just have to pull out the headlights.

2. KMH speedo can be kept - I just made my own for MPH out of clear vinyl and "Lettraset" transfer - miles cheaper than swapping out speedo and you keep the originals (silver dials which I couldn't locate -since bought one off e-Bay but not used)..
Look at this link http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/fb.asp?m=249762
Harry

 

[harry]

ORIGINAL: Computamedic

I am intrigued about the MPH speedo issue. There must be hundreds, if not thousands, of LHD cars in the UK - Porsches included - which are running with KPH speedos. To my knowledge none of these cars have any issues when it comes to MOT time (mine included) so where does this insistance come from?? I can understand that it might form part of the type approval for new cars but I can't believe that second hand cars which are being imported can't be exempt from this nonsense. Are there any links to Government web sites which might elaborate??

Regards

Dave

DVLA regulations. Some MOT stations may sneak you through but others won't. Stickers are apparently accepted provided they are accurate enough. The Roadangel and the likes are not accepted alternatives. I've been trough this before. I made sure it passed it's 1st MOT w/o a hitch.

Harry

 

[Gary Spalton]

thanks guys, great thoughts, but I'm not sure I am much further ahead. The issue is registration. Before the DVLA will allow me to register it, I have to have a certificate issued by the Vehicle Certification Agency. This certificate for already EU type approved vehicles, is the Mutual Recognition Scheme, which basically has to certify that the vehicle is an EU type approved vehicle and that it also meets all the UK type approval stuff, ie MPH speedo. No certificate from VCA, no form to take to DVLA for registration. Sounds as thogh I need to swap the speedo. Any thoughts on the digital KPM readout in the rev counter? I know quite a lot of Japanes bikes with digital speedos just fit an electronic box in line which changes it, is this the case, can the OPC fix it software wise, or do I just live with it?

Gary Spalton

 

[burrow01]

Hi,

I think (but I'm not completely sure) that the OBC readout is unit specific - ie it's not like more modern systems where you can switch from kph to mph etc - I think it is fixed in whichever units it is manufactured in.

You can get stickers which fit the speedo glass, and show MPH - this would be enough to get you Type Approved

Pete

 

[clyde]

Maybe a bit late but you'll hopefully pick this up.

Imported mine from Germany six years ago and as far as I'm aware things have not changed. You can get the type approval details from Porsche GB for a fee - I sent them the chassis number and the monies and a week or so later I got a letter confirming the legal spec was German. They also said that the "nearest Pmac number (never did find out what that was but maybe it's your VCA cert number?) that the car complies with is 0430703V with the following main differances -

• left hand drive
• pedal box mounted on opposite side
• left hand dipping healights

I had the headlights swapped with a second hand pair that the local OPC in Germany had lyiing about (don't know where they came from) and had a new mph speedo fitted as the OBC needed a full new tacho to convert to miles and gallons. Speedo is an easy swap.
I then took that letter, the mot, original German logbook and a V something or other form to the local DVLC and half an hour later the job's done. I think the tax disc was posted to me but got the plate numbers there.

Hope that helps, make the most of the unrestricted roads before you come back to safety camera hell.

 

[Guest]

I have a 993 C2 LHD that came with a KPH speedo. I went to see Julian Reap of Reap Automotive in Harrow +44 (208) 863 2305 who was able to screen print the MPH scale onto my KPH dials. Looks perfect - even to the extent he added in KPH next to the odometer. Reap does all the colour coding of dials for Porsche and has featured in a couple of mag articles.

 

[harry]

ORIGINAL: PRESTON

I have a 993 C2 LHD that came with a KPH speedo. I went to see Julian Reap of Reap Automotive in Harrow +44 (208) 863 2305 who was able to screen print the MPH scale onto my KPH dials. Looks perfect - even to the extent he added in KPH next to the odometer. Reap does all the colour coding of dials for Porsche and has featured in a couple of mag articles.

Any pictures? Also what did it cost if I may ask.

Harry

 

[Guest]

Unfortunately I don't have any pics to hand and the car is in storage for the winter. Suffice it to say that I am extremely fussy about my car and I am challenged to spot that the screen print has been done. The set up at Reap may appear a bit of a cottage industry, but the guy is an expert and does work for Porsche GB. I strongly recommend it as it saves the hassle of replacing the clocks and explaining why the mileage is wrong.

From memory the cost was around £65 - peanuts!

 

[harry]

Not a bad price at all - Do they remove the speedo and print over the original dials or place the print on top of the glass?

Harry

 

[Guest]

I removed the dial myself as it literally pops out and you simply remove the block connector at the back. Real screen print over the original face behind the glass - it really is as though it left the factory like that.

 

[Gary Spalton]

Clyde, not too late at all thanks - just what I needed
taking the opportunity to try the UK roads with foreign plates at the moment - touch wood...........
Gary

 

[timandlisa911]

Gary i too brought back a LHD from germany(HM Forces), the lights are multi directional just take them out and flick the slider to flat and they have passed all the MoTs, you do not need MPH speedo, i registered mine in bristol with the german docs with no problems. Enjoy
Tim c2 lhd Reg No C2 LHD

 

[clyde]

The light adjustment is only intended for when visiting a country where they drive on the opposite side of the road from where the car was manufactured for. They are not true multi-directional units; although they may pass an MOT the already grim dipped beam is made a lot worse as the beam is flattened. You are far better getting a pair of right hand drive units.

Re the speedo, this is maybe just down to the individual tester, as it should certainly read in MPH.