65,000 miles, White. BIMTA Certificate, Cat 1 Alarm, Tracker, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels. Active tracker til December, Full stainless steel exhaust, Big rear wing, new clutch with lightened flywheel by Roger Clark motorsport, recent cambelt change. 17" OZ alloys. With all bills and service history since imported to UK in 2003. Immaculate.£4,750. Is the BIMTA worth it, is the info they get in japan genuine or can it stil be fiddled ?

 

The BIMTA certificate is completely worthless; cars cant leave Japan without state inspection and de-registration, so its a total waste of money. The only service that BIMTA offer of any interest is their (much much cheaper) mileage check; but this only confirms what was recorded at auction, which would be on the auction appraisal sheet anway.

Simon

 

thought so, if the details at the auction in japan were "fiddled" then the bimta will also give the uk buyer these "accurate" figures even tho there false

 

It would be a mistake to assume that Japanese auctions are anything like British auctions; the whole motor industry is completely different. There is no 'fiddling'; nor is there any mileage fraud.


Simon

 

so,every import has genuine miles ?

 

Far from it; but the fraud isnt perpetuated by the Japanese motor trade. People frequently assume that because they 'know a bit about the motor trade', then they understand how it works in Japan: theyre mistaken.

Simon

 

if i was to buy an import, how can you check the authenticity of the mileage, like a uk car u can check it against mot and service times/mileage, but on a japan car, i presume its only on a uk mot etc, as the japanaese services is all in japanese,if it had some !?!?!
any tips ??

cheers....

 

Out of one hundred cars sold; youll seldom see one that has any books and those that do arent usually completed. With few exceptions, all Japanese cars are serviced properly (no service - no part exchange: no part exchange - no new car, because all parking spaces are inspected by a policeman with a tape measure! -no space then no sale-); and the odometer readings are genuine. The problems start after the cars have been sold at auction and 'haircuts' arent uncommon. Its better to buy a freshly imported car and to insist on seeing the auction appraisal sheet; theres no credible reason for an honest vendor not having it or showing it to you. Where they dont or wont its usually because the car had a poor grade (3.5 minimum; 4 is better) or because the odometer readings been altered of both. Many 'importers' buy ****e from docks auctions here in England too; Id avoid these cars at all costs. If youre tempted by a previously imported car then the BIMTA mileage checks service will confirm the odometer reading when the car was last sold in Japan, so at least you can be certain as to whether its genuine.


Simon

 

so why do all imports seem to have 40k or 60k miles on them????

 

Why do so many imported cars here have japanese service histories (considering what Ive said)? Im sure you can work it out. There are genuinely low mileage cars there, but many are flicked.

Simon

 

well,just spoke to seller, garage, home bussiness,its been derestricted, he said its done via clocks, mechanical device, is that true, if so, different clocks are fitted??
it has FSH, everything, from import date, 3 mots to back up mileage,NO engine mods, shock horror, 1st one yet !!, it has the clutch and lightened flywheel as the guy knocked a tooth out racing someone, huf, so whilst gearbox out, clutch done, bil to prove, over £1000 he says,says its mint mint mint, his friend owned it since 2003,import date and when he was selling it, this guy wanted it to sell on !! he KNOWS he`ll get £4750 maybe budge £50 if i take cash, wonder if he`ll go to £4500 as thats what i`ll offer !!

BIMTA cert, its ont he screen too, dunno about that, is it a stamp or summut ?!?!

hows that sound ????

 

How clean and standard is this engine !!!!!

 

I have a MY93 WRX-RA & yes i've had my troubles, but hey that's the risk of buying any car.

Mine is an absolute excellent example of 'good condition' buying from Japan is far better than buying something that's been subjected to britians roads & the winter crap that's put down.

Each to there own, but there does appear to be snob value attached to owning a nice safe UK Scooby.

being the owner of a Jap RA, you do tend to be ignored by the gentry who own new age, but so what, I'll smile when I pass them....

 

im confused,unless im reading this wrong, you say grade 3.5 is minimum, then say grade 4 is better ?!?!

surely if grade 3.5 is minimum, grade 2 would be better ?!?!


cheers....

 

Are you stark raving bonkers? You could get a P or R reg, possibly S reg UK for that.

 

maybe,but they are either 300 miles away or modded to the hill which i dont want, probably the minoirty but i want a standard engine on my wrx or uk turbo !!

most are so modded its crazy,which is good for some,but not me,body wise yes,engine no.

and they are either green or red,which i dont like eiether !!