Japanese imports- yes or no?

Hi, I've been looking online and found a couple of later minis, (seem really hard to find) but they are japanese imports.

Is there anything I need to watch out for buying an import? I like the fact that most imports have aircon, but is there any downside?

I think generally companies selling imports get them registered here, but is there any other cost involved?

Out of interest, can you drive manual or only automatic?

Hi Bumble, only auto- I passed an auto test about 8 years back, was in a hurry to pass at the time. always had full intention of learning manual, but just never did it, don't think i would now, too long in the tooth!!!

I might be wrong but I think they stopped making automatics 1996 ish... my sprite (krakatoa) I felt was one of the last autos.

I also think I bought a cheap auto box as a spare from Wood and pickett from a car that was going off to Japan and made manual.

We had air conditioning fitted to our auto sprite as an after sales but very draining on power of car and I certainly gave it no thought to have air conditioning fitted when car recently restyled.

I'll do some research via Wood and Pickett and come back to the forum. I may be very wrong and often am as Andrew frequently tells me.

I have heard that the Jap spec air con units can be a problem, will ask a friend (he used to have one fitted to his Mini) for more info.

What Rita said about auto box's sounds correct, apart from autobox & aircon there's no real difference in buying one.

Thanks people.

Quoted from ADE90

I have heard that the Jap spec air con units can be a problem, will ask a friend (he used to have one fitted to his Mini) for more info.

What Rita said about auto box's sounds correct, apart from autobox & aircon there's no real difference in buying one.

plus they are generally in very good condition as well! bits for the air con units aren't easy to get but you can easily remove it all and ebay it and get some money back on them.

No idea on minis but my Figaro is a Japanese import ( only made in Japan) Only thing Im wondering is if the minis would be the same and have speedos in KPH ? You can buy replacement faces in MPH but I haven't - like to keep it original. Should be fine unless I get pulled over  

just swap the clocks for british spec clocks, then you got the right ones in mph, though the mileage would be different. or fit new dial faces, though you got to remember the milemeter is still reading in kilometers.

Jap cars are mainly autos and they made autos until 1997 which would mean the newest you could get would be a P reg, 12 years old if I can do my sums.