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.

Oh I didn't realise yours was from Japan- so is it straightforward buying an import? No hidden catches?

So is it legal to have speedo in kph? I'd probably keep forgetting!!

it is legal to have a speedo in kph. 30kph is slower than 30 mph etc so you'll be fine, even though everyone else would be getting a bit angry!

Quoted from burmesejack

Oh I didn't realise yours was from Japan- so is it straightforward buying an import? No hidden catches?

So is it legal to have speedo in kph? I'd probably keep forgetting!!

Not sure whose you think came from Japan? Krakatoa when he was new was bought from a south London garage and was a red auto.

Mike Bennett who takes the photos has a japanese import. Show and shiners are annoyed sometimes if his car beats them but it deservedly does.

Sorry Bumble - Tracey has a Figaro which is from Japan. I must learn how to do the quote thing on here!!!

Quoted from Bumble

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.

Oooh, found the quote button!!!!

Never had an import car but I have had a few import bikes. No problem with speedo in kph, past all the MOT's. Spares parts were the same as UK bikes, so should be even easier for minis.

Quoted from burmesejack

Oh I didn't realise yours was from Japan- so is it straightforward buying an import? No hidden catches?

So is it legal to have speedo in kph? I'd probably keep forgetting!!

Mine was imported 4 years ago-have all the shipping documents in with the history! Not sure how easy it is to import one yourself . I was told it wasn't legal to have the speedo in KPH but not sure now! Have memorised what 30,40,50 and 60 MPH is in KPH and have a conversion chart in the glovebox just in case i go on a motorway lol!!

Quoted from burmesejack

Oooh, found the quote button!!!!

Well done! And you can delete chunks of text as well if you wish. I had zero skills and after a year have just received a qualification equal to an O level in file management, word processing and powerpoint. More importantly I have made friends on here.

I just wish we were wearing badges at the weekend with our user names on. Apparently I had a very nice chat to a lady about her poorly pet dog and it was Mrs Richard Jackson. We could have talked about him!

Quoted from Bumble

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.

NEVER

If I remember correctly, jap-spec cars were SPi until the end of production, with the auto box still as an option.

Good chap to speak to might be Paul McKeown of New Acre Cars, who does a large number of jap-spec Minis (and other cars too).

Caveat: I've never bought a car from him and have no connection other than we've frequently spoken on Mini matters.

Speedycables should be able to recalibrate your speedo from KMH to MPH
http://www.speedycables.com/

Quoted from siddarz

If I remember correctly, jap-spec cars were SPi until the end of production, with the auto box still as an option.

Good chap to speak to might be Paul McKeown of New Acre Cars, who does a large number of jap-spec Minis (and other cars too).

Caveat: I've never bought a car from him and have no connection other than we've frequently spoken on Mini matters.

Thanks, I'm sure New Acre rings a bell, but I can't find anything online.

Looks like the place has changed names to LPG Imports; both http://www.newacrecars.com and http://www.lpgimports.co.uk now point to an eBay store, though I recognise his eBay ID.

Quoted from siddarz

Looks like the place has changed names to LPG Imports; both http://www.newacrecars.com and http://www.lpgimports.co.uk now point to an eBay store, though I recognise his eBay ID.

Thanks, that's where I'd seen it then.
Gerry and I are at stalemate at the moment cos I want classic, he wants Bini!

We bought a real and a new mini down for Grand Tour. The extra space in a new MINI for a family could be a decision maker, also the safety aspect....

Buy a lottery ticket.

Quoted from Bumble

We bought a real and a new mini down for Grand Tour.

At least we weren't the only ones  

The MINI is great for carrying all your luggage whilst keeping the classic empty. It's also handy for keeping a good parking place at the hotel  

Quoted from ADE90

At least we weren't the only ones  

The MINI is great for carrying all your luggage whilst keeping the classic empty. It's also handy for keeping a good parking place at the hotel  

Snap!

I did the same but brought the golf and mini down