Japan → United Kingdom
Case study: Suzuki Jimny Nomade from Japan
The five door Jimny Britain never got – shipped from Japan, converted to UK specification and registered by us.
The vehicle
The Jimny you can’t buy here
We regularly import vehicles for multiple trade partners in the United Kingdom, and for private buyers wanting to own one of the vehicles they never sold in the United Kingdom. This Suzuki Jimny Nomade is the five door version of the ever popular Jimny Sierra.
They actually discontinued the Jimny in the United Kingdom as a passenger vehicle and only sell the LCV if you can manage to find one.
We wanted to share a little bit of what goes into each vehicle, and in this case study we wanted you to get an idea for what we might do for a JDM import.
What went into this one
Once these are purchased they make their way over in a container to Southampton, which is our preferred port, and we get them up to our facility.
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1On arrival
A clean, before anything else
Before we do anything, we usually get the cars cleaned to ensure there is no salt or debris left on them for long periods of time.
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2Compliance check
Rear fog light
We check a few things on any vehicle’s arrival and one of the most common ones is the rear fog light. Luckily the Nomades come with this from the factory, so we don’t need to do anything there.
If your vehicle does not have one it isn’t a problem. We regularly fit them and ensure that we are creating an OEM finish that we would be happy with.
On the three door versions we have a special technique for getting the rear fog to look OEM – which is what we are all about here at My Car Import.
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3Modification
Speedometer
The speedometer from Japan is always in kilometres an hour, so we take apart the speedometer and change the fascia to one that is in MPH. It might seem like a simple task but it requires a fair amount of patience to ensure your speedometer does not get damaged.
This means that the dial moves correctly and showcases the correct speed in the UK. Afterwards we take it for a road test to ensure it reads correctly the entire way up to the national speed limit.
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4Testing
IVA testing
Once we have prepared your vehicle we will book it in for its IVA testing. In the case of this Suzuki Jimny Nomade it’s a slightly newer vehicle, so it does not require an MOT test but does require an IVA test.
Thinking about the same thing?
Whether it’s a Jimny, another JDM car, or something else entirely, the route is the same – and we’ll tell you exactly what yours needs before you commit.
Found one you want bringing home?
Send us the advert and we’ll tell you what it takes to get it on UK plates.
Do Japanese imports need an IVA test?
It depends on the age of the vehicle. A newer car like this Jimny Nomade does not require an MOT test but does require an IVA test. A vehicle over ten years old is type approval exempt and needs an MOT instead, along with the modifications appropriate to its age.
We test on our own lanes, so your car never has to leave our site.
What modifications does a Japanese car need?
The two we see most often are the speedometer and the rear fog light. The speedometer from Japan is always in kilometres an hour, so we take it apart and change the fascia to one in MPH, then road test it to make sure it reads correctly the entire way up to the national speed limit.
The rear fog light is the other common one. Some vehicles have one from the factory – the Jimny Nomade does. Where one isn’t fitted we fit it, to an OEM finish.
Thanks to our work with the UK Department for Transport, vehicles from Japan are no longer subject to headlight compliance scrutiny.
What is a model report and why does it matter?
It means we can register these vehicles regardless of their age. For a model we have imported and tested before, the groundwork is already done – which takes a great deal of uncertainty out of the process for you.
Can you import a Jimny for me?
Yes. We import for trade partners and private buyers, including people who want a vehicle that was never sold in the United Kingdom.
Send us the advert or the vehicle details on our quote form and we’ll come back with the route to registration and the cost.
