Japanese import BMWs - what do I need to look for?

[DannyBoy]

Does anyone have any experience of the above?

 

I'm looking at the 530i and 540i E39 Sport saloons only - don't need a touring and ideally I'd love a manual; but the ZF5 auto is fine as I could always get it changed in the near future. I'd love a red or blue one; not keen on silver or black. My 530i Sport was a dark'ish grey and looked lovely until it started to rust from the inside out and then got fixed/written off within a fortnight!

 

From my reading the import examples are stunningly clean/corrosion free; so I know I'd look to get it protected as soon as it's on the UK shores

 

I'm fairly savvy with spannering through my work; but would look to get a lot of work done by my local independent garage too as they're BMW specialists

 

What needs to be done to an E39 from Japan once it's in the UK; can the speedo's be changed easy enough does anyone know?

 

I know Japanese cars can come with lots of stuff fitted that doesn't work here in the UK; had that a lot in previous Mitsubishis etc - soon gets removed. That's not really a worry

[Andrew]

Evidence of rust proofing 

Japan don’t use salt on their roads so they don’t need as heavy duty rust proofing like UK cars. 

[duncan-uk]

Spec can be a bit odd too - different security, no PDC and radio issues spring to mind

[E39mad]

You can usually tell a Jap car due to the square rear number plate.

Spec tends to be heated seats but no leather so in a sport will usually be alcantara.  Most seem to have electric seats and sunroof too.

[DannyBoy]

Thanks and yes; I've owned quite a few Japanese import Honda's and Mitsubishi's, very used to the JDM/US spec number plates 🙂 

 

The ones I've seen so far have all been leather (the 540i's at least); the 530i's seem to be an alcantara/cloth mix which I quite like; leather isn't the top of my list, more so with the cars being the age they're at; it can't be soft/supple any more

 

Spec's all seem to be similar to the UK cars, although a lot don't seem to have parking sensors fitted, but I'm sure that can be sorted. As for alarms, I've someone local to me who I've known for years that can soon fit a Scorpion or Cobra system if so needed

[Ray112]

Mostly be ready to replace quite a few plastics and sometimes even some parts of wiring harness, like near headlights etc. Heat and sun has dried out plastics and they are quite fragile. Of course it matters where car been kept most of the time as well.

Another thing to remember - imported cars might not be exempt from ulez, regardless that identical EU market car is euro4 emissions group. Do your own research about it, some people have managed to get letter from BMW about their car's emissions and that they are lower than threshold for being exempt from ulez charges. 

[DannyBoy]

Thanks; I've no worries re ULEZ as I'm from Lancashire and rarely go anywhere near big cities (if we do it's via train or probably in my 330D which I know is ULEZ fine etc)

 

A friend/colleague at BAE has a Japanese import Subaru and that's fine with ULEZ; but his Honda Civic Type R isn't weirdly... 

 

I'm well versed in Japanese import plastics and wiring falling apart as well... Been there/done that many times; but know BMW wiring is much better quality than a lot of the Japanese stuff, so would hope it'd last better

 

One issue I had on my UK 530i was the scuttle panel under the windscreen; it'd gone grey/brittle and was a sod to replace. I asked the Autoglass guys to do it when they came to replace the windscreen that had cracked as I couldn't get the wiper arms off

[Steve VH]

7 hours ago, E39mad said:

You can usually tell a Jap car due to the square rear number plate.

Spec tends to be heated seats but no leather so in a sport will usually be alcantara.  Most seem to have electric seats and sunroof too.

A small thing, but it would bother me, not being able to fit a UK, or Euro style Registration plate, because the boot lid pressing for the Japanese plate is smaller, I believe USA style boot lids are the same.

[DannyBoy]

That's not really an issue; to be honest I'd be wanting to keep it true to its form which is an import; so fine to stick with the JDM plate sizes... The front you can soon fit a UK spec plinth I think from pictures I've seen

[Ray112]

10 hours ago, DannyBoy said:

That's not really an issue; to be honest I'd be wanting to keep it true to its form which is an import; so fine to stick with the JDM plate sizes... The front you can soon fit a UK spec plinth I think from pictures I've seen

It's actually more like little advantage of it. People are even ready to pay silly money for those US/Japanese number plate style boot lids or bumpers on all sorts of cars, so getting one together with car is a win - win moment.