Waiting for my Z-3

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 09:48

Hi all,

I've bought a 2001 2.2 by a different route to ones I see on here. We live in France now, so I wanted a LHD, 2.2. But they are v.expensive in France, so I've bought one on auction in Japan.

It's on the boat and will be here in may. Woo Hoo ! Can't wait.

Chris

- can't seem to add pictures as attachments.. is there a limit for new users?

Post by **Robert T** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 10:03

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the purchase - I bet you can't wait to get your hands on it.

Details of how to post pictures are given here.

One daft question... aren't japanese cars RHD?

Cheers R.

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 10:19

Robert T wrote:Welcome to the forum and congrats on the purchase - I bet you can't wait to get your hands on it.

Details of how to post pictures are given here.

One daft question... aren't japanese cars RHD?

Cheers R.

Yes, most japanese cars are RHD, but there's something over there where LHD cars are seen as being cool, so there are a few LHD available.

Slightly naff pictures..

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 10:38

Congrats OXO

Zed looks great and in a uncommon colour too

Blimey, how long does it take a boat to arrive from Japan?

Tim.

shantybeater · Post by **shantybeater** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 10:53

wow congrats, thats some commitment to get it from Japan!! just out of interest what are the charges like to get it over here?

Post by **Robert T** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 11:25

Looks really good in white. Look forward to seeing some shiney pics when it gets over to France.

Lets hope it likes frogs legs as much as sushi.

Cheers R.

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 16:05

Boat from Japan, about 5 weeks, but there is also a delay waiting for one to be available.

It's costing about a couple of grand to get it here, tax registration etc. I'm doing it through a UK import company. Even with that I'm saving thousands on the price of a LHD on the open market.

Hard Top · Post by **Hard Top** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 16:34

Hi OXO,

Nice car, white looks good, don't see that very often.
We used to get oil & gas material (pipe) from Japan, but that used to take about 2 to 3 months, as they used so called 'Trampers'
I take it that your car must be on a container vessel?
Being a new owner, I am also surprised at the price difference for cars in the UK compared to cars in mainland Europe!!
Bet you can't wait for it to arrive.

HT

seasurfer · Post by **seasurfer** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 18:05

Wow, that looks really nice - welcome to the forum, and yes that is some committment to buy from japan, well done. Looking forward to seeing more pics when its home

Gill

Canman · Post by **Canman** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 18:11

Hi, Oxo welcome bet you cant wait. not being nosey , more intrigued. i presume you are buying blind as such. so what if the zed is not as described? is it your problem or the import co. was it a fixed price deal arranged prior to shipping. sorry for questions but its not something you here/read about everyday.
good luck

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 18:19

Hi, OXO, looking forward to hearing more about your adventurs with this car which have started before you even get it

There is a general shortage on container shipping currently. Bizzarly due to the global climate less ships are available and so containers are actually at a premium with some longer waiting lists

Post by **Robert T** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 18:36

Hope it wasn't on either of these two - they were going the wrong way.

Cheers R.

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 18:53

I have a condition report, and if it's not exactly as described I have comeback with the UK company.

But yes, it is a bit nerve wracking. Paid for the car at the end of january, and it got onto the ship 27 march

Best bit about buying from Japan except for the price is the mileage. It's done 53,100 miles

DC · Post by DC » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 19:42

I wouldn't worry about condition, the car looks absolutely superb and being from Japan you know it will have passed the stringent Shaken (think I've got the spelling right) tests every 2 years. They are fastidious people and take a great pride in owning a nice car.
Mine was imported from Japan, me being the first UK owner and I couldn't believe the fantastic condition. Although a 1998 model it really was indistinguishable from new, very low miles, a full service history, year old tyres and almost clinically clean.
Your manual will be in Japanese but you can easily download a copy.
Enjoy your beautiful car.

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 20:55

Thanks DC.

We are already planning some finishing touches. I reckon it will look great with chrome door handles and gills.

estocks · Post by **estocks** » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 21:54

You may need to set the tuner region to Europe in the submenu. Depending on which radio you have, the options menu is usually entered by holding down a button or two.

DC · Post by DC » Mon 05 Apr, 2010 22:56

The radio may be like mine which doesn't have regional options so has a converter fitted, this will probably be taken care of by the importer along with the speedometer conversion from kilometers to miles.
I should have mentioned that the only thing that let mine down was the perished rubber beading round the rear window and the rubber grommets behind the door handles, both now replaced. Window itself was fine but the beading is part of it. Grommets dead cheap at about a fiver, OEM replacement rear window, deep breath at about £156-00. if I remember correctly.Both easy to fit and well worth doing.

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 08:00

No well maintained LHDs in Germany?
....presumably cheaper than in Japan & shipping

Saying that - it look in superb condition

Tori · Post by **Tori** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 08:56

Is it coming in a container or on deck ? my husband imported his car back from Cyprus and the Italian crew of the boat rifled through the car to find any bits they could pinch which included a set of front fog lights that were fitted to the car.

DC · Post by DC » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 09:14

It's bound to be container as an import company bringing hundreds of cars in each year would be responsible and wouldn't take the chance.
There won't be any corrosion either as they don't salt the roads in Japan!

Tori · Post by **Tori** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 09:25

It can be either, import companies still ship them either way but obivoulsy it will be priced accordingly. OXO says its costing a couple of grand, how much of that is french registration and tax etc I dont know, From Cyprus the shipping costed £400 on deck.

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 09:27

Quick replies:-

No, they are much more expensive in Germany, and lots of miles on them too.

It's coming on a special car carrier:-

http://www.eukor.com/homepage/eukor/fleet_visitship.jsp

Tori · Post by **Tori** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 09:31

Yep same kind of vessel it has Ro / Ro decks, plus container space, had they specified which it is ?

I would be interested to know how much just the shipping from japan is costing you.

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 10:50

They said verbally that it is Morning Composer, but I haven't had the Bill of Lading yet.

smartypants · Post by **smartypants** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 11:27

WOW! A white one! Congrats, looks stunning... best engine too

amancuso · Post by **amancuso** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 15:36

Welcome to the forums! Plenty of low-cost LHD models over here in the USA

Courageous · Post by **Courageous** » Tue 06 Apr, 2010 16:30

Hi Oxo and a very warm welcome to these hallow halls. Nice looker that. Well done!

I was looking for a left hooker and echo your obs regarding germany. I was expecting better prices as I had bought a ford cougar over there before and found a great buy. Spain wasn't an option due to cost and also the ever present problem that the spaniards generally treat their cars like sh!te.

I did also briefly look at the usa and by the time you costed in shipping and VAT it didn't seem to me to be cost effective. I must admit though that I did limit my search to Ebay there.

The japanese option didn't enter my mind as I assumed all cars there would have been right hookers but it just goes to show eh?

RORO vessels - don't talk to me about those flippin things. I nearly sunk one in the red sea once not too far from the very spot where I lost 3 good friends in a capsizing of the same type.......

Hard Top · Post by **Hard Top** » Wed 07 Apr, 2010 12:43

Courageous wrote: RORO vessels - don't talk to me about those flippin things. I nearly sunk one in the red sea once not too far from the very spot where I lost 3 good friends in a capsizing of the same type.......

Jesus, how the hell did that all happen?

HT

quartoboy · Post by **quartoboy** » Wed 07 Apr, 2010 14:20

Nice car! ! !
In Italy I know that someone bought a z3 in Germany but never in Japan!

Courageous · Post by **Courageous** » Wed 07 Apr, 2010 19:26

Well HT, in both cases the vessel shipped water on the main deck which runs the entire length and breadth of the vessel. There is no decompartmentation as usually the case with ships of this type. In my particular case I was duty engineer and was asked by the mate to "trim down by the head". This meant I should run the pumps which would draw in sea water to a huge tank in the bows. What nobody told me was that when full this thing would vent onto the main car deck. Of course I should have known but was new to this ship. As a result I think I dumped approximately 500 tons of water onto the car deck. As soon as the mate commanded a turn to starboard the water slewed over to the port side and we took on a very substantial list to port!

Fortunately, in our case, survivable as the seas were flat calm.

In the case of my friends we will never know. All we do know is that one of the guys had his wife on board. She, a very strong swimmer, survived, only to dive back into the capsized vessel to save her husband (the ships electrical officer) and she never returned.

Very tragic. RIP good friends.

drdrake · Post by **drdrake** » Wed 07 Apr, 2010 19:31

Courageous wrote:Well HT, in both cases the vessel shipped water on the main deck which runs the entire length and breadth of the vessel. There is no decompartmentation as usually the case with ships of this type. In my particular case I was duty engineer and was asked by the mate to "trim down by the head". This meant I should run the pumps which would draw in sea water to a huge tank in the bows. What nobody told me was that when full this thing would vent onto the main car deck. Of course I should have known but was new to this ship. As a result I think I dumped approximately 500 tons of water onto the car deck. As soon as the mate commanded a turn to starboard the water slewed over to the port side and we took on a very substantial list to port!

Fortunately, in our case, survivable as the seas were flat calm.

In the case of my friends we will never know. All we do know is that one of the guys had his wife on board. She, a very strong swimmer, survived, only to dive back into the capsized vessel to save her husband (the ships electrical officer) and she never returned.

Very tragic. RIP good friends.

What a shame eh

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Thu 22 Apr, 2010 14:19

Heard this week

that the car didn't get on to the first vessel, but it will be on the next. ETA Southampton 10 June . Woo Hoo!

There will be plenty of summer left

Hard Top · Post by **Hard Top** » Thu 22 Apr, 2010 16:24

That is very good news, but I bet you are not to happy that it did not get on the first vessel.

HT

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Tue 25 May, 2010 16:48

I know where it is now -

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipde ... =308726000

click on "Current vessels track"

amancuso · Post by **amancuso** » Tue 25 May, 2010 17:59

I couldn't imagine having to wait that long!!!!!!

DC · Post by DC » Tue 25 May, 2010 18:54

OXO wrote:I know where it is now -

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipde ... =308726000

click on "Current vessels track"

I've just spent about an hour looking at this, it's fascinating.
Bet it's your screen saver now!
Dave

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Mon 23 Aug, 2010 09:02

This transaction has gone badly wrong. I now need a UK solicitor if anyone can recommend a good un..

Hang_em_high · Post by **Hang_em_high** » Mon 23 Aug, 2010 09:49

OXO wrote:This transaction has gone badly wrong. I now need a UK solicitor if anyone can recommend a good un..

Thats terrible news

I really hope that whatever the problem is that you get it sorted mate, and sorry that I cant help you.

Courageous · Post by **Courageous** » Mon 23 Aug, 2010 11:19

Christ OXO. I assumed it arrived on the due date? Whassappened?

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Mon 23 Aug, 2010 12:35

Courageous wrote:Christ OXO. I assumed it arrived on the due date? Whassappened?

Now is not the time to tell.

Suffice it to say, I'm now looking for a LHD Z-3, post 2000, 6 cylinder, not black or silver. Cash waiting..

DC · Post by DC » Mon 23 Aug, 2010 20:09

Sorry to hear that.
Best of luck.

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 11:14

Just to fill in some details.

The company I used to buy the car at auction was Bonsaicars http://www.bonsaicars.com

All looked well to start with, and monies were paid.

Then the fun started. They continually promised the car was on a vessel, only to reveal when the vessel arrived in europe that the car was not on. This continued with them lying about the shipping until finally we demanded our money back in august. They agreed, but no money arrived, so we have taken out a claim against them in the County Court using money claim online.

We now have the judgement ( they didn't even respond to the court documents), and the bailiffs will be on their way soon.

Update:- We aren't the only ones in this pile of merde:

http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/141274-impor ... -cars.html

chris.sargent · Post by **chris.sargent** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 12:09

Oxo - how interesting, I'd been looking at some cars through them and I had a feeling it was a bit dodgy but this put me right off!

I am moving to France and also can't believe the prices of cars there - cheapest Z3 I could find was about €10k!

I don't know if you'd be interested in this one I saw - I think you're looking for 6-cyl?

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1237372.htm

OXO · Post by **OXO** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 12:15

Yes, mad prices over here. Where in France will you be moving to?

chris.sargent · Post by **chris.sargent** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 12:17

Anitbes initially. Then probably to St Raphael. Bringing my E46 M3 Convertible with me, definitely can't afford an LHD one of those!

Ferdinand · Post by **Ferdinand** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 13:03

sorry to hear about your experience...
We have had lots of companies here in Denmark who wanted the money up-front - and then they went bust..... Bloody bastards IMO! Somebody ought to kick their behinds!

Look for a car on www.mobile.de - A great site - I found mine there...

Look for a sterling silber metallic - a future classic colour!

just found this one:
http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showD ... geNumber=1

great lookin' motor!

Post by **Robert T** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 13:19

Ferdinand wrote:just found this one:

11.7k Euros for a 2.2!

Cheers R.

Ferdinand · Post by **Ferdinand** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 14:16

We're used to 180% tax - so it's cheap in my book....

Hard Top · Post by **Hard Top** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 14:19

Robert T wrote:
Ferdinand wrote:just found this one:
11.7k Euros for a 2.2!

Cheers R.

Yep, that's what you have to pay over here.
RHD are cheaper because they are RHD.

HT

amancuso · Post by **amancuso** » Thu 23 Sep, 2010 18:46

Sorry to hear about your experience. Hopefully you can find a Z3 soon!