Please somebody help me!!!!!
A Honda S2000 has been bought in Europe and it is being shipped back to the US. It will need conversion to meet US spec. Has somebody every done this???? Some people are talking about costing me 50K!

 

moving to s2k talk.

you should get more responses there.

 

Andrea:

Do you know what has to be changed at all? Are you importing it as a used car (prior registration in a different country)? Who is going to check everything and to what extent??

If your car is a EU spec car, you might want to get the "Certificate of Conformity" from the importer, if you didn't already get it with your car. This is the legal document that explains that the car complies with the Eurpean Whole Vehicle Type-Approval. (Directive 70/156/EEC as last amended by 98/14/EC).

I believe the engine specs are the same, at least the gasous emissions should be the same. You might have to do an on-the-spot check, but the car should be extremely clean, even at high idle (1500-2500 rpm). (Directive 70/220/EEC as last amended by 98/69/EC)

The pass-by noise requirements are much more stringent in Europe, so that is not a problem. (Directive 70/157/EEC as last amended by 96/20/EEC).

The lights have been approved according to ECE Regulation 48, but differs with the US significantly. Basically, the items missing are the front and rear side marker lamps, incorporated in the headlamps and tail lamps respectively. You might want to swap all lamps with somebody in the US, because most Americans want the EU lights (not sure about the rears though, but just mention swapping the fronts and you'll get plenty of responses!)

GOOD LUCK!!

 

P,
The car was imported to Hungary from Japan via a dealer but it counts as a used car now. The owner is going back to the US and he ships his vehicle himself. As far as I am concerned the only thing really should change are the lights but I am not sure. It goes to Houston,Tx. Do you or some mate of yours have experience in doing this DOT / EPA mystery? I think a DOT certified agency/dealer has to check the vehicle and do teh conversion. I searched through the entire web until I got to its end but found no one who is an expert.
THANKS for your help!!!!!

 

Andrea,

Szia! En is magyar vagyok. De angolul valaszolok.[/Hungarian]

I have a friend who brought a Japan-spec Honda del Sol to California, complete with right-hand drive. It simply had to pass a tech/safety inspection, and now it's perfectly legal here. I thought it was almost impossible to import a car and make it street legal, but my friend did it quite easily. I hope this helps you!!

Sok szerencset kivanok.

 

You should do a simple search for "importing a car to the U.S." The first site I went to gives you the lowdown, and other links which you should follow for more info (http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/imp-exp2/in...nformal/car.htm). If you are looking for specifics on what kind of work will need to be done, you can probably contact one of the car importer services on this page: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import...t/Gray0202.html. This site also tells you an address where you can check if the Euro or Japanese S2K will meet U.S. requirements for importing.

BTW, the dutiable tax for any new or used imported car is 2.5%.

Happy reading!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 1Y2KS2K
[B]You should do a simple search for "importing a car to the U.S."

 

I wish to buy mine here, and take it back to europe.
I hate them light washers they have on them, and the lack
of color choice in spain. So since I am here I will be buying
mine as soon as I can and then sending it over, some $1000 I beleive.

 

szia

 

Oh God.. the thought of doing that makes me cringe!! IT will be a long and arduous process. Good luck.. I live in the pathetic country of Canada which borders the US and I can't even take a CDN car over to the US without ALL KINDS of bureaucracy and extra money...

My advice is to seek a lawyer to review ALL of your paperwork.

-simon2000