amesporting Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Hi, Anyone out there have an opinion on buying a LHD grey import. We were thinking of buying a Hymer B664 from a private advertiser. its one year old LHD drive and the chap has imported into the UK from Germany. He appears to have all the correct documents. Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chas Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 I think the phrase "Caveat Emptor" springs to mind. chas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 its not a "grey" import or parallel import, as it was supplied from within the EU? By definition all Hymers are "imports" as they are built in Germany. think you are getting confused with car markets where cars come in from Japan etc.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Bry Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 amesporting - 2007-06-27 8:34 AM Hi, Anyone out there have an opinion on buying a LHD grey import. We were thinking of buying a Hymer B664 from a private advertiser. its one year old LHD drive and the chap has imported into the UK from Germany. He appears to have all the correct documents. Rgds As stated by others on this thread, all you have to do is just check things over very carefully.Only certain dealers(no names mentioned) will state that it's a so called grey import. If that's the case then there are hundreds of grey imports being run by people in this country. Some are even members on this forum.!! There are also plenty of places where servicing of your vehicle can be carried out. If you look in the mags you will even find companies who specialise in the Hymer service side as well, so you should have no worries on this side of things if it's the servicing thats giving you cause for concern.It's a case of whether the vehicle is right for you and do you feel comfortable with it's layout etc.etc. We are also Hymer owners.Good luck with what ever you decide on.Thai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Eddie is right, this is not a grey import. It is made within the EEC and conforms to all necessary EEC regulations for UK registration. It is simply a LHD Hymer. However, to be legal it must have a speedometer reading in MPH, and the headlights should dip left for UK use. If these haven't been changed/modified, the change costs should be factored in.Apart from checking the vehicle and it's service history, make sure you get to see the log book (V5C) and check that it is correctly registered to the seller, at his address, with the correct UK rgistration number, and is under the category of PLG (Private Light Goods), if under 3,500Kg MAM, or PHG (Private Heavy Goods) if over. Check the indicated mileage. See if you can identify any manufacturing dates around the vehicle, say on the tyres. Hymer produce so many, it is unlikely the tyres would be much older that the vehicle itself. If these are two or three years old, suspect the vehicle age. However, if you like it and want to secure it, leave the minimum deposit, make a note of the Hymer build number (for insurance purposes, of course), and the base vehicle VIN, and contact Hymer UK and the base vehicle manufacturer (Fiat, Mercedes?), to see if they can give you a build date against either. I'd also suggest you check for any outstanding HP, just to be sure, whatever else you do. You'll have the registration number for arranging insurance, so ask your insurer to see if it comes up on any of their databases and, if you can note the document reference No on the V5C, you should be able to view the basics regarding current VED on the DVLA website, just to be sure the tax disc is the right one.If you're satisfied with all that, check out the owner! Since the details and general condition of the vehicle are readily visible, he is your greatest risk! Try to find out how long he's lived where he is, and whether the neighbours know him. There have been a few cases of people selling stolen vehicles from other people's drives while they are on holiday! So, check whether someone answers the front door when you arrive, rather than just appearing from round the side of the house. Try to make sure you get inside the house, to use the toilet even, just to be sure it is furnished and looks lived in, and isn't a short term rented shell!I'm just that tiny bit puzzled why someone would personally import such a van, and then sell it after a year, that's all. If anything doesn't tally, and you think it (or the seller) is a "wrongun", drop it, apologise, say you've changed your mind, and ask for the return of your deposit. Of course, if something really sticks out and he's trying to pull off something really dishonest, you can always take a nice big, burly, policeman with you when you go to get your deposit! But let's hope it is all OK, and you get a bargain. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amesporting Posted June 27, 2007 Author Share Posted June 27, 2007 Hi, Brian, what can i say. Thanks very much. Will keep you informed. Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watsoa Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Speedo does not need to be MPH, my Hymer has had 2 MOT's and passed no problem with KPH speedo. The lights on my Hymer are adjustable for L or R dip. Alan W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 watsoa - 2007-06-27 8:00 PM Speedo does not need to be MPH, my Hymer has had 2 MOT's and passed no problem with KPH speedo. The lights on my Hymer are adjustable for L or R dip. Alan W While the speedo does not have to be in MPH for an MOT test it does have to read in MPH, and visibly so at night, to comply with construction and usee regs. Ask Judgemental, he's recently had to fit the UK speedo to his own privately imported motorhome. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 watsoa - 2007-06-27 8:00 PM Speedo does not need to be MPH, my Hymer has had 2 MOT's and passed no problem with KPH speedo. The lights on my Hymer are adjustable for L or R dip. Alan W Just don't get caught speeding, 'cos that is when you're likely to find out about the legal requirement for a speedo that reads mph! Your headlights may adjust for r or l dip, the headlamps on this van may not. Not all Hymers are equal - in binary, decimal or duodecimal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 watsoa - 2007-06-27 8:00 PM Speedo does not need to be MPH, my Hymer has had 2 MOT's and passed no problem with KPH speedo. The lights on my Hymer are adjustable for L or R dip. Alan WI agree with that. It's dead simple to get the speedo dial out and mark it up in MPH. This aspect has been debated many times before. I would just add to Brian's excellent post that you can check the plastic components in the engine bay for date codes to find out when it was made, as well as contacting a main dealer. That is how I found out that the V registered (year 2000) imported Hymer I bought from White Aeches Motorhomes was in fact built in 1994. Needless to say they got it back. But only after a Solicitors letter. So you have to be very carefull especially from a privaate seller. You have been warned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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