German import

A

Anesta

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Joined
Aug 3, 2018
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65
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Location
leicestershire
Funster No
55,339
MH
Hymer Exsis i588
Exp
Since 2018
Hi,
I am looking to buy a Hymer from Germany (cheaper and higher spec). I know that the front lights and the speedo will need changing. Does anybody know if on models which are 2 years old at the most the rear fog lights will need changing or are they standard acroos Europe?
Also, the dealer who has the best van cannot do the job of swapping lights: any idea where I could take the van (Fiat Ducato base) in the East Midlands for the work to be carried out?
Is the German insurance valid in the UK (and abroad in general) as well?
Many thanks to anybody who can help!
 
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@Anesta Other than rear fog which might need moving to be in middle or UK offside. If you intend using the vehicle regularly on
continent it is allowable to be mot'd in UK with beam deflectors or masking . This happens with quite a lot of UK registered trucks that
do continental work and are LHD and have euro side headlights from new .
 
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Found also a t564, both with around 30000-40000Km

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The Hymer I imported had 2 foglamps at the back (either side) so didn't need to do anything. This was on a coachbuilt. Might be different on a panel van conversion.

You purchase German third party insurance for the European leg which is time limited. Once you arrive in UK you can normally get insurance based on the VIN number by your UK insurance company.

You'll probably need to get the Speedo swapped to show mph. This can be achieved by using an overlay template.

The dipped beam headlights can normally be adjusted to a symmetrical beam pattern which is acceptable for MOT purposes and use when driving in UK. Or mask the lamp as suggested above.
 
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Imported a Hymer Tramp from Germany 3 years ago. It had rear fog lights on both sides, so no problems there. We bought a set of right hand headlights from Fiat, and easily fitted them ourselves. Likewise the speedo, which we bought from Hambiltons. They must be easy jobs because we're by no means practical people.;)
 
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Had two Hymer both imports both had rear fogs on both sides also headlights adjustable but that is on A class coach built may be different.(y)(y)
 
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All Hymers have twin tear figs. The Hymer van has a standard Fiat cab so headlamps will need changing. If it has the LED DRL the headlamps are the wrong side of £400 each.
Headlamps and Speedo dial are bother very easy 10 Mon jobs.

Might be worth contacting Duemo they are not a Hymer dealer but can get them. They will change headlamps & Speedo dial for you and can get full comp insurance for the drive home.

We have always bought our Hymers from Campirama in Belgium on our third from them.
 
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Thank you all.
Lenny, I tried Duemo on Google but I don't seem to find anything...any help?
Thanks

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So, can I buy my van from another retailer then ask Duemo to do the work on it? Or ask them to get the van I like?
 
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When you buy a new vehicle you normally have to pay VAT to the German dealer which is then reclaimable once you've paid the UK VAT. This does mean you need sufficient funds to cover the interim double VAT amount.

If you buy secondhand and the vehicle is more than 6 months old and has more than 6000km on the clock, then VAT isn't applicable (but check the latest rules on this). Best to get information pack from DVLA on "how to import vehicle into UK ".
 
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well, Duemo won't do it unless I buy from them, but they don't have what I want...
I have contacted a couple of Fiat workshops and one won't do it, the other one said he needs the chassis number and that he may have to do things to the gearbox???
I can't believe this is turning into such a nightmare.
Please does anybody know where I can get the job done in England? There must be somebody who is willing to do it
 
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Our Hobby goes through its MOT every year with lhd headlights with deflectors, kms recorded andstick on mph dials. Stop overthinking it. (y)

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Anesta said:
well, Duemo won't do it unless I buy from them, but they don't have what I want...
I have contacted a couple of Fiat workshops and one won't do it, the other one said he needs the chassis number and that he may have to do things to the gearbox???
I can't believe this is turning into such a nightmare.
Please does anybody know where I can get the job done in England? There must be somebody who is willing to do it
Click to expand...
I don't see the problem, undo 3 screws to change a headlamp, and 4 screws to change the Speedo dial, both really simple jobs.

What's the gearbox got to do with it?
 
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I don't know, he mentioned something about the gearbox, the speedo and the readings. Maybe just trying to make easy money...
 
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When I imported my previous van from Germany I had the UK conversion stuff done by a company that is no longer in business so unfortunately no help to the OP. The DVLA wanted to inspect the invoices to prove that the work had been carried out before issuing a UK V5 and authorisation to get numberplates made.

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Just get the parts and do it yourself. It's dead easy. (y)
 
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If you really don't want to do it yourself, have you enquired at your local Fiat garage? I'm pretty sure they'd do it. Alternatively, buy the parts and ask a mobile mechanic to come and do it on your drive. :)
 
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Anesta said:
If I am stuck can you pop around and help? ;)
Click to expand...

Hambilton engineering are very helpful. If you get stuck with fitting the gauge, they'll talk you through it on the phone.
In all honesty, I'm not exaggerating how easy it is. You wouldn't find two less practical people than me and my husband. If we can do it, so can you. (y)
 
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A very helpful garage near Fosse Park in Leicester is www.cgcarsleicester.co.uk contact Carl and speak to him, he's very knowledgeable and they do work on a lot of Peugeot and Fiat commercials. Prices usually sensible.
 
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