SteveL

I suspect it would also be a fairly boring job - check app, check docs, cross-check database, approve/disapprove/ send for more info, move onto the next one, etc, etc.....probably not a great idea to get 'in their face' unless you want your app to 'slip' to the bottom of a very big pile.....

I spoke with DOTARS this morning, they are currently processing all apps received on 1/9. Mine is in their system as received on 2/9, but they said it wasn't too far away...of course what that means in real terms remains to be seen, but at least it's in there

I'm surprised that your agent hasn't sent them to you or given instructions where to get them. Anyway, go here and scroll down slightly to see the download link: http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/vsb/vsb_10.htm Follow the instructions to the letter and read the part in the VSB10 docs about requirements for 15yo vehicles. Also make sure that your agent supplies some proof of age (usually Jap de-reg doc) to put with your app. You should submit your app on 1 October for your car.

Yes I'd go with business days as well (I work for a Federal Govt Dept), which means adding around a calender week to the process.....

Well it occured to me...do they mean 17 calender days or 17 business days, means a longer wait if it's the latter. My car is booked to ship on Saturday, so I'll be ringing DOTARS in the next couple of days to find out the situation with my app.

From the photographs it appears you have a fatigue failure (progressive cracking) of the shocker shaft at what looks like a thread or other change in section. It's hard to be certain from just a photograph, but the orientation of the cracking suggests a bending load on the shaft - definately not normal. Bilstein/Pedders should do a PROPER investigation - could be improper installation, defective parts or just plain the wrong ones.....

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If you can do it, how much for just the remote oil filter locator kit (2nd photo) ??

Design suggests the wastegate is built into the dump....only Nissan turbo engine I've seen like that is RB30ET (VL turbo).

I see.....I will be interesed to compare with the cost for my car which is coming direct to Melbourne. I've been doing some research into the cost of shipping cars Japan->Melb and export companies in Japan quote $US60-$US70 per cubic metre for a car shipped to ports on the east coast of Australia. I couldn't find figures for a GTR, but one company had an R32GTSt at the equivalent of about 10 cubic metres, which would be the same for GTR more or less. That means around $US700 or about $A1000 which is quite a bit less than I was originally quoted ($A1500), but there might be other factors involved that I'm not seeing.

Just curious - why did your car get shipped to Brissy, not Melbourne ?? As to all the delays, I think its just a fact of life - people would rather be optimistic than pessimistic to a customer.

That may be the situation under SEVS. This is a direct quote from the DOTARS Vehicle Import Bulletin (VSB10): "It is strongly recommended that you do not ship your vehicle to Australia until such time as you are issued with an Import Approval. If you do ship your vehicle before receiving an approval and your vehicle arrives before the application is processed, you will incur storage costs."

Yes it's certainly a concern as I wasn't expecting anything to happen until I had the approval in hand. I've queried the situation with my broker who is very confident that there will be no problems, so I'm very much relying on his experience and judgment. I also spoke with my customs agent today about this and he was also unconcerned as he reckoned the quoted arrival date is optimistic (more like 3 weeks from the date of departure) and there was still plenty of time for approval to arrive. Plus he told me that even if approval wasn't received in time, the car would be put into bonded storage until it did - of course that means storage fees for me

Just been advised my cars booked to ship on 18/9 with arrival in Melbourne around 4/10.

That's cheap considering what I was originally quoted for shipping (around $1500)...,certainly won't be complaining if costs come in similar to yours, I budgeted $6K for all these 'extras'...

From memory it was about a 1yen diff...every little bit helps As for the CBA...I have money in a few different investment accounts but you wouldn't have known it was MINE with the amount of stuffing around I got before even getting to the TT stage. On top of that I got contradictory information about the process....in the end, the ability to use BPay and Ozforex made it so simple.

Banks will screw you over at the best of times. Better to use a foreign exchange service like: http://www.ozforex.com.au/ In my case the transfer to Japan was absolutely free because the transaction value was relatively small ( ) Another catch to keep in mind is that the import duty and GST charged when the car gets here is based on the official exchange rate at the date the car is exported from Japan using the FOB value shown on you invoice. The more the Oz Peso drops against the Yen before your car ships, the more its going to cost you when the car gets here..... I posted a link to the FAQ sticky at the top of this page that helps you work out import duty and GST.

PM re: the wheel

Don't think you can blame them, VSB 10 (vehicle import requirements) clearly states the requirement to submit these docs with your app [for a 15yo import, if that's what we're talking about]: "$50.00 application fee, purchase document, certified picture ID if first time applicant and if the year of manufacture shows the vehicle to be 15 years old you will need to supply evidence of the month of manufacture, eg registration/deregistration showing date of first registration, confirmation from the vehicle manufacture or any other evidence available." I submitted my application on wednesday, so we'll see what happens.

This is a useful page on the Australian Customs website that provides info on how to calculate import duty, how GST is worked out (cough...ripoff !!), customs fees and charges and some other useful info: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4371 [Edit] This is another useful page from the Customs website that provides the official exchange rates used to calculate import duty and from that GST. Using this you can compare your actual charges at the time of import... http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4277

Get a second opinion. Based on your compression readings you have 5 good cylinders and one bad. You certainly shouldn't need to replace ALL the exhaust valves. Your mechanic should be able to identify the problem with the bad cylinder - the best way is a leakdown test. If you have limited mechanical knowledge, best let someone do it for you. Also I'd be asking some q's about why the car went into the shop running fine but came out running crap....usually doesn't 'just happen' like that....

VLT and RB25DET gearboxes are about the same size and strength.

Some parts for sale here if your interested (not mine): http://www.ozdat.com/classifieds/view.php?...s&searching=yes C210's sold in Oz had a points dizzy only, R30's were the first with electronic ign. 280ZX uses the same electronic dist as R30's and both will bolt straight onto any L6 engine....of course you also need to change the coil and remove or bypass the ballast resistor.

The forms I have don't actually mention anything about any further imports. Regardless, once the 15 yo option is eliminated as of 1/1/2005 (highly likely if not absolutely certain IMHO), the only option for the vast majority will be via the new scheme (RAWS) and undoubtedly there are strict rules they must follow in terms of a/c gases.....the fee for any mandatory work on the a/c system will be incorporated in the compliance cost.

Well from what I now know you won't have wasted your money.....I've obtained copies of the formal documents that private importers are required to submit to the DEH in order for the car to clear customs if the car a/c system is charged with CFC (R12). The document the owner/importer is required to sign includes an undertaking that the car will have the a/c system evacuated and converted to non-CFC gas within 21 days of the date of the agreement. The conversion must be done by a qualified technician and proof must be provided to the DEH that the conversion has been done in accordance with Australian Standards (ie invoice with technicians details provided, car details, date, etc). So it is definately not the case that you can import a car with R12 gas and be able to continue to use it without converting the a/c system. The doc doesn't say what happens in the event that the conversion isn't done in the prescribed timeframe, but clearly the DEH still has the option of applying the sanctions (ie fines) contained in the legislation, which are substantial.