As have many others, I have imported a Skyline ex Japan. (it reached Australia in April 2005)

Nothing earth shattering there, then.

The arrangement was that the vehicle was to be used as a proof of compliance (not 100% sure of the exact term) for its model type by a local RAWS.

From what I have been told (& I have no reason not to believe this) the initial inspection was done in March of this year. Atleast part of the delay was simply waiting for DOTARS to bother turning up (estimate this was 4 months or thereabouts) & the other part was waiting for the workshop to get it's submission together.

Apparently the response to the discussion items was a good couple of months ago.

I understood that the whole process was not allowed to take more than 12 months from time of importation, yet here we are almost 15 months later & still no car.

My questions are these:

How typical is this kind of timeline?

At what point do DOTARS order the the car be re-exported or destroyed?

i am not an expect on this particular area but it has happend before. a dude buys a car in japan and workshop says can we use it as a test car, in return we'll comply it for free. dude gets left waiting for 1year +. it shouldn't take that long at all. my advice is do the following (if not done already).

1. go down to the workshop and have a look at the car, just to see how it is, what state it's in etc.

2. ring dotars and explain your situation, see if you can elicit any information from them about your specific situation.

see how that goes for starters.

in fact here is a similar case:

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...pic=108356&st=0

and there was another dude with a similar story with an R34.

Yeah thanks for the reply Richard. I read the other post earlier, but thought I would ask because my instance is a little different.

I know the car has been inspected by Dotars, so therefore the compliance work must, by definition, be largely complete. I have seen the car with partly completed modifications, but that was almost a year ago. I don't distrust the workshop in question.

From what I understand DOTARS have a policy of not telling anyone anything about timeframes.

If this is typical, maybe a more general warning about this sort of delay needs to be posted for those offered cheap/free compliance for a test car?

I know the car has been inspected by Dotars, so therefore the compliance work must, by definition, be largely complete. I have seen the car with partly completed modifications, but that was almost a year ago. I don't distrust the workshop in question.

Not always the case. Following the initial inspection if there are issues to be resolved (Discussion Items), a re-inspection of the vehicle or resit of the evidence testing may be required (i.e. DOTARS may have to come out again).

Personally I think the best approach is to speak with your RAWS and ask what's the holdup, and who is waiting for what.

ok so ur car is being used as a "test" car...as far as i know there are 3 maybe 4 stages of inspection by dotars, they turn up when they are in the area once the stage has been completed, these guys are busy so that is most of ur waiting time

if it's dotars holding up the inspections ur car won't be re exported, however if they find the workshop incopetent or car has rail or chasis damage, rust, or repair work they can order the car crushed or re exported, big risk u've taken champ, having said that i was gunna do the same for a stagea however my bro was working at the complice centre, express ur concern but don't russh the workshop, if they do something wrong they won't get their licence and bye bye car

teamplasma - a touch dramatic. No workshop in their right mind would put a car with rust or prior accident damage through as a test car. It's in their interests to make sure the car is as clean as possible for DoTaRS.

My theory is that the workshop obvious has some discussion items they need to fix, and this causes long delays as you need to wait for inspectors all over again. Much better to get it through first pop. It pays to know your RAW well if you plan to use your car as a test car - poor ones can result in delays like this.

The car in question is very definately straight. Part of the attraction was that it was in everybodies interest to be a good, straight, unrusted car.

VRfour, I didn't think that DI's necessarily needed reinspection? Last indication was that the turn around was about a month for the DI's. Unfortunately that info is now stale as it was more than a month ago.....

DJR81 - mine is a test car also. You've never seen a car so well complied!

Regarding re-inspection, it depends on the scenario I guess. Keep working on the theory that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Ring the workshop every few days until they get sick enough of you and do something about it.

I thought waiting times for inspectors weren't actually that bad at the moment??

vrfour - i have seen and heard of proposed test cars turning up with such damage, all because the raws are relying on jap contacts saying there good, just spealling it out loud and clear what could happen

As have many others, I have imported a Skyline ex Japan. (it reached Australia in April 2005)

Nothing earth shattering there, then.

The arrangement was that the vehicle was to be used as a proof of compliance (not 100% sure of the exact term) for its model type by a local RAWS.

From what I have been told (& I have no reason not to believe this) the initial inspection was done in March of this year. Atleast part of the delay was simply waiting for DOTARS to bother turning up (estimate this was 4 months or thereabouts) & the other part was waiting for the workshop to get it's submission together.

Apparently the response to the discussion items was a good couple of months ago.

I understood that the whole process was not allowed to take more than 12 months from time of importation, yet here we are almost 15 months later & still no car.

My questions are these:

How typical is this kind of timeline?

At what point do DOTARS order the the car be re-exported or destroyed?

Hi there,

We are a RAW. We went through the very long stages to become one, after being in the business since 1989, and having over 14 low volume comnpliances under the old scheme, and now the new low volume-new- scheme.

Some facts for you:

If you RAW applicant does not by some chance become a RAW, it can go to another RAW workshop.

It will not be re-exported or asked to be destroyed whilst any inspection process or submissions are going on.

You can go to the RAW and let him (ask him) to show you the screen online of their submission and where its at (doable, but he can refuse, if he's hiding something too).

DOTARS can take longer than 12 months, they can and have waived that for similar situations.

Yes, the above is all common. Submissions, contrary to what you may have been told or read, can take 12, or 18 months, ESPECIALLY if it is there first RAW sample vehicle, ie; They have no other vehicles under RAWS yet.

Hope that helps.