Be carefull as some people are offering repaired cars for sale out of Japan.

[Guest]

Be carefull as some people are offering repaired modern cars for sale out of Japan as they are cheap but may end up costing you your car.

The rule is below so read into it dont take somebodys word for it.

A RAW would take all reasonable steps to avoid importing a crash damaged or corroded vehicle.

A RAW wont put up his bussiness to save you money.

In a nut shell they are saying dont bring in a damaged or repaired vehicle. I know of one complyier who knocked back a car as they were told by the importer it is a repaired vehicle but only minor damage. They knocked back the work and said unless you are 100% sure it is minor it will be at your cost. So the buyier went back to the broker who wouldnt sign a document that the car will pass the RAWS inspection then the importer went a bougt a straight as car to save the trouble.

Damaged Vehicles

Crash damage or corrosion may affect continued compliance with the ADRs. This is especially so in the case of the occupant protection ADRs 69, 72 and 73. It is not possible for a RAW to provide a reasonable level of assurance that a crash damaged or corroded vehicle, where the structural integrity of the vehicle has been affected, complies with all of the applicable ADRs. Therefore, it is not permissible for a RAW to fit a used import plate to such a vehicle.

Before commencing compliance work each vehicle must be inspected by the RAW to check for crash damage, damage repair or corrosion that may affect the structural integrity of the vehicle. Records of this inspection are to be retained by the RAW and be made available to VSS inspectors upon request. (Regulation 57)

Crash damaged or corroded vehicles where the structural integrity may be affected must be re-exported or destroyed. It is expected that a RAW would take all reasonable steps to avoid importing a crash damaged or corroded vehicle.

The criteria below must be used as a minimum when deciding if crash damage or corrosion is likely to affect the structural integrity of the vehicle.

q Underbody damage which results in the:

Ø crushing of floorpan stiffening members,

Ø splitting of seam welds or

Ø tearing of the metal

q Damage to rocker panels (or outer sill) which result in:

Ø Dents to a depth of more than 25 mm

Ø Creasing, distortion of the sill weld

q Distortion to longitudinal rails affecting the front and rear crush zones.

q Collision damage to steering or suspension components.

q Damage to the vehicle’s outer body panels, which affect the integrity of any of the seams or joints installed by the vehicle manufacturer.

q Corrosion (rust) which has resulted in perforation or flaking of the metal.

When checking the condition of the vehicle the following items need to be inspected but not necessarily in this order:

q Engine compartment

q Right side

q Luggage cargo compartment

q Left side

q Underbody or chassis frame

q Passenger compartment

[hippy]

alot of cars that used to come into australia under the older scheme were like this.. slightly damaged in some way ... i reckon most of the cars out there that people are driving were like this and they just got fixed up and the dealers made huge profit margins...

[Morgs]

DRIFTT? Nigel is that you?

So the bottom line: Does this mean a light accident repaired vehicle can be imported under SEVS/RAWS, but anything more (if its got a bent chassis etc) will not make it through compliance?

Hope whoever is buying has a GOOD buyer...

[Guest]

Yes Morgs its me,

They are not saying a perfect vehicle has to come in but you realy need the vehicle to be inspected in Japan, which I have been working on with two buyiers I work with for some of the workshops I am helping out.

I spoke to one workshop today about this and he said he will not touch cars that have damage unless he is 100% on the state of the vehicle, which means in his words he needs to inspect the car himself so he dosent have to destroy somebodys life savings.

Nigel.

[two40]

thought i'd move this to the general so that everyone can benifit from the info.

cheers