Mini imported from SA

PeterCash

Hi

I'm hoping to buy a mini cooper (2003) that was imported from South Africa to UK. The car is registered in Northern Ireland, Has anyone any advice on wether this is a good idea?

any tips would be useful as it is a private sale and i have no come back if i screw it up!!

Cheers
Pete

hartcjhart

firstly why are you buying an SA import?

why has the seller not registered it?

I take it the car is in this country

contact your local vehicle licensing office for precise info on the feasibility of importing/registering it.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/UsefulContactsByCategory/MotoringContacts/DG_10012974

Normally any car being imported from a non EU country will need a certificate(cant think of the name at the mo)

to say it conforms with all laws and regulations here

PeterCash

Sorry I should have said, the car is registered in Northern Ireland!! I'm thinking of buying it cause its reasnobly priced (£6750 for a 2003 Mini Cooper others similar are arround 500-1000 dearer plus bottom book is 7600 if I recall correctly).

Cheers
Peter

flutterbyuk25

Are you in northern Ireland or mainland UK? Cos it makes a difference as both places have separate licencing authorities. If it's in NI and you are bringing it to mainland UK then I can advise you on paperwork that you will need to registered it here (as I work for DVLA). If you are in NI then I can't!

anewman

Are you sure this isn't one of those Nigerian type scams. You send the money either by western union or to a fake escrow site with tracking for your delivery. Basically you send your money and you don't get a car. I would be very very wary of any car being cheap from South Africa. Based on the number of scams originating from South Africa I would advise against buying, even if the price is cheap (cheap price is part of the scam). Get something from NI, or even import from the UK as that will probably be cheaper.

If genuinely interested in buying maybe let us know the payment method they are requesting?

PeterCash

Folks sorry I have not been very clear in my original post!! I was in a rush at work!!

I have physically seen the car I wil be purchasing, and I live in Northern Ireland (the car is also registered here).

The mini has a certificate from bavarian (bmw/mini) to state that the car is legit and is exactly the same as other NI models except for the speedometre which is KM!! I don't know if the KM speedo will be an issue when getting the car mot'd etc.

Thank you all for your replies!!

flutterbyuk25

Ok so as you're in NI and the car is registered in NI then it should be perfectly legit to purchase and would have undergone all checks when imported to NI from SA (- as far as I know NI procedure is more or less same as mainland to register import).

Obviously do HPI/Experian checks and check the registration cert over against the vehicle.

The only possible issue you may have is with your insurer. Some don't like insuring imports or it may bump up the premium.

x

harveybobbles

Lots of BMW's are imported from SA. they come with the same spec as a UK on. The give away is the stamp in the service book for the supplying dealer...

jeannieblue

PeterCash wrote: »

Folks sorry I have not been very clear in my original post!! I was in a rush at work!!

I have physically seen the car I wil be purchasing, and I live in Northern Ireland (the car is also registered here).

The mini has a certificate from bavarian (bmw/mini) to state that the car is legit and is exactly the same as other NI models except for the speedometre which is KM!! I don't know if the KM speedo will be an issue when getting the car mot'd etc.

Thank you all for your replies!!

Presuming MOT/Vosa same as over here, then the car being in km's will not be an issue at all. We deal with lots of imports, no problem.

As long as you check everything that you should when buying a car and all is ok - then I can't see a problem. Enjoy your Mini!

PeterCash

Thanks very much for your replies / advice!! :beer:

Pete

deltic_2

Just remember that as you are buying it for £1000 cheaper, the chances are that when you come to sell it, you will have to sell it £1000 cheaper as whoever buys it will have all the same issues in their mind as you have.

You may also find it more difficult to sell.

So whilst it may be a good car at a good deal, it may also be something of a false economy.