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XC90 '02–'15 General Forum for the P2-platform XC90 model |
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Worth importing my XC90 from Dubai?Views : 1228 Replies : 8Users Viewing This Thread : |
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May 14th, 2017, 10:23 | #1 |
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Last Online: May 19th, 2017 12:07
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Location: Hereford
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Worth importing my XC90 from Dubai?
Hello All,
My first post to this forum but I have been known to hang out on the Saab sites over the years. I have a 2014 XC90 Sport with 3.2 engine in Dubai, high spec with BLIS, 20in rims, adaptive headlights and chocolate leather, 35000 km on the clock. The market is currently offering me around 14000 GBP for it in Dubai. Shipmycar.co.uk is quoting me 1800 GBP for conversion and registration once the car is portside UK and I figure another 1200 GBP for Dubai deregistration and transport. So I would have a 2014 LHD grey import XC90 in the UK that owes me 17000 GBP. Is it worth doing? Could it be even be a little gem now that diesel has gone out of fashion? The dealer claimed that many Europeans were buying Volvo to ship back and I believe he said the cars could be fully supported, but perhaps that needs to be double checked. Thanks in advance for any insights. Nigel |
May 14th, 2017, 11:03 | #2 |
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Consider the following when importing a vehicle from another country into the UK:
Is it a RHD for the UK? Don't even bother importing the vehicle if the car is LHD! It is not worth the effort, you'll have loads of issues with driving, parking, visibility, and spare parts! Insurance premiums are likely to be higher as well. Thinking of converting LHD to RHD? That is a major job: New steering New dashboard, incl airbags New interior trim panels (cos LHD is different to RHD) New brake pedal, cyclinder, new brake lines New accelerator assembly, new enginebay wiring loom New interior wiring looms New carpets New seats (drivers seat is different to passenger seat, the electric memory is only on the drivers seat and the motors are different) Honestly, I wouldn't bother pulling a car apart to bare metal to convert from LHD to RHD. And you'll ALWAYs have service issues as the VIN will no longer match the vehicle. All computer systems will say it is LHD, but it will physically be RHD. And other items to consider: Does it hav nav? Is the nav system the same as the UK? Not all markets have the same nav. If the same, you will need a new map disc. Does it have an FM-RDS radio? The UK has RDS, not all markets have RDS capabilities. Not sure about Volvo, but some cars make different radios for different markets. Does it meet all mandatory homologation specs for UK vehicles? If it is a Euro-build Volvo, then highly likely. Check the vehicle VIN in VIDA. Does it have a HEATER? Some hot country climates have no heater fitted, you would miss that sorely in the UK. Is it original? Registering an import car in some countries where the car has non factory components fitted may at times be dificult. Other hot climate market features like tinted windows and extra strong AC systems will easily transfer to the UK
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May 14th, 2017, 12:11 | #3 |
Volvo Driver
Last Online: Apr 15th, 2024 22:57
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I guess the clue is the "35,000 Km on the clock" would indicate to me a local spec (ie LHD) vehicle.
Limited market for these in UK although there is a specialist in Basingstoke (http://www.lhdplace.co.uk/) that may be able to advise further. Perhaps might go to someone who travels to Spain for the winter each year with a caravan? Worth looking in some of the Spanish ex-pat forums for this sort of thing - also there are buy and sell facebook groups for many of the popular brit ex-pat areas. Edit - the "conversion" the OP mentioned will just be headlights, (which are probably convertible from inside the car anyway) rear fog lights etc - not RHD from LHD. I'd be getting more detail from shipmycar as to what exactly they propose to convert. If you are bringing the car into UK as a personal import having owned it for the qualifying period abroad (6 months??) then UK registration is simple - I've done this several times (admittedly a few years ago when I was in the military and coming back from overseas) I drive a RHD XC90 in Spain for 6 months of the year and the "wrong side" steering isn't a major issue. Good Luck Cheers Dave Last edited by Harley Dave; May 14th, 2017 at 12:18. Reason: had a thought |
May 14th, 2017, 13:21 | #4 |
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The only thing I would be concerned about is whether the car meets UK/Euro homologation specs which it quite possibly does. This is about the size and location of rear lights etc. Importing from other Euro countries is easy but, say from US, can be more difficult. Other than that you have to decide if you will get a better price (which seems be the driver) and if it is worth the hassle.
Following a quick google it seems a Dubai XC90 will be ok in Europe:- "...Mayne, a British expat who has lived in Abu Dhabi for five years, last month said farewell to a Volvo XC90. It was packed on a container ship at Jebel Ali bound for the French port of Marseille. He described the two-month process as "surprisingly smooth". Exporting the car to France, where Mayne will be making his new home, made economic sense. "I shipped the car to France with Allied Pickfords [a moving company] along with the household goods in a container," he says. Adding a car to the 40-foot container made no difference to the cost of shipping so the only additional charge was Dh800 for paperwork, export plates and a four-day insurance policy to cover the car after it had been de-registered in Abu Dhabi. Shipping the car to France will also save on import duties and VAT. As Mayne's Volvo is more than six months old, he won't have to pay a duty of at least 30 per cent or a 19.6 per cent VAT. "Cars are cheaper here [in the UAE] and even secondhand cars in France can be quite expensive, so it was a no-brainer to ship the car," says Mayne. With the secondhand market in France a seller's market, Mayne may make a profit on the car if he sells it in Marseilles. "I am fairly confident I can sell it at a profit and ideally, I'd like to replace it with a diesel, which Volvo doesn't sell out here." Volvo provided Mayne with the European conformity certificate stating it can be exported to France without any modifications. "It can cost around Dh40,000 to Dh50,000 to have it modified so that was a saving too," he says. With Allied Pickfords letting him know what paperwork was required and Volvo's help, Mayne says the hardest part was driving the car into the container. "The car was the last thing to go in," he explains, going on to say it was a nervous process to reverse it into the container before disconnecting the battery. "There was no room to open the door so I had to climb out through the window."" Last edited by poiuytre111; May 14th, 2017 at 13:27. |
May 14th, 2017, 13:28 | #5 |
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I would look at importing it to the eu and selling in the eu if possible?
Investigate the best place to import it to, register it, sell it, buy a rhd.
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May 17th, 2017, 20:41 | #6 |
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Thanks Harley Dave,
I am in Basingstoke tomorrow so will try these guys. There will be no VAT to pay as the car has been with me since new. We used to drive a LHD Saab in Japan so no great fear on that front. Nigel |
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May 17th, 2017, 23:47 | #7 |
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Good luck Nigel
Cheers Dave |
May 18th, 2017, 10:18 | #8 |
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Dubai adventures
Sounds fun. I exported my RHD car to Holland, and I agree that driving on the 'wrong side' isnt too much of an issue, overtaking on quieter roads is a bit tricky, but overall, the novelty is more fun than annoying.
The problem comes when you wish to sell the car, most buyers do not want the wheel on the 'wrong side', so you will either struggle to attract buyers, or get knocked down significantly on price. Parts for some aspects of the car are a little different, but nothing that a dealer, or online purchase from USA or mainland europe cant solve. the major components are universal between LHD and RHD. Insurance premium is not different, it is insuring the type of car, and the driver, and not discriminating against LHD or RHD. The rear fog is an easy job, and the front lights I have heard can be adjusted, so you shouldnt need new lights. If you feel you will keep the car for many years, then the LHD issue shouldnt matter, as you dont need to pay import tax, and the km are very low compared to UK cars, but the LHD will be an issue when you want to sell it. good luck! |
May 24th, 2017, 09:40 | #9 |
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Hi,
If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line. The majority of our insurance schemes have no issues with imported vehicles. Regards, Dan. |
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lhd car, xc90 |
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