Bring a 356 to the UK

[neilbardsley]

I'm importing a 56 356 to the uk. Assuming that it's in good running order. Do they need any modifications to get through the MOT? Fog light, head light etc ..

[Jeremy 356 (Jez 356)]

I think it is mainly the lights

Headlights - sort direction

I think there is also a need to sort the indicators and rear light cluster?

Roger Bray or PRS would be able to give you a bit more professional information on that.

I hope you enjoy your new arrival


Regards Jeremy
1956 T1 356A LHD (US import)

[neilbardsley]

I think it is mainly the lights

Headlights - sort direction

I think there is also a need to sort the indicators and rear light cluster?

Roger Bray or PRS would be able to give you a bit more professional information on that.

I hope you enjoy your new arrival


Regards Jeremy
1956 T1 356A LHD (US import)

Thanks for the help. I called one of the companies and they suggested a service b at a tiny cost of £475 (no doubt plus vat sorry but it really mads me mad when prices are quoted without var). I politely told them I was only looking to get the lights done for the MOT which they suggested would cost a couple of 100 quid. I'm scratching my head a little because I'm sure any good mechanic could do this job in 30 to 90 mins. I understand why suggest a service since you don't really know what condition the car is in but I'm going to take the seller at face value (since he has 40 years of 356 experence) and believe what he has said about his wife using the car and it being in good working order.

I somewhat wonder why I don't just take it to the local vw garage what does MOTs?

[Bootsy]

I somewhat wonder why I don't just take it to the local vw garage what does MOTs?

Why not try it! If it's as good as you've been assured then it may be a case of just changing some lights etc.

It's worth noting - the likes of PRS really do know there stuff when it comes to 356 and can be trusted - just ask any of their numerous satisfied customers on here

[hot66]

changing lights, basic servicing etc can be done yourself .. might be worth trying 1st. You'll gain so much more than just the cost savings by having the knowledge to do the work yourself.

If you get stuck, ask any questions here on DDK, as there is always someone who has done the job before

[Burma-Shave]

Hi

I took the seller of my 356 at face value, and it turned out he just had a good imagination..worked out OK in the end though after I welded up the holes he'd forgotten about, and involved Mike Bainbridge to sort the smoking he'd also forgotten about.

Getting someone who knows these cars to have a careful look at your new baby on arrival (which I guess is mainly what you're gaining from a service, rather than just oil, filter and valves) might just be worth the money though.

You probably know your stuff, and I think I am unusual round here in not having come to tubs from bugs, but I have no reason to not believe the advice I see over and over again - 356's are not 'just like VWs'. Too many subtle differences, and it may well be that a few quid spent now will make sure she runs exactly as she should, and any signs of early problems are sorted before she lets you down, not after.

Looking forward to seeing pics!

[neilbardsley]

Hi

I took the seller of my 356 at face value, and it turned out he just had a good imagination..worked out OK in the end though after I welded up the holes he'd forgotten about, and involved Mike Bainbridge to sort the smoking he'd also forgotten about.

Getting someone who knows these cars to have a careful look at your new baby on arrival (which I guess is mainly what you're gaining from a service, rather than just oil, filter and valves) might just be worth the money though.

You probably know your stuff, and I think I am unusual round here in not having come to tubs from bugs, but I have no reason to not believe the advice I see over and over again - 356's are not 'just like VWs'. Too many subtle differences, and it may well be that a few quid spent now will make sure she runs exactly as she should, and any signs of early problems are sorted before she lets you down, not after.

Looking forward to seeing pics!

I understand where you coming from and it makes sense. I had my fingers burnt when I bought a defender and took to an expert just to check and he presented the car back to me with a bill for £1900 without any feedback!

[Nick Moss]

As it will need an MOT, it makes good sense to get a specialist to do a pre-MOT check over, they will also know exactly what needs doing to make it legal for the UK. I would not take the word of most Americans when it comes to car knowledge. They have no MOT system over there so the car could be an absolute death trap with holes in the chassis, no brakes and leaking fuel lines. Don't risk your life.

[neilbardsley]

Yep you could be right and I could end up eating humble pie or as you suggest drinking it through a straw! You certainly have more experience than me.

However, I done a bit of research. I'm not going to mention any names but the chap selling it is a tustee of the 356 registry. He regularly sells to companies in the uk. I've spoken to two knowledge 356s who know him personally and vouch for him (lets say that one of their names sounds like thrill) so I hope I'm in save hands. So when he says his wife has been driving it and it was safety checked by his garage I think I'm going to believe him. His advice was to run it for 2000 miles then start regular services.

[roy mawbey]

Neil,

As mentioned above lights might be the most important items. My T2 'A' never had fog lights fitted they were an accessory at that time. Your car would seem to be the earlier T1 'A' and these cars in 56 were fitted with 'beehive' type rear lights not the 'teardrop' style as on the later T2 versions.

Over here most T2 'teardrop' combined rearlight/ flasher have been converted so you have red tail light and red brake stop light ( double pole bulb) and amber flasher. ( they were supplied new with the amber flasher also acting as the brake light )

In other countries the T2 teardrop light assembly lens was fully red, no separate amber area.

In 56 though you had 2 separate beehive lens on the back of the car. They were both red. In my opinion to drive on the roads over here with red flashers is taking a chance. I believe whilst the car might have been fitted new with these the MOT will question that. The fog lights you could remove if for some reason they don't work...

The front light lens need to suit the side of the road you are driving on. There must be a number of users on here that imported from the USA they will tell you if the imported front light system was acceptable.

If you have no experience of 356 cars then the check over is worthwhile. Maybe you got a pre purchase inspection first and have paperwork to support this. This car is 56 years old a verbal okay on its condition is a different matter to a proper 356 specialist inspection.

Even if you decide to service yourself if you have no real knowledge on the car the inspection might well highlight some area's you should attend to.

Really hope the car arrives okay, its in super condition and you enjoy driving it!!

As other's have mentioned speak to PRS or Roger Bray etc, etc, . I guess you already have the 356 books etc?


Roy

[smallspeed]

i would think an inspection (even if you decide to do the required work it might throw up yourself) is well worth the money. i do almost all of my own mechanic-ing on all of our cars, however i put my old 911 and my old merc's through trusted specialists to get a good idea what needed doing, and what might need doing moving forward. There are, as others have mentioned, lots of oddities and nuances on these cars which makes them hard for a generic garage to deal with, through no fault of their own. Getting someone who really knows their stuff to go over the car first always seems like good practice to me

in terms of the mot also, these guys will know what needs doing, and more importantly how to do it without making a hash of it for want of a better word.. you don't want to end up with a local garage botching the wiring and fitting whatever they have to hand.. having said that, if you're happy to do some research and do the work yourself, there is obviously money to be saved!

in terms of headlights, you might want to check the post i put up in the general forum this morning re: MOT testing. Looks like there are some new rules this year regarding things obscuring headlight output. not sure whether this extends to beam deflectors/bits of tape used for driving on the continent or not, but better to be sure upfront; the cost of the bits to make it right, might not be much more than a full-price re-test!

ben

ps.. try and find an MOT tester with some common sense

[neilbardsley]

Thank everybody for the advice. I'm starting to lean towards having somebody do it for me. My two perferred routes are Tower Porsche (because they are near my home/work place in London) I've always found them to be very help but sometimes the ride can be tough and Tuthill Porsche because they are near to my place in Northamptonshire. I've found the chaps at Tuthill very professional but I suspect that some of their clients have deeper pockets than I.

The car will live in Northamptonshire since I don't like to leave my car in London after I had a 912 stolen. I'm a little money senstive at moment since I put my 912 Targa in for getting it running correct only (turned out it was a simple point gap) to find that it had rust at the front and panels need to be replaced. Ouch!

[72911E]

Chris Turner in North London (close to Jubilee line for London Bridge when u drop car off).

http://www.christurner.com/about.htm

[Rustbucket]

Is Tower Hill Porsche still run by Gunter ?

[roy mawbey]

Neil,

I have a sort of feeling your imported car will be a RHD version. That being the case the headlights should be okay. I realise it can be very difficult getting a car to garage some way away from where you live or work. However, Essex is not so far and if you specify really what you want and no more at this stage you could probably take it to www.prs356.com and wait for the checkover and advice. I have no affiliation with them but I would trust them to give you an honest answer. I have never taken my 'A' to a garage in over 40 years except for MOT's. I would though, take the plunge go to them if I really needed help.

I also have an idea, but could be wrong of course who sold you the car. If I am correct they know 356 inside out and backwards so its probably okay.

Best of luck

Roy