Car import: Regulatory Question

richardm · #1 22.03.2009, 20:58

Hi all,

I've been reading various threads on EF and other information regarding importing a US vehicle into CH as part of one's personal effects. I know that importation is usually ill-advised but being mechanically-inclined, I want to draw my own conclusions. That which might be an expensive technical nightmare for some might only be a pleasant afternoon in my garage.

I see a lot of conflicting information out there and I'm hoping to clear up some questions.

Front parking lights/turn signals: I see that only turn signals are allowed to be amber. Parking lights must be white. MUST turn signals be amber or is white acceptable for everything?
Do all CH-spec cars use separate lighting elements for turn and for parking?
I see references to a requirement for parking lights to have the ability to be turned-on independently from any other lights. I thought all cars had this? Or does this refer to being able to activate a pair of lighting elements which are completely independent from the turn signals (see #2 above)?
Headlamps: Do the US DOT headlamp assemblies have to be switched-out for ECE (E-code) compliant headlamps? Most web pages say no but two say yes.
Taillamps: Many US vehicles flash the red brake light as a turn-signal (ie. they do not have a separate amber element for turn). Must taillamps be swapped for Euro-style taillights? Most sites say no.
Antipollution/Emissions: Most sites say that a US-spec emissions label is satisfactory for the initial registration though the car would be eventually subjected to an emissions test on the same schedule as any CH vehicle. However, I've seen references to EF members needing to submit their imported cars to an emissions test at the time of initial CH registration. I've seen another which indicated that US vehicles must undergo only a noise-check at the time of initial CH registration. Is this a cantonal thing?
Wheels/Tires: I see references to minimum speed ratings on tires. Presumably the US-spec factory tires would suffice?
If I were to acquire a separate set of wheels/tires for winter use, would I be required to import US-spec wheels since it's a US-spec car? Or could I use a locally-sourced set of cheap OEM steel wheels assuming the bolt-circle is the same?

Thanks for any help you guys can offer. The headlamp thing is a big deal since EU-spec headlamps won't fit my US-spec car unless the entire front-end is replaced (fascia, grille, bumper, etc). US-spec cars have a completely different nose.

Papa Goose · #2 22.03.2009, 21:53

	Quote:	richardm
	Hi all, Thanks for any help you guys can offer. The headlamp thing is a big deal since EU-spec headlamps won't fit my US-spec car unless the entire front-end is replaced (fascia, grille, bumper, etc). US-spec cars have a completely different nose.

That my friend is the crux, the test is the easy bit.

Any car that has non-ch listed parts is a nightmare, and don't fall for the garage "yeah we can do it/get it no problem" answer either. My pick up was written off after an accident. the panel damage was severe, like every one bar the roof, but the chassis was not affected. However it was nailed by having to import the parts as they weren't available here, which jacked up the cost by a nut crunching amount, they also wanted to charge storage while the parts arrived (2 weeks for a suspension strutt, 3 weeks for a bumper assy), which put my 2 year old pick-up beyond economic repair....oh and they valued my car at the closest Swiss model which took nearly 7k off the value. So get out your manual and start looking at body panels, fuel/exhaust/ suspension system as in the event of an accident, or repair you may find a nasty surprise waiting.... and your no safer with a Porche or Audi either... Beemers seem better but I don't know about Merc', if it's an American car I think that would be worse.... sorry that all sounds negative, but accidents happen, and mine cost a fortune.

digg · #3 23.03.2009, 14:46

Those my friend are quite technical questions and I couldn't answer them.

I have seen a mix of US cars here (although not many) and have noticed their turn signals are not amber and do funny things like flash the respective break light when turning. Age of cars I've seen range from late 80s/early 90s to more modern ones like the US version of the Ford Focus. They somehow got through the system.

Generally though, lights are standard across Europe (I'm sure there's a Wikipedia article explaining this). Turn signals/indicators are amber and parking/reverse light(s) is/are white - I've never seen a car with the turn/parking light being the same light. Also I think you need at least one fog light at the rear.

I guess if you're intending on importing a run of the mill vehicle (i.e. a 5-15 year old car, with average-high mileage, bad mpg, low re-sale value) then it may not be worth your while.

richardm · #4 16.06.2009, 15:09

Hi, I'm bumping this back to the top to see if anyone new might have any commentary on question #4 regarding headlamps. I'm not too worried about the other questions but #4 would be serious for me as I think I'd need to replace the entire front-end of the car in order to install E-code headlamp assemblies.

Anyone?

Treverus · #5 16.06.2009, 15:20

Switzerland has signed the ECE agreement many years ago. So by default, a car has to have ECE lights and nothing else (that is the point of the entire ECE organization). I have seen many US cars around Germany, but most belonged to the families of the Army and run with US plates there. The cars I have seen here, usually have adapted the lighting. I blieve most of them had to run the "Einzelabnahme" an "one of a kind"-MOT so to speak for exotic cars. Very expensive.
It gets obvious with the direction and breal lighting, but I never had a close look on the bulb in the front...

richardm · #6 17.06.2009, 09:51

If I write a letter in English to the Swiss FCA, what are the odds of getting a reply?

bigblue2 · #7 17.06.2009, 10:41

what car is it? is it already available here? I have seen most US cars around Zurich.

Just a word of warning, we just imported our UK car, I have not added up all the bills, but a rough guess is 2k chf just for all the paper work etc to allow it to goto the TUV test, and that was for a car that was sold in switzerland and made in the UK.

On top of that we had to replace the headlight, have it 'swiss' clean, replace the catalitic convertor and pay for the garage to waste 3+ hours at the test centre, oh and then the bill for the test etc

A very expensive process!!

Jaro · #8 17.06.2009, 13:44

just went through the registration process and they did not even look at the lights. Yes it was a US spec bimmer. One thing that is great to have which I did not have is the Cert of Compliance avaliable from car manufacturer and usually obtainable via dealer only.

My suggestion: get the car in (if European brand it is better), go to the inspection and see what they write you up for as not being in compliance. Than if it is the lights - look on ebay etc for used parts. Do not go to a shop and ask them to make your car CH compliant. They will take you for a ride.
Also, go to Winterthur (if you are in Kanton Zurich) instead of the Zurich facility. Nicer and more pleasant to deal with from what I was told.

If the car is US built and US brand and a model not sold in Europe than I would advise against it.

I still believe that you can save a lot of cash by importing a car from US. The more expensive the car the more you save. A friend of mine imported a year old MB ML with all option to Germany and after all costs with duties and transport had still saved about EUR10k. That is serious cash.

Good Luck and feel free to contact me should you have some questions.

Jaro · #9 17.06.2009, 13:46

..one more thing...last time I read the instructions on importing a car into CH it said that headlights had to have the ECE or DOT markings. So with US DOT marking you will do ok.

marton · #10 17.06.2009, 13:53

	Quote:	richardm
	Hi all, I've been reading various threads on EF and other information regarding importing a US vehicle into CH as part of one's personal effects. I know that importation is usually ill-advised but being mechanically-inclined, I want to draw my own conclusions. That which might be an expensive technical nightmare for some might only be a pleasant afternoon in my garage. I see a lot of conflicting information out there and I'm hoping to clear up some questions. Front parking lights/turn signals: I see that only turn signals are allowed to be amber. Parking lights must be white. MUST turn signals be amber or is white acceptable for everything? Do all CH-spec cars use separate lighting elements for turn and for parking? I see references to a requirement for parking lights to have the ability to be turned-on independently from any other lights. I thought all cars had this? Or does this refer to being able to activate a pair of lighting elements which are completely independent from the turn signals (see #2 above)? Headlamps: Do the US DOT headlamp assemblies have to be switched-out for ECE (E-code) compliant headlamps? Most web pages say no but two say yes. Taillamps: Many US vehicles flash the red brake light as a turn-signal (ie. they do not have a separate amber element for turn). Must taillamps be swapped for Euro-style taillights? Most sites say no. Antipollution/Emissions: Most sites say that a US-spec emissions label is satisfactory for the initial registration though the car would be eventually subjected to an emissions test on the same schedule as any CH vehicle. However, I've seen references to EF members needing to submit their imported cars to an emissions test at the time of initial CH registration. I've seen another which indicated that US vehicles must undergo only a noise-check at the time of initial CH registration. Is this a cantonal thing? Wheels/Tires: I see references to minimum speed ratings on tires. Presumably the US-spec factory tires would suffice? If I were to acquire a separate set of wheels/tires for winter use, would I be required to import US-spec wheels since it's a US-spec car? Or could I use a locally-sourced set of cheap OEM steel wheels assuming the bolt-circle is the same? Thanks for any help you guys can offer. The headlamp thing is a big deal since EU-spec headlamps won't fit my US-spec car unless the entire front-end is replaced (fascia, grille, bumper, etc). US-spec cars have a completely different nose.

Stupid question but I suppose you did look at the official documents about personal imports, it will answer some of your questions? For example (my German is also far from perfect) it says the lights must be marked to show they conform to (one of) the following standards (E, e, SAE, DOT). So it seems DOT is OK - if my translation is correct.
Only in German I am afraid! This link is from Zurich Kanton - you do not say where you will be?

http://www.stva.zh.ch/internet/ds/st....SubContainer1
http://www.stva.zh.ch/internet/ds/st...tContainerList

I have 2 US cars but I did not import them & they were imported some years ago so my experience is not too relevant. I have found getting parts is not difficult; either importing direct from US or buying from specialist importers here.
Which model will you import?

Marton

richardm · #11 18.06.2009, 16:02

Marton, thanks for the link. I had been looking on Swiss federal sites and on sites for canton Vaud. These pages from Zurich have more detail than the Vaud sites but they are giving Google Translate fits.

SR 741.41 and 42 are useful but I can't find any mention of type-acceptance of US DOT specs under Swiss rules. I'm getting closer to the answers I need! Thanks all!

bigblue2 · #12 18.06.2009, 16:08

you still have not said what the car is!!!!!!

richardm · #13 18.06.2009, 16:10

Sorry. Honda Jazz (sold as the "Fit" in the US). I forgot to answer..

bigblue2 · #14 18.06.2009, 16:15

you know they sold that in europe right??

Why is it so special you want to bring it here????? just sell it in the US and buy a european one, no headaches then.

Nathu · #15 18.06.2009, 16:57

Taken from this handy PDF from canton Thurgau (but it doesn't matter because the rules are national) which mentions all specifics about importing a car from the US: Both SAE and DOT certifications are accepted, but the lights still have to match the Swiss requirements. These are requirements about the location and colour and how they can be operated by the driver. Might be worth a translation.

richardm · #16 18.06.2009, 17:36

	Quote:	bigblue2
	you know they sold that in europe right?? Why is it so special you want to bring it here????? just sell it in the US and buy a european one, no headaches then.

$$$. It's a 16k USD car that's 24-26k CHF in CH. If I can import it via RoRo service for 1-2k, it's worth it.

richardm · #17 18.06.2009, 17:45

Nathu: Bingo!

Google translation:

	Quote:
	Special to import from the U.S. The U.S. (U.S. EPA NLEV program) or California emissions standards for passenger cars are for cars with petrol engine and a total weight of max. kg from 2500 Model Year 1996 in Switzerland and, if correct, with European standards comparable emissions standard for the corresponding model year is shown. In this case it needs no additional exhaust test. Such vehicles are in the engine on a vignette. It bears the title "VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION "and includes the name of the vehicle manufacturer, the engine capacity, engine name, Motoreinstelldaten different and the model year, and the confirmation that the vehicle the corresponding emission requirements. If needed to clarify the road traffic on the basis of the Data (photo of the sticker), whether the reported sticker on the exhaust emission standard as proof sufficient. Proof of compliance with the noise limits, however, is always to teach. It is important to make sure that these U.S. vehicles: • are equipped with tires that are for the maximum possible speed of the vehicle are • A windshield laminated safety have • a speedometer, which also km / h and for indicating the possible maximum speed designed • Lights (including direction flashers and reflectors) that the "SAE" and "DOT" homologised and the prescribed arrangement, color and hold circuit. • vehicles with gas (xenon lamp) equipped to the requirements of the ECE Regulations No. 48 are There is no admission test vehicle before possible! Encashment of foreign vehicles in Switzerland / 08.10.2007 Page - 3 -- Moved, equipment or PERSONAL PROPERTY, as well as duty-free importation

So the only remaining question is 'Lights (including direction flashers and reflectors) that the "SAE" and "DOT" homologised and the prescribed arrangement, color and hold circuit.'

Arrangement, color, and hold circuit.... Hmmm. I might need to refer back to SR 741.41 and try to make sense of Google's translation.

Edit: Light colors. Annex 10

Nathu · #18 18.06.2009, 20:22

You're too fast. Turn signals are "Richtungsblinker", they have to be yellow or red.

Louis Wu · #19 18.06.2009, 20:36

Be carefull and make sure about the headlights. A neighbour imported his Accura and had no end of trouble with the Vehicle Office here in Zürich. They would only give him a maximum of one year on a special acceptance vehicle plate. Finally after loads of arguing and lots of grief he got the office to accept his lights. For a Honda Jazz I wouldn't bother.

richardm · #20 18.06.2009, 20:46

Were they HID/Xenon headlamps, if you recall?