What's needed to make left hand drive disco legal in UK?

theboy · Mar 28, 2009

Chaps,

Firstly well done on making this an excellent and informative forum!

I have a question that no one seems to know the answer to, and I hope someone on here will

I am thinking of buying a left hand drive disco 2 face lift from either Belgium or Germany. I will have to bring the car back to the UK for about five months before I will export it to Nigeria where I have been sent to work for 3 years

. The DVLA have said that I must register the car in the UK even though it's for a short time as I do not have an address to register it in Europe.

In order to register it here it needs to be fit for the UK roads. The only things that I can see that may need changing are 1) the headlights need to dip to the left 2) rear fog light needs to be on the right.

So my questions are:

1) Are the headlights adjustable from right to left on the disco 2? Or do I need to buy new headlights?
2) How many rear fog lights are there? Because if there are 2, I'm OK.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to make sure it was clear.

I would really appreciate any advice you guys have on this.

Thanks,

Gavin

G-man · Mar 28, 2009

you will need new headlights as far as i am aware, also you will need to have it SVA'd (single vehicle approval) this is what all import vehicles have to have to prove it is up to uk standards but before this you will need to get it MOT'd its alot of work! you would be better off getting a uk car then selling it and buying a left hooker when you go. as its only for 5 months its alot of work for very little gain

Pikey · Mar 28, 2009

G-man said:
you will need new headlights as far as i am aware, also you will need to have it SVA'd (single vehicle approval) this is what all import vehicles have to have to prove it is up to uk standards but before this you will need to get it MOT'd its alot of work! you would be better off getting a uk car then selling it and buying a left hooker when you go. as its only for 5 months its alot of work for very little gain

It isn't as difficult as that, at all. especially if the vehicle is coming from an EU country. A guide to the Mutual Recognition scheme : Directgov - Motoring

goonarmy · Mar 28, 2009

redhand said:
It isn't as difficult as that, at all. especially if the vehicle is coming from an EU country. A guide to the Mutual Recognition scheme : Directgov - Motoring

Wot pikey sed.If the motors in decent nick it should sail through.If it dont you dont wanna be driving it anyway

sp33der · Mar 28, 2009

Mine's a leftie, it was a U.N. vehicle and came back to the UK with a certificate of european conformity. No idea where that came from mind! In Spain now so prob going to replate it soon if the cost is not prohibitive.....

thebiglad · Mar 29, 2009

theboy said:
Chaps,

Firstly well done on making this an excellent and informative forum!

I have a question that no one seems to know the answer to, and I hope someone on here will

I am thinking of buying a left hand drive disco 2 face lift from either Belgium or Germany. I will have to bring the car back to the UK for about five months before I will export it to Nigeria where I have been sent to work for 3 years . The DVLA have said that I must register the car in the UK even though it's for a short time as I do not have an address to register it in Europe.

In order to register it here it needs to be fit for the UK roads. The only things that I can see that may need changing are 1) the headlights need to dip to the left 2) rear fog light needs to be on the right.

So my questions are:

1) Are the headlights adjustable from right to left on the disco 2? Or do I need to buy new headlights?
2) How many rear fog lights are there? Because if there are 2, I'm OK.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to make sure it was clear.

I would really appreciate any advice you guys have on this.

Thanks,

Gavin

Hi Gavin, depending on what model year the vehicle is, it will have an adjustment facillity for this. It needs to be a "facelift" model, with the newer style headlights, from about 2003 iirc.

Otherwise new headlights from someone like www.paddockspares.com - about £30 each.

Also, assuming the vehicle is "european spec" - you will not need an SVA, just a std MOT.

Cheers
Dave

Pikey · Mar 29, 2009

theboy said:
2) How many rear fog lights are there? Because if there are 2, I'm OK.

The Golf I had only had 1 foglamp but it had a fitting for the LH one already in place I just had to knock out a blanking tab on the light cluster and run a wire from the RH lamp to the spade terminal on the LH bulb holder. I would have thought most lamp clusters are the same. As it would be cheaper than having to manufacture 2 different lampclusters.

theshanclan · Mar 29, 2009

I think officially you are supposed to have mph on your speedo as well (or at least marks which indicate 30 40 50 60 and 70?). This seems to be the case with bikes, although my bike is ten years old, has a kph clock and has been through three MOTs with no problem.

theboy · Mar 29, 2009

Thanks for all your help fellas.

Dave 2000 · Mar 30, 2009

sp33der said:
Mine's a leftie, it was a U.N. vehicle and came back to the UK with a certificate of european conformity. No idea where that came from mind! In Spain now so prob going to replate it soon if the cost is not prohibitive.....

Less than a grand but get an asesoria who knows a good mechanic to do it!

regards

Dave

What's needed to make left hand drive disco legal in UK?

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