[FJResurrection]

Hi Everyone

I joined the forum a week ago, and have have just competed the purchase of an import vehicle in Japan. I am based in the East Midlands in the UK, have np prior exposure to FJs, and so am looking to learn.

I purchased the car on a FOB basis and have yet to work out the shipping and other charges. If there are any forum UK residents with experience of this process, i would be grateful to hear from you.

It will be weeks if not months before the car turns up in the UK. Time for me to research and get advice on:
1) required UK modifications -lights and speedometer;
2) underbody rustproofing. Does any one have any recommendations?
3) car insurance quotations. Are there specialist brokers of Japanese imports.?
4) LPG conversion. Has anyone experience of this? if so where was the selector switch mounted in the cabin?
5) whether there are any specialist garages that maintain FJ's. I have yet to enquire whether the local Toyota dealers would be willing to do this.
6)research into changing the head unit that is more or less plug and play. Any recommendations?
7) whether the wiring harness for Japanese made cars is the same as the USA. (Another question for my local dealer but am not sure whether I will get a cogent answer.)

I attach a picture of the car in Japan

Looking forward to learning more.

FJResurrection

 

[FJResurrection]

Thank You

 

[FJResurrection]

Welcome. Always good to see another UK member. I’ll answer your questions best I can but @Omo FJ will be best to advise as he personal imported from JDM too (I brought mine in from USA). Are you using a general shipper or a car import specialist?

1) What year is the vehicle? If it is less than 10 years you need to pass IVA so will need a MPH clock face for your speedo. I just swapped on on my 78 series using a replacement from Lockwood Dials…don’t know if they do one for the FJ. The JDM is pretty much compliant otherwise I think. You can download the IVA manual from the gov.Uk site. (If it is older than 10 yrs then it will pass a MoT with a KPH only speedo.

2) lots of options depending on whether you intend to do it yourself (visit Buzzweld for starters) or have a company do it - OMO went this route…

3) A-Plan (Thatcham) seems to be the best option we’ve found.

4) Nooooooo!!!… Toyota engines don’t like LPG….you’ll shorten it’s life, not get your money back on cost versus fuel price, LPG is getting really hard to find….don’t do it!

5) Nope! yep a main stealership will be happy to take your money, but do it yourself…all the advice you need is right here!

6) Any double din unit will work, you’ll need an filler plate and a harness adaptor, both easily available. Got mine off the shelf from Dynamic Sounds (and they were super helpful)

7) Your local dealer will have no idea!!! If they even ever heard of an FJ! (Depends where you live, here in Norfolk they have because we have the USAF locally). There are some differences. What specifically do you want to know? And BTW all FJ’s are made in Japan.

Morning ZerosFJ

Thank you for prompt informed advice.

I bought the car through an agent "Japautoagent" in Macclesfield. I have opted for the car to be shipped via a general shipper to Southampton. Customs and clearance will be completed via a nominated customs clearance agent. The car will then go into a bonded site and is planned to be picked up Lee Allan services ("LA") who will do the conversion and MOT. I have yet to decide whether to get the car registered with the DVLA by LA or have it trailered home and the v5 application done by myself.

1)The car was first registered in Japan in 2011, so I don't believe an IVA is required. On the speedometer conversion, I am opting to wire in a pulse converter device from the gearbox. Down the line I may link the "yet to be determined" head unit to the OBD unit. The hope is that this will also record the speed in km/h, and make travel abroad easier.

2) I am planning on getting the car rust proofed by a supplier. I have heard of "Before N After" rust proofing services in Rugby. Has anyone used them.?

3) Thank you for the recommendation on Insurance.

4) I note your recommendation on LPG. I will have to do more research on this.

6) Thanks for the recommendation of Dynamic Sounds. I will give them a call.

7) Down the line, I was planning to do some light replacement/conversions to LED. Just wanted to understand what the wiring harness and connectors are/ looked like. I want to avoid buying units that require significant cutting and splicing of the factory harness to make them work.

Regards

FJResurrection

 

[FJResurrection]

Welcome. Nice car. I recently had my yellow FJ imported from the UAE when I moved back to the UK. Took a little over six months from handing in over to picking it up again (includes transportation, conversion, testing, registration). Not sure if shipping demand vs supply is quite as bad as it was in 2021 but it gives an idea of timescales.

I’d second A Plan on the insurance. I thought they came up with a decent price for mine.

I had my rustproofing done using Dinitrol at Stagshaw in Gateshead but that might be a bit too far for you.

Morning. Thank you for your kind words.

Yes, I am expecting a 3-6 month window before to land and register the car.

I will look up A Plan and understand their quotes.

Gateshead is too far. Am looking for a supplier locally.

Regards

FJResurrection

 

[FJResurrection]

OK so for a 2011 car you will just need an MoT. It will pass an MoT with just a KPH speedo. So you could simply use a Sat Nav or phone App to give you a MPH speedo. Ask what LA are going to charge you for the conversion and what exactly they are going to do… The companies that do this charge a premium for mediocre work. I paid the company that brought it my FJ £600 for conversion and they didn’t swap the headlights as quoted so I paid £600 for a £3 fog light, a relay and some side repeaters. You don’t need to do anything at all possibly for it to pass an MoT. I would recommend you have it shipped to you direct and do the process yourself. (You can drive it to a MoT test Unregistered).

Afternoon,

Thank you. I had not appreciated that a 2011 car could pass the MOT with just a KPH speedo. Keeps the cost down.I will enquire what exact services are to be undertaken by LA.

 

[FJResurrection]

Welcome 🙏 we are growing in the UK!

To answer some of your queries:

LPG. Don’t waste your money, you will never make any saving and the amount of petrol stations that now stock LPG have plummeted.

Entertainment:
I did this.

UK 🇬🇧 Head unit conversion from Japanese

Hello, I thought I should post this up in case further Brits may encounter issues I had in upgrading the original factory Japanese head units. The 2011 model I have was imported from Japan with the factory DVD flip front unit with Japan Sat Nav. This model cannot be updated to incorporate...

www.fjcruiserforums.com

Underbody rustproofing:
Omo FJ and I took our vehicles to:

South West Rust Proofing

www.southwestrustproofing.co.uk

Great service and top quality that I believe will outlast me!

Speedo:
As suggested I believe this is the simple option

https://lockwoodinternational.co.uk/product/fj-cruiser-mph-dial-part-no-c1056/

Car insurance:
I use mine as a daily with multicar policy with Admiral. Nothing exotic or exceptional. Easy.

Service:
Depends what you want & your own knowledge. I personally wouldn’t bother with Toyota main dealer. Why bother, I do my own servicing and source any further work with my local trustworthy garage.

Good luck

Thank you.

1) Your advice on LPG is noted.
2) The article on head units was instructive. That Pioneer unit seems like extremely good value.
3) I will contact Southwestrustproofing
4) @ZerosFJ was informative that given the age the car could pass its MOT with a KPH dial. Gives me time to investigate a secondary option via a headunit and OBD or GPS stand alone.
5) good to hear insurance is not difficult.
6) Always willing to use a wrench an screwdriver.

Regards

 

[FJResurrection]

Hi, I just bought mine this week, see picture. I looked at the site I believe you have bought yours from, looks good. I am interested in your progress as since I announced my intention to buy and subsequent purchase, folks a contacting me to see where to get one from. Best regards. Nick View attachment 1207544

Thanks Nick.

Like the Orange car. Attractive colour.

Will keep this forum posted on progress.

Regards

 

[FJResurrection]

A-Plan for the insurance. Mine with full UK & European Breakdown (inc home start) was around £400.

A Plan it is.

That is an attractive quote.

 

[FJResurrection]

Just thinking & hope it’s not a stupid question, but why have you suggested you may wire in something or use a mobile phone for MPH as I believe the Lockwood conversion is simply a cover with the desired conversion with effectively no hassle for little price.
View attachment 1207609

Good Afternoon,
I ) suggested wiring in a pulsemeter as that converts the pulse to MPH. would require blanking the letter K on the dial face. This is easy enough to do.
2) I suggested (1) above, absent any understanding, (until advised by ZerosFJ), that it was possible to pass the MOT (given the cars age) without having to convert the speedometer. In this circumstance a third party GPS device could be used to reflect MPH.
3) I fully appreciate that the above is as simple as (1) above and has the benefit of two speed measures. (mph and kph).

Regards

FJ Resurrection

 

[FJResurrection]

Thanks Nick.

Like the Orange car. Attractive colour.

Will keep this forum posted on progress.

Regards

Good afternoon

Sent the last two days getting marine insurance quotes. Most insurers do not insure cars over 10 years old. Charterhouse Underwriting in Portsmouth proved to be good value. Anyone considering this route should always check that General Average losses are covered.

Also have a ship space booked for next week. ETA 9 weeks. Sooner than I was expecting.

Regards

 

[FJResurrection]

Thank you.

1) Your advice on LPG is noted.
2) The article on head units was instructive. That Pioneer unit seems like extremely good value.
3) I will contact Southwestrustproofing
4) @ZerosFJ was informative that given the age the car could pass its MOT with a KPH dial. Gives me time to investigate a secondary option via a headunit and OBD or GPS stand alone.
5) good to hear insurance is not difficult.
6) Always willing to use a wrench an screwdriver.

Regards

Afternoon Hotfuzz

When Southwestrustproofing did your car, did they unclip the fender arches etc to treat behind.?

Regards