New Member from Vancouver living in Japan with a question!!

[pmancell]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the this forum and forums in general as this is the first one I have ever signed up for. I'm currently looking to buy a Delica L400 in Japan where I am living (snowboarding for a few months). The idea is to buy a van to travel around Japan for a couple of months this spring and then ship it home to Canada. My roommates here in Japan have a L400 LWB and I have taken a liking to it so if it is not too much of a hassle to import then it is my vehicle of choice. I have read a lot of great information on this website and have learned of the issues surrounding the import of the L400. Everything seems pretty straight forward (I have brought in 2 trucks from the US in the past) with the only exception being the LHD headlights.

I have read a lot about these lights on the forum; people talk about mods, $1500 sets from Germany, theft issues, etc. So my question is, if I bring a L400 to Canada will I be able to get compliant lights? If they cost a $1000 that is a pain but if I cant get them and thus cant pass inspection that is a much greater issue.

Please let me know if/where I can get them and how much it will set me back.

thanks!

[mararmeisto]

Cost for LHD lights for the L400 definitely seems to be an issue of late, as is availability. Also, make sure the vehicle you have your eye on is 15 years old (to the month of manufacture).

Bringing vehicles in from the States via the RIV is different than importing something else from anywhere else. The RIV is specifically set up to facilitate movement across our borders, while the non-RVI route is intended to keep out anything desirable (i.e. something new). It's a protectionist measure, to be sure.

[pmancell]

Thanks for the reply, does anyone know where I can get the the lights? I looked around online and the only ones I could find for sale were the Depo E=11 version. Would I pass inspection with the E-11s?

[jessef]

John at Rockymountain Imports had sets for sale a while ago

[pmancell]

Does anyone know if the 1998 LHD headlights pass inspection? If it is a matter of a few hundred dollars I can handle the gap between the hood and the light

[loki]

Does anyone know if the 1998 LHD headlights pass inspection? If it is a matter of a few hundred dollars I can handle the gap between the hood and the light

you have to mod quite a bit to get them mounted I believe but I can't see why they wouldn't pass.