They don't speak English?????? I'm positive they do!!

 

I imported my 2005 S2K from Arizona last year - I had someone do the lights mods for me (I did not have the time or patience to do it myself) for around 500. My company let me ship the car in the furniture container (prefer the car to a sideboard anyday) and I had no import duties. Best decision ever - as you now understand these cars are very expensive here. I have been absent from the forum for a while but will start being more active. Feel free to contact me when you get nearer the time and when you actually get here.

Cheers, Kevin

 

How could that be $500? I thought the only thing we need to put in is the rear fog light???

 

he probably got a new OEM honda foglight and the piece in the rear bumper it fits into?
Here in Holland companies charge more arms and legs than most people have when it comes to this sort of thing

 

I would do all the mods, and a whole lot more before you ship, your prices in the states are far less than here. Seriously, check out the prices over here of the things you want. Its a pity you cant bring a few thousand gallons of gas with you too

 

I was way overcharged - it was slightly more in the end. Over half was labour. It included the foglight, the interior switch, replacing the orange running lights, and something else which I forget. I did not have to replace the front clusters which is the main thing. But they took forever and a day - so would recommend you get whatever you can get done there. It was still very much worth my while - I might have saved a couple of hundred if I had the time and patience to shop around but I didn't.

The best part of the whole import deal was when a burly white bearded customs officer at the test station (where all imported cars must be taken for registration) gave me my Dutch papers and said no charge - that was very very sweet.

 

damn, I've been there on my last few cars, but they always charged me

hehe

 

I paid too much - in fact it was slightly more than 500, but the fog light was integrated within the existing rear cluster. It also included the interior switch and harness as well as the front beam alteration and the running lights (orange to white). I would see about getting that work done in the US - no big parts replacement at all. In total my charges were less overall that I recall:

Car export - $1600 (include US custom) (N/A = included in my goods movement)
Unload - 450Euro (N/A = as above)
NL custom clearance - 125Euro (N/A = as above)
Handling - 35Euro (N/A = as above)
Modification on car - 375Euro (this was the 500+ Euros I mentioned)
VIN inscription - 87.5Euro (N/A = as above)
Dutch Technical approval handling - 227.5Euro (? - see below)
RDW legislation cost and technical approval - 116.5Euro (I don't recall a separate Dutch Technical charge - I did pay the same for the RDW)
Handling for BPM declaration - 115Euro (N/A)
License plates and mounting - 32.5Euro (same)
Local transportation charge - 75Euro (N/A)
19%VAT on cost above (not the car) - 173.38Euro (very little)

The best part was at the Customs office at the RDW inspection. The Customs guy has one standing joke before you get your papers which is to ask how you plan to pay the import charges - which in this case and yours are zero. They were extremely pleasant.

Good luck - see you around Amstelveen!

 

Thanks all for your comments!

Bogman - I drive an AP2, do you think I still need to "replace the orange running lights" as you comment in the last post???

Thanks!
Michael

 

No - you do need white "running lights" on the AF2 but you simply need to replace the orange US standards lens'. I'll send you pics when I am back from vacation after next week.

Look forward to having another AF2 for company.