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Board: Porsche - 911 - 997 Language: English Region: Worldwide Share/Save/Bookmark Close

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    Apr 16, 2008 2:33:11 AM

    997nipandtuck Offline
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    997nipandtuck
    Loc: US & UK , United States
    Posts: 20, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 19, 2008

    Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    I plan on buying a C2S while I'm living here in the US and taking it back with me to Europe (Netherlands) after a couple of years.

    Anyone had any experience with this. Any major issues regarding spec differences (what are they ?), any modifications required, and is the Porsche NA warranty honoured in Europe or covered by worldwide manufacturers warranty.

    Appreciate any thoughts before I commit to buy...


    Apr 16, 2008 8:45:32 AM

    rantanplan
    Pilot
    rantanplan
    Loc: Stuttgart , Germany
    Posts: 355, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 7, 2006
    Reply to: 997nipandtuck

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    i did the same thing with my e46 M3 and i had no problems registering the car here. No tax payment required after 6 months. the only thing i had to do was to change the rear light units for the EU ones since US spec versions dont have fog lights in the rear....

    Apr 16, 2008 8:04:08 PM

    pawelmontana
    Junior
    pawelmontana
    Loc: Europe
    Posts: 122, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 19, 2007
    Reply to: rantanplan

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    1. HomeLink won't work because frequencies are totally different (it's useless anyway).
    2. US specs radio searches frequencies in smaller intervals, but will work perfectly in Europe.
    3. Side turn signals are amber not white and work as side lights. You can re-program it to EU standard.
    4. Rear bumper can be changed to accomodate longer licence plate (probably 200 Euro )
    5. Navigation should work after inserting Europe dvd.
    Generally, I am perfectly happy with my US MY05 CS2 in Europe. I believe a lot of people are re-importing them to Europe these days.

    Apr 16, 2008 9:01:25 PM

    997nipandtuck Offline
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    997nipandtuck
    Loc: US & UK , United States
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    Registered on: Jan 19, 2008
    Reply to: pawelmontana

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    Thanks for that , have you had any issues with warranty or service from OPC.

    Apr 17, 2008 8:41:02 AM

    harryo2b
    Senior
    harryo2b
    Loc: Formerly Bitburg...Land of Bier, now Oklahoma home of the twister. , United States
    Posts: 664, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 24, 2003
    Reply to: 997nipandtuck

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    I have had my US Spec 987S in Germany for 2 years now and have had all maint/warranty work done at the local Porsche Dealer without any worries. They treat it like as needed and tend to any TSB's when required.

    My car is not registered with the local government though, therefore my car doesn't require any special modifications.

    Apr 17, 2008 2:28:04 PM

    pawelmontana
    Junior
    pawelmontana
    Loc: Europe
    Posts: 122, Gallery
    Registered on: Feb 19, 2007
    Reply to: harryo2b

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    Warranty in Europe is 1/2 of the US period, so my car is out of warranty. They include me in their recall actions though.

    Apr 18, 2008 6:45:34 AM

    berty987
    Junior
    berty987
    Loc: UK
    Posts: 71, Gallery
    Registered on: Jul 25, 2007
    Reply to: pawelmontana

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    The neterlands is similar to the Uk in that the requirements for vehicle security are more stringent than other countries in the world. As your car is US spec it will not have the wiring for the additional security required in the netherlands by the local insurers. The parts that are missing are the battery backed siren and tilt sensor. I have a kit available for installing these items allowing your car to meet the local demands (contact me if you are interested). Fitting an aftermarket alarm isnt so easy on a 997 as the porsche alarm cannot be deactivated so it conflicts with the aftermarket one. Better to retro fit the OEM parts and loom. This is what I did with my 987s which uses the same control modules and front end wiring as the 997.I even have a letter from a local porsche agent confirming the car now meets the Uk/ Netherlands alarm spec as new from the factory.

    Apr 18, 2008 3:07:13 PM

    Dan L
    Expert
    Dan L
    Loc: Santa Barbara, CA , United States
    Posts: 1957, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 2, 2006
    Reply to: berty987

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    You don't need to modify your rear bumper as you can get the shorter plates for most of the countries in the EU.

    Apr 18, 2008 5:19:11 PM

    easy_rider911
    Rennteam VIP
    easy_rider911
    Loc: London , United Kingdom
    Posts: 22190, Gallery
    Registered on: Nov 8, 2004
    Reply to: Dan L

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    AFAIK all EU plates are now standard size.

    Apr 18, 2008 10:14:50 PM

    Dan L
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    Dan L
    Loc: Santa Barbara, CA , United States
    Posts: 1957, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 2, 2006
    Reply to: easy_rider911

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    Not quite. You will find that they make some that are square. While it is true that across the EU they are the same TYPE with the same placement of information, you can oftain them in the smaller, state-side size/shape should your car not have the room for the typical long rectangle. (For example, many US servicemen in Germany bring in their cars and their cars require the smaller plates,--and they fit the smaller ones on them.)

    Dan

    Apr 19, 2008 3:09:03 AM

    997nipandtuck Offline
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    997nipandtuck
    Loc: US & UK , United States
    Posts: 20, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 19, 2008
    Reply to: Dan L

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    I've seen the smaller plates on some models in Europe, as you say, if they don't fit a wider EU plate.

    Personally I want to get rid of the ugly "bumperettes" and install a wider plate. Anyone done this ? I've seen threads here showing removal from a Boxster and replacing the rear bumper, is it the same with 997 and will it require entire rear bumper replacement or is anyone aware of a quick fix.

    Apr 19, 2008 11:53:05 AM

    easy_rider911
    Rennteam VIP
    easy_rider911
    Loc: London , United Kingdom
    Posts: 22190, Gallery
    Registered on: Nov 8, 2004
    Reply to: Dan L

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    Quote:
    Dan L said:
    Not quite. You will find that they make some that are square. While it is true that across the EU they are the same TYPE with the same placement of information, you can oftain them in the smaller, state-side size/shape should your car not have the room for the typical long rectangle. (For example, many US servicemen in Germany bring in their cars and their cars require the smaller plates,--and they fit the smaller ones on them.)

    Dan



    True - but cars imported from the US are the exception.

    I was talking about cars originating from within the EU. They all use the EU standard size plates because there are EU-wide regulations (which then get implemented in each EU country by national regulations) that force us in the EU to adopt a standard size of number plate. Why? Number plate recognition technology needs it e.g. for speed cameras etc.

    The only exceptions I am aware of are (1) cars with larger than standard plates (e.g. Rover, Jaguar) are okay and (2) smaller size plates are sometimes necessary for 4x4s if the plate is on a shorter rear bumper or on a rear spare wheel and (3) motorcycles (obviously!)

    Anyway, this is a boring issue

    Apr 19, 2008 11:58:35 AM

    Euroflamerider
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    Euroflamerider
    Loc: Amsterdam , Netherlands
    Posts: 18, Gallery
    Registered on: Oct 6, 2007
    Reply to: 997nipandtuck

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    I'm an American living in the Netherlands. I brought a Boxster over and am kicking myself for not bringing a 997 (especially since the euro has gone from 1.25 to 1.59 since I've been here). I can't answer your specific 997 questions but can give you some thoughts on importation in general. I paid about 200 euros to Porsche Amsterdam do change over my car (I went with the smaller plate but can understand your preference for the local plate) for the APK certification. By the way, not sure what color you've got but if it's anything other than silver, gray or black, be prepared for attention (I'm Speed Yellow). Anyway, please let me know things you'd like to know. Cheers

    Apr 19, 2008 12:45:12 PM

    997nipandtuck Offline
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    997nipandtuck
    Loc: US & UK , United States
    Posts: 20, Gallery
    Registered on: Jan 19, 2008
    Reply to: Euroflamerider

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    I can imagine that the Speed Yellow also attracts attention from the "Politie" (translation for others = local police). I remember when I was there some years ago the highway police drove 911 Targas - not a bad company car and I guess a reason why taxes are so high there. Now they have fewer highway police but hundreds of speed cameras, and unlike the UK, they can hide them as well.

    Do you know what Porsche did to your car other than APK, did they change light settings, speedo, etc to conform with local requirements ? And have you had any Warranty issues with Porsche Nederland. Not that you plan on doing it, but do you think you would have any problems trading in or selling on your Porsche because it's a US import and may have some cosmetic differences, although I guess with the US/NL price difference you could undercut the market quite a bit and still walk away without too much loss.

    Apr 20, 2008 12:05:09 PM

    berty987
    Junior
    berty987
    Loc: UK
    Posts: 71, Gallery
    Registered on: Jul 25, 2007
    Reply to: 997nipandtuck

    Re: Any issues importing US spec 997 in Europe ?

    I live in the Uk (MPH on speedo also like US)and imported my 987 from Germany over here. The modifications for the digital readout on the instruments are a few button presses only. In the Uk they were fine about having MPH on the instrument cluster as digital and KMPH on the analogue dial. Providing the Netherlands are similar in legal requiremnets , then there is no need to change the instrument cluster (this is about 1200 pounds plus labour). The side repeaters and number plates are simple to fix as are the daytime running lights. Just make sure the car meets the Euro 4 emissions requirements , this can be confiormed by requesting a commission notice letter from Porsche USA. The letter outlines the differences between your USA car and that of the Netherlands. If the car is to be registered permanently in Netherlands they may require this letter as proof that it meets the required safety and emissions laws as it will not have a certificate of european conformity being originally supplied to the USA. The country coding on the electronic control modules that set the operation characteristics of the vehicle can be recoded to the Netherlands , but as I said before you will need to add the missing components from the alarm system to make sure it mirrors the Netherlands spec.
     
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