dave
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 13
LEAF OWNER?: Yes
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Post by dave on Sept 24, 2018 17:44:03 GMT 11
Hmm that's interesting, I was the first enquiry on Sunday and the guy (Abz) promised that he'd call me before selling to anyone else, used car salesmen eh? I hope this is the start of a lot of JDM Leaf's entering the country and bringing Australia into the 21st century.
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Post by Feng on Oct 17, 2018 22:50:09 GMT 11
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Post by duncan on Oct 21, 2018 7:44:55 GMT 11
I think it's great news that someone has made the investment to get the LEAF approved, and there are 6 workshops across NSW, Vic and Qld that can comply them (https://raws.infrastructure.gov.au/rawswebpublic/RAWPubSearch.asp#results).
The whole import industry has been a mess for years because the government announced a raft of major changes about 4 years back, but has not implemented them. Since compliance for a new car is $100k+ and these workshops are all small businesses, no surprise that the uncertainty killed investment in importing (which of course suits the official importers like Nissan Australia just fine because they don't want the competition.
I've imported somewhere between 5 and 10 cars from Japan and the US over 15 years and would not hesitate to bring in a LEAF this way, but the perceived risks and issues aren't for everyone. Some of my thoughts:
Cost - you will pay about 50-70% of the cost of the equivalent thing locally. And you will loose about the same on resale. Noting however that there should continue to be strong demand for second hand electric cars because as they get older they become affordable for whole new groups of people who want to move to electric
Reliability / Parts / Service - this looks like the big one of course, and over the years Nissan OZ and individual dealers have often chosen to be difficult. These cars are super reliable (check these forums, across the 200 cars about the only issue has been a handful of replacing batteries). Servicing can be done anywhere other than the battery/charger/motor which are specialist. And considering you saved $10k buying the car you have a lot of money in your pocket compared to a local buyer. I get all my imports services at a local mechanic and just buy parts from somewhere like amayama or Jesse Streeter in the rare occasions something can't be found locally (I even got a windscreen for a Cima locally 3 months ago)
Finally...there is very little in Japanese if that is where you buy from, although if that worries you, you can buy from the UK instead. Unless it really bug you, basically you just get by with a little help from google translate if you are trying to do something unusual. Sat nav probably won't work either, but in my experience phone sat nav is way more accurate that 7 year old car sat nav....
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choco
EV Tyre Kicker
Posts: 5
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Post by choco on Oct 26, 2018 13:13:59 GMT 11
Never owned an EV before, but the search has commenced, I will be importing a JDM over the next few months - very excited!
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Post by pharmadave on Oct 26, 2018 17:02:06 GMT 11
Good on you, keep us updated with your progress!
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Post by pharmadave on Oct 26, 2018 21:03:51 GMT 11
One thing to consider after studying some of the photos so that the JDM LEAFs have 2 child seat anchors in the back row while the Australian delivered ones have 3 anchor points in the back.
Putting 3 seats in the back of a Leaf is probably near impossible but at least the 3rd anchor point is there.
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Post by duncan on Oct 28, 2018 7:42:33 GMT 11
Never owned an EV before, but the search has commenced, I will be importing a JDM over the next few months - very excited! Good to hear. Have you imported before and who are you considering using as a broker?
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Post by zuuutoootuuu on Oct 28, 2018 17:36:25 GMT 11
I signed up to this forum as I too am keen on picking up a newer leaf, especially one with a dark interior. I haven't decided if I want to go for a 24kw or 30kw, if I want to import or buy one through a dealer but I'll post my JDM leaf journey unless I buy an ADM one as I'm set on buying a leaf. Indeed it's a crazy price. This post made me extra keen for one but after talking to my agent about getting one for similar money, it's not doable yet without waiting for an extraordinary deal. The price is more 15-16k complied for a 24kw for an average condition one, that's without purchasing shipping insurance to protect your investment and not getting stung for extra costs along the way. There are "brokers" in Australia that people recommend on forums because they've read others recommend them (not talking about this broker in the link above) that are not up front with how much they will charge you for their Japanese agents fee altering the FOB price to their liking. I've been taken for a ride in the past, as have 2 other close friends by the same "broker", they've lost my trust, friends trust and other friends that would have used them too. If you want to use a broker in Australia, the key is to find out if they have a set agent fee or if it's variable and what it includes. Never owned an EV before, but the search has commenced, I will be importing a JDM over the next few months - very excited! Same reason I'm here, best of luck on your journey. One thing to consider after studying some of the photos so that the JDM LEAFs have 2 child seat anchors in the back row while the Australian delivered ones have 3 anchor points in the back. Putting 3 seats in the back of a Leaf is probably near impossible but at least the 3rd anchor point is there.
Hehe, they say that pictures say a 1000 words but I went to a local shop as I heard they had one in for compliance, it was a 2016 leaf, I felt that there is a middle tether there except you must slit the carpet with a razor blade to access it.
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Post by duncan on Oct 28, 2018 18:00:58 GMT 11
Well I've imported through Prestige Motorsport, Just Jap, Iron Chef Imports over the years and have been happy with each of them, so there are plenty of choices. The broker does the work to source, import approval, ship the car, and get it through compliance for you. The price you pay depends on what you tell them to bid at auction and the other costs are pretty fixed (shipping, compliance, rego, import approval, import duty, gst and the broker fee which I've always though was very reasonable for the amount of work they do for you....)
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Post by zuuutoootuuu on Oct 28, 2018 19:34:22 GMT 11
The key is to be informed.
My point was that there are differences between brokers, making potential future JDM leaf owners aware that they are not all the same.
For example: (Broker A) auction car cost + set 100,000jpy Japanese agent fee = FOB Then organise Shipping + import charges Insurance (at cost), it's optional Compliance Tow truck Their set brokerage fee
(Broker B) auction car cost + 100,000jpy Japanese agent fee + 5% of car cost = FOB Then organise Shipping + import charges Insurance (at inflated price), it's optional Compliance (sent to a workshop they get kickbacks from) Tow truck Their set brokerage fee
So with broker A you can get a better car than with broker B due to your dollar going further or ultimately costs you less if you go with broker A.
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Post by pharmadave on Oct 29, 2018 0:04:47 GMT 11
I signed up to this forum as I too am keen on picking up a newer leaf, especially one with a dark interior. I haven't decided if I want to go for a 24kw or 30kw, if I want to import or buy one through a dealer but I'll post my JDM leaf journey unless I buy an ADM one as I'm set on buying a leaf. Indeed it's a crazy price. This post made me extra keen for one but after talking to my agent about getting one for similar money, it's not doable yet without waiting for an extraordinary deal. The price is more 15-16k complied for a 24kw for an average condition one, that's without purchasing shipping insurance to protect your investment and not getting stung for extra costs along the way. There are "brokers" in Australia that people recommend on forums because they've read others recommend them (not talking about this broker in the link above) that are not up front with how much they will charge you for their Japanese agents fee altering the FOB price to their liking. I've been taken for a ride in the past, as have 2 other close friends by the same "broker", they've lost my trust, friends trust and other friends that would have used them too. If you want to use a broker in Australia, the key is to find out if they have a set agent fee or if it's variable and what it includes.
With prices you have mentioned $15k-16k for an average condition 24kwh Leaf, would it make this car a really good deal? 30kwh Leaf with full 12 SOH bars and low Kms with the X-Spec (medium spec) for $22.9k landed and complied. j-spec.com.au/featured/2014-Nissan-Leaf-X_30kWh-17975.html
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choco
EV Tyre Kicker
Posts: 5
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Post by choco on Oct 29, 2018 13:03:47 GMT 11
zuuutoootuuuCould you message me the broker(s) you mentioned to avoid? I think I am safe but good to know anyway. I already have one who is well known and has a great rep on JDM import scene. He knows what I want and has got himself a dongle/leafspy. duncanMy first time importing, but probably not the last, from one extreme to the other I've had a long itch to get m35 Stagea that will probably get scratched at some stage
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Post by pharmadave on Oct 31, 2018 15:13:45 GMT 11
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choco
EV Tyre Kicker
Posts: 5
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Post by choco on Nov 2, 2018 10:46:43 GMT 11
Thanks for the heads up Dave, I came across that video recently too. I've reached out to Ikonik and they said the conversion can be done during compliance.
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jin
Half Charge
Posts: 54
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Post by jin on Nov 2, 2018 15:13:38 GMT 11
The conversion is for the instrument cluster only.
Things like charging timers are done via the Nissan infotainment unit will still be in Japanese.
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Post by zuuutoootuuu on Nov 10, 2018 11:17:55 GMT 11
Who would have thought that these cars would have gone up in value since becoming legal to bring into Australia? People all over the world deciding they want to try an affordable EV due to the cost of fuel? Each week there is an upwards trend in Japan cost currently, it is up by 2/3 thousand per car and even more for a S model due to being able to change it to fully English.
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choco
EV Tyre Kicker
Posts: 5
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Post by choco on Nov 12, 2018 10:44:08 GMT 11
I've noticed this myself, I started a spreadsheet with sales data from August. It was possible to pickup an 11/12 bar for 600,000-700,000 (2013/2014) It no longer appears to be the case. There is not much going for less than 800,000 now.
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Post by pharmadave on Nov 24, 2018 9:57:44 GMT 11
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Post by zuuutoootuuu on Dec 19, 2018 19:08:10 GMT 11
anyone know prices for the Jap to English conversion?
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Post by tomkauf on Oct 12, 2019 18:43:44 GMT 11
This one is ours 🙂. 30kWh 2015 X with 42,000km. Has full SOH Bars, but will be very close to losing the first. J-Spec did a LeafSpy to confirm. Hasn't arrived in the country yet, but can't wait! About $17k plus all the other fees, so they saida Au$24k landed. I've been doing as much research as I can. Buy any additional help on the following would be appreciated: - Nissan Connect (CarWings) won't work, correct? I'mI've happy to spend some time/money on this, but I've read it has been very intermittent in Australia anyway. - I believe JDM Leafs only have the 3.3kW onboard charger? So a 15Amp Outlet is all that's needed (plus 15A EVSE, depending on what the car comes with). - Japanese to English conversions are slowly getting better, and don't require removal of the Touchscreen Unit and Speedo anymore. Seems common in NZ, but I read Ikonik Solutions does it Aus. Will be great to hear more Info if they can do both Units.
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Post by Feng on Oct 14, 2019 22:20:13 GMT 11
Most of the Carwings features haven't worked for Australian delivered Leaf owners for most of the year. You'll also have a very hard time convincing Nissan Australia to recognise an imported Leaf. It's probably a lost cause alas.
The 6.6kW charger first came out in 2013 on 24kWh models. I wouldn't be surprised if all 30kWh Leafs have 6.6kW chargers but don't quote me on that.
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Post by johnmath on Oct 15, 2019 0:17:49 GMT 11
Japanese delivered Gen 1 Leafs only have a 3.3kW charger onboard, and many don't have the rear parcel shelf as it was an option in Japan, not standard as in other markets.
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Post by Feng on Oct 15, 2019 7:50:27 GMT 11
Wild speculation here, I wonder if it's got anything to do with low crime rates in Japan making it less of a concern to hide your valuables in your boot?
6.6kW is most useful when charging away from home. I spent some time last night looking up people who have added Brusa chargers to their cars to double or triple charging speeds. It's nice to know there are options but it costs thousands of dollars. I think I'll continue to be a cheapskate and stick to my 2.4kW EVSE.
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szern
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 14
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Post by szern on Oct 15, 2019 8:43:31 GMT 11
Mine was imported with the rear parcel shelf.
Sadly I’ve been traveling for work so much that I haven’t had time to drive the Leaf yet. Sigh.
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Post by tomkauf on Oct 15, 2019 10:18:52 GMT 11
Thanks for the info everyone. I won't waste time on Carwings then. I did suspect it only has a 3.3 kW charger, that is what I had read or JDM vehicles. They seem to have a lot of fast charge options in Japan instead. 6.6kW Chargers sound good, but probably not worth it for me if it's thousands of dollars. My car has the parcel shelf. So hopefully it's still there when it arrives in Australia .
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