VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?
#46
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5
Re: VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?
Hi,
I have a 2011 VW T5 Bilbo,s campervan on its way to Brisbane. The issue with the speedo being in mph should be OK, as KPH is also showen as a digital readout in a panel between the two dials.This reads out the KPH while in motion.
The gas stove in the bilbo,s is a three burner plus a grill. They run on propane or butane or a mixture of both, the same as here in Aus. I don't expect too much of a problem with the gas or electrics when the vehicle arrives in mid September. I will keep you informed.
Paul
I have a 2011 VW T5 Bilbo,s campervan on its way to Brisbane. The issue with the speedo being in mph should be OK, as KPH is also showen as a digital readout in a panel between the two dials.This reads out the KPH while in motion.
The gas stove in the bilbo,s is a three burner plus a grill. They run on propane or butane or a mixture of both, the same as here in Aus. I don't expect too much of a problem with the gas or electrics when the vehicle arrives in mid September. I will keep you informed.
Paul
#47
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Location: Canberra
Posts: 30
Re: VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?
Check your handbooks for MPH/KPH as my old Discovery, Honda Civic & Triumph motorbike could switch between them, hopefully VW have made it that simple too.
#48
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3
Re: VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?
Sounds a lot of money for a dial.
Gas system can't be just ripped out and replaced as being a camper it must have a certified cooking & electrical system in place. The best I have is the gas piping could be left in place but the hob would have to be replaced with, say, a spirit stove. Replacing it with gas would require re-plumbing to Oz standards, new externally accessed gas bottle chamber and new hob. Even if you were then to switch it back the regulator would need to be adapted to fit to a propane bottle as CampingGaz is not available in Australia.
I'm debating whether to ship mine at all now. We leave for Oz in October but I have some 6 months to decide whether to ship the van. Hopefully in that time I can have some discussions with people and resolve some issues.
Gas system can't be just ripped out and replaced as being a camper it must have a certified cooking & electrical system in place. The best I have is the gas piping could be left in place but the hob would have to be replaced with, say, a spirit stove. Replacing it with gas would require re-plumbing to Oz standards, new externally accessed gas bottle chamber and new hob. Even if you were then to switch it back the regulator would need to be adapted to fit to a propane bottle as CampingGaz is not available in Australia.
I'm debating whether to ship mine at all now. We leave for Oz in October but I have some 6 months to decide whether to ship the van. Hopefully in that time I can have some discussions with people and resolve some issues.
Sounds a lot of money for a dial.
Gas system can't be just ripped out and replaced as being a camper it must have a certified cooking & electrical system in place. The best I have is the gas piping could be left in place but the hob would have to be replaced with, say, a spirit stove. Replacing it with gas would require re-plumbing to Oz standards, new externally accessed gas bottle chamber and new hob. Even if you were then to switch it back the regulator would need to be adapted to fit to a propane bottle as CampingGaz is not available in Australia.
I'm debating whether to ship mine at all now. We leave for Oz in October but I have some 6 months to decide whether to ship the van. Hopefully in that time I can have some discussions with people and resolve some issues.
Gas system can't be just ripped out and replaced as being a camper it must have a certified cooking & electrical system in place. The best I have is the gas piping could be left in place but the hob would have to be replaced with, say, a spirit stove. Replacing it with gas would require re-plumbing to Oz standards, new externally accessed gas bottle chamber and new hob. Even if you were then to switch it back the regulator would need to be adapted to fit to a propane bottle as CampingGaz is not available in Australia.
I'm debating whether to ship mine at all now. We leave for Oz in October but I have some 6 months to decide whether to ship the van. Hopefully in that time I can have some discussions with people and resolve some issues.
We are still in the UK and still planning to take our Cali with us. I have now been offered a job in Aus with my current company but with the understanding that I will complete the current project in UK- this will take at least 12 months!! We will only arrive in Aus beginning 2013!!! In a way I am frustrated but having job security when arriving will be less stressful. I can now plan where we will live, send the kids to school etc.
Getting back to the cars, we will now be exporting 2 cars. Our VW California and a Porche. Hubby couldn't resist talk about complicated. After speaking to many people trying to get an understanding of how much we will pay for import duties, I am still not any closer in understanding the exact cost of importing the cali, since this car is not sold in Aus.
I am now starting to do some homework and will share any information I find.
I do not want to leave the Cali behind!! I am willing to sell the Porche any day don't think hubby would be to happy
I am sure there is some Cali owner out there somewhere that has done this already!!
Someone out there will have the answer to all these questions!!
#49
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5
Re: VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?
it really is not difficult in principle. All the details you need are here:
http://australia.wikia.com/wiki/Brit...portingYourCar
you have to change the dial faces - use Lockwood international as the European instrument cluster calibration is NOT the same as the UK one and a straight swap of dial faces from an EU cluster to a UK cluster will not result in correct readings.
When you get the vehicle there you will need to have Australian child restraint points fitted.
There's some discussion around certifying the gas but the reaility is that the VW Cali has passed European design standards and so you should check with a local australian company that assesses imports against ADRs.
No-one has done this yet to my belief.
Tokenaussie, did you get anywhere with this?
http://australia.wikia.com/wiki/Brit...portingYourCar
you have to change the dial faces - use Lockwood international as the European instrument cluster calibration is NOT the same as the UK one and a straight swap of dial faces from an EU cluster to a UK cluster will not result in correct readings.
When you get the vehicle there you will need to have Australian child restraint points fitted.
There's some discussion around certifying the gas but the reaility is that the VW Cali has passed European design standards and so you should check with a local australian company that assesses imports against ADRs.
No-one has done this yet to my belief.
Tokenaussie, did you get anywhere with this?
#50
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5
Re: VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?
here is the code of practice for motorhomes, it will give you an idea of the regulations that apply for aspects of your import where requirements are not covered in the ADRs
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...Jan2011_v3.pdf
and here is the Administrator's Circular which is definitive:
http://rvcs.dotars.gov.au/Circulars/...ars/0-4-12.pdf
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...Jan2011_v3.pdf
and here is the Administrator's Circular which is definitive:
http://rvcs.dotars.gov.au/Circulars/...ars/0-4-12.pdf
#51
Just Joined
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 20
Re: VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?
it really is not difficult in principle. All the details you need are here:
http://australia.wikia.com/wiki/Brit...portingYourCar
you have to change the dial faces - use Lockwood international as the European instrument cluster calibration is NOT the same as the UK one and a straight swap of dial faces from an EU cluster to a UK cluster will not result in correct readings.
When you get the vehicle there you will need to have Australian child restraint points fitted.
There's some discussion around certifying the gas but the reaility is that the VW Cali has passed European design standards and so you should check with a local australian company that assesses imports against ADRs.
No-one has done this yet to my belief.
Tokenaussie, did you get anywhere with this?
http://australia.wikia.com/wiki/Brit...portingYourCar
you have to change the dial faces - use Lockwood international as the European instrument cluster calibration is NOT the same as the UK one and a straight swap of dial faces from an EU cluster to a UK cluster will not result in correct readings.
When you get the vehicle there you will need to have Australian child restraint points fitted.
There's some discussion around certifying the gas but the reaility is that the VW Cali has passed European design standards and so you should check with a local australian company that assesses imports against ADRs.
No-one has done this yet to my belief.
Tokenaussie, did you get anywhere with this?
I will do some more research this end as time permits
#52
Spud
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Avoca Beach
Posts: 565
Re: VW California Campervan Import - Has anyone done this yet?