Re: car registration
 

I agree it was most likely to check the lights, plus other things to obtain a full CofC from Mercedes France.

You should have been able to get a European CofC from Mercedes UK and then would not need to have the car inspected. Something for future reference I suppose now.

Only problem, is that people are doing this without changing their headlights, which is dangerous. I drove around for a couple of weeks on UK lights and you either blind oncoming traffic or adjust the height and can't see where you are going.

Personally, I think that it would be better if all imported cars had to pass the CT before being registered. At least that way changing of the headlights could be enforced.

Re: car registration
 

Whilst completely agreeing with you on your last point, in fact to be fair to the EU, they do actively encourage EU citizens to find the "most cost advantageous regime for car purchase", at any rate for new cars.
Under the New Means of Transport Directive you can buy a car anywhere in the EU, and delay the payment of registration fees and tax, VAT etc until you import it into your country of residence. I think this has to be within a month, it certainly is in the UK. I think, if memory serves, that if you do NOT register within the allotted time span, you could potentially be liable for two lots of VAT etc.
I was dubious, but did it myself last year, and it was fine. Saved me quite a lot of money.
Now whether it will affect my registration when we arrive in France......

Re: car registration
 

The CoC does not relate to Local Lighting Equipment it covers "EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval". They will charge for the CoC itself. Inspecting a car for a CoC and charging for it is cheeky to say the least. These days when you get a new car it comes with the CoC.

Re: car registration
 

Hi Ka Ora,

With the benefit of hindsight, I think I could have applied to Mercedes direct for the Cert. However, when I spoke to my local Mercedes dealer they told me that I needed an inspection prior to applying to Mercedes France. This was probably a "rip-off" and I intend to try to get a refund in due course.

My car was purchased new from a UK dealer in June 2008.

GRN1950

Re: car registration
 

I would they have had you IMHO, Was it a British Dealership or a French One?

Re: car registration
 

French!

Re: car registration
 

Somehow im not surprised, And what would not surprise me more is if they just conned you out of a unneeded service. It does not help you now but as a rule of thumb you get CoC's directly from Head office. Imho

Re: car registration
 

That was my reason for saying go to Mercedes UK for the CofC as this should be accepted by the prefecture without any checks needed on the vehicle.

Also, most Mercedes have adjustable headlights, where you can move a switch to change the beam from left to right dip. A friend visited a French dealer with his M-class and was told he must change the headlights. The following week, he was back in the UK and the dealer there said there was no need, just adjust the lights! He did this, passed the CT and was registered. I had a similar problem with a French BMW dealer.

Unfortunately, dealers (French and British) etc are quite happily making money out of the confusion that exists around the registration process. Some are good and others will just try to make a fast buck.

Re: car registration
 

Indeed Dealerships are prone to taking liberties no matter where they are.

Re: car registration
 

My UK mercedes dealer had to check the manual and changing the direction is NOT easy but certainly possible. There is a fiddly little lever that you have to feel for. Bi-xenon headlamps are not user changeable because of the high voltage and must be done at a dealership.

Re: car registration
 

Got to be cheaper than new headlights and if you go back to UK or sell the car in UK, they can be changed back again.

Re: car registration
 

Hi Martin,
I was advised by Lancaster Garages (my UK Mercedes dealer that the UK) that the headlights on my C220 could only be adjusted to a mid-line position. I have dealt with Lancasters over the past 25 years and trust their advice. This also seems logical because it must be the lense design that counts rather than the direction of the lights which can be changed by the lever. I should add that the advice was given in the context of a queery about adjustment, and not related to the possible supply of new headlights.

GRN1950

Re: car registration
 

It obviously varies from model to model. You may have been okay with a flat beam, I know some motorcycles now come with a flat beam so that the same headlight can be used in different markets.

The adjustment on my BMW bike rotates the lens, but many modern lenses do not have any pattern on them at all, so the direction is dictated by the optics within the light unit.

At least you have a garage you can trust and at the end of the day, you have got the car registered.

Re: car registration
 

Hi all,
On a slightly different tack. Is it possible for me, having a property, bank accounts, phone, insurance, the works in France, to buy a second hand car in France, even though I am not registered as a permanent resident yet? My principle place of residence is still Sweden, I hold a Swedish driving licence, but the only vehicle we own is a Peugeot Expert diesel van - not exactly the kind of thing to run around in when we are staying in our house in France, so I would like to buy a little runabout to use only in France. Is this feasible?
Thanks
Blackie

Re: car registration
 

Yes if you have an Address, There should be no problems at all.;)