About to get this '82 Westy

[littlepixel]

We are about to collect this v.good condition just-imported-from-hamburg westy on tuesday and will need to get a few things straight for UK registration. Was really just posting here to see if anyone can offer some wisdom on a couple of things we need to sort before it's all legal for UK driving. I've read a lot of the wiki so hope I'm not asking too many dumb questions...






1) It's not registered or MOTd but in good order. The seller says we only need to get some anti-glare headlamp blinkers on the front and a new rear (ULO) cluster with another foglight for the uk side for it to pass an MOT - everything else is very straight for such an old model so we are pretty confident of everything else. Is there anything we've forgotten to get a German import MOTd here? I wondered maybe about having a MPH not KPH speedo. Is that something we should get done? Maybe useful with all the speed cameras these days even if not required for MOT...

2) We live in N8 North London. Can anyone recommend a place nearby where we might get a new light cluster fitted prior to the MOT. A new one is £58 from Just Kampers. We don't mind paying that and getting the part first before fitting but would be also be ok with a recon'd part from a breakers yard if someone could point us in a good direction... We've seen what looks like a VW camper specialist garage up under the railway arches in Muswell Hill but can't seem to find any web references to it right now. Anyone know of their work?

3) Once that's done we need to get it properly registered. It's a 1982 model. Does that mean it will get an old school X or Y plate or will it be a new style 56 plate - or even worse - a Q plate?

4) Finally - where's the nearest place for us to get it registered?
Do I start at the DVLA website?

Sorry if these are really obvious FAQ type questions; Just really looking forward to getting it legal and wanted to pick the brains of those in the know. We test drove it today and it's a peach. Garaged most of it's life and in really good condition apart from a wee bit of seam rust around the back wheelarch and a scrape on the door. Interior is pretty much like new. £3k. A bargain we think. We <heart> green westys!

Glad of any help having lurked here for more than a while before biting the bullet on an Aircooled westy. All comments appreciated!

Best
LittlePixel.

Oh two more things -

1) seems like a catch 22 - how can I take my insurance details along to get it registered if it needs to be registered before can insure it?

2) The cabin heater is apparently out of order - The seller says it's probably a fuse or a spark-plug. Anyone had this trouble?

[gifftopher]

hey

Saw this one myself, looks nice. I have just completed the registration process on a German Westy so here are some answers:

1) You don't have to have a foglight on an old car to pass an MOT but by all means put one on. I did. I did not replace the rear cluster and it passed MOT. Whether that was down to a lax MOT garage I don't know. Speedo not an issue - you'll get used to it.

2) Don't know the Muswell hill garage but I am in SE15 and am taking mine for a full service at South London VW in Croydon. They seem really nice, I'll let you know how I get on. I am also a newbie but learning fast!

3) It will be an old W or X reg

You need forms from the DVLA local office (Wembley or somewhere like that). The forms are horribly complicated but You actually don't have to fill most of it in because it is over 10 years old. My advise is fill in what you can and phone the main enquiry line on their website. They'll talk you through the form and it is actually really straight forward.

You also need to give them:
Certificate of insurance. Some companies will insure on a chassis number BUT you are only insured to drive to and from an MOT test until you are fully registered. I did mine with Adrian Flux. Good price and understanding of campers and foreign registration.
MOT certificate
German documents
Proof of address
Driving Licencce

It took Sidcup office 3 weeks to do mine which meant three weeks of looking longingly at it without being able to drive it. Very frustrating!

Oh the heater. Mines an '81 and you only get heat when you are doing more than 20 miles an hour. There is no fan, only the power of motion. So basically in London traffic in January it's coat and scarf and head out of the window



Erm that's it I think. £3000 does look a bargain. You should get that rust looked at sooner rather than later mind. We went away in ours for the first time at the weekend and it was great! Worth waiting for.

[sixsprings]

The seller says we only need to get some anti-glare headlamp blinkers on the front and a new rear (ULO) cluster with another foglight for the uk side for it to pass an MOT - I wondered maybe about having a MPH not KPH speedo.

you will need a central or rhs rear fog light. last import i made, i took the bulb and connector from the left lamp bulbholder, and fitted them to the right. snipped the fuse light wire off the lhs cable plug, and fitted it to the rhs. took a wire across, job done, at the cost of 5ft of (fat) wire and two wire connecters.

if you intend to permanently use the car in the UK, you need lhs dipping headlamps. £45ish each at gsf. you may get away with taping them up for the first test, but shouldn't next year.

2) The cabin heater is apparently out of order - The seller says it's probably a fuse or a spark-plug. Anyone had this trouble?

this thing is wondeful when working...but it burns petrol and is 25 years old. so if it was mine, i'd have it profesionally serviced, or leave it alone

good lucking van, i had one almost identical and loved it to bits.

[Stefvan]

You can insure it with the German transit plates, (although you can also use the VIN No I believe) the insurance co will change the details on the insurance and DVLA will give you an updated MOT after registration.
Seems like a great bargain, hope you have fun in it !
I just got a fog light fitted for my MOT wired into the old cluster. I was also inspected by the DVLA, which delayed registration, but it was a pretty cursory inspection.

Stefvan

[stuckin88]

If the van has ULO lights with a rear fog light on the uk n/s remove both rear lights & reverse & swap the bulb holders over so the holder with fog lamp is on uk o/s then run wire across to connect--

[maximus]

You can insure your van by the chassis number try Arian Flux then you have 30 days to register it for uk use

[littlepixel]

Thanks for all the help people. So nice when forum people are so quick and helpful in replying. I feel very welcomed, and far less daunted by all the paperwork now...

I went over to the VW garage I mentioned this morning. It's Beetlemania and the guy there seemed very helpful - he'd gonna add a bulb and a bit of wiring without the need for a new cluster so cooly cool. It goes in on Wednesday morning. I'll ask him to take a look at the heater too and get a quote on the bodywork.

Shame the weather's so crap. Not the best time for the maiden voyages of our holiday-ship... !

[Georgedog]

MMMMM GREEN + VERY SWEET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE IT ....................

[Vanagonman]

Excellent! Aircooled is great, and what a good example!!

[littlepixel]

Nearly registered now. Have to take it over to DVLA Borehamwood next Thursday so they can look it over but should be plain sailing (hopefully!)
Taken so long because I didn't send my photcard - just my paper and there were a couple of omissions due to mistranslation.

Poor thing nearly had an accident just being parked. Someone didn't stop in time at the end of the street and totalled the Cavalier parked next to us. And I mean totally - stoved in the whole side. Heart-churning stuff - we've only driven it once! Perhaps it means she's charmed?

[T2Andy]

see below regarding masked/beam benders

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_160.htm

[irishkeet]

Hi littlepixel

Im in enfield so were nearly neighbours, if you need any help PM me
I have an westy that was imported last year and it going for the second mot tomorrow
can send you a link for getting the correct masking (pre cut) for a LHD van, Ive kept my lights masked doesnt seem to be a problem, you can keet the KM speedo or change but the revolutions need to be correct for a MPH one.
My van

[west E]

i bought a lhd westy same colour last year. It was already registered over here. you only need a rear fog light if the van was registered after april 1980, although i'd fit one anyway, it doesn't matter for the MOT, same with your lights. I have been told you can put mk1 golf ones in place of the original ones, don't know if its true. depends if u want to go over the water!

[littlepixel]

Hi littlepixel I'm in enfield so were nearly neighbours

I'll keep my eyes open for your sweet hi-top. Liking the black stripe there... (and your birdseye pea-mobile icon heh)

can send you a link for getting the correct masking (pre cut) for a LHD van

I followed the pattern moulded into the lamps themselves and it seemed to work ok at the MOT centre.



I'm considering the idea of a second UK set of lamps that I can swap out if it's not too difficult - but am fine with the mascara for the moment. Thanks for the offer of help though. Nice people here!

Look: A lego westy!

[Vanagonman]

Hi littlepixel I'm in enfield so were nearly neighbours

I'll keep my eyes open for your sweet hi-top. Liking the black stripe there... (and your birdseye pea-mobile icon heh)

can send you a link for getting the correct masking (pre cut) for a LHD van

I followed the pattern moulded into the lamps themselves and it seemed to work ok at the MOT centre.



I'm considering the idea of a second UK set of lamps that I can swap out if it's not too difficult - but am fine with the mascara for the moment. Thanks for the offer of help though. Nice people here!

Look: A lego westy!

I never understood this. Why not buy a pair of correct RHD 7" round headlamps from any motorfactors. Can't be more than 30 quid for the pair, and you wouldn't need to tape anything. Best thing, is you can keep your LHD headlamps for when you're travelling to the continent.