Technical Panda Cross LHD for RHD (UK). Help!

[Dieselfan]

Hi there!

I have recently moved to the UK from Switzerland, and naturally brought our Fiat Panda Cross along. What a mission it has turned into to get it registered here as a LHD car! :bang:

Firstly, a fog-light had to be installed on the right of the car (under the rear bumper). The current fog-light is on the left. Secondly, we had to glue a MPH gauge over the current Km/h speedometer.

Lastly, and the most fun part, the UK does not allow a mere sticker over the headlight to correct the beam - even though it does it perfectly. Oh, no! It HAS to be actual headlights. Fiat UK is quoting me well over £550 for two new headlights plus labour!!

I have put a parts request on 1stchoice parts - nothing! On Breakeryard.com - nothing! Please tell me where the heck can I source two headlights for the Cross here in the UK? Are they that rare here in the UK??

Thanks chaps, much appreciated!

 

[daveofkent]

As you've found out the cross is rare, hopefully when you find one for breaking its not because of a front end smash

I started this whole process in reverse when i left the UK. I then had a good think and thought why do i want to spend good money to devalue a car and sit on the wrong side at junctions and overtaking.

I sold my panda and bought A LHD Panda a few days later.

 

[Sweetsixteen]

The fun starts here methinks.
Wait till you go to your friendly dealer for anything but basic servicing. If it's still as bad as it used to be, they'll call it a grey import and give you the runaround.
Hope it works out well for you,

 

[nobbles]

Why register it? Surely leaving it on Swiss plates and insuring it in Switzerland for the uk can be ok until you can change for a uk car. Think of all the parking, speeding and congestion charges you won't have to pay.....all the English do the same in Europe.

 

[fpan]

If you try doing the opposite (i.e. RHD or even worse JDM car into Switzerland) you will find Swisses could be worse

You would need all the above you have described + COC, crash test (for JDM cars - means to import one you would have to buy two, one of which will be crash tested) etc.

For 2nd hand headlights check ebay.

 

[Dieselfan]

Why register it? Surely leaving it on Swiss plates and insuring it in Switzerland for the uk can be ok until you can change for a uk car. Think of all the parking, speeding and congestion charges you won't have to pay.....all the English do the same in Europe.

We actually have been on this exact "situation" for the last 5 months, the problem is that if you become a resident here, you are obliged to have your car registered asap (we have done the MOT already). The rules apply differently to UK citizens who "live" in Spain (for example), but spend lengthy times here in the UK. Also, the Swiss insurer has a limit on the insurance which they regard at the moment as holiday insurance. Long-term Swiss insurance for UK roads will be very expensive.

Some of the modifications I agree with. But - I must say this whole experience has left me with the taste that this is a very expensive money-making racket. It smells a bit of protectionism too for the UK car industry, despite the UK claiming to be part of the EU open market idea.

Thanks for all your responses - even the sympathy ones are appreciated.

 

[Dieselfan]

I started this whole process in reverse when i left the UK. I then had a good think and thought why do i want to spend good money to devalue a car and sit on the wrong side at junctions and overtaking.

I sold my panda and bought A LHD Panda a few days later.

We would've done the same, but we have become quite attached to the unique little Cross.

 

[daveofkent]

[/QUOTE]
Some of the modifications I agree with. But - I must say this whole experience has left me with the taste that this is a very expensive money-making racket. It smells a bit of protectionism too for the UK car industry, despite the UK claiming to be part of the EU open market idea.

Thanks for all your responses - even the sympathy ones are appreciated.[/QUOTE]

It is an 'eu open market' you can buy your UK spec headlights from wherever you please. We like driving on the wrong side of the road, using different plugs and having imperial measurements. It isn't going to change, we have no reason to and mostly people dont care if they are the same as the rest of mainland eu or not.

As has been said previously, we are way softer than any other western Europe state, take a uk car to Switzerland and see if you can put stickers on the headlights.

edit.
I forgot to add.... Hope it goes well for you and your family in England. I left a few years ago and obviously it can be a bit daunting with everything you're used to being different especially with all these forms and govt departments being different

 

[A3jeroen]

You are only driving on the "right"side because Napoleon never came over to your island

I've worked in Germany near UK bases for a while. Soldiers (and their families) driving their RHD cars trying to overtake and do other "normal" things were very scary to say the least.
Buying a RHD Cross might not only be cheaper, but saver as well.

gr J

 

[Goudrons]

This "EU open market" is all very well, but since when has Switzerland been apart of it?
Importing a car from outside of the EU is slightly different from importing one from another EU state, but that's not helping you with headlamps.

Try http://www.sgpetchparts.co.uk/
or
https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/
You'll no doubt need to ring them, as Cross parts aren't usually listed.

You could also bug Valeo themselves (they make the headlamps), see if they'll sell direct or via one of their dealers, they have a web cat up, but I can't access it via my work PC.

 

[Dieselfan]

Hi Goudrons,

Thanks for these. I actually have been to their sites before, but they do not offer the option of the Cross, but I will give them both a telephone call direct.

 

[Dieselfan]

For 2nd hand headlights check ebay.

You may have saved me some money today, thank you! I thought the Cross headlights will be wayyy too obscure for Ebay (UK), but - I actually found ONE brand new one via a dealer on Ebay. So I may be halfway there!

Geez, I did not know that the Cross was this rare in the UK!

 

[Goudrons]

There was a broken one on Ebay, it was new, but a lug had broken off, read the description.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Genui...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2594a77677

 

[306maxi]

https://m.rexbo.eu/fiat/panda-169-03/1-3-d-multijet-4x4-39855/lights-100043 here we are.....

 

[Dieselfan]

There was a broken one on Ebay, it was new, but a lug had broken off, read the description.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Genui...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2594a77677

That's the exact one I am going to buy!

 

[Dieselfan]

https://m.rexbo.eu/fiat/panda-169-03/1-3-d-multijet-4x4-39855/lights-100043 here we are.....

Thank you 306maxi, however, the headlights shown there are actually much, much more expensive than quoted directly from the Fiat dealer.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

the UK does not allow a mere sticker over the headlight to correct the beam - even though it does it perfectly.

Thats because its not adiquate and is a temp measure at best, it does not correct the beam pattern to RHD spec, it only removes the kick (which on your car will be up to the right) rather than kick it up to the left.