Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Go Back   Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum > Local / Regional / National > USA > Mid-Atlantic States

Mid-Atlantic States DC, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-28-2007, 11:14 AM   #1
bluejz80
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Naha
Posts: 3
Trader Rating: (0)
bluejz80 will become famous soon enoughbluejz80 will become famous soon enoughbluejz80 will become famous soon enough
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
How to bring a car back from Japan

This is my disclaimer: I've done this once so by no means am I the expert. I did my research and figured out a legit way to ship a car back as parts. As a courtesy, I am posting this info for reference. What you do with it is totally up to you.

The plan: When I was about 18 months out from leaving I started doing leg work to get my car back to the US. I did the same shit every other kid on this forum does; searched the internet eventually ending up at the NHSC website, calling every importer on the list and ending up with a wasted phone card and lost hope. I came close on a couple of importers but it was all basically the same shit, no one could give me any guarantees. Their pricing was anywhere from 6K to 10K and they all said that it could be more depending on what goes down.
I got a hold of a guy in LA who told me he could do it for 4K. He said I would have to take it to Fukuoka where it would be disassembled, packed into a container with 4 other cars and shipped back to his shop in LA. He told me the catch was that it would be declared as parts coming through US customs. I was stoked because I figured out how I was going to get my car back.
When I was 12 months out I called him to set my plan in motion. Bad news, he went out of business. His wife left him and took him for all of his money. He felt bad for me so he said he could do it if I found three other cars to go into the container with me. Well I put the word out to the people I knew in Oki and a lot of people talked but talking was all that they were doing.
Finding myself between a rock and a hard place I said fuck it, I'm going to do it myself, I'm going to cut the middle man out and take matters into my own hands. Here's how it went down:

1.) The Japanese exporter. Searching the forums I came across a post about this guy down in Naha that could ship parts back to the US. I called him and told him my situation. I told him that I wanted to disassemble a car and bring it to him and have it shipped to the US. He had never done it before but said he could do whatever I wanted. Basically he could get me a container and take care of everything that needs to happen to get it out of Japan. Here is his contact info:

Koji Komesu
Ryukyu Logistics
090-4343-4640
[email protected]

They are located in NAHA port next to Kinser. Koji is good people, he speaks perfect English and is a professional. His job is to make shit happen.

2. The US importer. Getting the container out of Japan is half of the battle. Koji recommended a company in LA called NIK & associates. I made contact with NIK and was put in contact with a lady named Esmeralda Avila. I explained my plan to Esmeralda and she told me what needed to happen. She forwarded a list of parts not authorized by the DOT for import into the US. She said that as long as the car was completely disassembled and had no unauthorized parts that everything was legit. NIK would take receipt of my container upon entry into the US, bring it through US customs, pay all applicable fees on my behalf and arrange for delivery to my US address. Here is the contact info for NIK:

NIK & Associates, Inc
800 S. Hindry Avenue
Inglewood CA 90301
310-215-8282
fax 310-649-0324
www.lacustoms.com

There are a grip of other brokers. You can research it and find one that will work for you. NIK is corporate. They do big business and know how to handle shit. I would do business with them again. Who you choose is on you.

3. The time line and process:

I was slated to depart OKI on Jan 22 2006.

November 15:
Koji forwarded me two electronic documents. A Booking information form and a format for a packing list. The next step was to fill the forms out and send them back to him. Based off of what I was shipping I would require a 20ft container.

The booking form:
1. full name
2.your current address
3.the consignee's address and the custom broker's info (the person who will be bring it in on the US side)
4.What you are shipping and it's value
5.a permanent e-mail address

The packing list:

This is a list broken down by quantity, unit price, total price, item description, item weight and item size. Your car will be listed as a shell (ex: Mazda RX7 FD3S shell). All other parts will be listed as is (ex: Mazda 13BREW 1300CC motor, Transmission, turbo charger and manifold, drive shaft, doors , hood, fenders, dif, plastic interior pieces, aluminum car rims, ect etc.)

NOTE* Anything that is on the unauthorized parts list cannot go into the container.

NOTE* All of my small items, electronics and anything else I couldn't put in the container went back through my TMO shipment. I acquired two large plastic foot lockers and packed them with loose parts to alleviate a complicated packing list for my container. (ex:my computer, ignition, defi gauges, instrument cluster, radiator, intercooler, intercooler piping, lights, misc interior pieces, etc etc)

December 15:
Went to VEH REG on Foster and deregistered my car for shipment. You cannot have a lien on the car when you do this. I showed them my paperwork from Ryukyu Logistics and they deregistered the car. I then had to go to LTO to get the de registration title/export certificate. It was painless.

January 1-8:
Disassembled the car per my packing list and staged it awaiting transportation to NAHA.

Called Koji to set date for me to bring my parts to NAHA.

January 10:
TMO comes to my barracks room to take my household goods and send them to CA. All of my parts went onto the inventory and no questions were asked. I had contacted them prior to ensure that there would be no issues with me sending my parts back with my household goods. They said that it was straight as long as there was no HAZMAT or POL.

January 11:
With the assistance of a good friend and his flatbed truck (w/hoist), transported all of my parts to NAHA and staged them in the shipping yard. Koji met me there with the rep from Japanese customs. Customs inspected my parts and everything was good to go. Koji took possession of everything and started prepping everything for packaging into the container. They wrapped everything in cardboard and bubble wrap, took pictures and sealed the container.

Jan 12-16:
I went to the Tokyo Auto Salon bitches.

Jan 17:
Went to Ryukyu Logistics to make payment. Costs vary depending on what season of the year you ship. This was my cost breakdown:
-20ft container from APL w/ all fees: $3007.00 USD
-Ryukyu Logistics fees (customs clearance/customs inspection fee/packaging fee/delivery fee and handling fee: 111000 JPY
*It’s broken down completely on the paperwork.
-Koji faxed my paperwork to NIK so they could monitor my shipment and pick it up when it arrived to LA.

January 23:
-I leave Okinawa for a two week vacation in Fukuoka with my newly wed wife.
-My FD leaves Okinawa heading for LA.

Feb 11:
-My container arrives in LA. It takes a week to process through customs.
-NIK contacts me to make arrangements for delivery and payment. Payment broke down like this:

Duty fee:$185
Entry fee:$350
Bond:$50
Pier Pass:$40
Exam fee:$120
Handling:$50

Delivery charges(LA TO OCEANSIDE)
truck:$560
fuel$85
After hours delivery fee: $75 ( I held up the truck driver for two hours....my bad)
Grand total to NIK: $1514.09

Feb 15:
My TMO shipment arrives (everything intact)

Feb 17:
My 20ft container arrives(everything intact)

My after-action:
From beginning to end, this entire process was a pain in the ass. I had to figure out everything on my own and I got sick and tired of dumb people telling me that I wouldn't be able to do it. Or, I would tell someone what I was planning to do and they would look at me like I was full of shit. Well, now everyone sees how full of shit I am. The whole process takes planning and action so if you lack abilities to do either I would say don't do this or you'll probably fuck something up.

$5500 bucks is allot to dump on anything. Plan it out and try to get some other shit to put into the container so you can turn a profit off of selling parts when you get back or split the container with someone to alleviate the price.

Make sure you bring back enough spare parts for your ride too, just incase you break anything putting it back together.

Expect minor scratches on your body panels. My passenger door was dropped somewhere along the way and got a nice dent. Besides the dent everything else came through good.

I'll be glad to entertain questions. I'll try to check this out from time to time to see what the peanut gallery has to say. I wish you all the best of luck. Take care and drive safe.

bluejz80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 12-28-2007, 11:23 AM   #2
LongGrain
Post Whore!
 
LongGrain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,741
Trader Rating: (5)
LongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfectionLongGrain is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 5 reviews
nice write up!

+ rep
LongGrain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2007, 11:48 AM   #3
RedStage
Zilvia Junkie
 
RedStage's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Florida (formerly Yokohama, Japan)
Posts: 531
Trader Rating: (1)
RedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to beholdRedStage is a splendid one to behold
Feedback Score: 1 reviews
congrats man. Excellent write up. Don't plan on going back to the US, but will pass this info on to any of my friends that are thinking of doing the same.
__________________
Marc - Yokohama, Japan

RedStage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2007, 12:19 PM   #4
azndoc
Post Whore!
 
azndoc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Age: 39
Posts: 9,487
Trader Rating: (47)
azndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfectionazndoc is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 47 reviews
Send a message via AIM to azndoc
Nicely done.

Is that Tim in the background with the blue 34?

I think that was his name. I met him in Oki and ran into him a couple of months back here.
azndoc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2007, 02:03 PM   #5
fromxtor
Post Whore!
 
fromxtor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NC
Age: 40
Posts: 3,012
Trader Rating: (23)
fromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfectionfromxtor is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 23 reviews
Send a message via AIM to fromxtor Send a message via Yahoo to fromxtor
Good job, +rep. You can do anything, if you put your mind to it.
__________________
Seller feedback>>http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...light=fromxtor
fromxtor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2007, 02:14 PM   #6
Hooorahh!
Zilvia FREAK!
 
Hooorahh!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: california
Age: 41
Posts: 1,195
Trader Rating: (0)
Hooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfectionHooorahh! is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Send a message via AIM to Hooorahh! Send a message via Yahoo to Hooorahh!
i am not reading the whole thing but congrats and wow nice car
Hooorahh! is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 03:40 AM   #7
bluejz80
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Naha
Posts: 3
Trader Rating: (0)
bluejz80 will become famous soon enoughbluejz80 will become famous soon enoughbluejz80 will become famous soon enough
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Quote:
Originally Posted by azndoc View Post
Nicely done.

Is that Tim in the background with the blue 34?

I think that was his name. I met him in Oki and ran into him a couple of months back here.

Yep, that's the Major.
bluejz80 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 05:38 AM   #8
DreamN
Post Whore!
 
DreamN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SoCal - 818
Age: 36
Posts: 10,691
Trader Rating: (54)
DreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfectionDreamN is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 54 reviews
very nice
__________________
- Jimmy

Wanted:

TBD

For Sale:
TBD
DreamN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 06:13 AM   #9
ALEXTHESUS*PECT
Post Whore!
 
ALEXTHESUS*PECT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Soul cal!!
Age: 43
Posts: 4,387
Trader Rating: (5)
ALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfectionALEXTHESUS*PECT is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 5 reviews
Send a message via AIM to ALEXTHESUS*PECT
congrats on making your own path!
__________________

TEAM SUS*PECT
ALEXTHESUS*PECT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 07:55 AM   #10
charlie321
Zilvia Addict
 
charlie321's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Age: 30
Posts: 989
Trader Rating: (4)
charlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfectioncharlie321 is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 4 reviews
Send a message via AIM to charlie321 Send a message via MSN to charlie321
nice writeup, definately will let others know +1
charlie321 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 08:06 AM   #11
SeattleSilvia
BANNED
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Seattle
Age: 38
Posts: 14
Trader Rating: (0)
SeattleSilvia has a spectacular aura aboutSeattleSilvia has a spectacular aura aboutSeattleSilvia has a spectacular aura aboutSeattleSilvia has a spectacular aura aboutSeattleSilvia has a spectacular aura aboutSeattleSilvia has a spectacular aura about
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Send a message via AIM to SeattleSilvia Send a message via MSN to SeattleSilvia
i talked with Tim a while back, is he still trying to figure out a way to get his 34 into the states? excellent write-up!
SeattleSilvia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 08:14 AM   #12
Sil-Abc
Premium Member
 
Sil-Abc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Downtown LA
Age: 35
Posts: 2,549
Trader Rating: (13)
Sil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfectionSil-Abc is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 13 reviews
Send a message via AIM to Sil-Abc
still have a copy of that list of unauthorized parts? also any idea how to register and insure other cars?
__________________
IM JON WAYNE ESQ.... bitch
Sil-Abc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 08:44 AM   #13
inertiadrft
Zilvia Junkie
 
inertiadrft's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Straight Repp'n the FIVE-SIX-TWO and now The NINE-5-ONE
Posts: 582
Trader Rating: (15)
inertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud ofinertiadrft has much to be proud of
Feedback Score: 15 reviews
Send a message via AIM to inertiadrft
Nice writeup! excelent choice of car, Love FD's!!
inertiadrft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 09:07 AM   #14
EDacIouSX
Post Whore!
 
EDacIouSX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles
Age: 35
Posts: 4,527
Trader Rating: (53)
EDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfectionEDacIouSX is close to perfection
Feedback Score: 53 reviews
Send a message via ICQ to EDacIouSX Send a message via AIM to EDacIouSX Send a message via MSN to EDacIouSX Send a message via Yahoo to EDacIouSX
yea i'd like to import a 99+ fd over here... fd's are the sickness
EDacIouSX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 10:23 AM   #15
implayaz9
Zilvia FREAK!
 
implayaz9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SOCAL
Age: 39
Posts: 1,105
Trader Rating: (3)
implayaz9 is a well-known jackass
Feedback Score: 3 reviews
great write up. some day i will be importing few cars as well
implayaz9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-06-2008, 10:40 AM   #16
KA-T_240
Nissanaholic!
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Moorhead, MN
Age: 34
Posts: 1,788
Trader Rating: (0)
KA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond reputeKA-T_240 has a reputation beyond repute
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
looks like lots of work. but I appears you are happy with what you did! +1 for you.


Post more pics! And make sure that thing is under lock and key in a garage and shit so it doesnt get stolen!
__________________
KA-T_240 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-07-2008, 06:07 PM   #17
Drifter Z
Nissanaholic!
 
Drifter Z's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: East coast
Posts: 2,034
Trader Rating: (64)
Drifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud ofDrifter Z has much to be proud of
Feedback Score: 64 reviews
good info A++++
__________________
JDM mania
Drifter Z is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-18-2008, 04:55 PM   #18
808_Drift
Zilvia Member
 
808_Drift's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: CA
Age: 35
Posts: 189
Trader Rating: (0)
808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light808_Drift is a glorious beacon of light
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
+rep for you nice write up man!
808_Drift is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-19-2008, 11:27 PM   #19
leveloneae86
Leaky Injector
 
leveloneae86's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: san bruno
Posts: 76
Trader Rating: (0)
leveloneae86 is making a name for him/her selfleveloneae86 is making a name for him/her self
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
in my eyes ur a hero. =]
leveloneae86 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2008, 07:18 PM   #20
snowmansent2hel
Zilvia Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Westminster MD/ Virginia Tech
Posts: 187
Trader Rating: (0)
snowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to allsnowmansent2hel is a name known to all
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
great writeup sticky maybe?
snowmansent2hel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2008, 05:13 PM   #21
red s14
Zilvia Member
 
red s14's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: cincy, ohio
Age: 36
Posts: 191
Trader Rating: (2)
red s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond reputered s14 has a reputation beyond repute
Feedback Score: 2 reviews
This isn't the one that is in cincinnati now is it???
__________________
S14 BACK IN ACTION
red s14 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:26 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2021, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
vB.Sponsors
Copyright © 1998 - 2019, Zilvia.net™