It's been nearly 13 months since i moved to Barcelona.

As i learned about the Spanish regulations re importing / registering, i drove my 2 less and less due to not wanting to get on the wrong side of the law.

Basically, Spain doesn't like modifications. In reality, Ireland doesn't either. From my gut feeling, 90% of the people in Ireland do it and get away with it but in Spain they don't risk it. Everything needs a homologation process to get any non manufacturer/standard part.

So, let's just say that my Spider had a "few" modifications

Only in the last two months, have i started a process which should let me import my car, as is. I'll still need to do the ITV (NCT) test but should get away with the mods.

On the flip side of the regulations/paperwork is the tax going down from 710 euros per year to about 150 My car insurance in Ireland had hovered around 350-400 for a good 8-10 years. And, as ye all know, the last two years were a disaster. Axa sent me out my renewal in July and it was 740 euros ! Obviously, i declined. Got insured here for only 346.

So, just wanted to drop back in and say hello.

Mr2.ie has always been a fantastic resource (recently used Quandry's How-to to fit my BC Coilovers!) and once i get registered here, i'll hopefully be on a bit more (need to find time to learn Spanish as well)

Spidey

Great to hear from you Rob

My 2 is waiting for 'vintage' status at the moment, I could not stomach the massive tax and insurance renewal every year. Maybe I should register mine at your place and claim I am visiting from Spain - haha!

BTW, how did you get on fitting coilovers? mine are Tein not BC but hopefully more or less an identical procedure.

Yeah, it's a pity that the limited mileage concept they use in insurance couldn't also be used for road tax.

Your Coilover how-to was perfect for my BC's !

Hola Spidey.

I would be pissed off if I was in your shoes, to own a rare MR2 Spider and unable to use it in Spain.

Can you not get a engineers report to asses the mods ?

There is a homogolation process to get each of my mods "signed off" by an engineer. But, it would be costly, as far as i know.

There is a thing called "Cambio de Residencia" (change of residence) whereby, when i am moving country, i can bring my personal belongings. This includes my car. Normally you have to get a Certificate of Conformity saying your car conforms to manufacturers spec. But, with this Cambio de Residencia, my car gets a Ficha Reducida (reduced technical sheet) and doesn't need the Certificate of Conformity.

I've already got the Ficha Reducida and i brought it to the ITV (NCT). It failed on lights. I knew it would - had new lamps ordered. So, i fitted them myself and brought it to a garage for alignment.

THE ITV is a 2 part test for an import. The mechanical and the engineers test. So, Engineer noted that on the Ficha reducida, it didn't say that it was a convertible and it also didn't state that i had "suspension irregulares" ! I've gone back to TUV in Barcelona to request a new Ficha Reducida with this added.

Once i get that, back to the ITV and should pass mechanical and engineers check.

Fingers crossed .....


_KUNENA_BBCODE_HIDEIMG

Good luck with the ITV and keep us updated.

Well, the above lights I put in were bright enough, correctly aligned but didn’t have the E-mark. So, failed. Pity, because they were a lovely crystal clear design.

Went in search of 6x4” E-marked lights – very hard to find ! Finally found a set – in California. California doesn’t really spring to mind when you think of where you might get European approved lights. Bought them and when they arrived, the box said that they were made in India and for US and Japan – one RHD and one LHD country. Very weird but after a retest and then booking appointments, I finally got my Spider registered.

Confirmed the yearly tax – 144

Nice to be driving again with all paperwork done/above board !

Well done Rob!!

Well done - interesting story on the lights..

What type of looks do you get driving a spyder in BCN? must be kinda cool?

That's great that you got the car sorted.

€144 for a year of road tax, eh .

How much is the petrol over there ?

What's the insurance like??