GR Yaris Buying GRMN parts in Japan

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dwrdtby

Devoted member
Jan 10, 2024
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I'm in Japan on holiday and popped into a GR Garage in Tokyo - they didn't have much on display to be honest - mainly a bunch of Bride seats and some exhausts.

I was hoping to pick up a GRMN steering wheel and gear knob for cheap (or at least cheaper than buying in the UK). When I asked, I was told you can only buy OEM upgrade parts as a registered owner living in Japan. Wondering if I'm missing something or if there's another place to purchase them?!

Cheers in advance.

P.S. Snapped a few cars parked outside. Nice to see the MK2 in the flesh. Interestingly, I've only seen one other GR Yaris in our first week here travelling between Tokyo/Kanazawa/Kyoto. Have seen a handful of GR86s.
 

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Amanda said:
Wasnt it easy cars Japan that sell GRMN maybe they get the stuff off Toyota ? To sell

What did you think to the mk2 in the flesh ?
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From what I recall, Easy Cars is quite expensive here in Europe.
Maybe I'm a dreamer, but I hope to get the chance to buy a GRMN-ish rear wing directly in Europe, thanks to the fact that Toyota Europe will have to import parts for the Rovanpera Edition...

Is it only my impression, or the front wheel arches look slightly wider on the Mk2 than on the Mk1?
 
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Was there not someone on here who was trying to do similar and they would only order parts with a correct VIN?
 
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Amanda said:
Wasnt it easy cars Japan that sell GRMN maybe they get the stuff off Toyota ? To sell

What did you think to the mk2 in the flesh ?
Click to expand...
Yeah, I considered buying them through Easy Cars. Not sure how they're doing it. Or Garage Whifbitz for that matter.

The M2 looked decent. I'm not interested in buying one so I didn't spend a lot of time looking around it. Would have liked to sit in and test the interior ergonomics but didn't get chance to. I still think the MK1 is a much more handsome beast.
 
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Duke said:
Was there not someone on here who was trying to do similar and they would only order parts with a correct VIN?
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Ah - I'll see if I can find this. I should have made a note of my vin before I left the UK :rolleyes:
 
I meant a GRMN VIN, they wouldn’t order parts without one.

Unless of course you have a GRMN in the UK 😂
 
CB2007 said:
my wife went into the GR garage in Tokyo and bought me a GRMN Wheel and two gearknobs without a vin , they were very friendly and helpful View attachment 27877
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Ah! That's what I was hoping would be the case when I went. Can I ask which one your wife visited? And was this recently or a while back - just wondering if they've changed their policy.

Also, do you know what you paid for the gear knob and wheel? Many thanks!
 
I'm pretty certain you can reverse engineer a VIN. There are plenty threads here and the other place that had the last section of the VIN posted. Given the first part of the VIN is identical, except the check bit, it's a 1 in 10 chance to get it right, and you know, VIN validators exist.
 
tbydwrds said:
Ah! That's what I was hoping would be the case when I went. Can I ask which one your wife visited? And was this recently or a while back - just wondering if they've changed their policy.

Also, do you know what you paid for the gear knob and wheel? Many thanks!
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It was the branch to the west of Tokyo central , she was there 6 weeks ago , I had the part numbers for the wheel and gearknob , there was no issue ordering and then she went back to collect 3 days later.
Garage Whifbitz sell unlimited amounts of the GRMN parts on there website in the UK so don’t need vin either
 
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