GR86 Importing my 2023 JDM BRZ

MartinT said:
JDM Talking Points

  • No TPMS! It's an option and in Japan people tend not to select it because their roads are so smooth. I could find no way of retro-installing it so I installed my own TPMS Bluetooth sensors (from AliExpress) tied to a programmable alarm module and an app on my phone.
  • No charcoal filter in the airbox and (unverified) no GPF filter in the exhaust.
  • No head unit as standard! Many JDM cars come with no head unit, so make sure to check if you're looking to import a vehicle. Mine came with an Alpine 7DNXF2 which is Japanese-only, not configurable to another language and cannot change the time zone. Get ready to do a lot of Google Lens translation with your phone if you get a similar Japanese-only head unit. The good news (with mine, at least) is that it supports Android Auto (and Apple Car Play if you're on the dark side). That means, since your phone is driving the display, you can run Waze or Google Maps for navigation, and BBC Sounds, Radio Paradise etc. for radio and Spotify/Qobuz etc. for streamed music.
  • The indicator stalk is on the right! In fact, these two stalks are reversed with wipers on the left. It takes reprogramming your muscle memory.
  • Units in metric only. Your importer will have fitted a MPH speedo display, but bear in mind the dash is all-metric with fuel economy displayed in l/km.
  • Small changes to the heater/aircon controls with a Sync button, but easy enough to get to grips with.
  • User manual is in Japanese but I downloaded the universal English manual which has some variations for USDM, UKDM and AUSDM cars.
  • All the interior lights are horrible light bulbs. Don't know if UK/EU cars are different? I bought an LED kit and replaced them all, including the external reversing lights.
  • If you find a JDM car with STi aero (or GR/TRD aero), grab it as the cost is hardly any different, but the cost of importing the pieces from Japan is astronomical (I know because I had an STi front splitter on my old 2017 BRZ).
  • Ditto if you find a car with STi v-bars & rear draw stiffener installed. It's commonly specified on Japanese cars. I was very lucky with the Fujitsubo exhaust, it's an option on the Subaru option list but not sure how prevalent that one is.
  • If you buy a car with only one key fob (I did buy it knowing it had only one), be aware that getting another one is beyond a PITA. They are pre-coded and only available from Subaru Japan. I am now trying to get one through Subaru UK. It's not going to be cheap.
  • If you are buying a BRZ (not a GR86), beware that you will need BRZ specific Brembo brakes if you intend installing them. This is because of the aluminium suspension knuckle. FastWRX in the USA was the only place I found stocking the correct calipers in kits. The kit is complete and everything goes on well. Also make sure you add the rear brake dust shields for the larger rotors, the advice to bend the existing ones could result in nasty rubbing noises if you're not very careful.
Click to expand...
Sorry to further intrude, with mine I have done a few things to get it all working together in the UK (GT86)

I had to wire ina rear fog as the JDM model didn't have one
I swapped to UK clocks and had them calibrated to the correct mileage
I have added headlight washers (that was more of a just in case)
I swapped out the rear facing light in the door to red

As mine is a special edition, I didn't wanna push it.

This is my journey so far if you are interested

www.youtube.com

Garage eightSix

Come on my journey in getting my Toyota 86 TRD 14R road-legal and a little bit modified. The car is a Japan-only TRD 14R, a TRD modified Complete Car Toyota 86 a road going version of the TRD 14R60 track car, modelled on the TRD Griffon that lapped Tsukuba in 0:58:407 with only aero and...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
Seen your posts before, didn't realise you were only in Dartford. Will keep an eye out next time I'm passing through :D
 
SiCaln said:
I had to wire ina rear fog as the JDM model didn't have one
I swapped to UK clocks and had them calibrated to the correct mileage
I have added headlight washers (that was more of a just in case)
I swapped out the rear facing light in the door to red
Click to expand...
Fascinating, thank you for that. The Gen 1 and Gen 2 JDMs are a little different.

I have a working rear fog light.
The advice I was given by the importer was to keep with km and report the odo in km for MOTs, that way it remains consistent.
No headlight washers, I haven't bothered with them.
My door lights are white and downward facing, to light up the road. I've replaced them with Subaru logo puddle lights.
The importer removed my ETC (Japanese road toll device) and left it for me. I have since discarded it but left the sensors in the windscreen.
My mirrors are heated but not auto-folding. I'm not that bothered, but there is a relay available to make it auto.

I'm poring over your very interesting videos :)
I can't believe what you went through to get that ETC out!
 
Last edited:
MartinT said:
Fascinating, thank you for that. The Gen 1 and Gen 2 JDMs are a little different.

I have a working rear fog light.
The advice I was given by the importer was to keep with km and report the odo in km for MOTs, that way it remains consistent.
No headlight washers, I haven't bothered with them.
My door lights are white and downward facing, to light up the road. I've replaced them with Subaru logo puddle lights.
The importer removed my ETC (Japanese road toll device) and left it for me. I have since discarded it but left the sensors in the windscreen.
My mirrors are heated but not auto-folding. I'm not that bothered, but there is a relay available to make it auto.

I'm poring over your very interesting videos :)
I can't believe what you went through to get that ETC out!
Click to expand...
Thank you for saying that, means a lot. I haven't got over the obstacles of registration! I got it delivered to my garage in May '23 and can't reigster it until it is ten years old in March '26!
 
SiCaln said:
I haven't got over the obstacles of registration! I got it delivered to my garage in May '23 and can't reigster it until it is ten years old in March '26!
Click to expand...
Just... wow. The idiocy of bureaucracy at its finest.
 
MartinT said:
Cut to February 2025, and the great arrival. I had been tracking the Heogh Borealis on its journey from Japan using one of the commercial shipping tracking sites, and the closer it came the more excited I got. Finally, the big day arrived and it landed at Southampton.

Torque GT took some much nicer photos of the BRZ, which kept my appetite whetted until I could see it in the flesh.

View attachment 37400

Before I could get my hands on it, there was UK DVLA inspection (IVA) and registration (V5C) to perform. The only item required to pass the IVA was a speedo in MPH, which consisted of a neat dashtop GPS digital speedo requiring only power. No MoT is required as it's less than three years old.

View attachment 37401

Finally, Torque GT asked me what other work I wanted done before collection. I specified for them to change all the fluids - engine oil, coolant, gearbox oil and diff oil. This was to start off with a known base despite the car being young. I also asked them to ceramic coat it. Then it was ready for me to take the long train to Newton Abbott and be collected by Darren for the short drive to Torque GT.

To be continued...
Click to expand...
Are you sure it didn't need MOT? I've been told that because its an Import you need SVA and MOT for first reg purposes. I'm importing a 2025 Alphard at present, will sail from Kansai 1st Sep.

Untitled.webp
 
ninjin said:
Are you sure it didn't need MOT? I've been told that because its an Import you need SVA and MOT for first reg purposes.
Click to expand...
I was told by Torque GT that it doesn't until it is 3 years old next May.
 
MartinT said:
I was told by Torque GT that it doesn't until it is 3 years old next May.
Click to expand...
What they say is correct, that's for you as a user. However, the DVLA site says that all imports regardless of age (even 6months old) , need an MOT for first registration of imported vehicle.
 
ninjin said:
What they say is correct, that's for you as a user. However, the DVLA site says that all imports regardless of age (even 6months old) , need an MOT for first registration of imported vehicle.
Click to expand...
Ah, in that case it must be part of the IVA inspection? Certainly no separate MOT has been declared.
 
MartinT said:
Ah, in that case it must be part of the IVA inspection? Certainly no separate MOT has been declared.
Click to expand...
I assumed the same but you need to submit IVA and MOT on first reg. The MOT is to test for road worthiness and it won't show up on MOT checker, as when it's MOT'd it wouldn't have a reg #. They put the vin# where the reg would normally go on the paperwork.
 
ninjin said:
I assumed the same but you need to submit IVA and MOT on first reg. The MOT is to test for road worthiness and it won't show up on MOT checker, as when it's MOT'd it wouldn't have a reg #. They put the vin# where the reg would normally go on the paperwork.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying. Torque GT did all that, then, as they registered the car for me and paid for the first road tax.
 
Thanks for sharing your experience, only have seen one Gen 2 BRZ up close so far in Germany.
Got details of the additional speedo that you’ve had to fit?
(Could do with buying some for work)
 
I'm afraid that I cannot report any further on the Eventuri. There were problems gaining any improvements (in fact, it made losses) and I am awaiting news from Eventuri via Abbey.
 
That's a shame. I was curious to hear how it went at Abbey. Does it at least sound good?
 
I think that is the case with most induction kits. Nothing beats a fresh factory paper filter. It is proven that a fresh OEM paper filter, flows better than any Cotton/sponge based filter.

A KN type may flow better after 2000miles use but brand new out of the box, a paper filter flows better.
 
This intake seemed to get positive feedback so it was the option I’ve been swaying towards. I could live with an improvement in sound but no increase in performance but I couldn’t square fitting something that decreases power just to get the noise.

Toyota GR86 | Infinity Design

Toyota GR86 Carbon Intake System
www.infinityautodesign.com www.infinityautodesign.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top