REQ'D TO CHANGE CAR ODOMETER TO MILES???

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

So I finally got my letter from Volvo, We actually had to call their US division and they send a letter indicating what would need to be done to comply.... one thing was minor, but the second is that the car requires to have the odometer cluster to be replaced to miles. I went to Volvo here in US, they said it's $1100 just for the part and then install will come to $1400!!!!

My question is, do they make us convert the car over? if I get to the boarder to import my car, will they deny my import until the work is done and I can show proof? my car already has a secondary digital feature that lets me get actual miles per hour as well as km's on my regular odo....

anyone esle replace theirs? What do you think they will do.... make you come back to import, or possibly give me so many days to comply after entry...

This seems extreme?

Thanks,

[Krikit 1,164]

Well, I suppose you should look at your State DMV regulations but I haven't heard of anyone having to convert from kms to miles. With mine they just noted on the importation papers at the registration office that it was kms and not miles..... no big deal. They don't care about that kind of thing at the border, either.

[raymaga 25]

When I was going to import my Honda Civic, the only thing that I would have had to do was get airbags installed, which I didn't want to do, so I just sold the car in Canada and bought a new one in the U.S.

[warlord 73]

I never had to switch my car to miles at all when I came over. Only thing I got was something saying my car would not be allowed to be sold in the US as it was barley making the requirements and that was it. Good thing because it blew up in the Arizona desert 2 months later...

[JillA 2]

No way Jose. You're coming to PA and it's not necessary. I was able to import my car without even a mention about miles and I was able to register my car no problem at all.

[ozone_1974 1]

Volvo will put it in the compliance letter. They did on mine too and there is no way of talking them into removing it from the compliance letter. They will automatically put it on the letter if your speedometer is only in kph (like mine); if your speedometer is in both kph and mph then you are good to go.

The fees for reprogramming the speedometer is a total ripoff ! they asked 750$ for mine (no speedometer included). So I went to a Volvo forum (basically Volvo fans and mechanics helping people out with vehicle troubles) and they all agree it is a ripoff, it takes them less than 30 minutes to do it.

I decided to buy a speedometer on eBay (they are around 100$ so that is a lot of savings compared to buying it new) and to have it reprogrammed once being in USA (I believe there is a 90 days grace period but I am not sure).

Buying it off of eBay or buying it new is the same thing, they still have to reprogram it to reflect your vehicle real mileage (mileage is stored in the car computer and in the speedometer simultaneously to prevent frauds), except that it costs way less to buy a used one

Also on my compliance letter they indicated a change with the "warning lights". I believe they are talking about day running lights cause I do not see anything wrong with warning lights and I saw some people on VJ stating they had to disable day running lights

Anyway in either case it is completely nuts as day running lights are stock from factory even in USA so I do not understand this one (probably some way of stealing people's money once again)

What is your vehicle model and year ?

[MrsCat 6]

Holy Moses Volvo Guys?!

I think that is just like the Ford compliance letter that states the day-running lights have to be disabled before import. I never had mine done on the Mustang. They never even asked to see my import letter at the border when I was importing it.

Personally, I would chance it and try to import the car without having it done. The worst that is going to happen, is that they won't complete it until the work has been completed. You can finish importing the car at a later date in your home state at a POE there (ie: airport).

The only place I could imagine having problems would be with registering the car in your home state. The off chance that they want to verify your MpH.

Just to clarify - your car doesn't have KmpH & MpH already listed on the speedo? I know mine does, just the MpH is smaller.

[Danu 19]

yeah, i have my nissan compliance letter, it doesnt say i need my daytime running lights disabled, just dimmed...I'm not going to bother. If nissan won't do it because its not economically feasible, neither will I I think its retarded that volvo is giving you such a hard time on everything pop. At this point I would be so furious I would make them take the damn thing back.

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

My car is a 2009 XC90....

My letter has both the odometer req'mnt and the 'warning lights' But my car, has an electronic option that displays actual speed in miles, digitally... is this not good enough? this is what I use when I travel?

I will try and cross with the letter, hoping if it is an issue, they will still import with time to rectify?

[Krikit 1,164]

My car is a 2009 XC90....

My letter has both the odometer req'mnt and the 'warning lights' But my car, has an electronic option that displays actual speed in miles, digitally... is this not good enough? this is what I use when I travel?

I will try and cross with the letter, hoping if it is an issue, they will still import with time to rectify?

I can't see where it's going to be a problem at all, Poprocks. I don't know anyone who has imported a model that recent so if you could come back and let us know whether they charged you any duty on the import that would be great to know. I know Florida charged me a State tax based on the value of my car before they would register it. Let us know if your State has the same policy.

[Texanadian 10]

The rules are the same for both Canada and USA.

If your car has mph/kmh on the speedometer, you're fine in either country.

If it says mph only, you'd need to buy either a kmh or mph/kmh speedometer to bring the car to Canada.

If it says kmh only, you'd need to buy either a mph or mph/kmh speedometer to bring the car to the USA.

One my old bosses bought a new Mercedes in the USA and when he brought it into Canada, had to pay a bunch of money to get kmh put on the speedometer.

[wowswift 3]

yeah don't waste the money. i rly don't think anyone will have a more complicated import than ours. though ours passed everything and has import papers, but got "totaled" before actually registering it (it is very drivable still, no problems dumping it if we have too) so i guess gl to us, that happens next week lol. and yes of course im gonna try

Edited March 25, 2009 by wowswift