Are Mileage JDM Imports Reliable?

[aamiggia]

This may not be the right forum, but I thought I would ask the experts.

I'm looking to buy an imported JDM engine for my Honda and I wanted some insight on the "low KM" claim all JDM importers make. I heard somewhere that Japanese get heavily taxed for older (40 - 60,000 km) vehicles. That is why there is such a large market for JDM parts, namely engines.

Is the claim of low KM's reliable?

I'm not an expert on Japanese culture, but I do know that there are a lot of cars and conjestion on the roads. I hear traffic is a nightmare. This would lead me to believe that most of the driving is city and serve stop-and-go.

Isn't a vehicle with 60,000 km of hard driving in the same boat as a vehicle with 200,000 km of North American driving (50/50 Hwy/City)?

All manufacturers recommend service on a vehicle in time or mileage. Meaning and old car with low miles is still and old car.

[beanz2]

Their mileages tend to be low, but when the engines are out of the vehicles, there is no way for you to verify it. It's all up to the dealer's honesty.

Unless you are buying a half cut.

Dave

[crushers]

it is a matter of trust, if you talk to the dealer and get a bad feeling or vibe then go on to the next...
i would think Greg and Sheldon would be the best to talk to, since they are in the "business"...
cheers

[Jan-78FJ40]

I have read somewhere that since these engines are taken out of the vehicles so soon, some components are made of material with lesser quality. does anyone know about this?

[patpend2000]

Another thing to look for that I have come across with a couple of JDM engines is the fact that very few of these engines have been maintained. I have seen a half cut with 30,000KMs on it with the original oil filter on the engine, when we took the cam cover off the engine it was full of sludge and smelled of burnt oil.

As others have recommended, it all depends on the seller, go with one that has a good rep (as for references) and gives you a warranty on the engine. Make sure the warranty includes the cost of RR of the engine if the "low mileage" JDM motor needs to be pulled again.

Kelly

[aamiggia]

Hmmmm....

Thinking about it, I can't see an older daily driven vehicle with low miles being that good. Motor oil companies are always warning about the stress stop and go driving has on engines, namely sludge build up. If these vehicles are never run for long periods of time on the highway that sludge will be really bad.

How do the engines fair on JDM import Landcruisers with low miles? Do the importers have to make many repairs when the trucks land in Canada?

[crushers]

if you saw a 1969 corvette with only 29,000 miles on it, would you assume it has sludge in the engine? that the engine is no good? that is was poorly maintained? or would you assume, a babied, well looked after rare unit?

I have brought in quite a few ULTRA LOW km JDM cruisers from Japan and I have yet to see sludge coming out when I change the oils like I have seen in MANY Canadian trucks I work on. there has been no signs of abuse on these units. I have heard of a couple engines coming in that were already pulled and being full of sludge but then who knows what the real history is behind those engines.

as for low km being worse than high km. the idea that a 60,000 km is the same as 200,000 is a crock. it comes down to maintenance and driving habits. I have seen Canadian 3Bs (which are normally bullet proof) needing rebuilt at 150,000 km.

in my opinion, with your distrust of the low km JDM imports, it would probably be best if you get your replacement engine/car/truck from America.

[Radd Cruisers]

[quote=crushers]if you saw a 1969 corvette with only 29,000 miles on it, would you assume it has sludge in the engine? that the engine is no good? that is was poorly maintained? or would you assume, a babied, well looked after rare unit?

Unless your Jay Leno and have a personal mechanic who runs and changes the oils periodically.

I have brought in quite a few ULTRA LOW km JDM cruisers from Japan and I have yet to see sludge coming out when I change the oils like I have seen in MANY Canadian trucks I work on. there has been no signs of abuse on these units. I have heard of a couple engines coming in that were already pulled and being full of sludge but then who knows what the real history is behind those engines.

I dropped the oil out of a 1HD-T, it was thick and chunky sludge???


Rob

[crushers]

and the KNOWN history behind that engine was...?

[crushers]

[quote=Radd Cruisers.

I dropped the oil out of a 1HD-T, it was thick and chunky sludge???


Rob[/QUOTE]


curious, what did you do to clean out the oil galleries?

[aamiggia]

Like Radd Cruiser eluded to, if you drive a collector car or a rare vehicle with the intent to preserve it you will be on top of the maintenance regularly.

If you buy a vehicle as a daily driver knowing that you will only drive it for 40,000 km, one may not be as prone to do the maintenance as regularly. Besides, how many people really know that they need to do the same maintenance on a vehicle in 6 months or 6000 km. Which ever comes first.

It's like beating the piss out of a rental becuase as long as you don't mess up the body no one will ever know.

I would like to here from someone in Japan or that have lived there to comment on the driving characteristics and the reason the KM's are so low.

[crushers]

curious, you live in Ontario and drive in Toronto so would you buy a vehicle from Ontario?

[aamiggia]

Of course!

My 1997 LX450 is a homegrown Ontario Truck. It has been well maintained by the PO and properly rust proofed. It was cheap as hell because the resale on a Luxury SUV is terrible and Toronto has the best prices on used cars in North America (based on exchange rate in the US).

My ex- 1988 and ex- 1991 Suzuki Samurai was from Ottawa and Toronto respectively.

I'm assuming that your comment is eluding to the rust issue in Ontario, namely Southern Ontario. You want to talk about rust, the Suzuki Samurai is biodegradable! Although maintanence and care (i.e. rust proof / oil spray) makes or brakes an older Ontario Truck.

I always look to the West Coast to buy vintage (older) vehicles, but the are insanely priced. Why is there a premium on every west coast vehicle? No salt I'm assuming.

There are many BJ and HJ60's for sale in Southern Ontario and on average quite cheaper than in BC / AB. I think it's more hype than anything else tha Ontario trucks are ALWAYS rust buckets. If you look ye shall find.

It is also a lot of hype that AB / BC cars are ALWAYS rust free.

I think I have been spoiled by the great resale market in Southern Ontario. Just compare the prices in www.trader.ca (ontario) to www.canadatrader.com.

I know I'm coming across as a cheap (I think frugal) JDM import hater, but I'm just doing my research and thinking about things from a non importer perspective.

[crushers]

let's see, I grew up in Ontario and drove in Toronto from time to time.

the abusive driving habits of the Ontario drivers is atrocious to say the least. rev the crap out of your engine to get on the free way and drive the hell out of it when on the freeway with rapid slow downs and accelerations, stop and go traffic in the cities. in the rurals there is a 80 km speed limit with lots of slow driving in the small towns. hummm, sounds like your description of Japanese drivers, eh? except for some reason I picture Japanese drivers more sane.

RUST is a problem all over Ontario and at 150,000 miles your LX450 will have rust. MAYBE you got lucky and did find a low rust vehicle but you might have a good example of an Ontario car but compared to Alberta that truck is rusty. Alberta vehicles are rusty compared to California, Texas, and Arizona.

the reason that Ontario vehicles sell cheaper is because of the truth of the matter is that they have rust. I have yet to find a vehicle older than 5 years from Ontario that didn't have rust.

Ontario drivers have to be the worst at looking after routine maintenance. they know their vehicles will last 5 years if lucky so oil changes are not important to them. grease jobs are a close second if at all.

would I buy a vehicle from Ontario? NOPE. would I buy one from Japan? YEP. why? because my experience is that a truck from Japan is much more well looked after. my experience from Ontario vehicles is they are rusty and abused.

in the end you will loose money when you go to sell your LX450 but the Japanese cruisers will hold their value much better. so which is the better buy in the long run?

<this view from a consumer not an importer>
cheers
Wayne

[mot]

Originally Posted by aamiggia

I would like to here from someone in Japan or that have lived there to comment on the driving characteristics and the reason the KM's are so low.

Well, the driving characteristics in Japan is like this: there are a lot of traffic lights and their intervals are shorter, MUCH shorter than those in N. America. Especially in the morning and evening commute you would not be using the 5th or the 4th gear too often (in 5sp) if you lived in a busy town.

Do people here ever worry about engines or vehicles with "short" odometer readings? No, not at all! Do people here ever ask or state that when the odeometer reading is high that it was mostly "highway mileage"? NO! People here (also) prefer used vehicles with lower miles (or kilos for that matter).

I think a part of it that's a little different than N. America is that the maintenance schedule is more strict (I think) and that they are usually followed/adhered to better than by an average car owner in the N. America. People here consider anything above 100,000 km (60,000-ish miles) a lot of miles and you do not see them too often, I guess partially because the system here favors (it used to favor more) new vehicles when it came to registration/inspection, etc... not so much that the engines/vehicles are falling apart.

Anyway, my 2 yen.

Mot

[aamiggia]

OK, you got me on the typical Toronto driver. The slinky effect on the highway is a major PITA. And yes the typical car is rusty, but not after 5 years.

OK, I would tend not to buy an 80's Japanese vehicle from Ontario. Honda's, Toyota's, and Suzuki's for sure. They got much much better in the 90's. So the 60 and 70 series are mostly in bad shape. There are a rare few units that have been immaculately maintained.

OK, I guess they stereo types (approx. 75% of the time) are true. The typical Ontario car has rust and the drivers are bad, but the drivers in BC are worse.

I think anyone will loose money when they go to sell a vehicle. That's the nature of the business. A car is NOT an investment (rare exceptions) it is a luxury. I admit rare vehicles will hold their value better, but they cost more to buy.

I still want to hear from someone in Japan in regards to driviing / maintanence.

[aamiggia]

I stand (sit) corrected.

Thanks, mot

[Radd Cruisers]

[quote=crushers]

Originally Posted by Radd Cruisers.

I dropped the oil out of a 1HD-T, it was thick and chunky sludge???


Rob[/QUOTE

curious, what did you do to clean out the oil galleries?

We did nothing, I put the engine on a stand and changed out the rod bearings. Its in Vancouver and last I heard its running great.

[crushers]

interesting,
thanks

[Stone]

Originally Posted by aamiggia

OK, I guess they stereo types (approx. 75% of the time) are true. The typical Ontario car has rust and the drivers are bad, but the drivers in BC are worse.

Nah...we BC drivers are really well-behaved most of the time. It's just that when we see an Ontario plate, we can't resist shoving our bumpers up their ass I guess as a subconscious retribution for the way the federal government has always treated the West.

[aamiggia]

Well my driving experience in BC has been in the Greater Vancouver Area.

So I will clarify my comment MOST (75%) of GVA drivers suck! The worst I have very seen in Canada. The funny thing is, you would think that they would know how to drive in the rain! Since it rains all the freaking time.

The rest of BC is off the hook...

...well islander's are a different story

[Stone]

Originally Posted by aamiggia

Well my driving experience in BC has been in the Greater Vancouver Area.

So I will clarify my comment MOST (75%) of GVA drivers suck! The worst I have very seen in Canada. The funny thing is, you would think that they would know how to drive in the rain! Since it rains all the freaking time.

The rest of BC is off the hook...

...well islander's are a different story

I was just kidding. I agree with you: as a Lower Mainland driver, and as a person who has lived in New York City, we are bad drivers. All it takes is a tiny bit of rain, snow or fog, and all of a sudden we forget how to do shoulder checks, look at mirrors, etc.

[cruiser_guy]

aamigga,

I wouldn't buy an Ontario or any eastern Canadian or eastern U.S. car. Like Crusher says, TOO MUCH RUST. I've seen the Japanese 'Cruisers that come in and they DO NOT HAVE ANY RUST AT ALL!! You could eat off the undercarriage (well almost).

I agree with the fact that Lower Mainland drivers are bad but "you ain't seen nuthin yet" Down here in Guatemala everyone turns left from the right lane and right from the left lane and they are all conserving energy because they NEVER use turn signals (half the cars don't even have them!). Buses pick up and drop off folks in any lane they choose! Lane markings, what are they for?? It looks nice but why bother!!
I'm told when the roads were first marked some folks thought they needed to drive with the line down the middle of the car!!!!

After you've driven in Guatemala City anything is easy!!

[crushers]

Originally Posted by Stone

Nah...we BC drivers are really well-behaved most of the time. It's just that when we see an Ontario plate, we can't resist shoving our bumpers up their ass I guess as a subconscious retribution for the way the federal government has always treated the West.

Stoney, that made me laugh, thanks..

[fjbj40]

have to respond on the no rust issue in Alberta , I say it is not true . I bought my cruser in Ab. from a cruiser shop and the cruiser spent all its life in Ab. and it had rust . More than I first thought , but it is a cruiser after all so rust is pretty much normal . Now I have a friend here in NS that also has a cruiser and he was out west and went to look at a freshly imported hj61 with low km and was disgusted at the amount of rust and low quality rust repair on the lower body panels . Needless to say he did not buy it , instead he bought one from the states , rust free , and did the diesel transplant and was $$$$ dollars ahead versus buying an import dtlc.
Daryl

[crushers]

hey, if it is the HJ61 i remember, he wasn't the only one shocked...
good contacts in Japan are worth their weight in gold... or did i already say that?
as for rust in alberta... yah, we have rust, more so in the last 10 years thanks to the new chemicals they use...

[fjbj40]

what happened to that hj61 anyways ?
Daryl

[crushers]

my wife ended up driving it for a long time, then it got sold cheap...