[BigMansWagon]

Examining V5 docs, and looking at HK selling practices, I would say an unwary buyer could be mislead.

For instance, say a car's vin number indicates that the manufacturing date is 2009. But the car's official manufacturing date on the V5 is 2010, and then when the car is imported to HK a couple of years later, the V5 will say first registration 2012. And then HK used dealers will sell the car as a 2012 car, and then slap you with hidden admin charges?

Is this normal practice here? Seriously, this place feels like there's a bunch of uneducated con men that even Del boy trotter would feel embarrassed to show his face.

Cheers,
BMW

[ny911]

Seems that must not be a HK dealer (BMWHK) car. And yes, dealers do make more profit on selling imported cars by cheatings or tricks.

[kchika]

Well no, the majority of us here know what to look for when buying. The car you mentioned will have "Imported Used" on its VRD anyway.

What did you end up buying then?

[clarence]

My opinion is HK is stricter than DVLA regarding documentation. If u examine the reg logbook there are 2 entries, one is year of manufacture & the other is date of 1st reg in HK. If the car is imported used there will be a difference between the 2 dates. Sometimes there will be a difference of 1yr even with offical imports if, say, it involves stock clearance or cars made near end of yr (due to shipping leadtimes). If u've bought a Jap import then the Jap auction docs & Jap deregistration docs will state actual year of manufacture, both items must be produced in order to successfully reg a car in HK. A honest seller will not shy away from buyers asking these questions.
On the HK logbook one must state whether the car is brandnew import, used import or "home delivery" (i.e. personal import).
The secret to buying 2nd hand in HK is to ask for both manufacture year & 1st reg year, & also it's status when 1st arrived in HK (i.e. official or grey import, new or used import etc.). This apply both to private or trade sellers.