Changes to Car for German Registration?

[Revfan]

Greetings

My car should be arriving in a few days, and I am curious as to what changes I will have to make to the car to have it be legal on German roads.

Its a 67 Convertible, Marina Blue with side pipes...

Also, is it best to have it registered as an Oldtimer?

Anything else I should be concerned about?

Thanks!

[Frank the Judge]

Change from sealed beams to head lamps with the so called European "E" (Bosch, Valeo, Hella).
Organise a spec sheet (Datenblatt) from TÜV Heilbronn.
Survey @TÜV for Confirmation the car is historical correct (H-Gutachten)
Make your check @TÜV for first registration which follows every two years.

For shure you should register as a historical car. Taxes are 191 Euro/Year instead of 2.000 or more.

Take your car to a workshop which is familiar with US vintage cars and let them do the job. Otherwise you might run in an open knife with this pimp car. The inspector could be a real pain in the ass.

[Revfan]

My German is horrible.... sorry.

So I need to switch the headlights out... does anyone know which ones (have a link) to the correct headlights that are acceptable?

"Organise a spec sheet (Datenblatt) from TÜV Heilbronn"
Is this a document that will tell me all the changes that need to be made?

Do I have to go to TÜV Heilbronn, or can I use a closer one to me... in Bad Windsheim?
https://www.tuev-sued.de/company/locatio..._windsheim

Thanks for your help!

[QuRace]

I think it would be wise to heed Frank's advice... Go to a reputable shop dealing with classic US cars and they'll take care of everything for you. Dealing with TÜV is (well, can be...) treacherous territory.

I could make a suggestion for a shop I trust in Fürth, a good 1/2 hour drive from your place.

I'll look out for you when I drive through Oberdachstetten next!

(BTW, why legalize the car in Germany? Don't you have the option of keeping it a "foreign" car? (US gov. or military employee...); Would keep things much simpler... )

[Revfan]

why legalize the car in Germany? Don't you have the option of keeping it a "foreign" car?

Is that an option? If so... that is what I'd like to do... how does one go about it?

And yes, if you know of a place in Fürth, I'd love to know about it!

Cheers

[QuRace]

Original von Revfan
Is that an option? If so... that is what I'd like to do... how does one go about it?

Well, I don't know any specifics - I'm just extrapolating from all the "foreign" cars I saw driving around here when the US military was still stationed in our area in force. You'd have to contact your local (US) authorities about details. This might get you started.

Original von Revfan
And yes, if you know of a place in Fürth, I'd love to know about it!

It's Autoservice Haselmann. He legalized my C3 here in Germany a year or so ago. He has a good understanding with the local TÜV guys and thus will be able to minimize the amount of work necessary to get TÜV approval. I even did the actual work of converting my C3 (headlamps, mostly) by myself, minimizing the cost further.

The owner has worked in the US for some time as a car mechanic. Talking to him in English won't be a problem...

[Francis 2]

Hi,

if you want to buy the European headlamps by yourself: https://www.ebay.de/itm/Scheinwerfer-Che...4aa15240ae

Best regards

Frank

[zuendler]

FYI: Your wiring harness will be cut to meet EU turn signal standard.
This is the usual way, but could be avoided with some more work. (If you are interested in keeping you harness original)

[Günther-C3]

How long will you be in Germay? For the rest of your life? If so, I would register the car in Germany. But if not, keep your American licence plates and drive with them.

Regards, Günther

[Revfan]

I'll probably be in Germany for the next 5-10 years, so I will go ahead and add the relays and get the H4s/H1s.