Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club | Buying from Auction, or off the lot in Vancouver?

Well, if I can direct this thread back onto the original topic, away from the flaming debris, I would say dah_hunter has the best advice so far: (Buy local if you find a good deal, buy from japan if you have the time/patience)

I will probably import. I am not in a rush, and I am not scared to death of the mechanical problems that may exist on an import. I would like to find a good delica mechanic in the greater Victoria area to help with an inspection though. While I am mechanically inclined - I am skilled mostly on the 22-RE Engine of a Toyota 4Runner. Not on a turbo diesel. (I have WAY too much experience on a 22-RE, read, I have a ducked-taped together 4Runner at the moment... ;) )

How about this... Only buy an L400 on your own if you have a source of headlights. They are now all but extinct! Also, watch out for knock-offs and fakes!

If you are buying locally make sure the dealer hasnt swapped out the headlights. I have been at several lots in metro van and haven't seen 1 dealer with correct headlights (including the so-called "reputable" ones). They must be using 1 set to safety their whole fleet? I don't see any other way.

Well, I know my dealer put the correct lights in there for 3 reasons...
1) they have the right stamp on the glass
2) he obviously didn't put the originals back in, because they're sitting on the shelf in my garage!
3) the beam pattern in the dark is very obvious, and it's pointed the right way.

Email sent.

I havent really spoken on this thread, but one thing to keep in mind, Just because a van on a lot doesent have the Legal headlights in it at the time, doesent mean they arent available. dirt bags are now resorting to breaking the grills and breaking into vans and Only stealing headlights. leaving stereos..... so clearly the object they want is the headlights... so some dealers/importers are not putting them in until the vehicle is sold. Thats not to say that this practice is being done everywhere, but asking about the headlights would be a better idea rather than just think they are not installed or not a legal van...

Funny this was brought up as someone tried to, I'm assuming, steal my L400 headlights.

Fixed the cracked grill and put some secret anti-theft things in for future scumbags who try it again.

This headlight thing is getting ridiculous.

People are resorting to stealing the headlights ? Come on

I can see someone trying to steal spot lamps but head lights? How much of a market is there for those?

There was a very limited amount of the proper headlights produced that make the L400 legal here in Canada . And people are finding that out the hard way. Buying vans and importing them only to find out the can't just buy a set of legal lights for them so with all that money invested and many "importers" buying several vans to make money on the newest edition ... People get desperate . To buy a set of these headlights out of germany starts at $1000/set with shipping and duty, and is going up to $1500 range as sellers of them realize that will pay for them.

So what is worth more money ? A usEd stereo that can be pawned or a set of $1000+ headlights to be able to sell a whole vehicle? Vancouver is the largest stolen vehicle market in all of Canada and ripping off a set of headlights is nothing to many people.

importing is pretty easy, and we've done a good job of demystifying it here. too bad. now every tom, dick, and scumbag is importing. certain amateur importers are going out of their way to try to make reputable importers look bad....

this is getting crazy

X2

Surely at $1000+ for lights, some manufacturer is going to step in and provide a solution, especially now that the L400's can be imported into Canada, and will become more and more common. There are 2 on the Timmin's Auto lot here in Victoria that just came in. I have not checked them out in detail yet as to the status of the lights though. Also, up North of Duncan there are apparently lots full of L400s now.

I wouldent count on it there will only be a couple hundred l400's come here before the 96's come and for those there is a cheaper depo headlight allready made for those ones

Do the 96's have the same chassis as the 94? It is just an appearance upgrade to the body right? The underlying hardware is otherwise the same is it not? If so, that will make the 96's considerably more popular as you say.

the 96 (I thought it was 97 actually) is the "facelift" model, minor changes only, they removed the bull-bars and put some plastic thing up there, changed the headlights, and a few other minor changes.


vs

as a rough guide:

L400 S1 until 6/96,
L400 S1.5 7/96 until 6/97, Same shape and front as S1
L400 S2 from 7/97, Totally new front no nudge bar but has small chrome bar as option.