L400 coming soon

[Glenn Delwood]

Hello all,
I have a L400 coming my way and I want to plan the compliance, inspection, registration etc. as much as I can before the vehicle is here.
1. I'm going to need tires. The ones coming are not DOT. a) Suggestions and deals where to get some? I heard about tirerack. Is that a good option? b) what do you do with the non DOT tires? The pics I have say 225/80R15 105S. Any other size that would fit these rims? I cannot seem to find these exact specs on tirerack.
2. DRL - who's done them via DIY and how hard is it? I tried a while back (few years) with a kit from Canadian Tire and took it back. The wires they provided were too short. I ended up having someone do it for me (different vehicle). Since then, I got better (at working on my cars) so I'm thinking of doing it myself. Is there a way to do it without the kit? Like bypassing some switch? I had a 190E that worked like that.
3. Side reflectors - where to buy them? Canadian Tire?
4. I have compliance lenses coming in for the lights. They are only the lenses. I understand the headlights need to be heated to melt of the old lenses and put the new ones in. Is anyone familiar with this?
Anything else needed for inspection?

Thanks a bunch.

Glenn

[psilosin]

4. Waaaaaaay back in 2006 I posted a quickie how-to for doing the 'EZ Bake Oven Manouver' headlamp lens swap over on ih8mud. It was for my Hilux Surf but the process is the same so it might help. Just remember even if the melting glue smells good....do not take a bite!

Psilosin's Headlamp Lens EZ Bake Oven Manouver

[glenn]

Funny, the other Coquitlam Glenn (me) is also waiting on an L400 from Japan. Mine left on the 27th. When are you expecting yours?

[Glenn Delwood]

Don't know when it left (if it did). Early October. They might be on the same boat. :) What are you doing for tires and all the rest?

[glenn]

I lucked out with DOT marked tires.

I'm planning to do this mod for DRLs
http://www.delica.ca/forum/drl-mod-9982.html

I've ordered the LEDs already (like $14 including shipping)

Where are you in coquitlam - I am in the dawes hill area.

[Glenn Delwood]

No way. Are you right at the bottom of the hill? I drive by a house that has a L300 parked in front some times.

[glenn]

Not me, I'm at the top of the hill. I know the one you are talking about though. The DDI (delica density index) is pretty high in this area though. Although that's true of the lower mainland in general. I remember when I used to get excited every time I saw one.

[Glenn Delwood]

Alright, as of today, it's all ready to roll with Beautiful British Columbia plates.

0. E coded lights: I used the bake method. http://forum.ih8mud.com/showpost.php?p= ... ostcount=3 I didn't go all the way to 300F˚ but tried at 270F˚ and it worked fine. The glue on mine was grey. If you get Permatex to add on or just simply use beside it (which I didn't) don't mess the colour. I think it will show.

1. DRL installed with the Canadian Tire module (~$40 module + small $ for extra wire roll, zip ties, connectors.) Not complicated at all. A few notes: I wired to one headlight only (positive end, obviously) since they are wired so both low beams come on. I extended the cable that goes to the battery, put it inside a plastic hose/channel and guided it through the front. I took 12V from some wires on top of the engine with those snap on connectors (not so nifty; kind of a pain to close through the wires).

2. Tires must have the inflation/PSI etc or just say DOT. Don't try to pass with the old ones if they are not DOT. I went with 235/75/15 from Costco. I had them installed somewhere else since Costco people were clueless if these fit or not so I went cash & carry and had them installed at the inspection facility. Costco said they won't offer all their goodie warranty (except the manufacturer warranty). I'm planning to go show them they fit so they can make a note on their system so that you guys could go to them if you want. :)

3. Even though I thought the rear light assembly wraps around the edges and it is reflective and I might not need extra reflectors, the guy at the inspection facility said I should stick them (I had them bought from O'Reilly Auto Parts for $4.

4. He measured the breaks, took pictures of everything including the TWO SPOTS where the Chassis number is written, also referred to us as (short) VIN or serial number.

5. Inspection CANNOT BE DONE at Canadian Tire. I found out after I wasted 2h of my life waiting for them to find out that the steering wheel was on the passenger side.
I found two places: http://www.canpages.ca/page/BC/port-coq ... 83753.html on Kingsway in Port Coquitlam and
D&R Automotive in Burnaby on Lane St. http://goo.gl/maps/AHQd2 This is where I went. Small family operation.

6. The short VIN is NO PROBLEM as long as your agent does not talk to ICBC but calls directly the Vehicle Registration (don't know how/where). This is what the agent I used today told me. She said most people don't "fight" it and they just end up with extra paperwork and an extra paper they have to carry around, plus (from what I understand from the forum) you have the have the new 17 digit VIN properly installed on the vehicle. More work, more unnecessary trouble. The vehicle MUST have inscribed an IDENTICAL SERIAL NUMBER in TWO SPOTS on the chassis.

7. I'll be on the right hand side.

[whatthejeez]

My Jasper arrives this week. Add another L 400 to the North Shore!