Driving a US-market-Jetta in Europe

Hi, I am planning to bring my US Jetta back to Europe and I wonder if anyone knows if it is possible to drive an "American/Mexican" Jetta in Europe. The gasolin I use in the US is 87 octane and minimum in Europe is 92. But from what I know you can't compare these numbers directly, since the method used to measure the octane is different.

Does anyone have any experience driving American VWs in Europe? Thanks, Carsten

Reply to
Carsten Poulsen
Loading thread data ...

I am driving a Passat GLX in Turkey. The octane numbers in US, I believe, are calculated by averaging two RON values, and the ones in Europe are showing the maximum of those two. My car accepts 91+ octane in US and I have to get 95+ octane in Turkey. (I am using 98 octane to be safe).

If I were you, I would get the speed limiter removed. It costs a lot more here to get it done. I am stuck with a car that can accelerate to

215km/h uphill, but no more even when I go down hill :(
Reply to
Kagan Gokbayrak

Are there no speed limits in Turkey?

Reply to
Biz

If you use U.S. 87 octane in your car, you must have the 2 litre 8 valve engine. In western Europe, the lowest octane you can find will be ok, just like in the U.S. If you are in Ukraine or Belerus(sp?) or other old "Eastern bloc" countries, you might need to use higher octane than the lowest available because they may still be selling extra low octane stuff that will work in some of the Soviet-era cars.

Reply to
KokomoKid

Theoretically 120km/h on the "toll" highways. Since people usually prefer the free highways, there is not much traffic on them and very little control. The auto control mechanism works there, and the punishment is the extra bucks paid for the decreased gas mileage.

Reply to
Kagan Gokbayrak

As long as it's unleaded fuel it should be fine.

Most countries allow you to "visit" and bring your car in for a temporary time period w/o any modifications. If you're going to be registering it there (to live there) you might have to convert it to Euro specs. But for just visiting it should be OK.

Reply to
Matt B.

"Matt B." wrote

I am actually planning to keep it there. Not just to have it for a visit, since it costs around $1200 to get it shipped.

I am planning to bring it to Sweden, since I only have to pay 5% VAT when I import it, if I have been driving my car for more than a year here in the US. So I think that it will be a good deal with the low dollar, comparing with what I can sell it for here.

Do you know what kind of modifications that has to be done? Does anyone have experience doing this?

-Carsten

Reply to
Carsten Poulsen

The specifics can probably be found on the website of whatever governing entity is in charge of vehicle safety and equipment for Sweden, but I'll take a guess at some of the mods:

  1. E-code headlamps
  2. White parking lights (e-code headlamps will probably accomodate this)
  3. Rear fog lamp (can add an external one or swap to e-code A2 taillamps)
  4. Switch the speedo to km/h
  5. Side indicators

The good thing is that A2s were popular over there and parts shouldn't be that pricey.

Reply to
Matt B.

Oh and if the car has US-style passive belts (found on many late A2s), there's a good chance you'll need tp those out for the traditional 3-point belts.

Reply to
Matt B.

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.