VW LUPO TDI

velorexbob

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2003
I would like to import a used VW LUPO TDI into the U.S. and am curious if the fuel here will satisfy the car. Also looking for a company who can convert the car to meet U.S. requirements. If it is too tall of an order, I may just ship back an engine and drivetrain and plug it into something regestered here. Ideas, anyone? Thanks, Bob Hemmerlin velorexbob@comcast.net
 

velorexbob

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2003
Eric: Thanks, but it came up as a bad URL. I have seen many pages like this before. Customs is another hurdle. I recently imported a little 2 cylinder car from Czech Republic which is 2 stroke, has a cloth body streched over a tube frame, no heat or defroster, absolutely zero saftey features, but because it is over 30 years old is considered an antique and is now licensed as a daily driver with no questions or problems. I think for now, bringing the engines over and transplanting is the short term solution. I still need to know fuel differences between Europe and the US. Is there a web page that covers diesel types? velorexbob@comcast.net
 

Steve140

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2002
Location
Komoka, Ontario
TDI
2000 & 2011 Golf TDIs
I saw a Government of Canada tv commercial, and they showed how they were testing fuel efficient vehicles and they showed a small Audi diesel and a yellow Lupo, so who knows, maybe we will see them here someday!
 

Secret Squirrel

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2000
Location
Lakeport, MI USA
TDI
Jetta, 98, Black
When I was looking for the info on importing I just did Google search for "grey market importing". I'm a big Land Rover fan or old Series vehicles. I plan on getting one here from Scotland in about a year. From my understanding, the vehicle must be at least 25 years old to be exemp from EPA regulations. I guess they figure cars that are 25 years old or older are either rust buckets or just dont run. My Jetta is still my daily driver and I plan on converting my Defender 90 to a diesel also. Cheers
 

jjvincent

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2002
Location
Bethlehem, PA
TDI
Jetta, 2K, Green
For importation of a European specification car here is some information from the EPA and the NHTSA.
Do a search on this site under Grey Market Car In The US. You'll see that this has been discussed at great length before. Just remember: If it was real easy to do it, then it would be commonplace.
 

dieseldorf

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 11, 2000
Location
MA
TDI
ex- 1996 wagon, ex-2000 Jetta
Bob, as the others have said, if it were feasible everyone would be doing it. The grey market is basically dead.

Description


A WORD OF CAUTION:

Both the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency advise that although a nonconforming car may be conditionally admitted, the modifications required to bring it into compliance may be so extensive and costly that it may be impractical and even impossible to achieve such compliance.

Moreover, under Federal Regulations 49 CFR parts 591 through 594, effective January 31, 1990, some vehicle models are prohibited from importation. It is highly recommended that these prohibitions and modifications be investigated before a vehicle is purchased for importation.


There are 5 well-recognized ICIs in the US. One of them is in Maryland and has done quite a few late model Euro cars but at an extraordinary expense.

more stuff
 

velorexbob

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2003
Thanks,folks. I read the pages...I see the light! However, I will bring in an engine and transplant into something small here. My goal is a very fuel effecient car. To repeat an earlier question: Is the diesel in the US the same as in Europe? In other words, if I bring back a Lupo TDI engine, will it run on #2 diesel or something different?
 

dieseldorf

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 11, 2000
Location
MA
TDI
ex- 1996 wagon, ex-2000 Jetta
Is the diesel in the US the same as in Europe? In other words, if I bring back a Lupo TDI engine, will it run on #2 diesel or something different?
No, and this issue is at the heart of the problem. Our fuel is not up to spec when compared to fuel available elsewhere. Try to find the story where the Lupo circumnavigated the globe. They had to have a chase vehicle supplying Euro fuel while the little Lupo travelled in the USA.


Bob, here's your homework assignment for tomorrow:

Registered Importers:

Black Shrine
1760 Monrovia Avenue, Unit C-12
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 USA
Tel: 949 515 8056 Fax: 949 515 8036

G & K Automotive Conversion
3231 South Standard Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92705 USA
Tel: 714 545 9503 Fax: 714 545 7667

Western Cascade
6440 South 143rd Street
Tukwila, WA 98168 USA
Tel: 206 243 2667 Fax: 206 439 7833

Amerispec Corporation
190 George Washington Parkway
Ridgefield, CT 06877 USA
Tel: 203 744 0844 Fax: 203 744 9771

Atlantic ICI
2605 Clark Street, Unit C
Apopka, FL 32703 USA
Tel: 407 298 3500 Fax: 407 298 9911

DC Imports
12079 NW 50th Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33076 USA
Tel: 954 755 8868 Fax: 954 755 7768

Bayway Auto
558-562 Frelinghuysen Avenue
Newark, NJ 07114 USA
Tel: 973 824 8687 Fax: 973 824 8782

Autosport Design
332 Sagamore Avenue
Mineola, NY 11501 USA
Tel: 516 248 0066 Fax: 516 248 4422

Champagne Imports
132 Penn Avenue
Teleford, PA 18969 USA
Tel: 215 799 1445 Fax: 215 799 1421

Wallace Environmental Test Lab
2140 Wirtcrest
Houston, TX 77055 USA
Tel: 713 956 7705 Fax: 713 956 0104

Rampe Corporation
55 High Street
North Billerica, MA 01862 USA
Tel: 978 667 6300 Fax: 978 667 7577

JK Technologies
3500 Sweet Air Street
Baltimore, MD 21211 USA
Tel: 410 366 6332 Fax: 410 366 7655

...you should find out how many have expertise in Lupo TDIs.
 

ikendu

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2003
Location
Iowa
TDI
2003 Golf Indigo Blue
So...even though our U.S. diesel fuel is not very good, couldn't you just run it on B100 (no sulfer, etc.).
 

dieseldorf

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 11, 2000
Location
MA
TDI
ex- 1996 wagon, ex-2000 Jetta
the cars need ULSD (at a minimum) which will not arrive nationwide 'til 2006.
 

GoFaster

Moderator at Large
Joined
Jun 16, 1999
Location
Brampton, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2006 Jetta TDI
Please note,

That engine will RUN just fine on North American diesel fuel ... but it won't achieve the same exhaust emission levels that are possible with better fuel. The sulfur in the fuel poisons the catalysts ... but the engine will RUN.
 

velorexbob

New member
Joined
Mar 23, 2003
Alright gentlemen: what is USLD and/or please direct me to the pages regarding diesel fuels. Thanks, Bob
 

ALCO

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2002
Location
Port Perry, Ontario, Canada
TDI
1999 A3 Jetta, silver/2005 B5 Passat, silver
ULSD = "Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel" which has maximum 15 parts-per-million (ppm) sulphur. LSD = "Low Sulphur Diesel" which contains up to 500 ppm. Canadian and U.S. federal regulations mandate a change to ULSD in 2006. More info here.
 

jjvincent

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2002
Location
Bethlehem, PA
TDI
Jetta, 2K, Green
There you have it. Biodiesel in a Lupo engine. Keep us up to date on progress of your endeavor. It'll be interesting to see that Lupo engine in whatever you put it in. Post some pics also!!!
 

Brioscooter

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2002
Location
Baltimore, Md.
TDI
2004 and 2005 Golf TDIs
The Lupo drivetrain stuffed into an old Fiat X 1/9 would be cool.
That is, if you could find one that wasn't already rusted out.
 

watercop

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Location
Clay County, FL
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel - currently available only in California. BioD is also low / no sulfur

I think our current Diesel can have as much as 500 ppm Sulfur. ULSD is something like 15.

Apparently it is mandated nationwide in 2006, following which we might have more Diesel engine choices in vehicles, as emissions compliance becomes much easier with low sulfur fuel - Sulfur poisons catalytic converters?????
 
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