duckdive
Well-known member
This has been quite a saga. My wife (Canadian, married Oct 10) and I drove her 08 GTI (great condition, low miles) from Calgary to California.
We understand that we need to import it with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) (meeting EPA and DOT/NHSTA reg). We found out that TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) is not active on that year GTI. In order to comply, the TPMS must be present and a "Letter of Conformity" is required when you visit the CBP office.
The GTI is capable of Indirect TPMS via VAG-COM code change (http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?6035474-MKV-Indirect-TPMS).
We also confirmed with with a service rep named, Jens, at Clarkdale VW in BC, Canada. He stated that they have performed that exact procedure many times.
I also contacted every single Registered Importer on the CBP's list with a form letter asking about importing the vehicle. The responses were so different (not possible, too expensive, have to add Direct TPMS), and some very sketchy (give us $1500, and we can do it). So there didn't seem to be much to go on there, or at least I thought we'd try through VW first.
Thus, I contacted our local VW dealer, service manager, Bill McAuliffe, Herman Cook VW, 760-753-6256, WMCAULIFFE@COOKVW.COM to ask about turning on the Indirect TPMS. Upon the first inquiry, he stated something to the effect that he could do it, but it would be cost prohibitive (assuming that he was talking about adding Direct TPMS, sensors, Comfort Control Module).
I then spoke with the ClarkDale VW (Canada) rep again, and he offered to explain the enabling of Indirect TPMS to my local service guy, Bill. Jens called Bill. Jens told me that Bill stated that he is unable to perform the enabling of Indirect TPMS for legal reasons.
In the meantime, I have a friend (GTI_Matt) who lives in San Diego and has a VAG-COM. He and I enabled Indirect TPMS, and now the dash indicator shows up. I have also confirmed that if the tire drops below 25% of spec'd pressure, the indicator comes on. It works!
So then, we explain to Bill that TPMS is on and if he will go to bat with VW of America to help us get a "Letter of Conformity". He stated that he is unable to assist if their scan (apparently they do not use VAG-COM for their scan) doesn't show TPMS is enabled.
I'm stuck. Sharing this for others and in case somebody has anything to add.
I intend to hit RossTech forums to see if somebody can help as well.
John
We understand that we need to import it with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) (meeting EPA and DOT/NHSTA reg). We found out that TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) is not active on that year GTI. In order to comply, the TPMS must be present and a "Letter of Conformity" is required when you visit the CBP office.
The GTI is capable of Indirect TPMS via VAG-COM code change (http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?6035474-MKV-Indirect-TPMS).
We also confirmed with with a service rep named, Jens, at Clarkdale VW in BC, Canada. He stated that they have performed that exact procedure many times.
I also contacted every single Registered Importer on the CBP's list with a form letter asking about importing the vehicle. The responses were so different (not possible, too expensive, have to add Direct TPMS), and some very sketchy (give us $1500, and we can do it). So there didn't seem to be much to go on there, or at least I thought we'd try through VW first.
Thus, I contacted our local VW dealer, service manager, Bill McAuliffe, Herman Cook VW, 760-753-6256, WMCAULIFFE@COOKVW.COM to ask about turning on the Indirect TPMS. Upon the first inquiry, he stated something to the effect that he could do it, but it would be cost prohibitive (assuming that he was talking about adding Direct TPMS, sensors, Comfort Control Module).
I then spoke with the ClarkDale VW (Canada) rep again, and he offered to explain the enabling of Indirect TPMS to my local service guy, Bill. Jens called Bill. Jens told me that Bill stated that he is unable to perform the enabling of Indirect TPMS for legal reasons.
In the meantime, I have a friend (GTI_Matt) who lives in San Diego and has a VAG-COM. He and I enabled Indirect TPMS, and now the dash indicator shows up. I have also confirmed that if the tire drops below 25% of spec'd pressure, the indicator comes on. It works!
So then, we explain to Bill that TPMS is on and if he will go to bat with VW of America to help us get a "Letter of Conformity". He stated that he is unable to assist if their scan (apparently they do not use VAG-COM for their scan) doesn't show TPMS is enabled.
I'm stuck. Sharing this for others and in case somebody has anything to add.
I intend to hit RossTech forums to see if somebody can help as well.
John