Mecedes ML 270cdi conversion to commercial, EASY??

Rockjock

Hi , i have a 2001 Merc 270 cdi , was top of the range , I was looking a tgetting a Defender crew cab and now i might just convert the ML, how easy do you think htis may be and is it worth the hassle, I am self employed therefore have a tax certificate and a land owner so should be able to get the commercial tax if converted??

All help appreciated and thank you...

theshaft

here's every step i went through. bit of a headache at times but i have to say it was worth it in the end.

1. take out your back seats and seatbelts. you'll then need to weld small plates over all the bolt holes. i found this heartbreaking having to weld inside my car hoping nothing got burned as its a stunning interior but i had no choice as it will be inspected for this later on. even if you got a DOE with out doing it, the tax office will want to see it welded up.

2. get a weight docket at a weigh bridge. i used one in a nearby quarry

3. get a DOE test for it. list of test centres on the RSA website i think. bring your weight docket and vehicle reg cert with you aswell. once you pass you'll be given a pass statement. in the end you'll end up with a certificate of roadworthiness from the tax office.

4. i was unsure about this but did it anyway. get a goods declaration signed and stamped at a garda station. you need a VAT number and to specify your occupation. its said that you dont need this if your vehicle is over 1524kg but i got one anyway. better to have it then to get to the tax office and be refused the change coz you don't have it.

5. get a commercial insurance policy.

6. fill out form RF111, change of particulars.

7. with all your paper work, bring your car to a tax office and ask information to send someone out to inspect it. once they inspect it and are happy, they'll write on your reg cert and then bring all the paper work into the tax office nd they'll work a bit of magic, charge you €316 (310 for tax and 6 for your certificate of road worthiness exchange for your DOE pass cert) and boom! you now have commercial tax.

best of luck. sounds long winded but if you only need two seats, its well worth it!!!

Rockjock

Cheers Shaft, that sounds doable, must say to sell it just doesnt make sense when you are being offered so little, so I will use it myself if I can reduce the tax bill on it....

theshaft

i was the same. my tax was more than the car was worth but its a great yoke nd still heaps of life left in it. it was a bit of a long haul, tried to get away without welding nething but had to in the end. but its all worth it when you get handed a tax disc that says €310 and thats for the whole year!

Rockjock

Yeah , have to admit , its the main reason, and the extra room will be handy. I was looking at getting rid of the ML and maybe getting a crew cab/commercial jeep. But think the conversion is a far better option.. I have a tax cert as Im self employed , will that be adequate for Commercial tax??

101sean

Procedure has changed slightly, look at the Utility conversion posts in the last page or so of the Defender thread where someone has just done this.