Nissan LEAF - General

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#1537475 21-Apr-2016 13:54

Scott3:

Do you know what Autolink is advertising with *** HEAD UNIT CONVERSION TO ENGLISH SERVICE AVAILABLE - ENQUIRE NOW ***

......

We know that the leaf can support multiple languages. Photo below from a US market leaf (lifted from youtube video)

........

Many people would have assumed either that the English mode had been disabled in the JDM car (and a simple hack (like the BMW i3 one in the USA to add more petrol capacity) could unlock it), or a simple (plug in) re-flash (or re-image of SD card) could replace the Japanese firmware with English.

.....

I am not affiliated nor doing any business with Autolink or any other second hand Leaf dealers.

It will not be that hard to tell by seeing the car - what "Head Unit Conversion To English" was dones to it...." You just need to know what to look at...

There are few solutions out there and those will be different on case by case basis...

As for the photo of the ODO in the post above - I have both Japanese and American Instrument Clusters on the bench - anyone who know what they are doing are welcome to put their skills to the test... harness and all computers are in place.

Japanese head unit - I can borrow one if the need be.

Beccara

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#1541863 25-Apr-2016 21:48

I've read a bit about the leaf and imports, Is anyone able to clearly state with some authority the possibility and/or cost of a language conversion on a Jap Import?

Most problems are the result of previous solutions...

All comment's I make are my own personal opinion and do not in any way, shape or form reflect the views of current or former employers unless specifically stated

Scott3

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#1542468 26-Apr-2016 22:07

Beccara:

I've read a bit about the leaf and imports, Is anyone able to clearly state with some authority the possibility and/or cost of a language conversion on a Jap Import?

It appears to be infeasably difficult / expensive to convert the integrated system to English

If English is important to you, you have the following options

* Buy a used NZ New Leaf

* Buy an ex UK leaf (a few on trademe, cost a little more than an Ex Japan one)

* Buy an Gen 2 "S" spec (base model) which has a standard double din head unit. Swap this out with an English / NZ one (Less than $500 fitted with bluetooth etc). Instrument cluster will still be in Japanese (minimal really). Many cars on trade-me have had this done by the dealer already.

Honestly being in Japanese isn't a huge problem if your not too fussy. Radio etc is perfectly usable (with band expander). If a Japanese text warning comes up and you have 15km of range left, it's pretty obvious that it's a low range warning. I drove one of the Bluecar rental ones on Waiheke, and although I would have preferred English, all the important stuff (like km remaining) is either in English or in symbols.

Linuxluver

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#1551738 12-May-2016 19:53

In case anyone would like to know, Sarah (Ryan) and Brett (Schmidt) have just had a baby together yesterday.

They run "autolinkcars.co.nz" the Auckland Nissan Leaf re-seller at 428 Great North Road.

I know because I tried to do a test drive today of a Leaf...and Brett had to cancel at the last minute to be with Sarah at the hospital.

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RUKI

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#1552061 13-May-2016 11:12

Scott3:

Beccara:

I've read a bit about the leaf and imports, Is anyone able to clearly state with some authority the possibility and/or cost of a language conversion on a Jap Import?

It appears to be infeasably difficult / expensive to convert the integrated system to English

If English is important to you, you have the following options

* Buy a used NZ New Leaf

* Buy an ex UK leaf (a few on trademe, cost a little more than an Ex Japan one)

* Buy an Gen 2 "S" spec (base model) which has a standard double din head unit. Swap this out with an English / NZ one (Less than $500 fitted with bluetooth etc). Instrument cluster will still be in Japanese (minimal really). Many cars on trade-me have had this done by the dealer already.

Honestly being in Japanese isn't a huge problem if your not too fussy. Radio etc is perfectly usable (with band expander). If a Japanese text warning comes up and you have 15km of range left, it's pretty obvious that it's a low range warning. I drove one of the Bluecar rental ones on Waiheke, and although I would have preferred English, all the important stuff (like km remaining) is either in English or in symbols.

I've put USA AV complete unit with the Speedometer on Trademe - you can browse through all 20 photos - the menu is so huge - 20 photos is not enough to cover all of those screens. Engineering menu with setting/adjustments is the "book" in itself. Business customers are also welcome :-) PM me and make me an offer...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=1085829545

Beware that units sold on eBay from US without two original rows of buttons are of no use as the Japanese buttons will have limited functionality (e.g. no Bluetooth or CD/AUX access) and they are deesigned differently (I have boths sets and compared the difference in their guts already). Some local dealers have learnt that the hard way after buying just the unit on eBay. When you see the Leaf with AV in English - check if that functionality works (AUX, CD, BT) and you will know...

Linuxluver

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#1568761 9-Jun-2016 15:38

OK...I've just bought a Nissan Leaf.

Gen 2 - 2015 model S, so no heated seats (update 12/06: it actually does have heated seats) and no cruise control. (No use for either) Grey. Looks nice.

4,000-ish km on the clock.

The dash radio / nav / BT unit is in Japanese but I tried Google Translate's camera-translation (on my phone) on it and it works good enough to know what button to push....assuming I want to push any.

I have an electrician coming around this afternoon to start the home set-up (install a 16A power socket), but I also bought the plug-it-in-anywhere adapter for household plugs....just in case.

With any luck, I'll be good to go by lunch time Saturday.

Here we go.......

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MikeB4

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#1568764 9-Jun-2016 15:43

Linuxluver:

OK...I've just bought a Nissan Leaf.

Gen 2 - 2015 model S, so no heated seats and no cruise control. (No use for either) Grey. Looks nice.

4,000-ish km on the clock.

The dash radio / nav / BT unit is in Japanese but I tried Google Translate's camera-translation (on my phone) on it and it works good enough to know what button to push....assuming I want to push any.

I have an electrician coming around this afternoon to start the home set-up (install a 16A power socket), but I also bought the plug-it-in-anywhere adapter for household plugs....just in case.

With any luck, I'll be good to go by lunch time Saturday.

Here we go.......

I have one question, what is it like to drive a silent(near silent) car? it must be spooky

Edit; congrats on the purchase

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

networkn

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#1568766 9-Jun-2016 15:47

I have one question, what is it like to drive a silent(near silent) car? it must be spooky

Edit; congrats on the purchase

What's a lot worse, is having one come up behind you when you aren't aware of it. Scares the &^** out of you.

MikeB4

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#1568770 9-Jun-2016 15:50

I came very close to buying the Holden Volt but didn't due to the lack of charging points this end of the island. I got a pleasant surprise when we pulled into a Z station near Auckland Airport last week and parked beside the Charging points.

networkn

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#1568776 9-Jun-2016 15:58

MikeB4:

I came very close to buying the Holden Volt but didn't due to the lack of charging points this end of the island. I got a pleasant surprise when we pulled into a Z station near Auckland Airport last week and parked beside the Charging points.

You see them in shopping centres and I saw one at a supermarket a few weeks ago, can't recall which one, Maybe new world in Ponsonby

In the USA you see them EVERYWHERE. It's amazing!

Linuxluver

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#1568800 9-Jun-2016 16:10

MikeB4:

Linuxluver:

OK...I've just bought a Nissan Leaf.

Gen 2 - 2015 model S, so no heated seats and no cruise control. (No use for either) Grey. Looks nice.

4,000-ish km on the clock.

The dash radio / nav / BT unit is in Japanese but I tried Google Translate's camera-translation (on my phone) on it and it works good enough to know what button to push....assuming I want to push any.

I have an electrician coming around this afternoon to start the home set-up (install a 16A power socket), but I also bought the plug-it-in-anywhere adapter for household plugs....just in case.

With any luck, I'll be good to go by lunch time Saturday.

Here we go.......

I have one question, what is it like to drive a silent(near silent) car? it must be spooky.

Edit; congrats on the purchase

I'll get used to the quiet. :-) I never liked the VROOM noise anyway. I live up a shared drive......so the less noise I make the better it is for everyone else.

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Linuxluver

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#1568802 9-Jun-2016 16:16

MikeB4:

I came very close to buying the Holden Volt but didn't due to the lack of charging points this end of the island. I got a pleasant surprise when we pulled into a Z station near Auckland Airport last week and parked beside the Charging points.

There is an app you can get that allows you do a sort of "EV-BnB" thing....selling access to your charging point to anyone who needs it.

I see plugshare.com covers NZ. It allows you to offer your home power point to others for charging. Not sure if they pay for it or if it's a co-operative thing. (Update: both / either).

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wellygary

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#1568806 9-Jun-2016 16:26

MikeB4:I have one question, what is it like to drive a silent(near silent) car? it must be spooky

Modern sound proofing in ICE vehicles you actaully don't notice that much difference when you drive an EV,

But when one slides up beside you on when you are out on a footpath it is a totally different kettle of fish..

Linuxluver

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#1568809 9-Jun-2016 16:29

Beccara:

I've read a bit about the leaf and imports, Is anyone able to clearly state with some authority the possibility and/or cost of a language conversion on a Jap Import?

I was told today you can get a UK replacement....but the maps are for Europe and useless here.....and the question is then, why bother?

I have the same issue with my VW UP!. It's all in English, at least, but because they don't sell them in NZ (but do in OZ) there is no way to update the nav from the 2013 maps.....which show the Waikato Expressway belting across paddock after paddock. Don't even attempt Papamoa.

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Scott3

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#1570007 11-Jun-2016 14:57

Linuxluver:

OK...I've just bought a Nissan Leaf.

Gen 2 - 2015 model S, so no heated seats and no cruise control. (No use for either) Grey. Looks nice.

4,000-ish km on the clock.

The dash radio / nav / BT unit is in Japanese but I tried Google Translate's camera-translation (on my phone) on it and it works good enough to know what button to push....assuming I want to push any.

I have an electrician coming around this afternoon to start the home set-up (install a 16A power socket), but I also bought the plug-it-in-anywhere adapter for household plugs....just in case.

With any luck, I'll be good to go by lunch time Saturday.

Here we go......

Congratulations, I am sure you will enjoy it.

The best thing about the Ex Japan Gen 2 Model S leaf is that it has a Double DIN standard head unit (dash bit of the stereo). I would fully recommend swapping the Japanese head unit for a New Zealand one. Firstly it means it will be in English, and won't need a band expander, Bluetooth is pretty much standard now days too. If you value features like GPS, Reversing camera etc, you can get one with these too. Many of the sellers of these cars swap the head unit before selling the cars.

(note that the Screen infrount of the driver stay in Japanese).

In regards to the noise, I am pretty sure the Japanese leaf's all have low speed noise generators mounted in the front. Switch to turn it off is near the drivers right knee. It will automatically turn back on every time you start the car.

With regards to the EVSE check your dealer hasn't simply chopped the Japanese plug off a 200V EVSE and replaced it with a blue campground plug. There is a tiny transformer inside that is only rated for 200V, not the 230V we get here. The car itself is fine with 230V

Let us know how you like the car.

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