20 replies to this topic

[alpder]

Anyone bought an Innova 5568 from Amazon recently - which is sold from USA? If so, what import duties and VAT and carrier fees did you end up paying? Amazon have a pop-up on the item showing Ts&Cs which don't say anything nice, merely "there's no warranty on imported stuff and any border charges are your problem, ha ha".

[68+86auto]

Can you not get it locally?

[Rubbershorts]

We bought one last year. Amazon, from USA, and there were no extra charges for us. Not sure what happens if it goes wonky but no option to buy it in the UK. DAZ.

[timmy850]

You can get the same timing light under the “Equus” brand, I’m not sure if they are available locally for you

[alpder]

You can get the same timing light under the “Equus” brand, I’m not sure if they are available locally for you

 

Unfortunately they're still imports (from EU rather than US) and mostly priced in Euros from sellers that don't inspire confidence: Conrad, GetGoods...

[stoneface]

I sell to Conrad Electronics. They are legit.

[alpder]

I sell to Conrad Electronics. They are legit.

Glad it works for you. TrustPilot tells a less happy story for consumers: https://uk.trustpilo...rder.conrad.com . Currently 57% one-star ratings.

 

[nicklouse]

Bought loads of stuff from the Conrad store in Mainz. Brexit has seriously messed up the arm there were setting up for the UK in their expansion plans.

 

was my go to place for most thing electrical/ekectronic.

[babsbrown]

I bought an innova early this year from Amazon. No import charges or extra tax but unsure whether trumps tariffs will effect this.

[Earwax]

A follow on from Timmy's post.  No idea of tariffs or what shipping does , but for a comparison exercise-  ebay (australia) has at least one seller (Online Auto Parts) lists as shipping to UK . With the current exchange rate  your GBP might make the shipping cost reasonable.   I went to ebay Australia site logged in as an Australian - so can't provide costs sorry.

[alpder]

Thanks everyone.

 

I'll hold off buying for now (although I note the £ is falling so prices will go up. Again.)

 

Would prefer to buy in the UK with a warranty. Failing that, they're coming up second-hand occasionally, though priced for rarity.

 

I did ask Simon/MiniSpares if they'd like to stock it here, and got a "maybe", so that's something to keep an eye out for.

 

Cheers,
Ian

 

[stuart bowes]

is there something that particular one does that the various other options don't?

 

Interested as I'll have to get one at some point I suppose, don't really know anything about them yet

[Rubbershorts]

Measures advance timing, as well as static, and has engine rpm on the screen. I think it may measure dwell time, I don't need that so not 100% sure. I'm sure others do all these things but a recommended one is hard to find. AC Dodd did a review on his, probably has something to do with it's popularity also. Daz.

Edited by Rubbershorts, 04 September 2025 - 04:08 PM.

[ACDodd]

https://youtu.be/0Wb...xnffi9hMrfVPOdn

Ac

[alpder]

Ended up buying the 3568 (a 'product crippled' version of the 5568 with no voltage or dwell). Doubt there's a single engine in my village - let alone my shed - that has points. And for volts I have a multimeter.

 

Awaiting -slow- delivery.

 

While researching these lights, I came across several posts saying users found they would work on some cars, not on others. Most users attributed this to aftermarket electronic ignition systems (and some even extracted emails from Innova customer services agreeing that the lights are "not compatible with <name your favourite module here>".) But one user thought this sounded cobblers because a spark's a spark. They did some experimenting, and found that for them the compatibility was affected by spark leads, not ignition modules. They swapped a #1 lead from a car that worked with their 5568 onto a car that didn't work with it. And that fixed the issue for them - even though the previously non-compatible car has a module that several other users (and customer service) said wouldn't work.

Edited by alpder, 09 September 2025 - 11:05 AM.