The best thing is to get a local garage to take the car for the "visite", they know the process, i.e. how to prepare the car (e.g. washing the engine)  and Blecherette knows them. If you take the car the guys in white coats (which must not get dirty) will take a lot closer look at the car.

That might be a good idea.  I wonder if there are any English-speaking Honda mechanics in Lausanne....

Rich, they don't need to be Honda trained. The process is the same for all brands - any garage would do. if you want I can recommend some in Geneva, but no idea for Lausanne.

If you want a Honda garage - Livio at the Honda garage in Lutry speaks English. Only thing is that he's not always there as he spends a month at a time in Brazil.

When I took my car for the controle technique, it had had a service 3 months previously so I just asked my mechanic to wash the engine and everything was fine. You stand there while they check the car and then if there are any problems, they will give you a list of things to rectify. I had to change a bulb... My car was quite new though and well looked after!

Thanks all!

Treesa, Livio is in sales or is he in the service area?

He's in sales mainly but as far as I am aware, he owns or part owns the garage. The receptionist also speaks English, so there may be other staff there too that do.

Treesa, Livio is awesome!  Thanks for that....

He's leaving for Brasil tomorrow.  It's a good thing that I didn't waste any time.  These guys are creative and I like that (I'm matriculating a US vehicle and the whole process is a bit dodgy and inconsistent).

No worries - Glad he could help!

It passed?

It passed!?!

It passed!!  WTF!  It was supposed to fail.

No seriously...  There are 3-4 things about the car which should have failed it.  I regarded this contrôle as a trial to see what I could get past the inspectors.  Um, all of it, apparently.  Wow!

Like what were you expecting to fail. I'm curious for when my time comes.

Rear suspension upgrade (anti-sway bar) without Swiss homologation papers, window tint on the driver and passenger windows (tint on these two windows is a no-no), light surface rust on the hat sections of my aftermarket brake rotors (no Swiss papers on these either).  Front and rear tires do not match (I guess this isn't a problem?).

The big one is having color inside the headlamp housings.  US models had headlamps to match the body color of the car.  This is prohibited in CH.  This issue was my biggest fear because there is no way to correct it -- EU headlamps won't fit the car.  Had this caused a failure, I'd be shipping the car home then flying back to the US to sell the damn thing.  Not cheap.

I going to pick up the car, drive it home, and open some of the good wine.  Tomorrow: shop for winter tires.

I usually don't like to say "I told you that", but... I told you that the car was going to pass.  Congratulations!  :) 

> Front and rear tires do not match

This is not a big issue as long as there is the same exact type of tire on each axis.

> Tomorrow: shop for winter tires.

Have a look at the TCS tests.  You can buy them at the cheapest price at Pneus Claude.

How do the prices compare to these guys?  My boss loves this company.  I bought a pair of tires from them a few months back.  Delivery was free, but Pneus Claude charged 40 per tire for mounting! 

Thanks Richard, I didn't know this company.  Seem they offer a larger choice -- and a better deal.