ECR33 · ENR33 · HR33
Nissan Skyline R33 import check
ECR33 is the factory model code for the Nissan Skyline R33, built for the Japanese market from 1993 to 1998. Other versions carry ENR33 and HR33. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as ECR33-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
ECR33 at a glance
- Model code
- ECR33
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- Skyline (R33)
- Body
- 2-door coupe or 4-door saloon
- Built
- 1993 to 1998
- Engine
- RB25DET (2498 cc turbo petrol) or RB25DE (2498 cc naturally aspirated petrol)
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Japanese trims
- GTS25t Type M, GTS25 Type S, GTS, GTS-4
- Chassis number format
- ECR33-nnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the ECR33 chassis code
- ECR33 is the 2.5 RB25 with rear-wheel drive, ENR33 the four-wheel-drive GTS-4 and HR33 the 2.0.
- The R33 GT-R is BCNR33.
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECR33 | Skyline (R33) | RB25DET / RB25DE | 1993–1998 |
| ENR33 | GTS-4, four-wheel drive | RB25DET | 1993–1998 |
| HR33 | GTS, 2.0 RB20E | RB20E | 1993–1998 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine ECR33?
A GT-R must be BCNR33. An R33 advertised as a GT-R on an ECR33 or ENR33 chassis is a replica.
Known problems to check on an ECR33
- Rust in the rear arches and sills
- RB25DET coil packs and boost leaks
- GT-R replicas are often built from these: check the code is what the advert says
- Most have been modified: ask for a list of changes, receipts, and whether the insurer has been told
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- GTS25t Type M is the turbo grade: check for the RB25DET and intercooler
The ECR33 on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car スカイライン (Skyline).
- An R or RA grade means repaired accident damage. Ask for photos of the repair and have the structure checked.
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the ECR33 family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
MOT record in the UK
Nissan Skyline
- 14% of 4,342 first MOT tests failed in 2024 and 2025, 61% lower than the UK average for cars of the same age.
- Most common advisory: Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge (6.6% of tests).
- Most common failure: Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (1.7% of tests).
Every Skyline on the MOT record, GT-R or not, from any generation.
All Nissan Skyline MOT statisticsFrom DVSA’s anonymised MOT data, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
An ECR33 sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Nissan Skyline R33?
ECR33, with ENR33 and HR33 for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Nissan Skyline R33 has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the ECR33 built?
From 1993 to 1998, with the RB25DET (2498 cc turbo petrol) or RB25DE (2498 cc naturally aspirated petrol) engines and RWD layout.
What should I check when buying an ECR33?
Rust in the rear arches and sills. RB25DET coil packs and boost leaks. GT-R replicas are often built from these: check the code is what the advert says. Most have been modified: ask for a list of changes, receipts, and whether the insurer has been told. GTS25t Type M is the turbo grade: check for the RB25DET and intercooler. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.