Is it possible to Import a 1 if I'm in Germany?

[hotdog19d]

Anyone think it would be possible to import a 1 series? I'm planning on taking a 2 week vacation in germany next year. If I purchased it there couldn't I just ship it back? Thanks?

[SARAFIL]

Anyone think it would be possible to import a 1 series? I'm planning on taking a 2 week vacation in germany next year. If I purchased it there couldn't I just ship it back? Thanks?

If it was that easy, don't you think that everyone that wanted a car not sold in the US would just take a trip to another country to buy one and ship it back?

In short, no, you can not ship it back to the US, at least not for normal use.

[gojira-san]

You can only ship a non-US spec car to the US if you spend huge $$$$ to have it approved for the roads here, or if the vehicle is over 25 years old (then it is considered "antique") The latter is how my Inno Mini made it here from Italy.

Bottom line, you'll have to wait for sarafil and the other dealers to sell 1er's here :)

[andy_thomas]

You can only ship a non-US spec car to the US if you spend huge $$$$ to have it approved for the roads here, or if the vehicle is over 25 years old (then it is considered "antique") The latter is how my Inno Mini made it here from Italy.

The years of grey-market or parallel imports into the US are long gone, sadly. I believe the going rate to federalize a car which is entirely new to the US market is now around $8-10m. You also have to set up a business as a registered importer of motor vehicles. Still, there's nothing holding you back! :)

[shabbaman]

The years of grey-market or parallel imports into the US are long gone, sadly. I believe the going rate to federalize a car which is entirely new to the US market is now around $8-10m. You also have to set up a business as a registered importer of motor vehicles. Still, there's nothing holding you back! :)

Once in a while a car breaks through. Remember the G-Wagen from a couple of years ago? For several years it was imported by a source not affiliated with MB. It sold for about $130000 but it was VERY rare and once in a while you'd see one on the road. Then MB figured out that they could probably sell it here and that's what they did, less $50000.

[xspeedy]

I think the various government auto safety organizations should agree upon a world-wide set of safety guidelines and regulations, as well as standards for emissions, and fuels. It would likely improve the safety of most vehicles produced, and it would reduce costs, since multiple flavors of car would not have to be built. Good European diesels would make it to the US, you could much more easily self-import a Japanese or European vehicle not sold in the US through normal channels...

All the silly quirks in safety within each of the countries must be a huge headache for auto makers, and a huge expense for us.

[hector]

I think the various government auto safety organizations should agree upon a world-wide set of safety guidelines and regulations, as well as standards for emissions, and fuels. It would likely improve the safety of most vehicles produced, and it would reduce costs, since multiple flavors of car would not have to be built. Good European diesels would make it to the US, you could much more easily self-import a Japanese or European vehicle not sold in the US through normal channels...

All the silly quirks in safety within each of the countries must be a huge headache for auto makers, and a huge expense for us.


maybe they could take it up at the next meeting of the u.n. security council, but off course we could never get the french to agree

[Tex]

maybe they could take it up at the next meeting of the u.n. security council, but off course we could never get the french to agree

The French don't really care buddy as they don't export cars to the US (they made a lousy attempt in the eighties and we saw the result) and don't really import US made S%^T! Now, before bringing up the UN and the French on board, why don't we try to get California and the other 49 states to agree on emissions and fuel quality?

[bmw325]

I think the various government auto safety organizations should agree upon a world-wide set of safety guidelines and regulations, as well as standards for emissions, and fuels. It would likely improve the safety of most vehicles produced, and it would reduce costs, since multiple flavors of car would not have to be built. Good European diesels would make it to the US, you could much more easily self-import a Japanese or European vehicle not sold in the US through normal channels...

All the silly quirks in safety within each of the countries must be a huge headache for auto makers, and a huge expense for us.


Completely agree.

[xspeedy]

The French don't really care buddy as they don't export cars to the US (they made a lousy attempt in the eighties and we saw the result) and don't really import US made S%^T! Now, before bringing up the UN and the French on board, why don't you try to get California and the other 49 states to agree on emissions and fuel quality? That would already be something.

That is another problem. There was a good editorial in CD about this. It is mentioned that one of the reason gas prices are high is because so many different formulations are required for different states and/or cities. If there was one standard blend for all of the US, the expense of having microbrews would be gone.

[Tex]

That is another problem. There was a good editorial in CD about this. It is mentioned that one of the reason gas prices are high is because so many different formulations are required for different states and/or cities. If there was one standard blend for all of the US, the expense of having microbrews would be gone.

Well, in comparison to the rest of the world, gas is still very cheap here. But I do entirely agree that if we could make the same gas for every state, we would save a boatload of money, and maybe even reduce pollution.

[Johann]

Once in a while a car breaks through. Remember the G-Wagen from a couple of years ago? For several years it was imported by a source not affiliated with MB. It sold for about $130000 but it was VERY rare and once in a while you'd see one on the road. Then MB figured out that they could probably sell it here and that's what they did, less $50000.

That company went thru the trouble of pleasing the EPA and DOT. Likely invovles testing, doing enough research and paperwork to prove that car + powertrain is similar to a car currently in product, or going thru enough hurdles to get the car exempt for these tests. Either route, its not easy, and not cheap if you want to import a single car.

Now, there are new show-and-shine laws which allow a car of significance to be imported and drive <2500 miles. I believe either Road and Track or Car and Driver did an article on the pros/cons of this process. Likely impossible to prove a 1er is of any significance, driving it <2500 miles/year is pretty useless, and good luck finding affordable insurance if you did manage to get one in the US.

[gojira-san]

The French don't really care buddy as they don't export cars to the US (they made a lousy attempt in the eighties and we saw the result)

Not just the '80s brother... :rofl:

(Former owner of a '59 Renault Dauphine, '68 Citroen DS, '73 Citroen SM, and a 80-something Renault Fuego Turbo - not all at the same time, thank goodness! :) To be fair, I loved my Citroens!)

[hector]

The French don't really care buddy as they don't export cars to the US (they made a lousy attempt in the eighties and we saw the result) and don't really import US made S%^T! Now, before bringing up the UN and the French on board, why don't we try to get California and the other 49 states to agree on emissions and fuel quality?




dude, have a glass or 2 of chardonnay and lighten up.

[Andrew*Debbie]

[QUOTE=gojira-san]Not just the '80s brother... :rofl:

and a 80-something Renault Fuego Turbo/QUOTE]


My Fuego Turbo was by far the worst car I've ever owned.

[Tanning machine]

I think the various government auto safety organizations should agree upon a world-wide set of safety guidelines and regulations, as well as standards for emissions, and fuels. It would likely improve the safety of most vehicles produced, and it would reduce costs, since multiple flavors of car would not have to be built. Good European diesels would make it to the US, you could much more easily self-import a Japanese or European vehicle not sold in the US through normal channels...

All the silly quirks in safety within each of the countries must be a huge headache for auto makers, and a huge expense for us.

That would be nice, but they can't even agree within Europe on things like this. Maybe not autos, but teh Germans have been told they can't enforce the reinheitsgebot against foreign beers (or there was a threat, IIRC). Do you really want the Swedes voting on what safety equipment we should have here?

Besides, there's plenty of equipment that we're willing to pay for, but poorer countries are not (e.g., emissions, airbags, etc.)

There already seems to be a fair amount of harmonization--but it can go only so far.

[Salvator]

Not just the '80s brother... :rofl:

(Former owner of a '59 Renault Dauphine, '68 Citroen DS, '73 Citroen SM, and a 80-something Renault Fuego Turbo - not all at the same time, thank goodness! :) To be fair, I loved my Citroens!)
:wow: Talk about being a glutton for punishment! :spank:

[xspeedy]

That would be nice, but they can't even agree within Europe on things like this. Maybe not autos, but teh Germans have been told they can't enforce the reinheitsgebot against foreign beers (or there was a threat, IIRC). Do you really want the Swedes voting on what safety equipment we should have here?

Besides, there's plenty of equipment that we're willing to pay for, but poorer countries are not (e.g., emissions, airbags, etc.)

There already seems to be a fair amount of harmonization--but it can go only so far.

We do have at least one Swedish safety device - the seat belt. On a higher plane, most of the world's cars have similar safety. Most cars have airbags, seat belts, brake lights, and turn signals. The key is to have the small nuances agreed upon so all vehicles conform to a single standard. Things like bumper height and integrity. Crash standards, airbag requirements, and so forth. There will be input from Sweden, but there will also be input from the US, from Japan, and from all over the world. So the safety freaks will get knocked down a notch, and the slackers will have to accept some safety and emissions controls.

The US requires the third brake light. If it helps safety here, why wouldn't it help in Europe and Asia? If the turn signal lamp found on the side of European cars (just behind the front fender) is effective for visibility in Europe, then why not here in the US?

The goal of all the major western and eastern countries is the same - produce a safe vehicle. I don't see why a global comittee can't be formed to come up with vehicle safety standards and other regulations. After all, we are all human, and we all drive our cars on roads that are fairly similar.

And even today, without global safety standards, the "world cars" such as the e46 have to be built to meet the toughest standards anyway, so that they can be sold in all of their markets. Some slight modifications need to be made (amber reflectors instead of clear...), but a main portion of the car is the same.

In days past, cars were built solely for local markets. So foreign regulation wasn't an issue. But today, with the globalization of the auto industry, and cars being exported in huge volumes, a global set of auto standards would be very beneficial to all involved. Fewer resources spent on regional governing bodies, more economical manufacture/production of vehicles and fuels, ease of personal import/export, and so on. It is easier on government, vehicle manufacturers, petroleum companies, and most of all, us.

[Betcour]

That would be nice, but they can't even agree within Europe on things like this. Maybe not autos, but teh Germans have been told they can't enforce the reinheitsgebot against foreign beers (or there was a threat, IIRC). Do you really want the Swedes voting on what safety equipment we should have here?
As far as cars go, the standards are now set by the EU (for both pollution and safety). Cars can be imported between any European country to another with only minor paperwork (payment of sale tax and registration).