Anyone ever import a BMW into France from the USA?

I am relocating to France from Atlanta, Georgia and I want to take my 2007 E93 335i convertible with me. From what I have been able to download from French sites, as long as a car is a model sold in France and it is less than two years old certification is automatic. If I've owned for at least six months, there is no VAT either. I costed out buying a new one in France but the price is around 78,000 Euros versus $60,000 dollars in the US. Clearly there is a strong financial incentive to taking it.

Does anyone have any advice, or has anyone done this before? Specifiically can anyone also advise on the how, what and who of shipping cars from the US to France or Europe?

If you sail to France from New York on, say, a Cunard ship, you can simply take the car with you. I did that a few years ago, and it was pretty satisfactory; the QE2 had a RoRo hold for passenger cars, so it was very simple. Otherwise, Wallenius and others who bring cars to the US by the boatload will surely be happy to have another unit for the backhaul. Find a shipping broker, and ask. EH Harms & Co. USA has a website and seems to be in this business. www.ehharms.com. I'm not sure, though, about any homologation requirements for a US car going into France to be licensed there. It should be possible, and cheaper than replacing the car with a locally purchased equivalent.

Many thanks - I sent EH Harms a query.

I did help two friends ship a car to Europe. In both cases they had to make changes to their lights. Mainly turn signals and fog lights. The last one was a few years ago and the cost was about $1100 from Baltimore to Finland. Forgot which company, here is a link to a company that transports cars overseas http://www.allshoreforwarders.com/overseas-ports.html

Thanks - I looked at their website and they have an easy system for requesting a quote.

My buddy (who is French) just shipped his US Spec A4 back to France.... The car passed the inspection just fine in France....

Thanks - I'm thinking of buying an A3 as well for the wife, waiting for the six months of ownership to avoid VAT and taking that back as well.

Where you able to ship your BMW to france and pass the customs?