DIY: How to Import an E30 Touring

[djjerme]

K. I'll see if I can get some more info from him.

[roguetoaster]

I just picked one up from a guy in Vermont. It's a Japanese market car, and he said it was pretty painless. He does it as a side job, but says he thinking about doing more and charging a flat 10% on top of import fees and what not.

I can try and press him for more info if interested.


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If you'd like to ask him for any new steps in the process or how he goes about buying a car in Japan/preparing it for shipment/shipping I feel it would make a great addition to the thread.

[djjerme]

I just picked one up from a guy in Vermont. It's a Japanese market car, and he said it was pretty painless. He does it as a side job, but says he thinking about doing more and charging a flat 10% on top of import fees and what not.

I can try and press him for more info if interested.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[roguetoaster]

Any recent importers have any updates on the process, costs or tips?

I think I finally worked the touring bug out of my system after 4 tries.

[crash n' burn]

Depends on the season.

This was in December, for my F30, I used a company that handles the shipping contract for the big three German manufacturers as well as quite a few others. Mine was probably one of the last cars on the boat because it took right at about 20 days to get here. My friend dropped his off like 2 weeks before me and they were on the same boat out of Bremerhaven.

I Shipped my E30 to another port like 2 weeks prior and it cleared customs like 3 days after my F30. That was a fun 48hrs of picking up cars from Chesapeake and Charleston.

[roguetoaster]

Depends on the method, shipper, route and destination. You should be given at least two choices of shipment times/cost/departures. When you pick one you'll already know the approx ETAs and you can then use any vessel tracker site to check in on your ship and shipment.

[potshot]

Good to know. If I land one in time I'd like to have my turbo on it in time for The Vintage. If not we'll just come in the IX. I'm curious, once the deal has been struck, how long does transport to the US take?

[roguetoaster]

Ivo gets pretty busy at certain time of the year, like in advance of the St. Paddys day event, so if you don't get instant replies just be patient, and also consider time zone differences.

[cory58]

Another thanks for the article.

I've just started talking to Ivo at e28.nl about a car and hope to get some pictures pretty soon (and also hoping that it's LHD).
I'm in Florida and it sounds like it's one of the less difficult states, fingers crossed.

Please keep us posted. Ivo seems to have a good reputation.

[potshot]

Another thanks for the article.

I've just started talking to Ivo at e28.nl about a car and hope to get some pictures pretty soon (and also hoping that it's LHD).
I'm in Florida and it sounds like it's one of the less difficult states, fingers crossed.

[crash n' burn]

Awwwwwww yesss. Checked in on my wagon amd its waiting to clear customs right now

[roguetoaster]

Excellent, glad to hear that this thread was useful, and super pleased that CBP helped you out!

Enjoy your touring, and I wish you many, many happy miles of motoring.

[Vic]

Rougetoaster,
Special thanks to you! I finally got my touring registered today. If not for this thread I'm not sure I would of ever figured it out. I started by sending the release forms... I got those back stamped, and figure it wouldn't hurt to ask if they'd stamp the HS-7 and declaration form, so I sent them an email explaining the situation, and they only responded back "yes" in the email. The cbp Is extremely fast and both times responded to me with stamped forms within an hour of emailing them and yes I did use the email provided. Their phone system is awful!

[roguetoaster]

Cool! I'll update the OP. Anything special that you did? Used the email in the posting?

[Vic]

Hey guys,
I do want to confirm that the cbp will in fact stamp EPA and HS-7 declaration forms. I sent them all forms I needed via email and they sent them all back stamped. I hope this information helps those who need it.