E30 Tourings in the states

[e34john]

^^^
That guy really really really wants you to get one!!!

[DeM3n]

If you have the cash and can get your hands on one.... dooooo etttt!

Seriously, tho, do it! They're freaking sweet!

[DeM3n]

There is a guy that owns one not too far from me. If you have the cash to get your hands on one, dooo ettttt!

Seriously tho, do it!

[e34john]

Wow and that E46 is actually registered in Ca. Makes me want to go down to Mexico and get a 130 wagon, but then I should just get someone to register it there and not have to deal with DMV fees, smogging and federalizing it.

[DeM3n]

There is a guy that owns one not too far from me. If you have the cash to get your hands on one, do ettttt!

Seriously tho, do it!

[Matt-B]

this /\


i knew you would chime in

[thedeal]

I have imported a car from Canada before and it is not that difficult nor expensive. I only know about importing from Canada though. It's definitely not easy, but it is not too bad.

Basically you need three forms. One for the EPA, one for the DOT (PM me and i can get you the actual form numbers) and a letter from BMW Canada stating that that model complies with all us laws and safety standards (which it does except for the gauge cluster)

You will need to insure it before you take it across the border, and when I brought mine over I had to lie and say that I had an appointment with a BMW dealership to change the gauge cluster (I ended up doing it myself.)

Customs are total dicks and will give you a hard time. You have to pay duty on it and 3% importation fee. I lied on the bill of sale to make these fees more manageable.

Hope this helps.

[dinanm3atl]

There is an E46 318i that I see in the Atlanta area every now and then. My guess is most of the tourings were snuck in via armed service vets. I guess someone with some coin could also do it but doesn't seem worth it quite as much.

[george graves]

Oh sorry. My bad with the felony thing. I do like the dumb ass that took a pic of his vin number blacking it out, but didn't blank out the barcode.

[tjts1]

What you described is actually a felony (as in federal offense) just so you know how serious things would get if you got caught.

LOL
Felony =/= federal offense.

Do it the legal way. Have the Canadian owner drive the car across the border. Buy it from him while in the us. Deal with state authorities on ur own.

Ever seen a RHD E46 318i registered in the US?






I don't know why anybody would ever import such a stupid thing but its possible.

[george graves]

Wish I could tell you how I knew that but I don't remember.

[aaron325ix]

What you described is actually a felony (as in federal offense) just so you know how serious things would get if you got caught.

A felony?! How do you know that just out of curiosity? seems to me that would be a little harsh.

[george graves]

What you described is actually a felony (as in federal offense) just so you know how serious things would get if you got caught.

[aaron325ix]

here is a scenario I have been contemplating:

Lets say you have a white e30 sedan. It is registered, insured, etc.

lets say you bring into the US a touring of the same color.
take off the vin on the dash and replace it with the same vin tag that you have from your sedan, as you can get them from the dealer still.

On days you want to drive the touring, just use the plate from your sedan to the touring. Also keep the insurance info from the sedan into the touring.

If you get pulled over for some reason, how would a cop know?

Your proof of insurance would say it is a white 4-door bmw, vin# matching, plates matching. Unless a cop would look at the vin#'s on the doos or the stamped one on below the hood, i dont see how they would figure it out. Seems to me you could have two e30's, one of course being a touring, all for the same price.

I'm not saying this would be legal, I just dont think the average cop pulling you over for speeding would even think of questioning it.

[tjts1]

Ya totally. The gray market Canadian car police is on the look out for E30 wagons.