Importing early euro e30's?

[KI4UJO]

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the current import laws for vehicles 25 years and older. I was wondering if it is possible to import grey market e30's from 86 and older w/out going through the DOT/EPA. It sounds like that is correct, but I was just wondering if anyone knew.

[KenC]

Should be OK. The question is why? Haha

[Jand3rson]

Should be OK. The question is why? Haha

Save the trouble of having to track down hard-to-find euro parts like bumpers, head/taillights, interior and engine parts, etc. But does the cost and hassle out trying to import an early euro car outweigh those?

[KenC]

It'd be cheaper to just source the parts.

I see more e30s on a daily basis in Portland than I've seen in Munich during two trips haha. You'll be hard pressed to find a decent example of an 86 in Europe that isn't busted/rusted out.

[Jand3rson]

True. I keep secretly (well, I guess not anymore) wanting to pick up an E21 as a daily runner, I see them EVERYWHERE here.

[glucklich21]

I would go get me a RHD chromie sport out of the UK myself.

[Jand3rson]

Ugh, the last country in the world I would ever import a car out of would be the UK. Cars on that dinky little island start to rust as soon as the come off the boat.

[ALYKZANDYR]

^Except for Series Land Rovers and Defender which came after, all aluminum bodys. only steel afaik is the frame and a few other small parts.

would love to import a ex MOD defender 110 pickup. or Series III 109 3 door.

[JasonC]

Ugh, the last country in the world I would ever import a car out of would be the UK. Cars on that dinky little island start to rust as soon as the come off the boat.

thats because he gets great deals from there! Like Mtech1&2 kits for $500!!!!!!!!

[ColdAccord]

My landlord imports euro cars to canada & america. He can take care of everything for you, check out his website http://willz.ca/

Will Zaraska, he's a BMWCCA instructor. check out "vehicles" on his website, he's brought over a ton of really cool cars

[kts]

I see more e30s on a daily basis in Portland than I've seen in Munich during two trips haha. You'll be hard pressed to find a decent example of an 86 in Europe that isn't busted/rusted out.

I think you'd be surprised. A lot of countries in Europe don't salt the roads like we do during winter and Europeans are also a lot better about taking care of their cars then most Americans.

While I haven't seen a ton of E30s on my last few trips to Germany the ones I did see looked mint. Same for the E30s I saw in Belgium, France, etc.

Exteriors and interiors looked in REALLY mint shape for being 20-25+ years old. I was amazing. (And I also had to fight the urge to go find some screwdrivers and get myself a few of French yellow headlights.)

[KenC]

I think you'd be surprised. A lot of countries in Europe don't salt the roads like we do during winter and Europeans are also a lot better about taking care of their cars then most Americans.

While I haven't seen a ton of E30s on my last few trips to Germany the ones I did see looked mint. Same for the E30s I saw in Belgium, France, etc.

Exteriors and interiors looked in REALLY mint shape for being 20-25+ years old. I was amazing. (And I also had to fight the urge to go find some screwdrivers and get myself a few of French yellow headlights.)

Only certain parts of the US salt the roads. They don't in the northwest.

I think that's a gross generalization regarding car maintenance too. It's pretty equal.

I think it's the strict emissions standards that keep most old cars off the roads there. At least in Munich, you can't even drive to city center with an older car.