Would there be enough people interested in getting Tourings?

[korky]

I was just thinking about something.. Y'all US people seem to be such big fans of Tourings, and in Germany, on ebay or mobile.de, they often go for under 1000 euros, project cars, or whatever. The Tourings aren't really that popular here to be honest. They're often used just to haul stuff around and serve their real purpose, rather than being modified, stanced, or whatever the shit. It's a good thing cuz most of them stay in good shape this way.

Anyway-
Would there be enough people interested in having one imported, to let's say, start a small-time "business"?

I mean the way I see it, people from the US go and pick the one they like on ebay, I can help them translate specifics from German (I'm fluent), they pay the buyer, I pick up the car with a trailer and go to the closest port to have it shipped to you.

I'm not too sure about prices of shipping, been doing some google search but can't find anything accurate, they say between 3000 and 5000. Even so, if you pay 1000 euros for the car, and 4000$ for shipping, that's still only about 5500$ for a proper touring in the US.

I'd ask for a little fee for my time and to finance the trailer and gas. But still all cool R3V prices.

Anyway, big project, nothing planned for real though, just to see if there'd be enough interest? To actually start looking into a company that ships out cheaply, get myself a trailer and such..

[Balleristic31]

I've been thinking about doing this pretty hard recently. I may be in touch with you within the next few months

[ST1G]

It's not exactly that simple.

$4000 for shipping
$1500 for the car
$1000 for you to get the car to the port + fee
$1000 to get to the port that the car is at or truck it to you
then you have customs fee's.

Then you have to get it registered here, which can be tricky if you don't get all the paper work done just right or the car can't be brought into the states.

Not to mention the enormous risk of both parties, someone here has to send you the money hoping you'll do what you say, you have to do the work of finding the car getting it to the port, navigating the laws to get it sent here so it can be legal and not get rejected by us customs. The time that would take you I'm sure is large, especially with the cost of petrol in Europe.

In the end you pay $8000 for a rusty, high KM, abused 316 touring that needs $5000 worth of work.

[sharky]

^ true. I will just wait a few years till someone that does the dirty work getting it over here gets sick of it etc.

[totheredline]

My dad and I are going to bring one back this summer. Father son bonding experience.

Really want to find a 324d or td. An m40 316 or 318 with 0 options would kinda be cool also.

[KIRIEIW]

My dad and I are going to bring one back this summer. Father son bonding experience.

Really want to find a 324d or td. An m40 316 or 318 with 0 options would kinda be cool also.

That's funny, I'm doing the same thing. Dad works for the airline so free tickets= less money spent on getting it over here

[totheredline]

Even funnier, my dad is also an airline pilot.

either that or we can get a mac flight because he's retired navy.

[mcskibadee1]

I have seen a lot of posts recently about bringing tourings here but like stig said it can get super expensive fast. Not to mention I don't think there are enough people here that know the specific regulations to get them legal here. I think if a couple people did the legwork and got some tourings here registered ready to go they would have a lot of buyers. Shit, I want one but don't have the time for all the bullshit, I would rather pay more for a car I know had been federalized, Smogged etc.

[flyboyx]

4k for shippng? damn that seems high to me. i bet there is a way to do it for quite a bit less than that? james brought one back last year. i guess he would be the one to ask.

if i get one, it will be an mtech2. maybe even an ix mtech2

[ThatOneEuroE30]

4k for shippng? damn that seems high to me. i bet there is a way to do it for quite a bit less than that? james brought one back last year. i guess he would be the one to ask.

if i get one, it will be an mtech2. maybe even an ix mtech2

ix touring would complete my life lol

[Chinampa]

This thread makes me wanna track down the bronzit touring around here.

[Nick_S]

Interested absolutely. Realistically able to buy one, not so much.

[Axxe]

The issue is that the only people who think a stanced touring is cool are the same people who complain about how expensive chinese parts are. Good luck finding someone to shell out, most reasoanable people with 10k to spend on a station wagon are going to get say, an E46 wagon with 1/3 the mileage and not rusted/beat to shit. Good luck if you decide to pursue, but there is no sense creating a supply for a market that has dreamer demand.

[lgb240]

Americans looking for a touring should search in Canada rather than Europe. BC and Ontario are the provinces with the most available. Do your import homework for the state you live in. Be prepared to search hard, and travel with cash at a moments notice to score a deal.

As far as setting up a business specifically for tourings, I'm not sure the margins would make it worth the time and potential headaches (at least for me).

There's a lot of love and interest for the e30 touring, but I question the actual firm, committed buying market for an e30 touring in North America. When the rubber hits the container, most wouldn't or can't drop the coin required to actually buy - the price is too great compared to a readily available sedan.

[Bmwdayz]

I've had friends ship over tourings and it doesn't cost 4k. Its usually a little over 2k.