Bring a Trailer Auctions, E30 edition

[benfidar]

I talked to the guy who bought the 1989 318i Touring https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...18i-touring-6/ (I sold him my m40b16 and remains from the m52 swap). He says that the PO wants to back out because the car has a later m42 swapped in by another previous owner. He says that he wants to avoid import issues from EPA. My sense is that the $7700 sale price is part of wanting to back out. That is more than anyone in the EU would have given him.

[twright]

It would be nice to know if the Port really enforces the no engine swap rule.

It just seams hard for all of the inspectors to know what engine every car originally came with.

[roguetoaster]

It would be nice to know if the Port really enforces the no engine swap rule.

It just seams hard for all of the inspectors to know what engine every car originally came with.

It shouldn't matter at all. At worst, one might be required to have the car emissions tested and show that it complies with or betters the standards for the year of manufacture of the model year of the chassis.

This would only be an issue in any case if the car were to be impounded in port, which is not a bad thing necessarily, just a random annoyance which generally does not, but potentially could, cost the importer anything additional.

[twright]

It shouldn't matter at all. At worst, one might be required to have the car emissions tested and show that it complies with or betters the standards for the year of manufacture of the model year of the chassis.

This would only be an issue in any case if the car were to be impounded in port, which is not a bad thing necessarily, just a random annoyance which generally does not, but potentially could, cost the importer anything additional.

This is NOT the info I got from the EPA. They told me that if the engine was swapped, you would have to do an expensive emissions test that the car would not pass. They said it would not pass because it would be required to pass the CURRENT Year emissions standards. No M42 will do that.

I think the real question is whether anyone at the Port would be diligent enough to notice that the engine had been swapped.

[82eye]

I think the real question is whether anyone at the Port would be diligent enough to notice that the engine had been swapped.

wondering the same. especially as the swap has the same number of cylinders.

[roguetoaster]

So, read the following and see if it applies to a swap: "code E - vehicle at least 21 years old (calendar year of manufacture subtracted from year of importation) and in original unmodified configuration is
either exempted or excluded from EPA emission requirements, depending on age. Vehicles at least 21 years old with replacement engines are not eligible
for this exemption unless the replacement engine is the same model as originally installed, or an engine with any aftertreatment from a certified vehicle no
older than the one being imported. Customs may require proof of vehicle age."

[82eye]

So, read the following and see if it applies to a swap: "code E - vehicle at least 21 years old (calendar year of manufacture subtracted from year of importation) and in original unmodified configuration is
either exempted or excluded from EPA emission requirements, depending on age. Vehicles at least 21 years old with replacement engines are not eligible
for this exemption unless the replacement engine is the same model as originally installed, or an engine with any aftertreatment from a certified vehicle no
older than the one being imported. Customs may require proof of vehicle age."

the swapped engine was manufactured during the same time and fitted to the same vehicle chassis.

[lukeADE335i]

I can’t see port officials noticing the difference between an e30 and e36 M42, and that is assuming that the later M42 isn’t just running the e30 inlet manifold. If so, then there are no obvious differences between the two engines.

[SkiFree]

M20-Powered 1974 BMW 2002 5-Speed for sale on BaT Auctions - ending October 25 (Lot #88,538) | Bring a Trailer

This one is a bit fun. I remember Terry putting this car together. It sold on BAT last year and it looks like a flipper cleaned it up a bit more for the current listing. Littel annoying, but understandable.

[twright]

So, read the following and see if it applies to a swap: "code E - vehicle at least 21 years old (calendar year of manufacture subtracted from year of importation) and in original unmodified configuration is
either exempted or excluded from EPA emission requirements, depending on age. Vehicles at least 21 years old with replacement engines are not eligible
for this exemption unless the replacement engine is the same model as originally installed, or an engine with any aftertreatment from a certified vehicle no
older than the one being imported. Customs may require proof of vehicle age."

I agree that it seems to apply. Unfortunately, the interpretation that I got from the EPA didn't agree with what we think.

It looks like it's subject to interpretation by the individual at the port.

Has anyone imported a car with a swapped engine and can enlighten us to what happened?

[2mAn]

1987 325i Convertible

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-bmw-325i-convertible-19/

1988 325i Touring

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-325i-49/

1988 325iS

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-325is-66/

1991 Turbo M50 Swapped 325i

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-bmw-325is-14/

1990 325i

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-325i-154/

[Il Duce]

That B6 is going to skew the non-M e30 BaT graph quite a bit.

175k! wowza.

[2mAn]

That B6 is going to skew the non-M e30 BaT graph quite a bit.

175k! wowza.

haha luckily I have Hartge & Alpina in their own section... and todays still was a huge outlier

[2mAn]

1991 318i Convertible

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1991-bmw-318i-convertible-2/

1989 325iX

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-bmw-325ix-21/

[2mAn]

1988 M3

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1988-bmw-m3-178/