Mikeedler, E30 Wagon from Germany to the states

[Eric]

Road salt in the fatherland has done its damage, you rarely see old cars being driven over there. The cars I did find were in two categories, rust buckets or totally restored cars.

G-Man

agreed, that is why my US spec, california it's whole life 325 will not be driven between the first freeze and april ish.

my 94 318 touring with 200k on the clock has some rust on the outside of the body work. if i wanted it keep it it would need a new right rear door and rear hatch since both are bubbling. also on the underside, there are rust areas above the subframe.

that is why i'm going to drive it for the next 4 years, and hopefully the floor doesn't fall out of it. or i'll sell it to a ambitious r3v newbie for $4000 and help them import it...

[G-Man]

Everything you want to know about bringing an old school BMW from Europe to the states.

http://bayarea02.com/features/importing/index.html

I was working in Germany for several months in 2004 and was looking for an old BMW to bring back. Road salt in the fatherland has done its damage, you rarely see old cars being driven over there. The cars I did find were in two categories, rust buckets or totally restored cars. I was looking for a 75 or older since I live in CA and they would be smog exempt here. If I lived outside of CA, it's 25 years from date of manufacture that it is DOT exempt. I didn't find one in my price range while I was in Germany but three months after I returned stateside, I found a Euro spec E3 for $300 (no rust) in the San Fernando Valley of LA, go figure.

Hope this helps.

G-Man

[Julien]

If someone is up for it, i'll ship them the ass end of a touring...Though i think just shipping it as a skeleton would be easier

[europeanplates]

How many are in the states already. I know I have seen one in Seattle. Would be worth it to fiund one state side. Shell or car still would not make it over. However if you can get BMW to certify they sold them here you are 1 step closer.

Tyler

[Erick]

actually the tourings are more desirable for track.. more weight in the back (very noticeable in the rain) and i also hear they flex less.

They probably drift better too :p But no one let me put that to the test just yet.

[CleanAzzE30z]

hahaha thats so cool!!


mariano

[einstein57]

HOLY SHIT, BMW SHOULD MAKE CABRIOS LIKE THAT.


and for the OP: No. the easiest solution by far is to buy one in canada and cross the border, then swap vins. illegal but doable. Or else you are looking at 10+k to get one, especially with the low dollar.


Julien

Its a good thing people learned how to increase structural rigidity with out help from manufacturers or else we would some shitty race cars.

[Court M3]

or find a nice one over 23 years old and you don't have to worry about the EPA costs. That's how mine was.

[mikeedler]

I plan on bringing my m3 back with me, just gotta wait a few years more.

there will still be cars to be had here, just not M tech II cars for 1000 dollars anymore.-like it was not too long ago. Its actually not that hard to ship a car back to the U.S.-- as long as its "old" enough.-- or the VIN says its old.!!///!!????!!!

the problem with the "let it sit" idea is- you won't be able to see it, and in the 9 years, I imagine it will cost alot for it to sit in the shipping yard, and have collected alot of rust from the salt water.

here in germany it is kinda nice. you just need to pay the taxes, and you can bring it home, and as far as federalizing goes, you can do that yourself, or not at all.--and you can have it at home. just cant register it without it being changed to "EU" specs.

[M42Technik]

in that many years there wont be very many more "nice" e30s to ship over to the states...31 in 2016 damn, I am already older than that now, damn.

Haha sorry for the reality check, I had the same realization...

And you're probably right, by then there won't be much left. I only ask because my dad is in the classic car business and he'd be able to help ship one over.

I'll ship a '91 over now and let it sit for 9 years! Hah.

[mikeedler]

in that many years there wont be very many more "nice" e30s to ship over to the states.
the good ones are starting to get some big money here too.
and I imagine noone will be shipping them, cause noone is shipping 02 or e21s over or any of the other nice euro youngtimers.
it costs about 1500 dollars total to get a car from here to the U.S.- in your hands on the east coast. (N.C.) area.-- as far as shipping a "parts" car, I know nothing about, and I imagine it is nowhere as simple as you guys are thinking. any container that hits the ground here or there, need to be inspected- or TAXES paid( cars federalized)-- before you can even lay eyes on it.



31 in 2016 damn, I am already older than that now, damn.

[M42Technik]

I think in 9 years I'll be ready to import a bunch of E30's from Germany and have my project cars and others to work on.

Man I'll be 31 and it will be the year 2016 though.

[delatlanta1281]

Sure, that's why you see so many of them on the us racing circuts.... If they were that desireable, the major players in the us would be building them from scrap. Like the othe post. Go to Germany, pick one up for 800, ship it for 1500 and build it.

[Julien]

actually the tourings are more desirable for track.. more weight in the back (very noticeable in the rain) and i also hear they flex less.

[delatlanta1281]

That's who I was talking about, but as you can see it is as SL as it can get. There is no reason to trailer that car.