10-02-2015, 11:17 AM | #1 |
Captain
60
Rep 946
Posts
Drives: BMW Fanatic
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2013 Fiat Abarth [0.00]
1993 Honda Civic EG ... [0.00] 2009 Suzuki LTR 450 [0.00] 2008 Acura MDX [0.00] 2001 Z3 M Coupe S54 [0.00] 1988 E30 M3 [0.00] |
1M importation questions
Hello All.
I am contemplating on picking up a 1M from Canada and bringing it back to the USA. My questions are as follows: 1) How much of a hassle is this to do? Can I simply fly up to Canada and drive the car back or is there a rigmarole process that i need to do prior? 2) Are there any long term negative effects (Resale etc) on a Canadian car in the US? This is my first attempt at importing a car so any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
__________________
1988 E30 M3 Diamantschwartz/Black |
10-02-2015, 11:21 AM | #2 |
Brigadier General
2314
Rep 4,341
Posts |
Rigamarole. I just did it. Doable though and depending on price worth it. No one knows of future values. Driven in snow probably has bigger impact than just being Canadian. If you want to talk about it I can share my experience. Will Zaraska is Toronto can also help you.
Bdaddylo just did it also. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 11:30 AM | #3 | |
Captain
60
Rep 946
Posts
Drives: BMW Fanatic
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2013 Fiat Abarth [0.00]
1993 Honda Civic EG ... [0.00] 2009 Suzuki LTR 450 [0.00] 2008 Acura MDX [0.00] 2001 Z3 M Coupe S54 [0.00] 1988 E30 M3 [0.00] |
Quote:
Pm Sent.
__________________
1988 E30 M3 Diamantschwartz/Black |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 01:24 PM | #4 |
Private
9
Rep 67
Posts |
Is there something special about the car in Canada? I have a great VO with less than 25,000 miles that is for sale at US $54,000. Loaded, full 3M protective film and brand new PSS tires on the rear. Exceptionally clean and never tracked, etc. Put up for the winter soon. PM if of any interest.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 01:28 PM | #5 | |
Captain
60
Rep 946
Posts
Drives: BMW Fanatic
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2013 Fiat Abarth [0.00]
1993 Honda Civic EG ... [0.00] 2009 Suzuki LTR 450 [0.00] 2008 Acura MDX [0.00] 2001 Z3 M Coupe S54 [0.00] 1988 E30 M3 [0.00] |
Quote:
__________________
1988 E30 M3 Diamantschwartz/Black |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 02:02 PM | #7 |
Private First Class
19
Rep 192
Posts |
I tried to move in the opposite direction (US to Canada) this past spring... With pricing, duties, time commitment ect... I decided to leave her behind. I think it's easier to move from Canada to the U.S. so our experiences may not be identical. Also, with the CAD taking a beating lately, you should be in a great position (if you still owe Canadian funds on the car). Good luck!
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 02:55 PM | #8 |
Major
168
Rep 1,479
Posts
Drives: 2017 F80 M3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Houston, TX
|
The only difference in the cars are a few options and features. Safety and emissions are the same which makes it a lot less complicated to import. The biggest obstacle is usually the financial transaction. Wiring money to a foreign account has some additional steps and also there are currency exchange fees.
__________________
_______________________
1991 E30 M3/Brilliantrot 2017 F80 M3/AW |
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 03:19 PM | #9 | |
Brigadier General
2314
Rep 4,341
Posts |
Quote:
On the plus side, the warranty transfers. I already used it. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 03:33 PM | #10 | |
Major
168
Rep 1,479
Posts
Drives: 2017 F80 M3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Houston, TX
|
Quote:
Dealing with the DMV is almost always a challenge. The best thing to do is do as much research online for what your state requires for titling and registering a foreign vehicle. The lady who processed mine was surprised that I had all my documents in order. Make sure you have the cheapest form of payment as well. I left my checkbook at home and had to pay a credit card fee on a few thousand dollars in sales tax. It is also worthy to note that the Canadian title and registration is on one document. One half is the registration and the other half is the ownership side. If you plan on driving the car over the border, you need to either borrow the seller's license plate and registration or obtain temporary plates from your DMV.
__________________
_______________________
1991 E30 M3/Brilliantrot 2017 F80 M3/AW |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 03:47 PM | #11 |
Captain
60
Rep 946
Posts
Drives: BMW Fanatic
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2013 Fiat Abarth [0.00]
1993 Honda Civic EG ... [0.00] 2009 Suzuki LTR 450 [0.00] 2008 Acura MDX [0.00] 2001 Z3 M Coupe S54 [0.00] 1988 E30 M3 [0.00] |
Wow, thank you guys for all this information..I had no idea it was this involved to import a car from Canada..I plan on registering the car in NYC if that matters..Almost makes the low price of the vehicle not worth it..
__________________
1988 E30 M3 Diamantschwartz/Black |
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 04:07 PM | #12 |
Resident Kerbalnaut
477
Rep 10,703
Posts |
One thing that hasnt been mentioned yet is that you will need to federalize the car for the US.
That means that you will need to change the instrument cluster for an american one, as the canadian one doesnt read speed in MPH. Not sure about anything else, but thats a big one. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 04:17 PM | #13 | |
Major
168
Rep 1,479
Posts
Drives: 2017 F80 M3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Houston, TX
|
Quote:
__________________
_______________________
1991 E30 M3/Brilliantrot 2017 F80 M3/AW |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 04:30 PM | #14 |
Private First Class
19
Rep 192
Posts |
RE above post about warranty transfer: OP you should verify this before further steps (if this is an issue for you). I was told that the warranty is transferable (from US to Canada) but in actuality, it isn't quite so. I have to pay for every service call THEN visit a BMW dealership in the U.S. to submit receipts then await reimbursement. Again, not sure if it's the same w inverse case but do due diligence. Besides the 1m should be almost out of factory warranty by now so that shouldn't matter unless you got extended plans.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 04:36 PM | #15 | |
Captain
60
Rep 946
Posts
Drives: BMW Fanatic
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2013 Fiat Abarth [0.00]
1993 Honda Civic EG ... [0.00] 2009 Suzuki LTR 450 [0.00] 2008 Acura MDX [0.00] 2001 Z3 M Coupe S54 [0.00] 1988 E30 M3 [0.00] |
Quote:
__________________
1988 E30 M3 Diamantschwartz/Black |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 04:44 PM | #16 | |
Brigadier General
2314
Rep 4,341
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 04:48 PM | #17 | |
Brigadier General
2314
Rep 4,341
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 05:35 PM | #18 | |
Captain
60
Rep 946
Posts
Drives: BMW Fanatic
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
iTrader: (1)
Garage List 2013 Fiat Abarth [0.00]
1993 Honda Civic EG ... [0.00] 2009 Suzuki LTR 450 [0.00] 2008 Acura MDX [0.00] 2001 Z3 M Coupe S54 [0.00] 1988 E30 M3 [0.00] |
Quote:
__________________
1988 E30 M3 Diamantschwartz/Black |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 05:44 PM | #19 |
Disrupter
1566
Rep 2,484
Posts |
Question is becoming moot as most 1Ms are now beyond the warranty period.
If your Canadian 1M is still in warranty, then the warranty itself transfers over to the US, but the "maintenance" coverage/plan does not. Up until the end of my warranty I struggled with BMW of NA, with whom I had many conversations and who claimed to have registered my Canadian 1M in my name. A few days before the end of my warranty, the car battery died and the car needed a jump start. BMW road assistance couldn't figure out how to get my car towed, so they transferred me to BMW Canadian road assistance, who set it up. My warranty is now finished, and I think this renders all questions about this completely moot. As regards the regsitration, my state, Idaho, was extremely anal about the odometer being as the cluster had been changed from kms to miles. After they got all the documentation they requested, the car was registered and titled like any other one. It is now a US registered and titled vehicle, and I would be very surprised if anyone would give two shits about that going forward. |
Appreciate
0
|
10-02-2015, 07:49 PM | #20 |
Major
168
Rep 1,479
Posts
Drives: 2017 F80 M3
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Houston, TX
|
Depends on what you're paying. It was well worth it for me.
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-03-2015, 01:23 AM | #21 | |
Banned
1130
Rep 4,686
Posts
Drives: L'Orange
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
|
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|