Importing BMW from the States

Justin e36 · 12-08-2004, 09:08 AM

A friend of mine is looking to bring their BMW to Toronto from the U.S. Has anyone done this before? What modifications (for emissions testing), and other things need to be done first?

J

Razkal · 12-08-2004, 09:11 AM

Hey Justin

Try this link out and see if it helps ya....

http://www.willz.ca/importing.htm

Acidblast · 12-08-2004, 10:42 AM

in canada we have strict emission laws and most likely you'd have to reinforce the bumpers.

BimmiN · 12-08-2004, 10:59 AM

Check the list of admissable cars to see if you can import it. Some cars, like the '95 M3 will require bumper modification.

Check here for more information.

BigD · 12-08-2004, 11:01 AM

Can't import a car younger than 15 years old, period. Otherwise, no problem.

jeremy · 12-08-2004, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigD

Can't import a car younger than 15 years old, period. Otherwise, no problem.

sure you can.... contact www.willz.ca

duenorf · 12-08-2004, 12:25 PM

I did this about 9 months ago. Cars older than 15 years is a little easier than newer cars, as the rules change as to what the car has to conform to (and it has to pass the RIV test (more fees)). If you've been the owner the car for a while in the US, there are no import duties or taxes to be paid, if you are a returning Canadian resident (just remember to list it on your B4). I Didn't even have to pay PST on registration. Just a regular safety and emissions test..not a problem for a car coming out of CA. There are a couple of things they have to do on the US side to cover the exportation paperwork before the car can leave the country. I used the same sites BimmiN suggested earlier, quite easy in reality.

Justin e36 · 12-08-2004, 12:53 PM

Thanks for the great info guys... looks like it won't be much of a problem to import a 94 325is after all...

J

BigD · 12-08-2004, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy

sure you can.... contact www.willz.ca

Will is a friend of mine and this is what he told me a while back. Maybe it was just for Euro cars. But then we were talking about why then can't you import a newer Euro car into the US via grey market, and then import it into Canada as a US car, with a US vin... stupid bureaucrats.

djcontra · 12-08-2004, 09:03 PM

i say go for it. When my father imported his hummer from the states, he only had to invest another $1500 to make it legal up here, and most of that was in labour charges. He basically had to add a few safety stickers, and get the thing safety and emissions tested, amongst some other legal stuff; nothing serious.

rico328i · 12-08-2004, 11:23 PM

A friend of mine is currently in the process of bringing in a sweet E36 M3. More details to follow as I'm sure he'll be joining us in here. DRL's are one of the must do for importing - Daytime Running Lights. For this car, a US-spec E36, I believe is identical to our Cdn models so no bumper changes or emissions changes necessary.

Rico