BMW & Mini Canada Unofficially BAN All Imports!

[Meegis]

So, the RIV list has changed AGAIN

I noticed that BMW and Mini have changed their lists drastically. Up until last week, all 1993-2008 models were admissable (with the exception of the 1995 M3, 1994 AND 1995 850 CSI and 2005 Cooper s with John Cooper works GP kit)

Anyways, long story short, the admissable columns for both BMW and Mini are now empty, and you must read the notes column. The notes state this:

Please contact an authorized
Canadian BMW or MINI Retailer to
request a letter of admissibility,
and for information regarding the
exact nature and costs of
modifications required. The
modifications vary by model and
may be expensive.
ALL modifications MUST be
performed by an authorized
Canadian BMW or MINI Retailer
and must be completed before a
recall clearance letter can be
issued by BMW Group Canada.
Prior to reviewing your request for
a letter of admissibility, the
following information must be
provided:
- Model
- Model year
- 17-digit Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
An official letter of admissibility
from BMW Group Canada must be
presented to a Canada Border
Services Agency (CBSA) officer at
time of importation. In addition, the
official recall clearance letter
obtained from BMW Group
Canada once the required retrofits
have been completed and
documented by an authorized
Canadian BMW or Mini Retailer,
must be presented to the Registrar
of Imported Vehicles in order to
properly register a vehicle.



So, as you can see, they have made it extremly difficult to just bring one home and register it. Now, they are charging ludacris amounts of money to change the pre-existing DRLs to a new DRL unit and some other things, of which no reason applies. Everything is model specific, and you must call the dealer for details.


My favourite thing to point out though, is why I titled this thread as a ban on imports. I have bolded my point in the explanation from RIV. It seems that you need the letter to cross the border now (according to BMW/Mini) but you cannot get the letter until you go to a CANADIAN dealer. So, in essence, you cannot get a letter to cross without crossing, but you cannot cross for the letter without the letter.

Way to go RIV and BMW and Mini, or whoever orchistrated this mind**** of a policy.

[UltimateDriv]

why would you have to go to BMW Canada for a letter of admission on an American car?

I got a letter from BMW USA...does this mean its not valid anymore? and i will need another one?

[Meegis]

If it was already done and registered, your fine. If you do it now, then you're going to HAVE to go through BMW Canada. It is their new rules, and it was like that before this.

Im just wondering how they can get away with going from "all admissable" to "none admissable without rediculous charges"

[StikiGreenZ]

You need a letter from the US BMW Dealer stating there are no outstanding recalls on the vehicle. You can then proceed with the import as long as it's not on the ban list. You cannot license the vehicle until it has been brought to canadian standards (DRL's, front bumper reinforcements and immobilizer are the more common differences in Canadian / US vehicle requirements).

The dealership I work for imports US vehicles regularly. We get about 1 X5 and a Z3 / Z4 every month along with other non BMW vehicles. It is a very tedious process, which is being made more difficult now by Transport Canada / RIV to protect Canadian dealers who are potentially losing sales to American dealerships due to the weak US dollar.

To me, it's not worth the hassle with warranty issues unless you're picking up a vehicle that is out of warranty already.

[ScotcH]

Retarded. Someone should call BMW and request a list of changes for a 1997-1999 M3 or any other e36 and record the call. If they try to bullshit about anything other than the DRL and child restraints (about $50 worth of parts), send that to the media.

[X5HogTown]

More propaganda here...
http://www.bmw.ca/content/pressRelea...fs.asp?lang=en
"letter of admissibility" $350.00 and will take 2-5 business days to process
"recall clearance letter" $500.00 and take 15-20 business days to process

This is becoming a real restriction of free trade. I think BMW Canada has crossed the line and a class action suit might be in order.

[UltimateDriv]

wtf?

i called BMWUSA and they sent me a recall clearance letter for free, and in 5 mins...via email in pdf format.

does this only apply to new BMWs?

[ScotcH]

Originally Posted by UltimateDriv

wtf?

i called BMWUSA and they sent me a recall clearance letter for free, and in 5 mins...via email in pdf format.

does this only apply to new BMWs?

How long ago?

[UltimateDriv]

Originally Posted by ScotcH

How long ago?

july - august of this year

[BimmerboyPH]

Basically they dont want us to take advantage of the high dollar, and save thousands by buying from the states.

[INFAMOU$]

Just imported my 93 yesterday.. build date 12/92 $196 taxes and duties out the door RIV free baby! HAHAH.. But yes.. this is absolutely brutal.. money grabs left right and center.. Canada just isn't the place to live anymore..

[Meegis]

I think BMW Canada is pushing it too. I mean, it is all a cash grab.

The BMW lineup for new cars all have DRLs standard, yet they claim they need to do a retrofit???

It is also BS that they need to charge for a letter of admissability. Recall is fine, but admissability is up to RIV, NOT BMW.

[ChrisTO]

unfricking believable. these automakers are like a cartel.

they are essentially doing the same thing as MB Canada. They control what gets into the country. How TC is allowing this is beyond me. The worst part is some Toyota/Hondas built right here in Ontario are not even on the RIV list for admissibility.

screw the entire new car dealer network - i'm going used from now on. none of them deserve my business.

and the best part, a BMW dealership called me the other day saying now is the best time to buy from them. scammers!

[propr'one]

Funny thing is, even now that there's an extra 500$ fine ontop of all taxes when importing a car...

...its STILL worth it.

[slemmer]

If BMW (and other canadian) dealers opened their eyes and adjusted their prices accordingly, many of us wouldn't even consider importing from the US. We'll always have the option to buy other brands though.