Convering a German spec 320i to US spec

leiblera · 05-19-2003, 01:37 PM

I just bought a German spec 320i and it rocks. Does anyone know the difference in specs between US and German cars? About how much would it cost to convert it? Any ideas?

juantae · 05-23-2003, 01:37 PM

I cant help you with this, but I just posted this same question. Hoping to get some replies, cause I really would like to take my car back to the States.

cv4n · 07-20-2003, 02:47 PM

I assume you live in Germany.
Converting a German-spec BMW to US can be quite costly.
Though I haven't done it myself, my best friend did.
He converted a 5-series touring, maybe from the mid-90s.
It cost him about ~$5,000-7,000.
That includes shipping, taxes and all the hidden things.
US customs will tell you stuff over the phone,
and tell you appartently different things,
when your car is being held hostage on the docks.
He luckily did a lot of the conversion himself, saved some money.
I'd say about 50% of what they requested be done had little reason.
Just random odd stuff, like...

- Headlight tilt cannot be controlled from a button on the dash
- They want, "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear" etched in the side view mirrors
- They want yellow instead of white turn signals
- And other random things...

All in all, it was cheaper to purchase it in Germany, and convert it to US-spec, then it would have been to buy one in the U.S.

Van
Proud owner of a 2003 BMW 330xi

Celsdogg · 07-20-2003, 10:25 PM

heres a link on the bmwworld.com website:

http://bmwworld.com/bmw/importing.htm

cv4n · 07-21-2003, 01:03 AM

In addition, here are pictures and a play-by-play of my friend's effort to go through the German -> US Spec process.

http://crystaltokyo.com/~jimc/540%20...on%20Story.htm

Van

CDNBMWnewbie · 09-14-2003, 11:38 AM

From what other people here tell me, modifying the car to take it home is horribly expensive, and involves things like emissons, glass, etc (as well as all the pointless things mentioned earlier

). For us Canucks, though, if the car is 15 years old or older, you are exempt from doing this. Maybe the same rule applies in the States (dont know how old your car is, but just a thought...)

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