Anybody import a car from the states this year?

s_morrison57 · 01-22-2011, 07:57 AM

If you imported this year I'd like to hear your story with RIV and duties, all the other threads are dated and some of the rules/laws have changed.
Lets start a current import thread with the new rules and any insight's that you have.
Finn

Christien · Christien's Garage

Last import was a Mini Cooper from Chicago, no changes in the rules that I can think of. Used a brokerage service this time, saved me a couple hours at the border.

Canada Kev · 01-24-2011, 07:03 PM

I have heard some stuff that related to the manufacturer letter about recalls. Apparently this isn't a requirement any longer??

Christien · Christien's Garage

Yes, it's still a requirement, unfortunately. You'd think all this stuff would be available on some gov't-access database.

s_morrison57 · 01-25-2011, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christien

Yes, it's still a requirement, unfortunately. You'd think all this stuff would be available on some gov't-access database.

It is available, by law the manafactures have to provide this info to the Fed Gov.

Its like 1 hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing, but thats our gov in action, I think they are just making this hard enough to discourage people on importing cars and to buy Canadian, problem is price and availability.

When I'm PM I'm going to clear this whole mess up and stream line it once and for all, also going to eliminate the tax on a car everytime its sold, going to legalize pot and sell it at the LCB stores and the profits from this and the savings in OT for the cops and court charges for simple possesion will go away and this savings will for sure off set the Tax income on the resale of cars/trucks, commercial transport will still be taxed.

bcrdukes · 08:56 PM

Just going through this ordeal myself with a 98 M3 Sedan. I've imported a Vespa, Alfa Romeo Spider, and Toyota Sienna (salvage title) but BMW so far has made this by far the most difficult of them all.

BMW Canada sure loves sticking it to the consumer when you bring up one of their cars from our neighbours down south. Had absolutely no problems dealing with US and Canadian customs, though. That step of the process was a piece of cake because they love taking your money.

On the flipside however, a BMW Canada enforces a mandatory $200 US Vehicle Safety Inspection (not a provincial inspection!) and $500 for the recall letter plus your time and a 7 to 10 business day wait for the letter itself. A friend's dad recently bought I think it was an 06 Carerra from Seattle. Roger Jobs Porsche in Bellingham only asked for $30 for the recall letter. Not bad but still...there are ways around this for a Porsche. BMW on the other hand...

I'm still waiting for my recall letter from BMW Canada.

Word of advice, s_morrison57 - Please do not take your car to Apollo Muffler / Speedy Brake Centre on W. 2nd Ave in Vancouver for the Provincial Vehicle Safety inspection. Ask me how I know. I should have brought extra lube before bending over.

If you need any help regarding importing to Canada, fire me private message. I'd be more than happy to walk you through the process.

Christien · Christien's Garage

Get a recall letter from a BMW dealer in the states. Just look them up on bmw.com and start calling. Offer them $50, they'll probably do it for free.

bcrdukes · 01-29-2011, 09:28 AM

The seller and I have tried practically most, if not all BMW dealers in WA, OR, CA, NV, and AZ. I think the clear answer is that it won't happen.

Christien · Christien's Garage

Really? When I brought the Mini over, we got a recall letter from the local BMW with no problem at all. Even a 2nd one when the first didn't show the VIN properly. Took about 10 minutes, faxed to my office. Can't remember exactly where it was, south end of Chicago.

bcrdukes · 01-30-2011, 11:55 AM

Was the Mini purchased from a dealership? If so, usually they will be a little more flexible providing that info to you.

Otherwise, with a private sale (in my case) BMW really stuck it to me and made me jump through all the hoops.

That, or you have a horseshoe inside of you and a rabbit's tail on your key chain.

Christien · Christien's Garage

It was bought through an independent dealership. They hooked me up with the local BMW dealership and I had no problem. Same thing happened with a Porsche dealership in N. Carolina - that was a private sale, had the PPI done at the dealership and they provided a recall letter, no charge, 10 minutes.

With a relatively late-model BMW, you have to go through the BMW system if you want full warranty coverage, but with a 98 that's really unfortunate that they're giving you such a hard time. What are they saying when you ask? Just "we don't provide that"? You can try calling RIV and asking if they'll accept the carfax's indication of no open recalls. I doubt it, but there's been talk of them starting to accept carfaxes for some models. Might be worth a phone call - explain that you're having issues with BMW. When Porsche changed the rules, the woman I spoke to was sympathetic and suggested that if they continued to deny me the letter they might be able to bend or change the rule.

bcrdukes · 01-30-2011, 01:57 PM

Maybe next time I will try the East Coast dealerships.

I'm already too far into the process. I've done the US Safety Check and paid the BMW Recall letter fee. It's just a matter of playing the waiting game for that letter now.

When I called the dealerships in the US, each and every one of them would say "Sorry, we can't do this for legal and confidentiality purposes but I did look up the VIN. The car has no recalls." I also tried the CarFax method - no go. BMW and RIV really nailed me to the wall for this. I had exhausted all my options but never did I think of calling and East Coast dealership. Even when the owner of the vehicle went to the dealership in person, they wouldn't release the documents to him and told him the same exact thing.