Any thoughts on Importing - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

don_loah · 2nd July 2009, 04:04

So I'm stationed in Italy and have the opportunity to purchase two different M5's one is an E34 and the other one is a little newer. They are all euro specs and the E34 has AC Shnitzer interior with billet accessories. I am for sure going to purchase it but I had some questions about importing it back into the states.

First off, shipping will be handled by the Military (Yay)
And labor and parts can be bought for cheap with the help of local Italian connections. The main thing I'm looking for is a list of specific parts that need to be replaced as well as any hang ups if someone has done this before. I'm planning on bringing the car back to Washington State, hopefully selling it and making a big profit.

Any suggestions?

X-Tinct · 2nd July 2009, 12:59

Hi there,
I was in the same boat you are in. I'm stationed in Germany and I own a 1995 M5 that I once wanted to take back to the states so we could both grow old together. A few years ago when I was back home (Spokane, WA) on leave I checked with an importer as to what it would take to bring my car back with me.

I was shocked at the price and the process. If the car is less than 25 years old then a registered importer must submit all the paperwork for you ($). If your type of car has been imported by an individual before (like the 1988 M5) then they just submit paperwork, bring your car into compliance with US regulations and you're good to go. If a car similar to yours has not been imported before then the RI must prove that the car they are trying to import is similar enough to a car sold in the states with regards to emissions and crash testing($$).

Here is the official website with the list of cars that can be brought over with minimal fuss. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CARS/RULES/IMPORT/
Unfortunately the only M5 on the list is a 1988 model. I remember reading somewhere that all modifications needed to made once the car is in the possession of the RI, but this all happened a few years ago so my memory could be bad and/or they could have changed the rules since then.

I wouldn't hold my breath hoping for a big profit back in the states. The used car market can be pretty fickle and the specialty used car market especially. It's best just to have these cars for the love of them rather than to make money from them, IMHO.

mottati · 2nd July 2009, 18:58

from what i've been told by people who have done this a few times, it cost around $8-10k to get a car federalized into the US.

jamgusa · 5th July 2009, 16:23

I did it in 2004 for my M5 Touring

Cost: more than $ 12,000 plus shipping.
It took 9 months.
You can find E 34M5 here on the market for $ 15,000 now.
No money to be made only a huge cost and a big headache.
Don't do it unless you have a sentimental attachement to the car.

Jaime