Re: Importing M5 (archive)

I forgot there is another way:
Bring it up to US specs BEFORE importing it, but you will need in this case a certification from BMW that the car is a US spec.
For your info the following has to be done:
-US Catalitic converter,air pump etc(the european is way not good enough),sensors and related parts;
-rear central brake light
-lateral lights on four sides of bumpers
-buzzers for seat belts and doors open warning
-door beams (inside all 4 doors)
-markings (engraving) on front hood,side fenders,
-door jambs,rear trunk,rear fenders,bumpers (this is a safety against theft)
-US lights (but I believe that M5 US has same lights as Euro)front and rear.
-engine check light (emission failure)
-brake light
-odometer in miles
-door locks (I'm not sure if Euro is same as US)
-passenger external mirror with engraving (objects
in mirror are closer than they appear)

The hardest and costliest is the catalitic part
as the car has to pass both EPA and CARB (two tests which are very strict, especially in California), the rest is quite easy as it's mainly
fitting US parts instead of Euro, apart from the door beams.
If one were to bring his own car like I did (and
probably will do so again to bring over someday the M5 Touring which I still have in Italy) you do not pay any taxes but if you do it commercially you will have to.
Forewarned is to be forearmed!!! Do not take it lightly: its long and difficult and costly.
Ciao
Jaime

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