Re: Some 3.6Ls have been rebuilt to 3.8L specs (archive)

Actually, I think that P. Daniel is correct -- I was a bit overly simplistic in my remarks. Once a vehicle has cleared the initial DOT and EPA gates for importation, it IS possible to perform these modifications after-the-fact with few (if any) repercussions. It is the inspection/validation done at the time of importation that "counts." The closest look is going to be the one done within walking distance of the port of entry.

I've actually looked into this matter in considerable detail, as at one time it was my intent to bring a Euro-spec M5 into the country and "federalize" it upon arrival. The subsequent research left me feeling a lot less comfortable about the process, the peculiarities, and many of the people involved.

The main problem with the Euro's 3.8l engine is/was, IIRC, that it has difficulty with the EPA's "cold start" test -- and very, very few conversion facilities understand the M5's engine well enough to work through this in a manner that is truly worthy of the car. Yes, they may eventually "make it work," but you may also end up with a lot less than 349hp by the time they've finished. Frankly, these guys have you over a barrel, and they know it. If you are less than thrilled with the quality of their services, are you really prepared to walk away from a $10,000+ investment?

I spoke with several of these operations, and got a lot of conflicting responses. The only constants across-the-board were that (1) there are no guarantees -- especially where the rather complex M5 is concerned -- and (2) this is a long, expensive process even IF all goes according to plan. (You can probably tack on an additional $7,000 or more to whatever you have invested in the car.)

In the end, I decided that it wasn't worth the risk, and went out and found a U.S. spec M5. My advice to any prospective owner in the U.S. would still be to find a 3.6l that "meets code," and think about the 3.8l conversion after-the-fact. Yes, it can be done -- but, if you are a purist, you should really consider starting with something other than a gray market car.

One final observation: I think that some Canadian importers/converter have established a better track record in this area than the majority of the Florida/New York outfits. If you are still hell-bent on bringing in a non-U.S. spec M5, you might wish to look into bringing your vehicle in by way of Canada.

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Follow Ups:

Check out Willz Leasing Corp. in Ontario .... ///Slider 04:06 5/25/2002 (0)
A Quick Caveat ... ///Slider 14:38 5/24/2002 (0)

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