So fellow Canadians... is it worth the trouble to import one from the US?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 10
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Mitsubishi Lancer
So fellow Canadians... is it worth the trouble to import one from the US?
Hey guys, I've been reading about importing and dealing with the RIV for a couple of years now and I'm seriously considering to get a 09/10 c350 from the States. On autotrader.com you can find hundreds of them with 10-20k miles for around $35,000 USD. The one I'm looking at is a CPO model. In Canada a CPO model on benz.ca start at $42,000 with 4x the mileage and likely less options.
So my questions are directed to those who've done it, and their feedback. I sort of know the basics, such as:
- recall letter from MB
- RIV forms around $200
- pay tax at the border but I don't know the tax rate
- modifications like DRLs and bumper which may cost $5000-7000 from MB (!!!)
The last one is the killer, that pretty much cancels out the savings of buying it from the States. Even so, I want to see if anyone has done it and if they will recommend others to do so. Another important question is how the warranty transfer works.
So to sum it all up, if I buy a $35,000 c350, how much am I looking to spend in total to drive it in Toronto?
Thanks in advance
So my questions are directed to those who've done it, and their feedback. I sort of know the basics, such as:
- recall letter from MB
- RIV forms around $200
- pay tax at the border but I don't know the tax rate
- modifications like DRLs and bumper which may cost $5000-7000 from MB (!!!)
The last one is the killer, that pretty much cancels out the savings of buying it from the States. Even so, I want to see if anyone has done it and if they will recommend others to do so. Another important question is how the warranty transfer works.
So to sum it all up, if I buy a $35,000 c350, how much am I looking to spend in total to drive it in Toronto?
Thanks in advance
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 256
Likes: 39
From: Vancouver, BC, and sometimes AZ
2015 E63S
The last one is the kicker! it will indeed cost anywhere from 5-8k for the bumper retrofits.
Also, the taxes will be the full taxes in your province (here in BC it would be HST 12%) ***PLUS*** duty on top of the final amount = a kick square in the *****. I believe the duties will be 9% on top of the final amount after provincial taxes.
Other merc and BMW models make a little more sense, such as Z4's, X5's, M-Class, etc... the ones assembled in USA.
You should also really get a broker involved in any such large car transactions like this that involve cross-border purchases, check with the customs check-point too, it might be REQUIRED that you have a customs broker.
Also, the taxes will be the full taxes in your province (here in BC it would be HST 12%) ***PLUS*** duty on top of the final amount = a kick square in the *****. I believe the duties will be 9% on top of the final amount after provincial taxes.
Other merc and BMW models make a little more sense, such as Z4's, X5's, M-Class, etc... the ones assembled in USA.
You should also really get a broker involved in any such large car transactions like this that involve cross-border purchases, check with the customs check-point too, it might be REQUIRED that you have a customs broker.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 955
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From: NNJ
'11 C350 '13 F150 lariat
not sure on taxes but the C class have the option in the cluster for DRL so u can use it or not, wont have to retrofit it. And the bumper is just the support bracket underneath, you can get one pretty cheap and have a local body shop do it for 2k tops. The canadian models have more options too, u guys can get 4matic on a C350 and can get parktronic, USA cannot, and u can get memory seats on older models, we cannot, only the newer ones driver side, not passenger like u guys. I would rather have a canadian model if you ask me......
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 20
From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
Bumper standards were relaxed - you do not need to modify the bumpers for import to Canada. Import duty is 6.1%. You pay HST when you register the car.
