hwt1964

Has anyone ever had any experience (or know anything about) importing cars?

Specifically, I'm thinking about buying an SL55 in Germany (not from MB directly, from a dealer), and exporting it.

Are there EPA concerns?
Taxes?
Other things I should be aware of?

Seems like these cars might be easier to get in Europe...not sure why, other than they've been out there longer.

JtSL500

The BIG exotic car exporter from europe would be http://www.CarClassic.com in Switzerland. According to them, there is a 2.5% tax for imports to america, and a charge of around $8,500-16,000 for conversion at an EPA registered facility in S. California. Plus 5K for Shipping, and you have to wait over 6 to 8 weeks for the conversion to be official. And on top of that, the EPA reserves the right to take you car from the converters and test it themselves for 30 days.

hwt1964

thank you for your response! Have contacted Classic asking for details...will pass them on.

It sounds a bit frightening, though. Classic sounds like they know what they're doing. I've contacted a couple of other places that don't have any problem putting the car on a boat, but don't seem to know anything about what happens from there....

I'm hoping to buy an SL55 from someone this summer, but I don't know if that'll work out. Otherwise, it's either import or wait.

hwt1964

well, I've researched the importation thing...importing an SL55 is definitely possible.

Here's what it looks like:

1) you buy an SL55 from an export-savvy dealer in Europe. Costs you 124000 euros ($109K)

2) You spend $5K having it flown here

3) Costs another $3K for customs

4) Costs $12.5K to have the car americanized at an approved facility

5) EPA processing fees cost $1K

6) Miscellaneous fees cost about another $1k

7) "Bonding Premium" (whatever that is) fee may cost $4k (I'm a little unclear on that)

All in all, seems like it's $135K + options...probably a $20K premium over the likely US MSRP. You end up with a european car, which will be handicapped a bit on the resale market.


My thinking is to either wait my turn for the 55, or see if I can buy someone else's at a modest premium. The Europeans seem to have piles of them for sale (well...I've talked to two places, and each one said they could air-freight me one within the next week or so, if I were flexible on color, options, etc.). I'm hoping that once they start shipping them here, the premium will drop pretty quickly (3-6 months?)

tuscans

hwt 1964

Are these costs true for most any car brought in from europe or are you referring to just the sl amg?

Thanks

hwt1964

The costs were specific to the sl55

import/customs duties are 2.5% of value
EPA is 1%
Bond premium is 3%
Basic transport and other fees seem fixed around $1k
Air transport probably doesn't vary that much from car to car: $5K

conversion fees seem to range from mild to wild. If it's just lights and gauges and that kind of thing, it'll be on the low side. If it involves safety things, or emissions things, open your wallet. Low range is around $6k...high range could be tens of thousands. For new cars that are sold in the US, count on 6-15K. If you're looking to import a car that isn't sold in the US, it may not even be possible...if it is...well, it's one of those "if you have to ask you can't afford it" scenarios.