For obvious reasons, most country's import taxes will essentially make it indifferent for importing vs. buying from local dealer (theoretically). Otherwise, the local dealers won't be able to sell a single car with all the personal imports. There is also warranty issue where BMW NA will void the factory warranty when you ship the car outside of the country. In certain countries there are ways to reduce those taxes, but won't be enough savings for one to take advantage of the arbitrage in the long run. Cars are priced substantially more in most Asian countries, and labor is a fraction that of the US so I could see the savings here. Personally not a big fan of the conversion, but it looks like a great job and an interesting project from the pics.

Hiro

 

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why 323i? why not start with 325i

 

M3 cabriolet = 1.6m HKD

323i cab = 450k HKD conversion at most is 100k HKD....

even if i start off with a 335i at 700k, and dump 300k to mod it, I'd have M3 beating performance and still have enough left to get another car oppose to buy a real M3

plus there aren't really roads to even use the power of the M3. and the M3 is one of the most over priced cars in HK atm. cars in similar class are 400-600k cheaper.

here are some other car prices in compared with the E92/3 M3, just way too many better choice then buying a M3 here for the same amount of money.

R35 GTR = 1m
C63 = 1.1m
RS5 = 1.2m
360 Modena = 800k
Early Gallardo = 1.5m
used 997 Turbo/GT3RS = 1.6m

 

only RHD cars could be legalized in HK. Only cars from UK and Japan are worth importing.

but the difference on the M3 importing from either places isn't worth the difference oppose buying new from BMW in HK. I looked into the E92 M3 last year, and the difference was less then 200k HKD. it just wasn't worth the hassle, plus M3 resale value in HK don't seem all that great. I just end up buying a R35 for the same amount of money.

however My C4S was imported from the UK last year when the english pound reached a low. my car after tax in HK was 1.4m HKD, if I were to buy the same car with the same option from Porsche HK, it would've cost me 2.1m

700k HKD saved = close to 90K USD.

 

Is anyone willing to pay 90k USD more for a car they can't even drive properly? Let's not forget the already price tag. At least he didn't put chrome wheels on the car and post it asking for opinions. This project could have turned out much worse, I would say the car looks great that's what matters, but I don't think this would fly in the states.

Nice work, looks great from the pics.

 

I have a 99 323IS and I wanted to know how much it would take to convert it into a M3. I have a pretty good idea now and I think it may be cheaper to just go a buy a new one than to do all of that kind of work. I don't think that there isn't any local talent who could do it anyway!!

 

My buddy ships cars to different parts of that area of the the World, was that not an option...either way, looks like the build was done correctly.

 

Whatever someone wants to do with their car is their own business. That's my general feeling as long as they don't try to pass it off as something it isn't, which the OP didn't do. It looks like a lot of careful attention went into it with good results. It retains the original badge on the back, so all is good.

 

+1. He isn't trying to front, he just wanted to make his car look more aggressive. Does it look like an M3? Yes. Is he trying to pass it off as an M3? No. I can't believe the prices of cars over there .

 

Thanks guys for the compliment ..quite flattered ... the car is now sold to a nice lady who used to drive a Evo 9 and do perfect heel toe. She said, she's done with speed. She wants her top down.

I was like ....... huh ....... WTF.

 

How much money did you spend converting? That's a lot of money to spend converting to a M3 look. If you don't have enough money for a M3, why not buy a 335i turbo? Cheaper and faster.

 

Why didn't you ask if you could take a pic?

 

She sounded in between "seductive" and "jokingly" better avoid trouble .... haahah

 

Spent around US$15k for the conversion.

The money difference between this car and the E93 M3 is about US$128k