I’ve come to the all knowing people of 6speed with a question: how would I go about making a brand new ///M3 from Mexico legally drive-able here in the US? Is it even possible?
Thanks,
Tyler

 

They quit making M3 coupes last May and convertibles last summer. If you want a convertible there are still new ones on the lots...I doubt there are any M3 coupes sitting however. Getting a gray market car into the US is a lot of money and hassle, when there are so many E46 M3's here, why deal with it?

 

The deal, whether I can get it to be US legal or not, is too hard to pass up.

 

To make it legal you'd probably end up spending more than you would just to buy a US spec M3 from the beginning. It's not a cheap or easy process.

 

I am not sure if the Mexico's m3 are different than US. They might all fall under the same catagory under BMWNA. You might want to contact them. for example, bringing in a car from Canada is really not that hard. All that has to be done is change the instrumental panel and few tests. Also you can't bring in a new m3 from canada. You have to wait a grace period. it's to protect the company from overflowing cars from neighboring countries. Under the NAFTA agreement I would assume it would not be as hard as importing one from Europe or some remote country where the EPA and DOT restriction is different. Like i said, i think BMWNA would probably be covering usa, mexico and canada in one segment as BMWnORTHaMERICA. so give them a call to get the real scoop.

But what others have said is true. Importing a car is more hassle than it's worth because of so many red tapes etc.

 

well considering that all mexican cars are originally sold in the USA, then stolen and resold..





j/k..

 

I know you're kidding, but that was my first thought. If the deal is "that good", it probably IS stolen. Tons of cars are stolen in SoCal, AZ, TX, etc. and driven and re-VINed in Mexico. I would be VERY careful. The same thing happens a lot in the UK with stolen Japanese cars.