Dealers who sell new to Canadians

[blue dragon]

Hey guys, I just sold my E46 M3 a couple of weeks back due to changing family space requirements. I'm looking at ordering a 2011 X5 35D, but I need to know which dealers will deal with Canadians on a new vehicle. If you can recommend someone (the closer to the border the better)

Also, is the Adaptive Drive worth it? How much sporty driving are you really doing in an SUV?

[vbX]

Only few independent BMW dealers in the deep south US will sell new to a Canadian buyer.

[ard]

I've wondered.... can't you buy the car and tell the dealer you are living in, say, Wisconsin. Rent a mailbox. Have the car trucked to Wisconsin (to avoid the dealer holding taxes) then drive it home?

Or have an Alaskan escrow company buy it in a 'trust' and avoid ALL taxes!

Here: My Car Trust

Alaska's Unique Benefits


Not sure if this works for Canadians, but seems a cool idea if you change cars regularly....

BMW has buckled down on dealers selling to Canadians...

GL

A

[rrental]

Dealer here in Canada asked me to sign a paper not to export the vehicle. Something to do with exporting to China.

In Europe car makers have received huge fines for this. According to European laws a citizen of an EU country must be able to buy the same product in another EU country without being (financially) discriminated.

EUROPA - Press Releases - Commission fines Volkswagen ECU 102 million following consumer complaints

[JCL]

Still have to pay all the Canadian taxes when you bring it across the border.

Warranty can also be a hassle, as can the maintenance plan, as BMW Canada, who reimburses the dealer, is not the same company as BMWNA in the US.

Difference on a 35d looks to be just under $10k at the moment, once you put the options on the US vehicle to bring it up to the Canadian spec.

On the other hand, if you buy it in Canada you can build an Individual model.

[nynd]

I've done it before and it can be done. Phone around as there are dealers willing to sell.
For maintenance plan, you drive across to Buffalo and get all your oil changes INCLUDING brakes/rotors/wipers when the time comes (usually your 4th year) for FREE - well worth it. For making it canadian complaint, a software reflash (for making it so you can't run your daytime running lights off) and a cluster change probably to the tune of $3K - which is worth it to ensure you've got Canadian warranty for the next 4 years. Used vehicle which is a couple years old, you may not want to go through BMW and just hope you can drive to USA when the need arises for warranty work.

[ard]

Originally Posted by JCL

Still have to pay all the Canadian taxes when you bring it across the border.

That Alaska car trust thing has me thinking....

If you've got a few high value collectibles, why pay 8% CA tax every few years? but the car, title and register in Alaska, drive it wherever you want. It ISN'T "your" car, it is owned by a business in Alaska, you are just using it.

In the States it is like driving a hertz rental car with Colorado plates in another state- no bid deal.

Don't know if this works in Canada, but I bring it up for discussion....

A

[newmanium]

Oregon has no sales tax either, closer to CA if you're trying this scheme.

[X5hammer]

The Alaska angle has a couple of snags for Canadian use vehicles. The first is it will have to be registered in Alaska under the "business" name which means Alaska plates. Drive around with those on the car in most provinces for a few months and you can expect to be pulled over and questioned. You will then have to satisfy the local authorities that the car is your friend's who is just "visiting". The second is the insurance. No canadian insurance company will write up an Alaska registered car.