US vs. Euro version
 

Hi guys,

I am planning to get a 4.8 in the US and bring it over to Europe. (with current Euro/US$ rate it makes sense)
Are you aware of any major differences between US and European version?
(Other than speedo ;)


Happy New Year

MartyX5

You will have to check the import laws in your country. They may want a letter from BMW stating that there are no differeneces, etc. I can't see BMW providing that letter. The emissions can also be different. You may find that even though the current exchange rate is better, it won't be by the time you pay all the fees/taxes. Depending on how BMW is setup, the warranty might be through BMW NA.

Seriously, it's not worth the trouble and expense. Importing cars into another country is a load of fees, time, and money.......there are many of us here who wished we could import european-spec BMWs over to the US, and there are also many (likely not on this board) who wish we could import Japan-spec Japanese cars to the US. I remember reading an article about how they imported a JDM Honda Integra Type R (better than the Acura RSX-S) over to the US......it took them months and cost well over $11k.

Two notable differences that I can spot:
1. Amber front bumper reflectors in US spec.
2. Due to emmisions regulations US spec vehicles have a little less hp output, X5 4.8 US spec 350hp; Euro spec 355hp.

You will need to change the Lights .That will be expensive ...
You need to get the certificate of CE conformity from BMW. Good Luck !

That 5hp difference between US and Europe is to be expected based on different definitions of hp (SAE vs. DIN). Many companies simply choose to rate them the same (based on the SAE number), many don't.

Thats right, but the certificate of CE conformity is easy to get with BMW France for example, it cost between 40 and 80€.

The main problem is the value of an used 4.4i in europe due to the gas price. In europe most of the X5 are Diesel, every km is cheaper with diesel engine...

;o) Stf.

Thanks
 

Thank you guys.

That cleared things a bit. I was anxious, as for example US version of MB GL450 is said not to have tranny oil cooling & totally different suspension,
Dealer in Europe said that Navi (on mercedes) would not work in Europe, as they are using a different system for US version.

That might be just black marketing, but got me thinking none the less.

If you compare the price:

US: MRP for a fully loaded 4,8 app. 70,000 US$ +10% duty +19% tax gives 91360 US$ plus max 5,000 shipping&insurance (of course trip expenses would have to be added) which is app. 75,000 Euro.

Compared to 72,000 for base +metallic paint + leather (not going further into configurator, appears to really make sense

Thanks again for your help guys.

MartyX5

If you owned the car more than 6 month in the USA, you can import it with the customers tax only (no VAT). That's the way it works in france, but I don't know about Poland...

;o) Stf.

Stef:

It is the same here - EU Regs ;).

When you export a new car from Us, through a speditor, you don't have to pay local taxes there. - Same thing and saves spending 6 mo in California
(instead of freezing our butts here LOL :)

MartyX5

I have imported 3 BMW and 1 Lexus from USA in the last year and I can say that it totally makes sense to do that. With the exchange rate and other factors it turns out to be much less expensive.

I move to the US soon where I plan to buy the new X5 and bring it back to Denmark. However the Danish dealer just told me, that it was two completely different cars. Much more than just the lights. It was even two different code numbers. Can anyone shed som light on this?

They supposedly imported the former model X5 from the US, and they had two Munich based BMW engineers working on the car fro a week to be able to have it conform to all EU regulatives and standards...

Seems that the US version (08) can order with auto-tailgate (US/may be Canada only) whereas the Euro version (08) can order with soft-close doors (Euro only).

Just call the customs in your country and you find out all the rules. Rules vary greatly from country to country and from manufacturer to manufacturer. Don't even listen what dealers are telling to you. For example, you can bring any BMW and Mercedes made in Europe to USA without any problem, their VINS are automatically appear in US databases. But this is NOT the case with any Japanese vehicle, you need to bring those into conformance with US laws.

Im in the UK and my order is currently in build with the auto-tailgate option so you can get this in Europe as well as the soft-close doors

I thought Euro cars had a different spec lighting for the xenons.

cars that when bought under the basis of being exported, arent they exempt of taxes ?? in the US

It may well be that the US car has things like a different suspension set up too. When UK journalists first reviewed the X5 it was in the US as the car was realeased their first, they all made a point of saying the car was US spec and expected the UK cars to handle differently. European versions tend to put more emphasis than handling whereas US spec cars tend to have a softer ride.

Marty, I think Stef meant something else: he stated that if you have owned the car in the US for 6 months, you can import it to Poland without paying polish VAT.
Anyway, keep us posted how it goes. I am thinking of doing exactly the same as you.:thumbup:
By the way, what about warranty? I think Euro dealers will screw you as they will probably not honor the warranty on your car...

Cars are similar, there is only different method to make options and VIN numbers in US cars starts with number. There is many X5 E70 in Europa, it is possible to order without reflectors and change ODO (no miles, only km), it costs aprox. EUR 700. Extra you have to pay 10% from invoice (TAX for car what is built outside EU) + shipping (aprox. EUR 1500) + VAT from invoice + EU sertification (it costs EUR 2000-EUR3500). Usualy in invoice for TAX is price without options (USD 54 000 for 4,8). Fully load 4,8i from US is aprox. EUR 12 000-15 000 cheaper than identical car from dealer in Germany. It is almost 20k $....

About warranty... There is some problems, these "black dealers" are saying to everybody that BMW have worldwide warranty but in Baltic states it does not work. But car is good, strong, don't take active drive and go on!!!

Hm, I came up with bigger difference. In CZ a loaded 4.8 would be EUR94k or $141k. Even with overseas transport, taxes and certification procedure it appers that you can get the car from US $40-46k cheaper...(calculating 68000*10% duty*19%=$89000+$6000shipment and certification).

Janic x5 how is it possible to order without reflectors and with Km/h speedometer ? from the dealer ur importing fromin the US or in your local dealer?

You are right. I do not think BMW has worldwide warranty but I keep hearing that Mercedes does.
Well, that could be an issue as E70 has not really been a trouble free car

I thought the presence of a warranty is why we buy German cars........to be perfectly honest, those 23,591 electronic sensors aren't always cheap DIY fixes.

From what I have heard there is a world wide warranty but only for 2 years instead of the regular 4

I have heard the same. However, I just bought two new BMWs, in Canada, and both had specific declarations on the sales order, which I had to sign, stating that I would not export the vehicles. The dealers are protecting themselves from the BMW policies that penalize them for selling vehicles to individual exporters. There are a number of Canadians buying vehicles in the US now with our strong dollar, and I am hearing that US dealers are declining to sell new cars and only selling used cars if they know it will be exported. YMMV.

Example: M3 and RS4. They're both rated at 420hp in Europe... but 414hp in the US.

As for the thread? I have an idea... get it shipped to the Welt center in Germany (European Delivery) and then "move" to Europe.

You do know that there is no ED for US-built BMW vehicles?

The silliest part of the CAD vs. USD exchange is how expensive cars still are there. For example, a decently-equipped (but nowhere near loaded) S450 4Matic SWB will run you the price of an absolutely loaded-to-the-gills S550 4Matic LWB in USD.

Ahh, the advantages of a weak economy... and brands that are willing to lose some money for us.

Dear God, I completely forgot! Thanks for reminding me.

Well, I want to get a BMW winter car simply so that I have an excuse to go to the Welt... that's an amazing automotive experience in itself.

My 535 would have been 15k cheaper in the US, like for like, but I wouldn't have been able to get the full M-Sport kit, or several options that weren't available in the US. BMW rebate kicked in 5k, dealer went 5k over on the trade value, and I was left with a 5k difference. That seemed fine to me, as privately-imported US vehicles are worth less at trade-in.

Different story with taxes in the EU. It isn't that they are expensive here, it is that they are cheap in the US. As you said, the side-benefits of your current state of the economy.

Yup, very true. When optioned up to what we have, an X3 2.5si costs 54,150 euros, and our 325i would cost 48,500 euros in Germany.

Anti export declaration??WTF
 

Wow:confused: Anyone from the US also had to sign a declaration on not intending to export the vehicle?:rolleyes:

US to UK imports
 

I imported my 05 X to the uk from California 12 months ago and all I had to do was get the headlamps adjusted and rear fog lamps fitted to meet UK spec. the whole cost of shipping and UK legalising was just about $3000 , well worth the effort and BMW does have a 2 year worldwide warranty programme and I have used it in the last 12 months without any complaining from my local dealer who obviously had nothing to do with the origonal supply of the car.I am serriously considering upgrading to a new X but am trying to find a pre-owned fully loaded one to make the saving WELL worth it.
:thumbup: :thumbup:

I signed that when I bought my wife's 328 two months ago.

2 year global warranty?
 

Avonside, how can one verify this warranty? If you google it nothing comes up. Looks like BMW doesnt anyone want to know about it. Are you permanently based in the UK? Maybe if you are from US and have your car brought to the UK (even for an extended period) they might be treating you better...

It really depends on your circumstances. If, like Avonside, you purchased a car in the US (with a US address), used it for some time, and then decided to relocate, then I think BMW will work with you and you have a good chance of getting a local dealer to honour the global 2 year warranty. On the other hand, if you are not a US resident and you try to purchase a new vehicle with the intent of doing a private importation to your home country, then you may have trouble finding a dealer to sell to you (see my previous post for the comments about non-export declarations), and you will be much less likely to get a dealer in your home country to honour the global warranty. They will likely tell you to forget it.

I think it really goes to intent. If you relocate, they will work with you. If you try to avoid paying the price in your home country, they will see little reason to work with you. Given the quantity of electronic devices on the vehicle, and the likelihood of failure, I would not want to have a new vehicle without a warranty, but that is just me. You can buy a private warranty if you are insistent on purchasing a vehicle in another country, but that type of warranty can be expensive, and it is a 3rd party, not BMW.

If you buy a new car, you might lose the warranty.

BMW has two different type of warranty.

New Cars has been bought in US has no warranty obligation on the local dealer in EU and vice versa.

That make sense then you are going to spend 90K

global 2 year warranty
 

What I did was when the car arrived in the UK I called BMW UK headquaters and informed them the vehicle was now in the UK and they transfered the VIN over to the UK data base. I believe the 2 year global warranty stands no matter what the circumstances of the purchas or reason that the vehicle was bought in another country. I did loose my nice 5 year all inclusive warranty and service package because no such luxury exists in the UK, (you guys in the states are very lucky with that one ).I was offered the chance to buy a 3rd year from the local dealer for £830 ($1600) but decided against it, time will tell if that was a wise choice !!!!.
:thumbup: