Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

[Kor]

My buddy is trying to import an M5 right now, he is having a tough time.

I guess BMW Canada has some crazy "rules" they are trying to force people to follow. For example, they are requiring that a Canadian dealership replace the full instrument cluster with a Canadian spec version, even though the OEM US cluster can be switched to show km/hr as well as mph. This cost is nearly $5,000 + labour! He has to change some other things on the car too. I'm pretty sure they are not all to meet reasonable RIV standards, but rather just things BMW is inventing? They refuse to give him the recall letter unless all this extra work is done, including the new cluster.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

I think BMW is the most difficult on this at the moment, should be illegal really

[Chris]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

We went through the same thing trying to import an M6. Wound up ditching the idea all together.

[Smarty39]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

That is complete horsesh!t if you ask me...especially if the cluster can be switched. It's just another way for BMW to make a buck on a sale (or $5000 for that matter). Not much you can do though...without the recall letter you're screwed.

[edicius]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

You should see the $2000 inspection that volvo wants you to do

[R_Ethug]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

LOL WTF..

man i hope i don't have troubles with my audi in a few months :(

local s4 ftl

[Kordain]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Do you just need this 'recall' letter to continue the warranty or do you need it to be admissible by law in Canada? ie could you just get one out of warranty by age and be ok with bringing it in?

[JustALilBit]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

LOL WTF..

man i hope i don't have troubles with my audi in a few months :(

local s4 ftl

I dont see it being a trouble, Audi seems to have their crap together alot more than BMW does. Especially in the recent months.

Dude, im surprised BMW is doing this, you think they would make enough money off of their mark ups as it is let alone an additional $5000 cluster

[bart]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

i would buy a used one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Tacho-BMW-M5-M6-...ayphotohosting

swap the km/h overlays, and tada. i say no need cause my US M5 already magically has km/h... thanks

now those ones are regular 5 series, cause it only goes up to 260. so either put in the mph back or wait until you find m5 ones. but it should do the job.

[Simon]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

LOL WTF..

man i hope i don't have troubles with my audi in a few months :(

local s4 ftl

Yes Audi is super easy to import, no problems at all when I brought mine over.

Do you just need this 'recall' letter to continue the warranty or do you need it to be admissible by law in Canada? ie could you just get one out of warranty by age and be ok with bringing it in?

You NEED the recall letter for it to be admissible by law in Canada. The letter proves that the car has had all its required modifications done in its home country and it meets current US specs. Canadian dealerships don't have access to the US dealership computers so they wont know if the car is up to spec or not.

i would buy a used one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Tacho-BMW-M5-M6-...ayphotohosting

swap the km/h overlays, and tada. i say no need cause my US M5 already magically has km/h... thanks

now those ones are regular 5 series, cause it only goes up to 260. so either put in the mph back or wait until you find m5 ones. but it should do the job.

Won't work. RIV will send you a list of part's and part #'s required to meet canadian specifications. If you say your car already has the canadian part the dealership is required to remove the part and check its part # against the list provided.

[R-Audi]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

looking at this from a different view, BMW Canada could also be seen as protecting its customers.....
Although the price difference sucks, you sure didnt see anyone complaining when it was the other way around

[Kor]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

I don't see it as protecting customers... the certified BMW dealership in the states even offered to do the work and sell the parts at cost to my friend to bring the car up to spec - not allowed. Has to be done here. Has to be at the cost the Canadian dealerships charge - which is around 500% mark up. Can't just get an inspection or buy the parts yourself or take any shortcuts.

I had to pay an inspection fee on my Cayman but who cares, it was way less money and they did it to validate my warranty, which is valid IMO.

[R-Audi]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Not protecting its customers?
With every US car that is brought up, the value of the Cdn cars drops...If BMW Canada discourages this, they ultimately protect its customers who within the last year have purchased a vehicle through them.
Everyone always wants the best case scenario.. few years back when you could buy trucks here and sell them in the US people were fine making money.. and now that its the other way around people suddenly complain?
I dont agree with the price differential... but ultimately people who buy a US car kinda screw Cdn dealers and car owners out of money. If it was me shopping for a car.. I would do the same, but I cant blame the dealers for doing things to discourage it.

[Kor]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Where do you draw the line? How about if you go into a dealership with an imported US car, they kick you straight away in the balls. Would you complain about them discouraging you that way?

Its insane, they are just totally making up their own rules and screwing you, thats not just discouraging people from buying US cars.

Anyway I am no longer a fan of BMW's and won't ever buy one after hearing about this.

[Khyron]

Re: Be careful importing a BMW into Canada

Not protecting its customers?
With every US car that is brought up, the value of the Cdn cars drops...If BMW Canada discourages this, they ultimately protect its customers who within the last year have purchased a vehicle through them.
Everyone always wants the best case scenario.. few years back when you could buy trucks here and sell them in the US people were fine making money.. and now that its the other way around people suddenly complain?
I dont agree with the price differential... but ultimately people who buy a US car kinda screw Cdn dealers and car owners out of money. If it was me shopping for a car.. I would do the same, but I cant blame the dealers for doing things to discourage it.

So you'd be ok if Apple said the Ipod you bought on your vacation needed 100 dollars certification before it would work? Or your digital camera?

It's up to the gov to set import taxes and protectionist practices, NOT individual companies. If the cost of importing is 7% GST, 6% duty and 500 bucks in extra fees that's what it is. If that + the shipping and transport and inspection costs still leaves a big enough saving to be worth it then there's a price disparity which must be corrected by market forces, not BMW. Both BWM and Mercedes should be sued into the ground for this.