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  #1  
Old 12-18-2001, 07:54 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Richmond, BC Canada
Posts: 426
High prices for Mercedes in Canada

I just thought I would comment on how fortunate US Mercedes buyers in the USA are - even with the 1.61 exchange rate the prices of the cars that I see on eBay are low compared to prices of local Canadian cars. If we Canadians want to import a car up here from the States, there are no restrictions on the importation of cars older than 15 years, and cars older than 25 years are duty free. I am asking other Canadian members of this group to respond with what they know about importation of American cars into Canada. I know it can be done at a cost, as my 83 300D came up here from Santa Barbara Ca. back in 1991, but the guy who imported it is now deceased. (he was apparently the original owner, so it was likely Settlers Effects)
I want to import a car, as there are just so many great diesels down there, & so few really nice ones up here, but am woefully uninformed as to how to go about it, and Canada Customs are full of contradictory bafflegab when I call them.
I live on the west coast of Canada, where rust is not a serious problem and it very rarely snows; even so, all of the local Mercedes diesels that I find for sale are really beat up and still very expensive. A drive back home from somewhere in the USA in my new (used) diesel would be finer than any holiday in Hawaii (at least, until I got to the border).
If the prices I see on eBay are realistic even factoring in the exchange on our peso vs. the US greenback, I could have three really nice diesel Benz' for the price of a new Hyundai.
Am I dreaming???

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Old 12-18-2001, 08:32 PM
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ajb ajb is offline
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Location: PEI, Canada
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I recently looked into this as I also find the same issues here on the east coast of Canada (PEI) The cars are either overpriced, badly beat up or a combination of the two. I recently looked at a 240d that needed a lot of work - offered the owner what I thought was a reasonable offer and she laughed at me suggesting that it was worth every penny she was asking because it was a Mercedes.

Therefore I am also thinking of bringing in a car from the US. What I discovered was the following:

1. Cars 15 years & older are exempt from duty if made in the US. If manufactured elsewhere but imported for the US market there was a duty. (I was quoted 6.1% for a 80 Benz) In addition you have to pay GST at the border on your bill of sale & also a $100 tax if you have ac. Any provincial taxes will be paid when you register the car in your province. Check out this site -http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4140eq/rc4140-e.html#P93_2350

2. Vehicles older than 15 years not have to meet Can. safety standards. Vehicles newer may have to get modifications done to meet these standards. In the case of a vehicle less than 15 years old there is a $192 fee to register and get the car checked out
through your local CTC. (What a Joke?)
Some newer cars can be exempt - you can check out this website - www.riv.ca

3. Finally you need to inform US Customs of your intent to export a vehicle from the US. They need to have the origional Title ( not the same as registration from what I gather?) 72 hours prior to crossing the border back into Canada. The title has to be sent to the actual border location that you are crossing at. They check the car do some paperwork (no cost) and then you give this stuff to Canadian Customs along with your hard earned cash.

A word of caution, the above is just information that I have gathered through the above websites and by phoning both US & Canada Customs. I haven't actually tried to bring a Mercedes across yet.

Good Luck, and please keep me posted!

Aivars
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Old 12-18-2001, 08:46 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Richmond, BC Canada
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High prices for Mercedes in canada

Thanx AJB...Very helpful info. As I live 2 km. from the USA it would be easier for me to buy a car in Blaine oe Everett Wa.than it would be to cross 2 bridges & get to North Vancouver. At least you in PEI have only one bridge...albiet the longest bridge in the world.
By the way, I would rather live in PEI than anywhere in the world...assuming I had a SECURE JOB or was independently wealthy. I am a native Manitoban, & this whole left coast thing is all so very bogus.
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Old 12-18-2001, 10:57 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Brampton, Ontario,Canada
Posts: 5
Just for further info........I imported a 1984 300D Turbo in March of 2001. The border crossing was really easy due to adequate preparation.

You need the title in your name.

You can have a temporary tag on the veh. 30days/$8US (FLA)

You need a clearance letter from MB USA that states that all recalls have been complied with. (Reply by fax based on Ser. No.)

You need the 72hr. preclearance time frame so that US customs can check out the veh. before it is exported. (They check to see if it is on their stolen veh. system. All they do is put a US Customs stamp on the Title). You have to call the crossing point by telephone. Get a name and log time and date called!!!

You have to pay: GST, PST, Duty, $100 A/C fee. They accept Ccard.

They accept written bill of sale.

......it was an adventure to fly to FLA., pick up the car, prepare it for return to Ontario and then drive back an "unknown quantity!"
( I had to do new tires, new windshield, wheel alignment.)

Good Luck!!
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  #5  
Old 12-19-2001, 01:09 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 378
I did my two Mercedes after moving back to Duncan, BC, from Colorado. Both were over 15 years old, which is a significant boone. The 560SEL was 14 years, 11 months, but I delayed my plans a month. They are a little sticky on this. If it's under 15 years, it has to be entered into a vehicle registration program. A crock, in my estimation, that merely costs some extra money. Then there is the matter of the car's origin. Being from Germany, the Mercedes is not treated favorably. I got the US customs stamp on the same day. They want 72 hours, but I just showed up. They verified one serial number, but not the other. (Just be polite and offer to come back if needed.) You don't really need the US customs stamp, however. Nobody cared about it. It helps if you later intend to register the car in the US or resell it there.
When I tried to register my cars in BC, it was another hassle. I never got the recall clearance letters and was never asked, though. You do need a provincial inspection which is $50-$100. My 560 passed and my 300e didn't. I had to remove the black tinting film from the front windows, fix the flex disc and put on seat covers. There were three slits in the driver's leather seat. A spring might bite you, so it had to be covered up. A piece of duct tape applied before the inspection might have allowed me to pass.
The insurance people have rarely done US importations, so expect a long process. They called ICBC lots of times. The weight of the vehicle must be entered as well as various codes and other unknown quantities. In the end, I began to wonder about moving to Alberta and then to BC; it might have been easier.
Would you believe that ICBC wanted more money for the 300e insurance than the 560SEL? The 560 is worth more, so I assumed it's insurance rate would have to be higher.

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