Someone really needs to write SeaRail a procedure manual! She finally arrived in Vancouver on Christmas Eve, and I expected delivery yesterday. But, SURPRISE, there's a snag.

Half the staff at SeaRail say that you have to have a broker to bring a car in to the country. The broker told my husband that the paperwork was not in order, and that having the car here was probably illegal! SeaRail is now back to saying never mind the broker (the half that figure I don't need one), I can clear it through customs myself. But, I have to try and make it to Canada Customs, across town, sometime between 8-4, which is the hours that I am working, to try to get it all straightened out.

If I EVER try to bring a car across the border again, I will fly down and DRIVE it back!

Stay tuned...

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Natalie

I was just wondering about your saga!!! Funny you should post!!!

I guess I know the status now! GEEZE! What a BIG pain the butt!

Pete

The fun never ends!
Sheeesh! Keep us posted.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

Well, at least the effort is for a worthy cause -- a Mercedes -- as opposed to a man or a relative....

Ron
http://germanstar.net

I bought a car in San Francisco for a friend to take back to BC. He did everything by the book which included some initial paperwork and making an appointment for customs to check the car at the border. Smooth as an SDL with a new head He was warned that you don't want to have the car at the border or in the country without an appointment or paperwork. Even the attempt can bring fines.

The paperwork is mostly statements from the DMV that the car is not stolen and from the manufacturer that the car is up to DOT code and all recalls have been resolved. This was an 88 Toyota and Toyota of Canada would have nothing to do with certification or a recall to correct an emissions label under the hood.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Mapleleaf,
good luck with Taxachusetts DMV. Wierder than any other state I've lived in... you've got to have pictures taken of the car to get insurance, and many normal auto insurance co.s don't write in MASS. Once you're up and running, head up to Marblehead on the North Shore and get some fried clams at Flynnie's on the beach. mmmm.

cheers,
kevin

__________________
Cannondale ST600 XL
Redline Monocog 29er
2011 Mini Cooper Clubman
2005 Honda Element EX

www.djugurba.com
www.waldenwellness.com

I know a fellow that brought his car when he moved from BC to California. The only hitch was that his car had regular seat belts and the US equivalent had mouse belts. He was surprised that they noticed a difference but all it took was a letter from the manufacturer office in Canada to clear it up. On the other hand, you can't import a car with mouse belts into Canada.

If my cousins even move south, I'll look into them brining in a nice Euro-spec MB Diesel for me

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
83 300SD

So, it was looking like everything was 'go' for a launch today. We had a time. We had a place. We had THE PAPERS. But what's that coming out of the sky? A SNOW STORM?? On the west coast?? SeaRail had to cancel delivery because most of their driver's didn't make it in to work today. Which I find kind of ironic that TRUCK DRIVER'S can't make it to work in the snow, but Belinda managed to get ME to work just fine. We'll try again Friday.

Welcome to Canada Buttercup. She's already covered in snow. All she needs is some hockey gear thrown in the back, and she'll be 'christened'. :p

Sixto, what the heck is a mouse belt?

__________________
Natalie

Something you lucky Canadians didn't have to put up with. It's a sorry evolution of the VW Rabbit seat belt that was attached to the door. The upper anchor of the front shoulder belts run on a motorized track from the lower corner of the A-pillar to the upper corner of the B-pillar to kinda sorta give you automatic seat belts. It looks like a mouse is pulling the seat belt into place for you. The problem is that you still have to fasten a manual lap belt and you'll probably get more hurt with just the shoulder belt than with no belt.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL
83 300SD

I just can't believe these guys at SeaRail. It's like dealing with Curly, Moe and Larry.

When we left off on Christmas Eve, my husband had offered to go to the yard to try to get the car started. It's in the middle of the yard, not plugged in (previously they assured me it would be), so he was going to take a generator pack (he had a few other ideas on what might help). They said, no no that's okay, we'll just get in this special tow truck, and we'll do it on Friday. They said they'd call first thing Friday morning.

When he hadn't heard from them this morning, my husband called. He was told 'they would call back in an hour'. Two hours later, he calls them back. Again told they would call back in an hour. Two hours later, he calls back and reminds them that Canada Customs is only open till 4pm. About an hour after that, they phone back and say 'We can't get it started. We went through 3 batteries trying to get it to start." UGH!! They act 'suprrised', like it's the first they've known that it's difficult to start. It's like trying to do business with someone who has short term memory loss. My husband asked them to write a sign ON THE CAR to explain what is supposed to happen because their chain of communcation is so poor.

So now we're in to next week, and we are both working every day. We're looking at waiting until the following week, or losing a day's pay if we do it next week!

I sure hope they didn't kill the starter, as they must have done a lot of cranking to go through 3 batteries.

I plan on writing a letter of complaint, and make a few suggestions for improvement.

If any of you are getting a car shipped, DON'T USE SEARAIL!!!

__________________
Natalie

I remain convinced that there is no such word conjunction as "illegal alien" that can be found in the Canadian lexicon. (Or their laws for that matter).

Gottcha-there!!! Ehh??

__________________
Toblin

'79 300D, "Liesel von Diesel", 235K

I kid proofed the house....but they still get in

Natalie, what's happening?

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Check Here for details!

Thanks for your inquiry Rick! Yes, Buttercup finally arrived Jan 12.
She sure is pretty! Except for a few little rock chips that have started to rust, she is virtually rust free. The interior is not so hot, but I was fortunate enough to win these seats on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33701&item=2453964606

I would love to replace all the carpeting too, as it has faded unevenly throughout. But that's on the 'eventually' list. New front seats and new carpetting, and she'll look brand spanking new.

Other than that, there's not too much to report. We still havent' even managed to get her started. We tried a new battery, replaced two glow plugs that were shot, and replaced the glow plug relay. It will turn over for a short time, then starting buzzing. I think SeaRail killed the starter. The PO told me he had recently replaced the starter, so it's fairly new. And they told me at SeaRail they went through 3 batteries trying to get her started (in -8C weather, not plugged in ). So I think it's all their fault.

The only other thing of note was that there were a lot of disconnected and broken wires under the hood. Mostly related to the AC it looks like.

When it wouldn't start, we moved on to the motor rebuild. Buttercup is having a nice rest in the driveway.

What's new with you?

__________________
Natalie

Actually, Gottadiesel is the one who asked. But he didn't remember your name well enough to find this thread. And GetmanStar was kind enough to point out that you've abandoned us in favor of mbcanada.com. sniff

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References