Import Papers 500sl - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sltexas · #1 09-21-2006, 07:20 PM

Hello to all

I need some help here in Texas. I have a friend that is going to part with his 1985 500sl... and I am excited to get it...BUT he is having a hard time finding his import documents. He is the orig owner...

Anyone know how to get the papers replaced... I am not sure I want the headache if we cant find them because it does not have a cat convert.

Please help

Bondavi · #2 09-21-2006, 08:01 PM

You MUST find the papers.....otherwise you'll have a beatch of a time re-registering it and smogging. What state are you looking to move the car from Texas? If your home state starts with a "Ca" then without the papers, you are pretty much doomed unless you pay the BAR test to redo the test.

ctaylor738 · #3 09-21-2006, 09:12 PM

I have done 3 280SL's in Virginia, and the DMV has not had the sllightest interest in the DOT papers. If you have a valid state title, you should be OK if you can pass the smog and safety inspections in your state. CA is not a good one to try.

sltexas · #4 09-21-2006, 09:31 PM

I will be keeping the car here in Texas. I understand I might skate by on the test and all if I keep the car running good, but I have heard of people having insurance trouble etc.

I am also concerned that it did not get the cat put on when it was imported.

Can't the original owner contact a records department or somthing to get copies of the dot import info etc.

Please help... only 65k miles and it has been loved.

t walgamuth · #5 09-21-2006, 10:12 PM

i cant speak for texas but i had a euro in indiana. before buying it i told my insurance company what it was and gave them the vin. they said "what is it like?" i said "just like a 300d but with a six cylinder gas engine" they said "oh ok no problem".

for me if the insurance company says it is ok that is good enough for me. it already had a valid indiana title so they werent interested either.

my car has no cat no nothing us spec. no door beams, no bumpers... nothing.

but i would check around in texas to be sure before shelling out the money. i wouldnt worry about the papers unless folks advise that it is needed to title and insure it.

in cases like this you dont want to mislead your insurance company because in case of a loss they could refuse to cover it. but i never talk too much. i tell them the basic facts and let them ask questions. not volunteering anything more than i have to.

good luck. those early 500sls are very quick! wish i had one.

tom w

riethoven · #6 09-21-2006, 10:26 PM

I think Tom is right. The states don't care what the fed. is up to and vice versa. If that was the case, you could get busted for Euro bumpers on a W123. I think you should just go in with the title and change ownership and register the car. Here in NY my cars are exempt from state emissions testing so I can do whatever I want. I just have to undergo "safety inspections" annually. It cost $5. The station where I have the inspection done hates to see me because I never let them touch my car except for the inspection. It has to cost them $5 to drive it into the stall, forget about the inspection.

Just be honest with the insurance. They are the ones who could really screw you.

Bondavi · #7 09-21-2006, 10:51 PM

Since you're in Texas you might make out fine....

Does your car have a frequency valve installed or an air pump? My car came with the frequency valve but was disconnected. I have high flow cats and they work great even for CA smog. I found that the smog inspection here in CA looks for the Fed BAR sticker denoting the car when it was imported. If it isn't there, they won't smog the car, PERIOD.

Hope it works out for you, the 107 500 is one awesome beast!

POS · #8 09-21-2006, 11:27 PM

sltexas,

I'm in Houston; sell the car to me. I'll register it in Brenham, and I'll get it inspected "trouble-free" every year without any problem whatsoever and let it live cared-for in my garage for a long time.

deanyel · #9 09-21-2006, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sltexas

I am also concerned that it did not get the cat put on when it was imported.

Theoretically gray market cars had to get through two agencies - DOT and EPA. But EPA at the time had a one time lifetime exemption - i.e. everyone could bring in one car exempt from EPA requirements - therefore no cat for these cars. A lot of cars came in under the EPA exemption - by the importer's sister, next door neighbor, grandmother, etc. etc.