I'm looking to import a G Wagen from the fatherland into the U.S. How old of a vehicle do I need to look for so I don't have to worry about converting it to U.S. DOT specs? Thanks!

If you dont want to hassle with importing, look at www.keisermotors.com

I think they sometimes have a eurospec G wagen in inventory. If not, they have alot of G wagens anyhow.

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Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

www.cbs.nu

It needs to be a 1979 model year car.
The rule is 25 years or older to be EPA/DOT exempt.

If you want to bring in a 1991 or newer one, it can also be done, but at a steep cost of about $6-8000US

-280ge

Howdy auto,
Also check the clubgwagen site.

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Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

If you were Canada it is even easier to import one. I've heard that vehicles over 15 years old are exempt from emissions and safety regulations...

Howdy All,
I remember reading smewhere that it is easier to import into Canada but I forget the details. I think Eric is right about the 15 year thing.

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Frank X. Morris
17 Kia Niro
08 Jeep Wrangler 4 door unlimited

When we had the one, and only WA GTG in the spring of 2003, a few members from Canada showed up, and were mentioning about being able to import 15 year old G-Wagons to Canada without a problem.

Can you provide support for this? My understanding was that DOT has a "floating" 25 year old exemption but that EPA has no such exemption - that the EPA exemption was only for vehicles manufactured prior to the start date of their regulations - i.e. January 1, 1968.

Still not clear to me. A G-wagon is clearly a non-US version vehicle, i.e. a non-comforming vehicle, in that it does not have the US EPA compliance label. The EPA site says "EPA does not recommend the importation of non-comforming vehicles. Conversion of non-conforming vehicles is usually very expensive, and sometimes impossible or impractical." Also: "EPA will permit the importation of a non-conforming vehicle only if it qualifies for an exclusion or exemption, or is imported by an independent commercial importer who is a holder of a valid EPA certificate of comformity". And then there's no 21 year old exemption or exclusion - only the one for vehicles manufactured before the EPA regs on January 1, 1968. It seems clear that if the vehicle is at least 21 years old you don't have to post a bond at the port - but that doesn't get you much. But that's part of the problem with importing a non-US version vehicle - you read the regs and it still isn't clear. It's almost as if they were written to confuse.

The words "upon importation" - importation, i.e. coming through the port and customs, is only one step in the process. It's abundantly clear elsewhere that non-conforming vehicles require either an exemption or an exclusion, and 21 year old vehicles have neither. The statement that is so clear to you is contradicted in the second paragraph of your quote - proof of manufacture prior to the EPA regulation. It may be clear to you but I nevertheless think you are misinterpreting it.

I did a little more checking and here is what I think is the deal - 280GE had it right, effectively - it has to be at least 25 years old. There is a 21 year old exemption from EPA but on a G-Wagon this does nothing for you because a 21 to 25 year old G-Wagon can't be brought into DOT compliance even at great cost. So the 25 year DOT exemption becomes the hurdle - for a 21 to 25 year old G-Wagon it's impossible, but when it's 25 years old you're home free, so to speak.

How did my 85 409d get into the country? It does not seem to have any modifications to comply with EPA standards? Were there no standards for diesel vehicles at that time or did it simply comply naturally? The only detectable differences from the Euro model is a VIN on the windshield pillar and a fasten seat belt sign on the dash.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13