Moving to Europe... with the cars - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Benzasaurus · #1 05-31-2016, 08:23 AM

So.... I received a job offer on Saturday in continental Europe. And I'm taking it. That's the good news.

The bad news is they want me to start July 1st and I am not ready to part with my cars and sell them. I'm also deluding myself that my 300TD and 300D will have higher value on the continent, particularly to German aficionados. Has anyone ever moved cars internationally or know how that works? If it's cheap enough, I'll do it now, otherwise, I may see if I can store them for a little bit and then do it. I'd rather move everything upfront though. Obvs I don't want them parked at the edge of a tanker the whole way, but I don't need them to go in a climate controlled box either. ...or do I?

I've moved Americas <—> Europe twice and my mother has moved her household the same distance 3x. So I do have a sense of what's in store for me (a great deal of planning and phone calls). But no one in my family has ever shipped cars.

strelnik · #2 05-31-2016, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzasaurus

So.... I received a job offer on Saturday in continental Europe. And I'm taking it. That's the good news.

The bad news is they want me to start July 1st and I am not ready to part with my cars and sell them. I'm also deluding myself that my 300TD and 300D will have higher value on the continent, particularly to German aficionados. Has anyone ever moved cars internationally or know how that works? If it's cheap enough, I'll do it now, otherwise, I may see if I can store them for a little bit and then do it. I'd rather move everything upfront though. Obvs I don't want them parked at the edge of a tanker the whole way, but I don't need them to go in a climate controlled box either. ...or do I?

I've moved Americas <—> Europe twice and my mother has moved her household the same distance 3x. So I do have a sense of what's in store for me (a great deal of planning and phone calls). But no one in my family has ever shipped cars.

Congratulations! What country will you stay in?

Most cars need to be shipped from a port like VA or NY. I'd go with VA. The fees will kill you.

Past shipping of cars on RO-RO (roll on, roll off) system costs start around 800.00 plus some fees. If you know anyone in the military who has shipped a car recently, they can help you.

You do have choices.

Benzasaurus · #3 05-31-2016, 10:16 AM

Thanks! So, I'm moving to Switzerland. Pretty excited about it, actually. Just have a daunting to-do list ahead!

My boyfriend has a naval officer in the family, so I think he'll reach out to him. Thanks for the suggestion! I would never have thought of that myself.

Hopefully it won't all break the bank. I plan to stay in Europe for the rest of my life so... shipping kinda makes sense.

If it works out easily maybe I'll open a side-business of selling manual transmissions back to the US.

Stretch · #4 05-31-2016, 11:00 AM

Well roll on roll off has gotten a bit more expensive! It used to be about 500 USD between Newark and Rotterdam / Liverpool a few years back (perhaps a few more years than I care to say!)

The safest way is a container - but that is more expensive.

The problem with moving a car from the US of A to Europe is that you can not keep your "American car status" for long. If you are living in Europe (and registered as so) most European countries (even if you are an EU resident - which I guess you are not) will expect you to IMPORT the vehicle as well as YOURSELF! You will not be legally able to drive on an international driving licence for more than a few months and you will have trouble insuring a vehicle in the country of your choice if it is not imported.

To import your W123s you need to bear in mind that Switzerland is probably a bit like Germany in their road worthiness standards (I'm not sure about this so check). Some of the "bodywork" repairs I have seen on this site are simply not acceptable in most parts of Europe. Pop rivets - fibre glass - ****e welding etc is not acceptable. Now I don't know if your cars have been repaired that way but you need to consider this before you bother dragging them back this way.

Other things like orange indicator lights need to be considered.

Also you need to be aware just how unfriendly European governments are towards old diesel vehicles. Again I don't know about Switzerland - so check - but there are some cites in Holland that have banned them - the road tax is also stupid high here for diesel vehicles that are younger than 40 years old. Where I live in Holland it would cost me nearly 3000 euros a year in road tax for a W123 diesel.

(Sorry to pee on ye olde bonfire but I'd rather you go into this with your eyes open to what might / can happen)

Benzasaurus · #5 05-31-2016, 11:46 AM

No, no, by all means, please piss away. I'd rather know ahead, honestly!

Actually I'm a British citizen so that might make life easier.

And you're not the only one who's pointed out the diesel issue. A family member was just reminding me about how little love diesel is getting over there. Does that apply to cars running on biodiesel too, do you think? I mean, at least in Holland? I bought them to get them on biodiesel, but need to replace all those little bits in the IP and etc. and just haven't had time or money.

I've also heard back from my employer with details and there is a parking permit fee for the city (about 260 CHF/USD). I'd be able to rent garages at whatever apartment complex I end up at (likely 70-100 each) as well. So the city where my job is is not car friendly.

But given the Swiss train system, I'm thinking of living in a smaller town and commuting in. I found an apartment in a village of 245 people that has hourly trains to the city! 15 minutes. Pretty impressive.

The MOT issue does worry me. The wagon has superficial but ugly visible rust. It was going to go into the body shop this summer to get new panels but now I need the cash for moving. I'd probably park it there until I could get it into a shop there (which is the real cack-handed order for doing things). I think it would be off the road for a while. The sedan has bad paint, but otherwise all is in order. So far as I know.

I've looked into it and since I've owned the cars long enough I don't think I'll pay import duty on them. My license should also be good for 12 months.

I'm thinking of getting in touch with a Swiss benz forum and seeing what they say. I predict, "THE END IS NEAR."

All of these are really great points though, thank you for bringing them up. There's a lot more to think about than just getting the cars there.

Benzasaurus · #6 05-31-2016, 12:26 PM

Just a quick update: I've contacted the Mercedes Benz Veteranen Club Schweiz. We'll see if they have any advice for me.

Further reading about the Swiss MOT hell indicates they look up every detail of the car and check that tires etc. are "original." Pretty sure there is nothing more original than the seats in my wagon.

:/

I think, but haven't confirmed yet, the car also has to be able to pass the pollution standards for Switzerland at its time of production.

And it likely has to be deemed roadworthy by Swiss standards which are, stereotypically, precise and exacting. Oh boy.

Stretch · #7 05-31-2016, 12:32 PM

For Holland I had to exchange my UK licence for a Dutch one within a year. They don't warn you about this. If I hadn't done it in time I would have had to have taken a Dutch driving test which would have meant a minimum of ten lessons (apparently!) which would have been about 3000 euros...

...tedious 'uckers.

Check the rules for where you are.

You'll also end up paying "tourist" insurance rates if you don't have a local licence. I don't think you actually have to exchange your licence so you should be able to keep your US one as well as having a Swiss one.

Being a British citizen / EU citizen is going to help a little bit I guess - though Switzerland isn't part of most of it here!

#######

The only bio-diesel benefits that I have heard about are for London buses - no benefits for real people I'm afraid.

#######

If you can some how get classic car status - in Holland the true class car status is for vehicles that are about 50 years old then you do get benefits such as no annual safety checks (not really a benefit in my opinion - but hey that's another story) and no road tax => Eco-zone exempt too. Similar rules in the UK at the moment too.

Benzasaurus · #8 05-31-2016, 12:49 PM

Hmmmm. Good to know. Starting to hope for a miracle now...

I'll report back if/when I hear from the Swiss MB club. They have two MB clubs in Switzerland. One for Veteranen, the other for SLs. ¬_¬

I also came across this which is decimating my confidence that I can get this done. Swiss MOT - I'm really angry. - English Forum Switzerland

I mean, maybe if I can pay a swiss shop to do restorations on both cars and make sure they're up to scratch. But that ain't happening unless they'll do it for free or for a song. *sigh* I really didn't think I'd have to give the cars up. If I do, it's gonna be heartbreaking.

P.C. · #9 05-31-2016, 01:49 PM

Put them both up for sale now, if passing Switzerland's version of MOT is questionable.

panZZer · #10 05-31-2016, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzasaurus

So.... I received a job offer on Saturday in continental Europe. And I'm taking it. That's the good news.

The bad news is they want me to start July 1st and I am not ready to part with my cars and sell them. I'm also deluding myself that my 300TD and 300D will have higher value on the continent, particularly to German aficionados. Has anyone ever moved cars internationally or know how that works? If it's cheap enough, I'll do it now, otherwise, I may see if I can store them for a little bit and then do it. I'd rather move everything upfront though. Obvs I don't want them parked at the edge of a tanker the whole way, but I don't need them to go in a climate controlled box either. ...or do I?

I've moved Americas <—> Europe twice and my mother has moved her household the same distance 3x. So I do have a sense of what's in store for me (a great deal of planning and phone calls). But no one in my family has ever shipped cars.

Hmm good you got things going your way Dino, Dina.

The port of Baltimore is supposed to be the easiest to get an imported grey market car thru, so maybe its the least hassle the other way, and Kingston transporters is the most widely used outfit-they are in Britain.

Auto Shipping Specialist | Kingstown Shipping

Delibes · #11 05-31-2016, 04:32 PM

I'd ship them RORO from Baltimore to Bremehaven, then wheel them into Switzerland. Cheaper import fees.

Stretch · #12 05-31-2016, 04:34 PM

From the few Swiss people I've met in real life they seem to fall into two main camps - the German Swiss and the French Swiss. As you might imagine the there's a bit of agitation between these two parties. If you go to Geneva then there's one heck of a lot of Italians mixing things up too!

From a car perspective => You might find that you get a different car attitude in different parts of the country.

However, I get the feeling that the majority of the "USA" 20 year plus Mercedes vehicles (based on what I see and read on these forums) would probably give the owners a miserable time at the MOT testing stations in most European countries.

If I were you I'd replace what you have with something that is already in Switzerland. Time for a full options W140 methinks!

kerry · #13 05-31-2016, 07:15 PM

There's a weekly freighter from Boston (?) and Halifax NS to Rekjevyk,(SP) Iceland. You roro your cars on that freighter to Iceland and there's a regular car ferry from Iceland to Norway (used to stop in Scotland but I think it stopped doing that). Then drive to Switzerland. May not be cheaper but I think it would be more interesting.

JB3 · #14 05-31-2016, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benzasaurus

Hmmmm. Good to know. Starting to hope for a miracle now...

I'll report back if/when I hear from the Swiss MB club. They have two MB clubs in Switzerland. One for Veteranen, the other for SLs. ¬_¬

I also came across this which is decimating my confidence that I can get this done. Swiss MOT - I'm really angry. - English Forum Switzerland

I mean, maybe if I can pay a swiss shop to do restorations on both cars and make sure they're up to scratch. But that ain't happening unless they'll do it for free or for a song. *sigh* I really didn't think I'd have to give the cars up. If I do, it's gonna be heartbreaking.

Just read through that thread. Holy crap is all i can say. Maybe you are better off storing them over here and then seeing what the lay of the land is when you live there before bringing the cars over or selling ect.

That whole thing on failing the OEM wheels because they dont have a certificate, yeesh.

You may dearly miss the CT inspection station.

tbomachines · #15 05-31-2016, 08:14 PM

Aren't the Swiss notoriously awful when it comes to cars? On the other hand, congrats! May be worth selling and rebuking, at least you'd get euro models?

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