Ok everyone, I have an interesting question about importing a Merc from Canada. I have searched older threads but didn't have any luck finding anything so if its already been answered just direct me over.

Does anyone know whats involved to import a used Canadian Mercedes to the US....specifically to California.

I'm concerned about the emissions restrictions as well as all the minor changes that need to be made such as odometer. And what about safety requirements and calibration of equipment. The car is a 94 and I assume it was built with OBDII software and emissions. I have no idea where to begin with this process so any input would be helpful.

Thanks for your help.

__________________
Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

When my son moved from Canada to Virginia he wanted to take his 96 Jeep with him. Starting point was to contact Chrysler - I believe the dealership got him the number - They faxed him a form to fill out with the vehicle particulars - which he faxed back - they then sent him a letter or document (can't remember which) which listed all the emission stuff and that it complied with Viginia law. The rest was easy. Showed his driver's license, registration and this letter to customs and that was it. Hope this helps. This was 4 years ago - I don't know if things have changed.

jeep is american made, hence, napta covers it.
mb is different and for sure require duties and taxes.
would suggest checking with customs authorities of
applicable taxes, and other minor technical modifications.
do the math, you may be better off buying locally despite
the attractive exchange rate to the canadian dollar.
good luck!

I agree with Joel - but before you can even think of the duty and taxes - the car MUST meet emission standards first - or you can forget the rest. Since Chrysler and Benz are now one and the same - I still think it would be worth contacting them to see if the car first qualifies for importing. Talking to a friend who imports cars to Canada from USA- it is tougher standards for cars 10 years old or NEWER. He states that importing cars over 10 years old is real easy.

I know importing a car FROM the US TO Canada is very difficult, but hadn't thought about the other way...

Canadian emissions standards are as tough (I think tougher even) then California emissions. Your problem might be in specific smog-related equipement, which might be look different. If you just have to pass a tailpipe test, should be easy. Keep in mind only a couple provinces have mandatory tailpipe tests, so your car might need a tune.

Canadian cars have metric instruments. Not sure if your gov't mandates that they be changed. I think the 94 C-Class lacks ANY mph markings (my 98 has tiny ones), so changing might be required.

Canadian cars have 8 km/h bumpers, many US model cars have 4km/h bumpers. Don't see them making you change them. Coming into Canada, you have to.

Canadian 1990+ models have DRL's. Some newer US cars do too, so should be okay.

__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

The Canadian Transport department publishes a list of cars illigible for Canadian import, along with modifications necessary to comply with the Canadian regulation.
The US gov. might very well publish a similar document for cars imported from Canada.
For our US friends looking at buying a used car, the Canadian market should be a real treat due to our weak $$$
Ex: 1993 400E 80,000mi, all records: Advertized at $19,000.Can
which equals roughly $12,000. US
A 1993 300E, 93,000mi, very nice: advertized at $13,995Can:
about $8,800. US
A 1992 300E, 73,000mi advertized at $10,500.Can=$6,600.US
a 1995, 320E, 59,000mi, advertized at $21,000.Can=$13,200.US
JackD

btw, the merger of daimler-chrysler made the company
a german entity. go figure the technicalities!!

A lot of cars headed for the North American market from Europe were set up to be legal in both the USA and Canada -- look on the driver's side front doorpost and see if there is a sticker there which says something like: "This vehicle conforms to all DOT standards in effect for the 19XX model year." If it's got that, you should be home free, unless the car has since been converted to the superior e-code headlights or some such thing legal in Canada but not here, but the authorities may demand to verify that the VIN number is correct for their list of USA certified models, too.

www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import

alt.auto.mercedes

there has been a couple of treads on this topic. Looks like quite a process !

try a google search at the group as well ...

just my ZAR 0.02's worth

L

I know someone who brought his 92-ish year model Canadian spec Japanese car to California when he moved here. It wasn't a big deal except that his car didn't have motorized seat belts that US spec versions did. They didn't make him change the seat belts, but they did require a statement from the manufacturer that that's how the car was originally delivered. No problem with Canadian spec emissions equipment. It did have to pass a smog check check.

As a California resident, the strictest requirement is that it have more than 7500miles. You can't bring in a new car that isn't identified as a California spec car.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/osreg.htm#BM2561
says to contact a DMV office regarding importing a car from another country. That should be fun.

Sixto
91 300SE
81 300SD

Thanks for mentioning the currency issue. I think I'll fly to metropolitan Canada and buy myself a new MZB. Thanks.

VIVA CANADA!

Merci!

A very nicely equipped C240 Classic can be had for about $43,000 CDN.

At 1.60CDN to USD, that's $26,875 USD. For a well equipped car! (leather, roof, heated seats, etc.)

Take the C32 AMG. At $65,900CDN, it's only $41,187 USD.

__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif

Please remember,pretty much everywhere in Canada,we have WINTER. This usually means driving through salt for 4 months/year. Of course the amount dumped varies by region, but I would kill for an older rust- free Benz, from say California or Arizona. Pretty hard to find up here in Montreal, and if you do find someone who has gone through the trouble of winter storage year after year, their asking price will be $$$$.

__________________
1987 190E 2.3L (Daily Driver)
1985 VW Scirocco (Mint-Summer)

Before all rushing north of the border to buy your new AMG Mercedes at Canadian $$(depressed) value, you should know that there are rules that have been established between the Canadian and US car companies that directly address this issue. (Mercedes is most probably part of this agreement.)
I know for a fact that such rules have been established at Volvo, BMW and all Jap. car manufacturers.
Canadian dealers will not sell knowingly for export. Why would US MErcedes pay for warranty on a car on which they made no profit on? Why would Mercedes Canada pay it's dealers any volume rebate for cars sold in the US because of the favorable exchange ($$) rates? Mercedes (and other manufacturers) establish the selling price based on (1) adequate return on their investment (2) what the local market will bear.
I know for a fact that Honda dealers are prohibited to sell cars for export and at least one Honda dealer lost his dealership following large number of sales to US based customers. it is clearly stated in their dealership agreement. With the serial number, Mercedes can learn very easily which car should have been sold in which market. On the first warranty claim MercedesUS will know right away that the car has been sold by which Canadian dealer, information will be relayed to Mercedes Canada and this guy (dealer)will have a very tough hour with Mercedes Canada.
JackD