typejr is right, the vehicles are much cheaper in the US. With the CDN$ at about 90 cents to the US the savings are a lot.
arvy is right - that MB is the only manufacturer that requires the vehicles to be modified at MB Canada. Unlike in the United States, in Canada, all the MB dealerships are owned by MB Canada - no independents. Talk about a closed shop!
I emailed MB Canada asking them what needs to be done for a 2003 E320. I also asked if the 4 yr manufacturer's warranty transfers over, and if any additional warranty in the US is valid in Canada (like star certified).
This is the useless reply I got:
Thank you for your inquiry. Please note a US specific Mercedes-Benz 2003 E320 Sedan was not manufactured to meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, however it may be possible to convert this model to meet Canadian standards. The certification work requires extensive modifications and can only be carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. dealership. Generally speaking, the modifications may cost between $ 3,500 to $ 6,000, however the dealership would have further information. Once you have the complete 17-digit VIN, simply fax this along with the model year/model to our Customer Relations department at 416-425-6370. Please allow 2 business days for the letter of admissibility.
Regarding the validity of US warranty, please note only the New Car
Limited Warranty of 4 years/80,000kms (50,000 miles) is applicable in Canada - any additional warranties and/or maintenance contracts offered in the US are not applicable in Canada. Subsequently, US model Mercedes-Benz vehicles do not qualify for an extended warranty in Canada and a US extended warranty is not applicable in Canada. In addition, Emergency Roadside Assistance is payable by the customer on a US version Mercedes-Benz and the customer would have to submit their invoice directly to MBUSA for reimbursement.
Best regards,
Erin Somerville
Customer Relations Co-ordinator
Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.
smart Division Canada
email:cac@mercedes-benz.ca
1-800-387-0100
1-877-627-8004
I am going to fax them at that number and see what they tell me. I can't believe they say it is going to cost $3,500 to $6,000. They are being evasive by not answering it because they don't want people to import from the US, because they are making a killing on the high prices in Canada.
They want me to provide a VIN number for each car? Like a silver 2003 E320 is supposedly different than a black one with navigation system. They are all the same - all the other manufacturers just list the year and model number and tell you what needs to be done. Yet MB Canada wants you to provide the VIN for each car!
Also, all the manufacturers including BMW, list what is required for all models on the government website www.RIV.ca For MB, it says contact MB Canada.
Also, notice how the reply says the US E320 was not manufactured to meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards - is this hogwash or are all of you in the US getting unsafe cars? I think it has to do with the bumpers. It will be interesting to see what reply MB Canada gives me.
BTW, you can import many cars, including Nissan Pathinder into Canada and you have to do nothing. The speedo has km under the miles and it comes is daytime running lights. You don't have to change any of the climate control stuff from fahrenheit to celcius. It would be interesting to see if MB Canada makes you do this to keep cars from being imported. AND we are supposed to have free trade.
All I got to say, is this would never happen in America. I admire your free markets.