PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

Gray Market Survivor · #1 10-17-2001, 11:21 AM

Well, I can see from the "300D with manual transmission" thread that there seem to be a number of interested in gray market diesels.

Can anyone definitively tell us what has happened that makes bringing one in today impossible?

I realize that the exchange rate between the DM and $US are not as great as they were in late 1984 (4.2DM=1USD), so buying a diesel in Germany and having it shipped would definitely be more expensive than buying a similar body style in the States without the diesel.

I am curious to see if the process has changed any. Here is how I brought my diesel in 1985.

I purchased the car used from a private party to avoid having to pay new car German taxes. I have a bill of sale, written in German, stating date of purchase, addresses of seller and my mother's cousin who bought the car, VIN, and sale price.

I paid $645 for shipping to Wilmington, DE - this was shipping + 1.3% insurance + $20 to pick the car up and deliver to Frankfurt from Urloffen
by David L. Thomas, from Spedition
Frankenallee 260 600 Frankfurt/Main
-49 069 7380043 Telex 416803

I had the car converted by Champagne Imports for $5000
2294 N. Penn Road
Hatfield, PA 19440
(215) 822-6852 - owners Joe and Greg Marino
They did: DOT (door,bumpers,lights,speedo,key,seat) $1700
EPA (diesel) $2500
Bond $500 (to bring in non compliant car to take to a shop)
Pick-up in Wilmington $100

For the EPA work, they followed Form OMB No. 2000-02

Taxes:
Duty (customs) =2.6% , NJ state sales tax 6%

NJ Motor Vehicles:
137 E. State St, 2nd floor (609) 292-4595
A Mrs. Carroll was the most helpful who stated I needed a Fahrzeugbrief (German Title), bill of sale (continuity), pencil tracing of VIN, Bill of Lading, Original customs entry, and form MHV L07 and LS240.

I thought this information might be of help to those who have more time to follow up on the present state of importing. I have no idea if these people or procedures still work.

Perhaps there may be a small group of us who would all like to get together and purchase vehicles and bring them in to the states? My '84 is getting a little tired and I would love to do the same thing I did last time.

Any thoughts???