Since MB offers so many more, better diesels in Europe, is it possible to just ship one over to good ol' U.S. of A.? I read about old "gray market" diesels that were imported and "euro" versions, but I can't find anything about new imports. Not that I can afford one, but maybe once I start rakin' in the millions

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

I guess if you flew all the way over to Europe, went to an MB dealership, paid in cash, and shipped it back to the US it would work.

Granted you'd probably have to get it to pass some goofy US safety regulations. A process that I am completely oblivious in.

Personally I'd love to be driving a british benz around with the steering column on the wrong side!

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

When people did the above in the pass they would purchase a new Car and drive it enoungh miles in Europe for it to be considered a used Car. That way when the shipped it here the Customs Duty was less.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

The car has to have 30,000 miles on it to import into the US if it was not US compliant in the first place. And then the car would still have to meet DOT standards which will not be a issue most likely.

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http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...titled-1-3.jpg
1981 300d

I don't think its quite that easy or it'd be happening a lot more. I think only "US-bound" models are allowed anymore....no euros.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Unless the car is exactly the same as a US import model, it needs to be 20 years old in order to avoid DOT and EPA issues.
It will be a headache regardless.

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1985 300D cali 190K

http://mercedes.thatchermathias.com/mw300d.jpg

There was and may still be a program that allows European pick up of a new vehicle that then could be shipped to the USA... The price savings could pay for your European vacation...

If I recall the package included conversion to USA emissions standards and overseas shipping to the North America...

Someone on here should know how to get more info....

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Joe

1998 E300D turbo 240K + Miles
2000 Dodge Dakota 122K + Miles
1992 Mazda Miata Autocross Machine 143K + Miles
http://www.renegademiata.net

Any man who is under 30, and is not a liberal, has no heart; and any man who is over 30, and is not a conservative, has no brains. - Winston Churchill

I heard this on NPR not too long ago. I believe MB and BMW were both doing something like this.

I guess you'd have to do some research on something like importing a Euro diesel. Maybe contact a lawyer who specializes in something like imports, EPA, and other goofy regulations.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

See the link below for some information about several automakers European Delivery Programs....

http://budgettravel.about.com/od/cheapgroundtransportation/tp/eurdel.htm

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Bob
'82 300D Petrol B-G Metallic

it has to be 20 years old. I am looking into importing a G model. 20 years is the magic number.

you can do the european delivery, but it will be a US spec car...not a diesel sold only in europe or other places.

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1985 300D cali 190K

http://mercedes.thatchermathias.com/mw300d.jpg

1. 25 years old is "The Magic Number".
2. ALL "European Delivery" vehicles (BMW, Mercedes,VW,Volvo, Etc.) are ONLY US compliant EPA/DOT vehicles
[Same automobile you buy from the local "Stealer",only it's "Delivered" to you in Europe. (with return shipping to US included) ]
AND Believe Me with Today's Economic Conditions, European Delivery is NO SAVINGS!

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

My dad's work buddy flew over to Germany to pick a US-spec BMW up from the factory. He told us overall it wasn't cheaper, but he broke even (to a U.S. dealer-sold BMW) with a 2 week European vacation thrown in. Anything that isn't DOT approved is a huge headache to get street legal. Some cars are able to get around it by classifying as "kit cars" (I believe Noble does this). IIRC the way to get a non DOT car imported is to get a clone of its USDOT approved cousin, disassemble and show that all of the proper safety equipment is identical to both. In the import scene, this prevents a lot of the JDM cars from coming to the U.S. (you'll rarely see an older Skyline here) but cross over into Canada and it's not uncommon.

To clarify, in a lot of states you don't need inspections to register a car over 25 years old so that is the "magic number" being mentioned.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Well, there certainly seems to be some conflicting data here.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

To answer your original question:
With enough money you can do anything. But this is far from practical. Any factory pick-up is going to be a clone of anything you can get at a dealer here in the U.S. rather than gray-market cars. What data are you trying to find?

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth