Importing

[Viking 0]

Just out of curiosity, whats the deal on importing LHD cars, is there a year limit that they dont have to be converted? Do you have to convert? Say the car in question is a M3/M5?

[Grant 4]

They have to be 20 years old to be able to be LHD, otherwise you will have to get it converted.

There are a few exceptions, but I doubt you will fulfill them (i.e. if you are a person from another country who is posted to NZ, have only got it here for a short period of time etc).

I have been looking into this lately, as I am considering bringing an E30 M3 over from the States (I am over there in September...but have good contacts in the industry over there) and either converting it or waiting until it is 20 years old and registering it.

Cheers

[Grant 4]

Also..

All of the info you need is on the LTSA's website.

www.ltsa.govt.nz from memory.

Cheers

[gmccormack 0]

Converting a e30 to rhd is easy. Go for it

[Viking 0]

Been looking at the Japan auctions where the guy from aussie that was here got his M3, they got some nice stuff, like 8 series and even a M5 quite cheap for what they are but all LHD

I'll have to wait for the right thing to come along when I'm ready to get another bimmer. (See what happens, ya buy one and just want more! )

[Guest Spargo]

you don't have to if it came in LHD only, but you must keep it registered under your name for a minimum of 5 years.

[Juzzie Wuzzie 0]

Everyone I dealt with (bar one) in complying (physically and paperwork) my LHD to RHD conversion were C**TS!!!! Pardon my French, but I would never, ever do it again. LTSA and the rest of them are corrupt.

Import LHD and your peril.

[bimmer boy 21]

Been looking at the Japan auctions where the guy from aussie that was here got his M3, they got some nice stuff, like 8 series and even a M5 quite cheap for what they are but all LHD

I'll have to wait for the right thing to come along when I'm ready to get another bimmer. (See what happens, ya buy one and just want more! )

i dont understand why japan have LHD cars to start with cos wen i went there i was sure the cars wer all right hand drive and they drove on the left hand side of the road .

hmmmm i dunno

[Grant 4]

Been looking at the Japan auctions where the guy from aussie that was here got his M3, they got some nice stuff, like 8 series and even a M5 quite cheap for what they are but all LHD 

I'll have to wait for the right thing to come along when I'm ready to get another bimmer. (See what happens, ya buy one and just want more!  )

i dont understand why japan have LHD cars to start with cos wen i went there i was sure the cars wer all right hand drive and they drove on the left hand side of the road .

hmmmm i dunno

It is seen in Japan as a status thing to be driving a LHD car.

[Grant 4]

you don't have to if it came in LHD only, but you must keep it registered under your name for a minimum of 5 years.

True...good point.

Cheers

[Napier_E36 0]

waiting until it is 20 years old and registering it.

under the new frontal impact laws and stuff, you cannot import anything older than approx 1996 unless it complies with the frontal impact standards.

IE a E30 M3 wont comply. It stinks eh! maybe what you could do is import it, then buy a coupe and swap everything you can!!!

But I duno if thats what I would do - because at the end of the day it will look like one, go like one, and everyone will think its one (unless they know otherwise) but to your heart you will always know that its not quite the real deal!!!

But having said that, if i can find a wrecked E36 of E46 M3 (that are beyond repair) and swapping everything to my bimmer - you know how mean that would be?

I wouldnt badge it up as an M3 or anything, just leave it looking stock as! Especially if I found an E46 - you know how sweet 252Kw would be out of a non turbo? would leave a lot of things dead and standing around Hawkes Bay!!!

[Grant 4]

After 20 years, the frontal impact rule doesn't apply either.

Cheers

[Guest Spargo]

E30's are 21 this year, so surely you could get one now, as no major chassis changes were made during its life cycle (83-92)

[Grant 4]

E30's are 21 this year, so surely you could get one now, as no major chassis changes were made during its life cycle (83-92)

That could be a very valid arguement, I wonder if it would work?

Good cunning thinking Sam.

Cheers

[Viking 0]

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/frontal-...bmw-imagery.pdf

BMW frontal impact PDF from the LTSA site, its even got pictures.

E30 3 series

E34 5 series

E32 7 series

The above three are all flaged as no imports.. bugger

[Grant 4]

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/importing/frontal-...bmw-imagery.pdf

BMW frontal impact PDF from the LTSA site, its even got pictures.

E30 3 series

E34 5 series

E32 7 series

The above three are all flaged as no imports.. bugger

But only if they are under 20 years old.

There are exceptions, and the age is one of them.

Cheers

[Grant 4]

Here are the rules from the LTSA

What LHD vehicles are exempt?

Under the Traffic Regulations 1976 it’s generally illegal to operate a LHD vehicle on New Zealand roads. However, some specific exemptions have been made to this law. The main exemptions are:

A motor car or goods service vehicle that meets all of the following criteria criteria:

a gross vehicle mass of not more than 3,500 kilograms

imported by you, for your own personal use

manufactured less than 20 years before the date it was imported

you have registered, owned and operated the vehicle overseas, for 90 days or more in a five-year period, you can only register one such vehicle in New Zealand

the vehicle must be registered in the importer’s name (i.e. your name) for at least five years after it’s first registration in New Zealand unless the vehicle is 20 years old or more.

A motor car or goods service vehicle that meetsmall of the following criteria:

a gross vehicle mass of not more than 3,500 kilograms

imported by you for your own personal use

was manufactured 20 years or more before the date it was imported

in a 12-month period, you can only register one such vehicle in New Zealand.

A specialist vehicle with dual steering controls, or which has been exempted for other reasons related to the vehicle’s special characteristics or use.

A vehicle operated by a person entitled to diplomatic privileges or staff of Operation Deep Freeze.

Any vehicle imported before 1 April 1998 which was previously exempted.

If your LHD vehicle falls into one of these exempted categories (or was purchased from the Crown by the owner or any former owner)—and meets all the safety and other legal requirements applying to imported vehicles—you’ll be able to register and license it for use on New Zealand roads.

The Frontal Impact flowchart only applies to vehicles less than 20 years old (it actually states that in the paragraph ahead of the flowchart).

Cheers

[318i Turbo 0]

i am wanting to get an m3 thru the uk near the end of the year as they r rhd, and for about $9000nz u cant pick an m3 up do any one hav a rough idea on wat shipping costs are?

[Guest Spargo]

Thats g h e y . Especially seeing as quite a few E30's have been let thru after that rule came into place.

Rekon they would notice if you "imported an M3 for parts" and swapped the vin's?

[Viking 0]

i am wanting to get an m3 thru the uk near the end of the year as they r rhd, and for about $9000nz u cant pick an m3 up do any one hav a rough idea on wat shipping costs are?

I would imagine shipping would be bloody expensive, but $9k for a M3, damn thats cheap, what sort of condition is it in?

[318i Turbo 0]

no idea wat sort of cond but they put salt on the roads ova there so it may b a bit rusty, but from wat iv seen they range from $3000uk up to about $9000uk so i wouldnt think it wood be the best

[Dnz 0]

Let me just say this.

If theyre so cheap and easy to import, someone should open a store and make a killing.

[Grant 4]

Let me just say this.

If theyre so cheap and easy to import, someone should open a store and make a killing.

they can't be imported and registered until they are 20 years old even if they are RHD. The age is taken from the date it was first registered.

[shadowninja 0]

A quick search in eBay.co.uk:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/ws/search/SaleSea...3&sosortorder=2

[tHrEEtWoFiVe 0]

I may well be wrong but I believe the frontal impact rule does apply. Basically you cannot import a E30 fullstop. They clearly do not meet the regulation. I looked into this as I did look at a vehicle that had been imported, but was not certified. As the vehicle had been imported before the regulation came in I would of been allowed to get the vehicle certified. BUT trust me on this there is ALOT of red tape to do this. You must have all the required documents. If not you are screwed. I flagged it as the history of the vehicle I looked at was to dodgy. (It was a shame as it was a M325 with all the trimings.)

Edited March 18, 2004 by tHrEEtWoFiVe