p1_m3 8 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 It was 1st registered in October 87 (built Jan 87) To register a 20 year old car its done by the date it is 1st registered (in this case Oct 87 in Japan) and it has to be landed in NZ after it is 20 years old, therefore I couldnt register it without exporting it and then reimporting it after Oct 07. Think you can import them just not put them on the road till then. Would give you the chance to do it up and get it fully loaded for road use :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Golfboy666GTI 68 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Think you can import them just not put them on the road till then. Would give you the chance to do it up and get it fully loaded for road use :-) Nope, the car has to be landed 20 years of age from its date of 1st registation to be registered here in NZ. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Nope, the car has to be landed 20 years of age from its date of 1st registation to be registered here in NZ. Correct! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
p1_m3 8 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Correct! But you can buy them from someone who has already imported them (like twrracing) but not registered for the road, then when the magic 20years is up you can register it for road use? confusing eh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 But you can buy them from someone who has already imported them (like twrracing) but not registered for the road, then when the magic 20years is up you can register it for road use? confusing eh I don't think it works like that, it must be 20 years old from when it was first registered when it comes into NZ, regardless of who brings it in, and sells it to who etc. You can re-export it if it is a bit "young" then bring it back in, but this is obviously a bit expensive to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LemonHunter 583 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Just to bring somthing to everyones attention. It is not the date of manufacture, it is the date first registered in Japan that they look at. So searching by model year could shoot you in the nuts. This information is not pulled from the net, but as advised by the guys at TWR Racing, its the reason for the 2 Black M3s they have/had going cheap for a while. 20yrs Old, but registered in Japan only 16 years ago. Now thats a screwed pooch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 This information is not pulled from the net, but as advised by the guys at TWR Racing, its the reason for the 2 Black M3s they have/had going cheap for a while. 20yrs Old, but registered in Japan only 16 years ago. Now thats a screwed pooch. Or a cheap base for an M3 race car! cup half full etc. etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m325i 705 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Who'd bust you if you just put your 325i plates on it? Lazy WOF places wouldnt check would they? ANd its just a m3 kit right? lol! Even if you did get caught, the fine wouldn be that harsh would it? Oh, i suppose the biggest problem would be no insurance tho. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jazzbass 1 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Lazy WOF places wouldnt check would they? Isn't there a requirement for the VIN to be on the wof? That might be checked at some time? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Who'd bust you if you just put your 325i plates on it? Lazy WOF places wouldnt check would they? ANd its just a m3 kit right? lol! Even if you did get caught, the fine wouldn be that harsh would it? Oh, i suppose the biggest problem would be no insurance tho. yeah .. wouldnt want to get nailed for car conversion ... its not a nice one to have on your record / do time for Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 34 Report post Posted December 20, 2006 Nah the fine would be OK - its the prison time for fraud I'd be worried about. think I'm joking???? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmccormack 0 Report post Posted December 21, 2006 I don't think it works like that, it must be 20 years old from when it was first registered when it comes into NZ, regardless of who brings it in, and sells it to who etc. You can re-export it if it is a bit "young" then bring it back in, but this is obviously a bit expensive to do. Send it to Fiji and then re-import it = $700 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juzzie Wuzzie 0 Report post Posted December 21, 2006 Firstly - there is a single RHD (original from factory) M3 that was the Australian show car. Then worked out demand was not high enough to manufacture in RHD, so if you wanted one, it had to be LHD. Secondly - not all RHD conversions have been done by Birds. Graeme Clyde (GAC) has done two conversions I know of (my M3 Evo I, and an Evo III - Sport if you will). Took me about a year to have converted and get street legal (back in 2001). A lot of effort, but well worth it. My advice, spend as much money up front as possible. Otherwise, you'll be spending twice as much on whatever you buy. $50k, and you can drive away in my M3 tomorrow. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted December 22, 2006 Firstly - there is a single RHD (original from factory) M3 that was the Australian show car. Then worked out demand was not high enough to manufacture in RHD, so if you wanted one, it had to be LHD. Although there is a black one in NZ that has always been touted as being "genuine factory RHD," I think you will find it was bought by BMW Motorsport Australia (Frank Gardner) as a LHD, then converted into a RHD car over there. A top notch job, but not factory. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
philwalter 30 Report post Posted December 23, 2006 $50k, and you can drive away in my M3 tomorrow. Tell us more...is that the EVO1 or EVO Sport ( III) ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nz320i 0 Report post Posted December 23, 2006 (edited) do what rowdy toyota boys do, angle grind vins from both cars over, and drive the m3 as a "ghost" car, real dodgey but youd be sweet haha Edited December 23, 2006 by nz320i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juzzie Wuzzie 0 Report post Posted December 28, 2006 Tell us more...is that the EVO1 or EVO Sport ( III) ? It is an Evo I (confirmedby VIN) but has Evo II specs (i.e. around 220 bhp, etc). Group N racing suspension (from memory) and all the bells and whistles (i.e. custom manifold / extractors built, alarm, stereo, ... lacking sunroof). All papered up so you can actually drive it away (as opposed to trailer trash). If anyone is interested (beyond tire kicking) call Graeme Clyde at GAC and he will talk you through the car as he has known it as long as me, and has done all the work on it (incl. RHD conversion). The Evo III is now in Australia, I think. If only I'd had more money back in 2001! Cheers, J Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spargo Report post Posted December 28, 2006 Non sunroof M3 shell - luuuuucky! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmwsparkle 3 Report post Posted December 28, 2006 just out of interest, other than the 20 year rule, how new does a car have to be, how many years old etc? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted December 28, 2006 just out of interest, other than the 20 year rule, how new does a car have to be, how many years old etc?Honestly Sparkle...how many opinions do you think you'll get on here ?!?!Do yourself a favour and hit this Perhaps we should do a sticky on importing a car and just have a link to the LTSA site. It would save alot of hassle with everyone having a different opinion on what can and cant be done. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hybrid 1039 Report post Posted December 28, 2006 Honestly Sparkle...how many opinions do you think you'll get on here ?!?! Do yourself a favour and hit this Perhaps we should do a sticky on importing a car and just have a link to the LTSA site. It would save alot of hassle with everyone having a different opinion on what can and cant be done. care to do a write up ? .. If so ill sticky it ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martyyn 2 Report post Posted December 28, 2006 care to do a write up ? .. If so ill sticky it ...Whilst Ive imported a car I certainly dont think I know everything there is to know about it (e38's maybe but not e30 m3's!).I honestly think its best if we just tell everyone to visit the LTSA site and go from there. It was my starting point and it really is very good on details about what you can and cant do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Juzzie Wuzzie 0 Report post Posted December 29, 2006 Agree with Martyn. The best way to do it is 'feel' your way through the process yourself. I did this for my E30 M3 about six years ago. As a lawyer, it was one of the toughest 'paperwork' exercises I have ever had to do in life. I promised myself I'd never do it again. Still, if you are up for it, do your own research - otherwise someone else's 'advice' could lead to the most costly mistake you make in a few years. E30 M3s don't make great pieces of art for the wall! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
