E9 repair-shop in Florida

NFK

NFK

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Hello,
I'm from Germany and was thinking to sell my E9 due to age and health issues. But now I had the idea to ship the car to my daughter Kathrin in 33137 Miami, FL.
She is a car-guy (girl) and loves BMW. During her study, she made a practice semester at BMW in Munich. She lives and works in Miami. But she isn't a mechanic and if the car needs a service or a repair, she would need a good address.
So I would like to ask you, if you could recommend a knowledgeable repairshop for those E9's nearby. It is a 1975 3.0CSi but with a 3.5 engine with a 300-degree camshaft (still have the original engine in a crate).
Also, do I have to encounter some hurdles for registering that car in Florida?
If I really should go that way, then I would ask Kathrin to also join this forum here, so she can meet some of you at one of those car&coffees.
This way I also would have a nice vacation car whenever I come for a vist ;)

Thanks a lot for any of your advice,
Nik
 
Hi Nik,

Sounds like a very nice coupe (pics?) and shipping it to Miami for your daughter is a great idea. Not sure about any specific hurdles to register the car in Florida but many people have. As far as a recommended repair shop, my BMW mechanic for the last 39 years is semi retired so I too will need to find a new one in the near future.

Doug
 
Nik--Redline BMW Performance is about 35 miles north of Miami. Rennie Bryant has been an exclusive BMW shop for 45 years. That would be the first choice. We have a local BMW CCA chapter with monthly meetings. And we have a C&C every month run by a BMW specialist. She will have people to get references for E9's along with all the info. on the forum. Florida does not have an auto-state inspection,so a 1975 BMW will get a registration and plate from our DMV. We look forward to seeing you and your daughter in your Coupe.----Drew
 
BMW car girl ... here in Florida? Can I give her my number? ;)

After you or your agent has dealt with Customs and Border Patrol, registration is very simple. They basically manually inspect the VIN on your car and send you on your way. This is also done for vehicles that are older than 10 years and from anywhere out of state. I believe this is a recent thing. Also, for whatever reason, there just aren't a terrific number of BMW specialists around the state, perhaps largely because the dealer network historically here was very small. Nonetheless, seconding Drew's recommendation for Redline. They've been around a long time and they're one of the very, very, very few places that just does BMWs. Lots of fly-by-night outfits around south Florida and they seem to have a great reputation, though I've never personally had a vehicle there.
 
You are one amazing dad and your daughter very lucky.

Show us a pic of the E9!

So sorry about your health. I hope it doesn't get any worse anytime soon.
 
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Thanks a lot to everybody for your replies
I'll let you know, once the car has arrived in Florida and look forward to meet one or the other.
Here are a couple of pictures from my E9 and from my Mini
 
Wow, I love the color. I've been contemplating changing my Chamonix 2800CS to Pastell Blau even though it wasn't available in 1970. That color will look very good in Miami with the sun and surf.
In the past, Non-USA model cars had to be federalized to meet the standards of current cars. Sidelights and reflectors were added, the speedo changed from KPH to MPH, and emissions were checked. I don't think that applies anymore as your car is old enough to be grandfathered as is, but members that know more should clarify this. I know that moving a '75 to California can be tricky because of their more restrictive emissions laws but that's not an issue in Florida.
Yes, they want to check your VIN number at the license bureau, and they charge an extra $225 to register an out-of-state car in Florida. Not a deal breaker, but annoying.
 
cicada said:
BMW car girl ... here in Florida? Can I give her my number? ;)

After you or your agent has dealt with Customs and Border Patrol, registration is very simple. They basically manually inspect the VIN on your car and send you on your way. This is also done for vehicles that are older than 10 years and from anywhere out of state. I believe this is a recent thing. Also, for whatever reason, there just aren't a terrific number of BMW specialists around the state, perhaps largely because the dealer network historically here was very small. Nonetheless, seconding Drew's recommendation for Redline. They've been around a long time and they're one of the very, very, very few places that just does BMWs. Lots of fly-by-night outfits around south Florida and they seem to have a great reputation, though I've never personally had a vehicle there.
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When I registered my coupe in FL, the sherriff did the VIN verification and provide the filled out form. In my case, they actually came to my house.
 
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TodB said:
When I registered my coupe in FL, the sherriff did the VIN verification and provide the filled out form. In my case, they actually came to my house.
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They made me go to a specific DMV all the way in West Palm Beach for this stuff. I'm told this was a new thing.
 
If I understand this right regarding the YOM plates, you need to find an original old plate in good shape from the manufacturing year, they don't reprint new ones?
 
NFK said:
If I understand this right regarding the YOM plates, you need to find an original old plate in good shape from the manufacturing year, they don't reprint new ones?
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They don't make reprints, you have to find an original. If you care to match the county she lives in with the plate number (she lives in Dade County?), then the first number indicates that (for example Dade is 1-xxxxxx). Here are a bunch of 1975 plates, same guy I got mine from:

1975 Florida license plates for sale

felix2.com

And for example, here is one from Dade county, registerable, and correct for the weight class of your car:

https://felix2.com/inventory/13/1301/1301775140.jpg

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There are other meanings to the letters on the plates but I can help with that and if you choose to get one I can help with the application process, but you have to get a regular plate registration first (do the light blue Antique plate as it is cheaper than a modern plate) then apply and swap with the YOM one, it costs about $50 more.
 
I can confirm that importing the car is no problem and is exempt from emissions and safety checks in Florida. Any car can be imported without modification as long as it is more than 25 years old.

However, officials in the US are used to dealing with "titles", so does Germany have the equivalent of a title? A certificate of ownership?

You CAN register an antique car (Must be more than 25 years old) in FL without a title (only a bill of sale), but not all DMV/tax collector offices know this loophole. And you must have the VIN verified at a main DMV office or by a police officer.

US fuel has ethanol in it, but you can buy 90 octane ethanol free fuel at certain stations. I recommend that since ethanol absorbs water from our humid air here.
 
yes sure, every car in Germany has a title.
You say „Any car can be imported without modification“, mine doesn‘t have the original engine installed, it has a M30B35 from a 635CSi.
Is that a Problem?
 
Registration can be a relatively smooth process, but not necessarily. Results vary depending upon local DMV personnel and their knowledge, custom and habit.

I recently heard from someone who registered a different type of fifty-year-old vehicle in this state. As with any vehicle, insurance coverage is required before any registration. I was given to understand that the vehicle age and weight were the determining factor for registration fees. Same cost - for antique or modern plate. Evidently, the additional “impact” fee for a vehicle never registered in the state is ordinarily waved for so-called "antique" vehicles.

YOM plate is available too; however, this is slightly complicated. First, you obtain a proper plate. It is unclear that it has to reflect the county of residence. The plate is then sent to DMV headquarters to be “authenticated” and to verify that it is not currently “associated” to another vehicle. I am given to understand that there is a non-refundable fee ("currently" $60) for this service.

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No, not mine

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Nik--My coupe came to me from Hawaii 4 years ago. It has an E24 engine also. I got the Florida antique blue plate and no one asked about the engine. I doubt you will have a problem. The title and VIN and a value of the car were the questions asked.
Your auto insurance is where you will need to do some consideration. Collector car insurance with a stated value requires the car to be garaged. Let's hope your coupe is not going to be a daily driver,and just used early weekend mornings when the traffic is manageable.
 
The YOM plate does not have to reflect county of residence, that's optional, it just has to clear DMV for existing use.
 
Drew,
yes, only weekend mornings and evenings. It doesn‘t have AC
 
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