US vs Euro specs

Keshav

Keshav

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Hello all,
Do the headlights need to be changed from Euro to the US sealed beams when a car goes from Europe (like Vice versa) to the US or are the Euro type acceptable. What about the speedometer, can it stay in kms or MUST that be in miles.

Thanks
Keshav
 
I have not heard of MPH being a requirement to make road legal. Headlights would need DOT approved markings on them to technically be legal, but comes down to local law enforcement.
With that said, If talking federalization of an imported car one might be up against more scrutiny than someone modifying their car that is already registered here.
 
Hi Thomas,
It’s a 1973 Csl Bat......I’ve heard that pre 1975 Cars normally don’t have an issue in import regulations.
thanks
Keshav
 
I have a 1973 CSi, Athena, it is all Euro Spec now. When I bought it in 2011, the headlights were sealed beams, converted back to H1/H4 in 2016.

Both Athena & Veronika the 1968 1600 Cabriolet have kph speedometers.
 
adawil2002 said:
I have a 1973 CSi, Athena, it is all Euro Spec now. When I bought it in 2011, the headlights were sealed beams, converted back to H1/H4 in 2016.

Both Athena & Veronika the 1968 1600 Cabriolet have kph speedometers.
Click to expand...

Many thanks, simplifies matters for us. Didn’t want the new owner to have any hassles once the car gets to the US.
 
Last one for this illustrated group, has anyone flown in a car from Europe rather than in a ship/ container? We are going to sending a brand new Bat to Philadelphia and Id be worried if in a ship. Buyer will pay freight!
 
be careful- this is the United States of America....
where every state can make up their own rules. Here in California there is no inspection of cars for equipment, or being roadworthy but there is for smog.

The following states require a periodic inspection by a licensed inspectionstation: Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia, plus Washington, DC ...

note that 49 states allow importation of gray market cars particularly after some amount of years but not the state of California.


Quote from California DMV-

“ It may be very costly or impossible to modify vehicles not originally manufactured to meet California Air Resources Board (CARB) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions requirements, and Department of Transportation (DOT) FMVSS.”


 
There are exceptions to the annual inspection rules Don listed.

In Maine, one may register a non-titled car as an Antique Automobile & skip the inspection requirement. This does not mean the car is not maintained, it voids the sticker requirement. My 3.0CSi is registered as an Antique Automobile in Maine & is maintained better than typical Antique plated cars.

In PA if the car is registered as an Antique, it becomes a very limited use vehicle, as in once a week, and the vehicle is not subject to annual inspection.
 
Flying a car is I imagine expensive, ship is slow yet not as expensive, there's a port in New Jersey, in trailering distance of Philadelphia PA. Pretty sure Steve Walker flew Luigi 001 from Germany to Seattle Washington.
 
States are another matter, but at the federal level you can be exempt of EPA requirements if vehicle is at least 21 years from the date of manufacture (form 3520-1) and from DOT/NHTSA if 25 years (form HS-7). Both forms get stamped by customs upon entry clearance. So for all practical purposes, it becomes 25 years. MN and WI have not been a problem for me to register such vehicles, plus they are exempt from emissions testing due to no OBD since that is all they do for an inspection in WI.

Some states require the EPA and DOT forms with the original stamp to be presented for registration. Wisconsin in recent years stopped requiring the original stamp as it is now done electronically.
 
One more thing that makes things complicated that I experienced, these cars as you're well aware precede traditional VIN numbers. What that means to each state and how they manage them is inconsistent. The registering State will probably want to track the "serial" number of the car. I went through this with 2 vehicles and it sounded like a national database they reference, not global. Would be interesting to hear other's who have imported... Complete new VIN issued or can you keep the 6 digit serial number?
 
All this sounds like the future owner should get active in the local state laws.....

Thanks all for your valuable advise
 
Thomas76 said:
One more thing that makes things complicated that I experienced, these cars as you're well aware precede traditional VIN numbers. What that means to each state and how they manage them is inconsistent. The registering State will probably want to track the "serial" number of the car. I went through this with 2 vehicles and it sounded like a national database they reference, not global. Would be interesting to hear other's who have imported... Complete new VIN issued or can you keep the 6 digit serial number?
Click to expand...
MN and WI kept the VINs as they are on the vehicles.
 
Keshav said:
Last one for this illustrated group, has anyone flown in a car from Europe rather than in a ship/ container? We are going to sending a brand new Bat to Philadelphia and Id be worried if in a ship. Buyer will pay freight!
Click to expand...

Any chance of showing us all some photos of a brand new bat ?, before it gets shipped ...

brand new bat meaning it’s had a full restoration
 
For private/grey market imports of automobiles = Is there not a 25 years rule to apply for DOT and
EPA regulations ?, i.e. most of the ,normal‘ DOT/EPA requirements are waived for cars with a
built date/production date older than 25 years ?!
-
There used to be a dedicated ,freight only‘ air-lift service from Luxemburg to Huntsville, AL.
which should still be in service. A specialised direct service but destination airport is
perhaps too far off ??
 
Keshav,

I have been driving BMW's with antique plates for over 25 years. Here in Pa there are no inspections for antique cars. I know many owners and none of us have ever been stopped for driving our cars too often or to the store or.... The only time we are stopped, except for speeding, is when the officer wants to talk about our beautiful car and possibly reminisce about the coupe or 02 they sold and regret every day.

My insurance company has never asked me to bring my car in to verify the miles drive. They even signed off on "High Performance Driver's Schools" because the work "School" was in the title.

Except for CA which finds cancer causing agents in virtually everything, and I do mean everything, most states do not give a rats ass what we do.

If you want to put the new owner in contact with me feel free. I am in Bucks County just north of Phila. There are dozens of coupe/02 guys and gals.

Steve [email protected] 215.620.7687
 
Many thanks Steve, the owner lives downtown Philadelphia and I’ll definitely ask him to get intouch with you for some good advise. He has an E9 and a Z8 but what can beat a Bat (made in Germany under my care!)
 
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