E30 Zone

Just got my Tech1 from the UK here in the US. Had it there a couple years, and now moved to Alaska. Still fairly decent weather here, and man do I get the stares driving on the curb-side. Especially at stop lights.

Gonna enjoy it for now, then once the cold starts setting in, it'll be a garage queen. Got to get the engine out and do a full refresh on it and figure out where all the oil leaks are coming from. Found a couple places for body work (I have no tools, experience, or time for that side of things).

Being Alaska, I might be able to pick up an iX sometime. But the couple I've seen for sale are common-spec and priced around $5-$6k.

In the process of buying a house that has a heated garage, so I can comfortably work out there into the night (only about 2 or 3 hours of daylight in the winter).

Anyways, just trying to keep my involment established here on the zone even after leaving... I had a awesome time living there, and many thanks to all the people that made me feel welcome at meets, and the advice here online too.

Keep us up to date,you should have some spectacular photo opotunities in Alaska!

Heated garage...ummmm...

Good to hear from you again, hell of a change, from suffolk to Alaska, get some pics up.

Pics pics pics. How long did the shipping take ?

daimlerman wrote:
Heated garage...ummmm...

eh? what's that?

johnl320 wrote:....hell of a change, from suffolk to Alaska..

perhaps not this "Summer"

are there Bears in Alaska ?

Is it difficult to export a car over the water, what sort of costs are involved and what are the legal issues you face ?

I'd be interested to find out as while selling my car I had a guy get in touch from the States. He was put off due to it being an 1989 car, but otherwise he was keen to buy . . .

Zaust: I got it here on the 12th, and it left my possession the 2nd or 3rd week in may. So a good 2 months. They had until late August to deliver though.

Magpie: Oh yes, definitely. We saw one here on base our first week. Along with two moose outside a grocery store. The bear are why you need a .44 magnum or bear spray (normal pepper spray X's 10)

Fastdiablo: It was a pretty exceptional case on my part. First off, the military paid the initial shipping fee (covers one car to be shipped to or from an overseas duty station). And then there's meeting US vehicle regulations. 21 years or newer must meet EPA regs (emissions testing) not too hard until 09 models, which won't apply to E30's anyway. The big one is the safety regs. Can't remember the acronym for it. But any car under 25 years old must comply. Being an 87, I just squeezed by. Would have needed all glass replaced, and horrid US spec bumpers installed. So maybe that's why he didn't like yours being an 89. All I need to really get done is register and title it, and buy new plates.

I'll try and get some pictures soon. Maybe a bear walking by??

Thanks for the reply, yes it was the 25 years thing that put him off. Also, they don't like RHD cars over there either but its easier to get away with if its more than 25 yrs old . . .

Sounds like you had it fairly easy time with the military connection

@Magpie . . . Love the pic, that som bitch, Sheriff Buford T Justice is one of my heros

RHD shouldn't be a problem legally, just a matter of preference and if you feel comforable doing it. Wasn't too hard to get used to for me. I drove US spec over there on several occasions, just flip it around for here

OK, I was just going on what he was saying, he made it sound like there was a problem regulation wise . . . mebee its just that he wasn't too comfortable with the idea of driving RHD himself ? ? ?

He was also telling me about prices over there, if you can find one that is as there aren't many about. An old rotten shed'll go for upto $1000, whereas a fairly standard spec minty minter can go for $4-5,000 . . .

Sounds about right. But then for Alaska just estimate about 20% higher prices for everthing. Since it all has to be shipped up here.