Bmw imported from berlin

Post Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:28 am

Hi I am on the look out for an e36 convertible. I have found a nice 328i but when I did the hpi check it says it was imported from outside the eu. I have spoken to the guy thats selling and he seems to think from the service book it was imported from new from berlin.
I dont mind the fact that its been imported but is it going to cause me any problems in the future, insurance, resale etc.
Cheers, Andrew

Post Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:38 am

Berlin, Germany, has been in the EU since the start in 1986 so it's come from somewhere else.

Adverse mileage and history is the biggest killer of resale, I wouldn't think twice about buying a proper import. Bear in mind that it may have a lot to hide though.

Post Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:53 am

Also the spec of the car, may need some changes for an MOT depending on where it has been living.
Certain countries make different demands for the legalities.

Post Sun Apr 27, 2008 9:54 am

tomski wrote: it was imported from outside the eu

So it's always been in Wales then?

Post Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:36 am

Thanks, When I did the Hpi check it showed that it has been on the same plate since it was first registered in this country. The car has a production date of 10/1997 and it was registered here 03/1998. The car will have a fresh mot so not too worried about that.

Post Sun Apr 27, 2008 10:41 am

My cabs the same, its even had its PDI done in germany.

I just think the person must have ordered it from there and fetched it.

My cars 100% UK spec too. I thought it was rather cool being from the 'father' land!

Post Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:58 am

tomski wrote:Hi I am on the look out for an e36 convertible. I have found a nice 328i but when I did the hpi check it says it was imported from outside the eu. I have spoken to the guy thats selling and he seems to think from the service book it was imported from new from berlin.
I dont mind the fact that its been imported but is it going to cause me any problems in the future, insurance, resale etc.
Cheers, Andrew

Many bmw's have been personal imports from europe,and many ,like the e46 330d touring that I imported where to a much higher spec.(I wish I'd never sold it

).If anything on a car the age of your e36 ,the resale price will be enhanced,and insurance shouldn't be affected.

. They all come out of the same factories afterall...

Post Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:28 am

My old coupe came from South Africa, apparently it was purely because the car matched the exact spec of the order, saved on waiting time or something. Never caused a problem, always went straight through MOT's, the only time if threw up a strange one was when it got remapped, had to use a different map or something.