importing Italian M3 to Belgium

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:10 pm

If it was a pair with black digits of which the first two were 04 and which were only valid for 5 days (end date stamped in a yellow field on the right), then you had no insurance once in Belgium!

OOOOps, lucky me then.

Well, it's been a while since my last post, but finally today the technical inspection approved of the car. They have been true d

heads! When I first presented it, they thought it too low. So we've put new springs on (standard 320i stuff) and now it's ok for them. Also they have been very critical on the welding on the subframe. I've just presented it again - without having any work done on the subframe - and now it was okay

Unbelievable, this has cost me weeks.
In the mean time I found out that it does'nt have a Bilstein setup: springs are/were Racing Dynamics and dampers are Koni.
So now we start waiting for the guys in the Ministry of Transport to do their job and we'll be up and running. Quite a frustrating job, this importing non-existent cars

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:22 pm

Should be less troublesome here but that's not always the case. But... you managed... hope the finish the last bits of red tape asap... then drive it!!!!

gerrit323 · Post by **gerrit323** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 8:01 pm

Hannes wrote:In any case you will most likely need the original vehicle registration papers. For me, this requirement led to a horrific hassle, as my car was imported from Italy. In Italy (last I heard) vehicle registration is person-related and the papers are often withdrawn before export.

So if I read correctly if you buy a 320is from a second owner in Itlay then his registration document isn't the original one.

You do really need the registration document that was hand over to the first owner?? or is that of any previous owner before you OK??

I'm also thinking of importing one to Belgium but fear the paperwork

Thx

Gerrit

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:33 pm

Gerrit,

Since JoD just got one registered in Belgium I'd suggest you contact him. Here in Holland things seem a little bit easier, you might get a car registered on a copy of the registration here.

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:58 pm

Hey Gerrit,
don't worry about the owner's document, all the owner's are mentioned on the document. It's just one document that passes on with the car, and every time the new owner is mentioned on it.
Just remember, for the homologation: BMW Belux cannot do it because they have never imported it. But 'keuring' is quite easy going on it, just be sure it doesn't have a lowered suspension. I also have a document from BMW Italia testyfing 320is isok on 15 inch, normally it's 14.
Any questions, just ask

(if all goes well, we can start the 320is Club Belgium shortly. Buy 'm while you still can people, because there aren't a lot of them left)

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:03 am

Just thought I should add: try and get hold of all the document's you can get. Once the car is exported, there's no use for it for the owner. Try to let him have the owner's document striken before you go to Italy, so you can take it with you when fetch the car.
It's not easy, and the vendor send me the original documents afterwards. Don't leave Italy without at least certified copy's of all original documents (they just LOVE stamps in Italy)

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:08 am

OK Johan then maybe you can also fill us in how you drove the car home... on the original Italian license plates & geristration papers?

That's what I planned when I wanted to pick up another 320iS a little over a year ago... but the seller didn't want to cooperate.

There's also a possibility to get a import license and insurance, valid 7 days within Europa. But I dunno if it'll work according to Belgian laws, see www.importregistrations.com

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:16 pm

basically, you can read through this post to find out how I did it

I didn't use Italian dealerplates, because the dealer wanted 1.000 euro's warranty

He turned out to be a fair guy, but I didn't want to run the risk.
Through www.handelaarsplaten.be (it doesn't seem to exist any more), I got in touch with a guy who got me some German dealerplates (HD) on a 7 day insurance (can go up to a month). Later I learnt that there are 2 kind of HD-plates, one for Germany only and one for Europe. I only had the German kind, but passed through Switzerland effortlesly.
I drove it on the original registration papers and a certified copy of the owner's certificate.
I don't know importregistrations, but it seems to be the same idea as the guy I encountered. I know from this forum that you should ask for German plate with red tape next to the HD-sign, not yellow. If it's got European insurance, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to get the car to Belgium... I think.
Once in Belgium nobody asks what plate you used to get it in the country, but remember: with customs always say it came on a transporter or you will have to pay tax from the day it entered the country

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:38 pm

Ok thanks for the additional info. Seems like they're using the German Kurzkennzeichen for that... that's a lot easier

gerrit323 · Post by **gerrit323** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:31 pm

Good news

We can get transitplates to pick up the 320is.

The link some posts above (this one http://www.importregistrations.com/) can provide them.

They are valid for 5 days and in whole Europe ... insurance is included.

Slowly we are getting there.

@ Jeroen and JoD thx for pointing me towards the link .. I competely missed it while reading this topic

Gerrit

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:09 pm

UR welcome! Now get on with it and make sure to show up at the Zolder track on April 7.... with a 320iS

gerrit323 · Post by **gerrit323** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:27 pm

Well J.

We are picking up the trasit plates in the Netherlands thursday and are leaving by plane now friday. Hopefully we'll be back Saturday with the "is"

Zolder

I am afraid that ain't gonna work since the transit plates are only valid untill 28th of March and I don't think it will be on papers by 7 april yet.

A bit of patience my man

Gerrit

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:31 pm

gerrit323 · Post by **gerrit323** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:03 pm

Another thought maylbe If it works out for my friend ... leave zolder a bit earlier and come take a look at the 320is. My friend lives only 45 min from zolder.

You could pick me up on the way.

Gerrit

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:08 pm

Now that would be something to give some serious thought...