importing Italian M3 to Belgium

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:55 pm

Does anyone know anyone who has brought a 320iS to Belgium? I'm in the market for one, but fear homologation problems. I've contacted BMW Belgium and they are unable to do the homologation procedure since they have never imported the car. I found this guy Whristos Letas, who registred one on bmwmregistry.com, but there was no e-mail.

thx

ronaldo · Post by **ronaldo** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:43 pm

Probeer het eens op onderstaande site, zitten genoeg landgenoten

www.bmw-e21.be

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:55 pm

Yep that could help. But I know there are a few 320iS-es in Belgium, just don't have any email addresses of the owners. But that and the fact that the car was admitted in several other EC countries should be enough, they should have files of earlier registrations.

Of course as with any registration you should also have pervious docs like the Italian vehicle registration and property docs (Certificato di Proprietà).

These examples might help:
http://www.s14.de/0153/brief01.jpg
http://www.s14.de/0153/brief02.jpg
http://www.s14.de/0153/schein01.jpg
http://www.s14.de/0153/schein02.jpg

This is the admission doc for Germany for example:
http://www.s14.de/0153/gutachten01.jpg

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:57 am

Waw, thanks for the rapid response and the help. Looks like I'm in for a long batlle with sticky red tape, but I think the car is worth it.

Hannes · Post by **Hannes** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 1:41 pm

From my experience importing a 320iS into the Netherlands myself in 2004, I can asure you that, in the Netherlands, there were absolutely no homologation problems involved with the registration. After all, as Jeroen points out, the car has already been homologated for the EU.

However, I do advise you to check very carefully with the authorities which documents you need for registration in Belgium prior to purchase.

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 In Italy (last I heard) vehicle registration is person-related and the papers are often withdrawn before export. Anyway, although I had an impressive pile of papers accompanying the car, I did not dispose of the original vehicle registration papers. And once these papers have been withdrawn, they stay withdrawn. You can imagine that solving this problem with the Dutch authorities led to a fair amount of sleepless nights.

Possibly it is different nowadays, as the legislation regarding registration of cars should by now have been harmonized EU-wide. Nevertheless, make sure you check first.

Good luck,

Hannes

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:52 pm

Thanks Hannes,
The salesman has already been kind enough to fax me the original inscription document, so it seems he's quite familiar with the documents needed for homologation.
Also people at the inspection service have assured me that the homologation procedure won't be a problem at all. I don't shear their enthusiasm yet, as they are notoriusly hard on tuned cars. I have noticed that the car is on a Bilstein suspension set. Could that make the car lower than noted in the registration document? Could it become a problem? I sure hope not.
Anyway, I've reached an agreement with the vendor and bought the car. I'm going to collect it in a couple of weeks time. One happy 320iS owner coming up

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 9:13 am

Welcome to the 320iS 'owners club'

Nope, the shocks usually do not lower the car, that's the springs. The 320iS is factory fitted with a lowered sports suspension but that lowers the car no more than 20mm... using M Technic springs... just hope they are still there and that they did not replace them by cheap stuff lowering more than that... I know about these crazy ride height laws in Belgium!

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:47 pm

Well, the description I received makes me think the car is pretty much unchanged, which I like very much. The only change mentioned was the Bilstein suspension set and I would hardly call that cheap stuff

Thanks for your help so far guys. The documents I need for import is pretty well covered, so I hope it won't be to difficult.
After that, I gues I will be transferring my interest more towards the technical part of this forum

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:53 pm

July 23 & 24 I will be at the Spa-Francorchamps track for an internation BMW club & trackdriving event... apologise but I will most likely be there with the 325i track car... but that might be a nice place to meet up and show off that 320iS!

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 3:12 pm

I'm only picking it up the weekend before in Italy. Don't think the paperwork will be sorted out by then, and the entries are already closed for that event I believe.
But there will be other opportunities

I don't know yet how I'm going to treat the car, but I hope I can definitely do a couple of drift challenges without hurting it to much (diff, engine) and take it to the Nordschleife for a few laps. I've noticed that if you do the Nordschleife at 80 procent, you can be quite gentle on hthe car

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:03 pm

For those of you interested:
my 320 iS is in Belgium. I brought it over from Italy myself on German transit-plates

(apparently it was the only way, and the Italian salesman wanted a 1000 euro deposit as a warranty

) It was a fun journey, although we started of on the wrong foot with me feeding it 97 Ron fuel. Not a good idea. We come through Germany on a 100 Ron Shell Optimax (that the right name? I don't remember) diet and things were a lot better. What a car, what an engine. I only expected the gearbox to be a bit smoother (car has 170.000 km, engine 70.000 km according to the vendor, but I have seen no proof on paper of that). Health seems fine, and the only problem that occured is an engine support that was collapsing (apparently a known problem on the S14 engine). No oil consumption worth mentioning, no oil leaks. Perfect.
It isn't in the best of states (drivers seat has wear, small dent in the front wing near the headlights, scratches here and there), but mechanically it seems all right. I have so far loved every minute in it, and I'm afraid I will use it much more than I first intended. Will post some pictures shortly

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:25 pm

Yeah pictures would be more than welcome. But... did the engine mount collapse or the steel plate it is fitted on (on the subframe)? The latter is a known S14 weakpoint even though I haven't experienced it...

JoD · Post by **JoD** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:51 pm

I would guess it is the stel plate because the mechanic thought it was an easy welding repair job. On a different level, I felt a strong trembling in the brakes which is more of a wurry. We're still trying to find out what causes it

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:00 pm

Well if the problems are limited to some welding and fitting new rotors and pads... I'd be happy

Trembling is in the brakes only? Please check the control arm bushings as well. If they show cracks or tears, better replace them with solid ones. Additional advantages: more stable, more precise steering, better communication/feel in the steering wheel... a great upgrade!

hardtailer · Post by **hardtailer** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 11:21 pm

JoD wrote:For those of you interested:
my 320 iS is in Belgium. I brought it over from Italy myself on German transit-plates (apparently it was the only way, and the Italian salesman wanted a 1000 euro deposit as a warranty )

was it a pair of plates with red letters and the first two digits 06? Those were his dealer plates and you were ok. 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! They're valid in Germany and 'accepted' in Austria and Italy but not in the rest of Europe... They cost 13 euros to be pressed/made and 70-80 euros for the insurance cover (and can only be obtained when yopu have a permanent address in Germany)

JoD wrote:It was a fun journey, although we started of on the wrong foot with me feeding it 97 Ron fuel. Not a good idea. We come through Germany on a 100 Ron Shell Optimax (that the right name? I don't remember) diet and things were a lot better.

Don't worry about the 97 ron fuel; what do think it has run on the last 8-10 years in Italy? They haven't sold higher octane than 95 after leaded petrol was pulled off the market in years...
98 is obviously what it should get, but as long as you don't have high temperatures and high engine loads 95 oktane won't kill your engine immediately. 100 is a waste of money as the timing on the S14 is fixed (no knock sensor) and tuned for 98 ron. Even modern engines with knock sensors are not engineered with 100 ron so even in that case it's a waste of money.

JoD wrote:What a car, what an engine. I only expected the gearbox to be a bit smoother (car has 170.000 km, engine 70.000 km according to the vendor, but I have seen no proof on paper of that). Health seems fine, and the only problem that occured is an engine support that was collapsing (apparently a known problem on the S14 engine). No oil consumption worth mentioning, no oil leaks. Perfect.
It isn't in the best of states (drivers seat has wear, small dent in the front wing near the headlights, scratches here and there), but mechanically it seems all right. I have so far loved every minute in it, and I'm afraid I will use it much more than I first intended. Will post some pictures shortly

Enjoy the ride!