Moving to the USA, any way to bring the CSL?

[Barry C]

I know the yanks can't import them but as a non resident can I bring my car with me?

Any one have any idea. I heard one guy managed to import a CSL some how?

[mattCSLnut]

I know the yanks can't import them but as a non resident can I bring my car with me?

Any one have any idea. I heard one guy managed to import a CSL some how?
IIRC You can for 12 months only, on temporary permit but they'll make you bring it back to your current home address as you're requires to sign a legally binding contract/agreement + they make you pay Shipping costs for a return journey, up front. This is mainly for people who come to work in the USA on a temporary contract and it varies from state to state.
If your move is permanent it'll be more difficult, if not impossible all together but again it varies from state to state. Some more relaxed states allow you to bring the car such as the CSL over so long as you don't use it on public roads (as they will not allow the On the road registration) so U can trailer it to TDs, Car shows or use it on PRIVATE roads only.
Being an M3 CSL which wasn't officially imported to the USA (therefore not officially federalised) will make things much more difficult, despite the actual existence of a few M3 CSLs :whistle: on US soil.
I recommend you get in touch with the local DMV (USAs equivalent of the DVLA) to where you're planning to relocate and explore your options.
Best of luck.

[Barry C]

thanks Matt. Sounds like a pain in the ass. :whistle:

[chrisburns]

So Barry well done on the move buddy. What is it you do anyway, if you dont mind my asking ???

[Barry C]

So Barry well done on the move buddy. What is it you do anyway, if you dont mind my asking ???

Cheers Chris, Been over there for the last three months, just back in Ireland now to finalise the visa. I work in sales for a Hedge Fund:beer:

[Yanto]

Take the CSL badge off :whistle:

"It's an E46 M3 officer......"

[Barry C]

Take the CSL badge off :whistle:

"It's an E46 M3 officer......"

I was thinking if you bought the reg plates off a scrapped m3, who would know the difference:hahaha:

[Neil M]

Barry - have a word with Maneesh aka 'cslsem3' as he's one of the chosen few to actually own a CSL in America, he should be able to give you some information on importing your motor. Best of Luck:thumbs:

[race.it]

thoguth there is an age of cars where they can be imported (prob 20 years) as I think some 959's were over there under that ruling

[Yanto]

I was thinking if you bought the reg plates off a scrapped m3, who would know the difference:hahaha:

Swap the boot lid and front bumper for Reg items , then paint the roof and your done:beer:

[LeinsCSL]

thoguth there is an age of cars where they can be imported (prob 20 years) as I think some 959's were over there under that ruling

I thought Bill Gates did something to get the 959 approved when they were new?

[Bounce]

Swap the boot lid and front bumper for Reg items , then paint the roof and your done:beer:Also swap the airbox out,take out the rear glass,change the Magnesium wheels,put leather seats in it and they'll never know :hahaha::hahaha:

[mattCSLnut]

thanks Matt. Sounds like a pain in the ass. :whistle:

A bit ;) but it's designed to be :banghead:
The AUDI (B5) RS4s had the same issues as the CSL but a number of US owners found a way to get them on the US soil so there may be a way around it for you and your Cecil as well, depending on the particular State's laws. Which State are U moving to BTW ?

[mattCSLnut]

Barry - have a word with Maneesh aka 'cslsem3' as he's one of the chosen few to actually own a CSL in America, he should be able to give you some information on importing your motor. Best of Luck:thumbs:

Maneesh's Cecil was already on US soil :whistle: just ever so slightly off shore :-D

[3wheels3]

May be we should have a whip round to get approval and open the US market to cecil :smokin:

[mattCSLnut]

May be we should have a whip round to get approval and open the US market to cecil :smokin:
Are U volunteering to have yours crash tested for the US market approval ? :blalalala: :wink:

[Barry C]

A bit ;) but it's designed to be :banghead:
The AUDI (B5) RS4s had the same issues as the CSL but a number of US owners found a way to get them on the US soil so there may be a way around it for you and your Cecil as well, depending on the particular State's laws. Which State are U moving to BTW ?

New York :supz:

[3wheels3]

Are U volunteering to have yours crash tested for the US market approval ? :blalalala: :wink:

Well if everyone on Salzburg gig chucked a few quid in we could buy one and send that over to be tested :thumbs::hahaha:.

[mattCSLnut]

New York :supz:
:thumbs:
Might be easier to bring Cecil through Newark, New Jersey just across the water from NYC. Check with the DMV in both states to see who's more lenient.

[mattCSLnut]

Well if everyone on Salzburg gig chucked a few quid in we could buy one and send that over to be tested :thumbs::hahaha:.
Maybe BMW HQ have a spare one gathering dust down in the cellars :whistle:

[CSLSEM3]

New York :supz:

Congrats on the move.
NYC will eat your CSL and use the remaining shards of CF to pick clean its jagged teeth...

That said-
Lots of ways to skin a cat.
Happy to run through the options with you.
Shoot me over a pm if you like.

[cossack]

Good luck with the move. I know there are three real csl's in the US. The last one was imported into puerto rico first somehow, then brought over to Florida. Since Puerto Rico is a protectorate of the US i believe they are more lenient. In any case it won't be easy after your one year is up. You'd have to change the front bumper so it could have the yellow reflectors, the intake to the standard version, switch to OBD, change the headers, change the cats, change the rear glass. Everything else you could probably leave on, don't take my word on it though.

The other way would be buy a US M3, bring over your csl. Do a mass part swap so the vin would be a US vin, however all the parts would be from your csl on the US M3. If you did it this way buy a CS (ZCP) so you don't have to change the steering rack. Also a couple of other parts are shared with the competition package M3. That's the way I'd do it, since ZCP M3's can be had for less then 20,000 usd.

[Barry C]

Good luck with the move. I know there are three real csl's in the US. The last one was imported into puerto rico first somehow, then brought over to Florida. Since Puerto Rico is a protectorate of the US i believe they are more lenient. In any case it won't be easy after your one year is up. You'd have to change the front bumper so it could have the yellow reflectors, the intake to the standard version, switch to OBD, change the headers, change the cats, change the rear glass. Everything else you could probably leave on, don't take my word on it though.

The other way would be buy a US M3, bring over your csl. Do a mass part swap so the vin would be a US vin, however all the parts would be from your csl on the US M3. If you did it this way buy a CS (ZCP) so you don't have to change the steering rack. Also a couple of other parts are shared with the competition package M3. That's the way I'd do it, since ZCP M3's can be had for less then 20,000 usd.

That sounds like butchery:whistle:

Swap plates and vin, Much easier:hahaha:

[chrisburns]

You have to do this now Barry :thumbs:

[cossack]

That sounds like butchery:whistle:

Swap plates and vin, Much easier:hahaha:

But would get you the same end result in the end. A CSL started as a regular M3 at one point. If I had a real CSL that's what I would do to have one in the US. This way you wouldnt have to worry about not being insured, and something god forbid happen to you like an accident in the real CSL in the states. He'd be able to revert the CSL eventually if he ever moves out of the US, also his real CSL could become his dedicated track car. Sounds like a win win.

Not to mention vin fraud is a federal crime in the US, not worth the risk.

[Neil M]

Barry stick with any advice offered by CSLSEM3, he's the man in the know as he is one of the few, if not the only CSL owner in the States.:thumbs:

[chicken]

i think there is some sort of hole importing to puerto rico and then to the states

[The JC]

Is your car the one on pistonheads? I am interested and will be moving to the UK in a week.

[Barry C]

Is your car the one on pistonheads? I am interested and will be moving to the UK in a week.

Yes, that is mine. I also have an advert on here now.

Decided against exporting to the states, too much hassle.

[cossack]

GLWS, I'm sure someone will be happy. Sorry to hear you decided to sell. I was just going to post to keep us posted if you were gonna bring her over.