Buying a BMW From US

[ferraripower]

What's the process of buying a BMW from the US and bringing it to Canada. What do I have to go through apart from the 6.2% tax I have to pay at the border. Has anyone purchased a car from the states and brought it across? Is it difficult and is it worth it? I looked at the prices at BMW dealerships in Canada and it costs an arm and a leg to purchase a brand new BMW. I was hoping you guys could help me out and let me know the process, how long will it take, is it worth it, etc.

Thanks.

[Drew_W]

This has been covered on this forum many times. Do a search for importing.

You may want to read this as well http://www.bmw.ca/content/pressReleases/can_us_faq_fs.asp?

[Drew_W]

Oh PS, you pay 6.1% duty on the value of the car, so 1.061 times purchase price. Then you pay PST/GST on this dutied purchase price. It's not just the 6.1%.

And BMW Canada has cash incentives, i.e. $3000 off on a 3-series cash purchase.

[3weddings]

This post summarizes it
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6619705&postcount=12

[Drew_W]

I looked at the prices at BMW dealerships in Canada and it costs an arm and a leg to purchase a brand new BMW.

I want to comment on this too. If that's your reaction, then maybe you simply can't AFFORD a BMW. Do you want one just for the name? Have you actually driven one? What model are you looking for? Maybe if you can't afford a new one, you should consider that a used market exists.

[3weddings]

Plus they don't provide you with the free scheduled maintenance program on an imported vehicle!

[m4gician]

I want to comment on this too. If that's your reaction, then maybe you simply can't AFFORD a BMW. Do you want one just for the name? Have you actually driven one? What model are you looking for? Maybe if you can't afford a new one, you should consider that a used market exists.

ah, well like most of us he's an example of why 'the middle class' is ruining the world...

...we want everything we don't have, we trust no one, we take too much...

[FD3S]

I want to comment on this too. If that's your reaction, then maybe you simply can't AFFORD a BMW. Do you want one just for the name? Have you actually driven one? What model are you looking for? Maybe if you can't afford a new one, you should consider that a used market exists.

I don't think that comment shows that he simply CAN'T afford one....

the reason we are on this forum is becuase we want to get the most for our $$ and save as much as possible on the same product/similar product.

So what's wrong with him wanting a spend less money and buying it over in the states...

lets say you have 30k to spend on a car, you can get a civic (base) here, and you can get a fully loaded one here for the same price or cheaper...

which one would you pick?

[HP_John]

Due to the fact BMW Canada has instituted about $2100 (+ taxes on a 3-Series) in BS fees that most other manufacturers don't charge on imports, & they don't honour the 4 yr free maintenance, I recommend buying another brand from the US.

[michelb]

Due to the fact BMW Canada has instituted about $2100 (+ taxes on a 3-Series) in BS fees that most other manufacturers don't charge on imports, & they don't honour the 4 yr free maintenance, I recommend buying another brand from the US.

I agree with HP_John, if I had been interested in a BMW, I'd probably look at competitors just because of the way BMW Canada does their business (same thing goes with Honda/Acura Canada, etc) but if I really wanted one, I would still strongly recommend getting one in the US vs getting one in Canada.

As far as getting used, why would you get a used one if for the same price or less you can get a new one from the US and pay BMW's import fees ...

[ferraripower]

I want to comment on this too. If that's your reaction, then maybe you simply can't AFFORD a BMW. Do you want one just for the name? Have you actually driven one? What model are you looking for? Maybe if you can't afford a new one, you should consider that a used market exists.

I have driven one. I don't want one for the name. You want to know something? I went to the BMW dealership in Canada and asked for a BMW with a premium package and a sport package, you know, I"m a guy, I want the paddle shifters, the bigger wheels and the bucket seats...so the salesman tells me, there are no RARELY ANY 3 series BMW's that come with leather or a sports package. 90% of BMW owners in Canada buy BMW's without any packages. I was like "WHAT?" Whats the point of buying a BMW if you don't have leather and all the bells and whistles.

So this tells me, the majority of people who buy BMW are buying it for the name or they don't like leather. I've sat in a BMW with 'leatherette' which is almost pleather...and it's uncomfortable for me. Canadians are just buying cars so they can show off to their neighbors. I'm buying this car b/c the 3 Series is the best in its class and no other car comes close to its performance and overall make.

I agree with HP_John, if I had been interested in a BMW, I'd probably look at competitors just because of the way BMW Canada does their business (same thing goes with Honda/Acura Canada, etc) but if I really wanted one, I would still strongly recommend getting one in the US vs getting one in Canada.

As far as getting used, why would you get a used one if for the same price or less you can get a new one from the US and pay BMW's import fees ...

Can I just walk into a American dealership and buy a BMW? Isn't it a little more complicated than that? How does it work?

[michelb]

I have driven one. I don't want one for the name. You want to know something? I went to the BMW dealership in Canada and asked for a BMW with a premium package and a sport package, you know, I"m a guy, I want the paddle shifters, the bigger wheels and the bucket seats...so the salesman tells me, there are no RARELY ANY 3 series BMW's that come with leather or a sports package. 90% of BMW owners in Canada buy BMW's without any packages. I was like "WHAT?" Whats the point of buying a BMW if you don't have leather and all the bells and whistles.

So this tells me, the majority of people who buy BMW are buying it for the name or they don't like leather. I've sat in a BMW with 'leatherette' which is almost pleather...and it's uncomfortable for me. Canadians are just buying cars so they can show off to their neighbors. I'm buying this car b/c the 3 Series is the best in its class and no other car comes close to its performance and overall make.



Can I just walk into a American dealership and buy a BMW? Isn't it a little more complicated than that? How does it work?

First, I would take everything that a car salesman tells you with a grain of salt ... As far as the leather vs leatherette - don't know about the 3 series but the 5s in Canada come with leather, in US they come with leatherette so you're probably more likely to get leatherette in the US.

As far as going to a US dealer and buying one, I don't have first hand experience so you'd have to call to find it. If it's like Toyota and some other manufacturers, most will not sell you a new one if you don't have a US address so you have to find one that will sell to you, buy through a broker or buy used.

[Drew_W]

First, I would take everything that a car salesman tells you with a grain of salt ... As far as the leather vs leatherette - don't know about the 3 series but the 5s in Canada come with leather, in US they come with leatherette so you're probably more likely to get leatherette in the US.

As far as going to a US dealer and buying one, I don't have first hand experience so you'd have to call to find it. If it's like Toyota and some other manufacturers, most will not sell you a new one if you don't have a US address so you have to find one that will sell to you, buy through a broker or buy used.

Leatherette standard on all 1 and 3 series in Canada.

[mr_raider]

Check out the lexus is 250 thread from a few weeks ago. It has pix of the base 3 series interior, and it's ghastly. At least you can get real leather on the 3 series. The c230 4matic doesn't even offer real leather.

[imacheepjew]

Dude, all BMW dealers in the US (the border states at least) have been instructed NOT to sell new vehicles to Canadians. I and many others tried to go to dealerships in California, Virginia, Florida etc etc and they all have refused Canadian buyers.

The other option is to have a friend or relative living in the USA buy the car and then transfer to you. With that though, you will have to pay state tax (unless you get in New Hampshire.)

Then when you import the car into Canada, you still have to pay BMW's import fees (Letter of admissability, Letter to wipe their a$$ and all that other mumbo jumbo.)

Another person in this forum said it best: When importing, consider another Luxury Brand. BMW Canada simply sucks. If you are dead set on BMW, just get it from Canada then. My 2 cents worth....


I have driven one. I don't want one for the name. You want to know something? I went to the BMW dealership in Canada and asked for a BMW with a premium package and a sport package, you know, I"m a guy, I want the paddle shifters, the bigger wheels and the bucket seats...so the salesman tells me, there are no RARELY ANY 3 series BMW's that come with leather or a sports package. 90% of BMW owners in Canada buy BMW's without any packages. I was like "WHAT?" Whats the point of buying a BMW if you don't have leather and all the bells and whistles.

So this tells me, the majority of people who buy BMW are buying it for the name or they don't like leather. I've sat in a BMW with 'leatherette' which is almost pleather...and it's uncomfortable for me. Canadians are just buying cars so they can show off to their neighbors. I'm buying this car b/c the 3 Series is the best in its class and no other car comes close to its performance and overall make.



Can I just walk into a American dealership and buy a BMW? Isn't it a little more complicated than that? How does it work?