Hey, so I'm seriously considering purchasing a c350 very soon. But with the strength of the Canadian dollar (basically even with US$). Over here a new C350, fully loaded with navigation, leather, and the 18" AMG rims would run close to 60k. If I get it from the states I could save about 15 grand. I'm looking into flying down to somewhere in Montana (I live in Edmonton, Alberta) and bringing the car up from there. Has anyone here done this? What exactly does it require? I have a few questions:
-Would I have to pay State sales tax on the car if I'm planning on importing?
-Would my local Mercedes dealership honor the factory warranty?
-I know i require some basic paperwork at the border, is this straight forward?
-Would it be okay to drive a brand new car on the highway (close to 1000 miles)?
Not worth the hassel for a C Class Benz. Government requires a letter from MB Canada for the import of the vehichle and either you won't get that letter or they will require you to perform some very expensive modifications to your car (e.g. swap out entire instrument cluster). With any other manufacturer it makes sense to import, but not with Mercedes. That being said...
- yes you have to pay state sales tax and PST and GST when you import it.
- Yes mercedes would honour the warranty.
- No it is not basic paperwork for a Benz.
- I assume you are referring to a break in period for your car...but yes you can drive on a highway.
I brought back an '06 ML500 to Calgary last August. Saved $17000. The process is easy from a paperwork and certification point of view, but in the last year, MB USA has locked down the dealers to stop the flow. Apparently US dealers get docked all of the money they made on the sale, plus lose one unit of allocation for next year if any new car they sell shows up in MB Canada database within one year. I have been searching for a dealer for the last 2 months to sell me an ML550 to add to my ML500, and no luck. If you hear of a broker or dealer that will sell to Canadians, let me know!
If you do find a new car and a willing dealer, you just bring down some Alberta plates, and do an out of state delivery to avoid the state sales tax. Then with 3 days notice at the border, you submit your certificate of origin (which most dealers do not want to give you), get it stamped at US Customs, fill out a Canadian import paperwork set, pay 6% GST, and you have about 14 days to have a federal inspection done at Canadian Tire. MB Canada charges you a $500 admin fee, and does a provincial inspection at your local dealer...and you are done. It is very easy...if you can find the car, and don't mind a drive home!
I'm also looking to upgrade my ML320 to the C63,... you wil have to take the vehicle to your local dealer to get it up to CDN standards and this is where MB gives you the "shaft"...it would run in the range of 5 to 9 grand to change the , bumper ( cdn ones are diff then USA ), instrument cluster, various other little items (i.e . lights which have to be reprogrammed etc)..did not know about the dealers not selling to CDNs, i guess they are taking the same stand as Toyota, Honda, Acura...DO NOT SELL TO CDNS..lol, kinda funny really to see big corporations acting like peeved off kindergarden children where money and bottom line is involved..mercman66,just curious, how much did it cost you to bring the vehicle upto standards cuz i saw and talked to a owner getting his vehicle done at my local dealer and it was costing him about 6000 CDN
I'm also looking to upgrade my ML320 to the C63,... you wil have to take the vehicle to your local dealer to get it up to CDN standards and this is where MB gives you the "shaft"...it would run in the range of 5 to 9 grand to change the , bumper ( cdn ones are diff then USA ), instrument cluster, various other little items (i.e . lights which have to be reprogrammed etc)..did not know about the dealers not selling to CDNs, i guess they are taking the same stand as Toyota, Honda, Acura...DO NOT SELL TO CDNS..lol, kinda funny really to see big corporations acting like peeved off kindergarden children where money and bottom line is involved..mercman66,just curious, how much did it cost you to bring the vehicle upto standards cuz i saw and talked to a owner getting his vehicle done at my local dealer and it was costing him about 6000 CDN
The cost of the modifications depends on the model of the car. MBCanada will provide you an exact list of the required modifications, you take that list to the local dealer and he will provide you with an estimate. Expect to pay for both..My used 2001 CL500 cost approx. $5000 to modify during June of last year. Some MB models cannot be imported, even if you are willing to have them modified.
I believe the US MSRP for MBs will have to be increased, due to the weak US Dollar. Daimler AG in Stuttgart most likely charges MBUSA in Euros -and the Euro has not dropped in its value.
I believe the US MSRP for MBs will have to be increased, due to the weak US Dollar. Daimler AG in Stuttgart most likely charges MBUSA in Euros -and the Euro has not dropped in its value.[/quote]
True..its not that the Cdn dollar has risen vis-a-vis other currencies,its the greenback taking a dip,think we still got a 6-8 mnth window before the prices start reflecting that..just looked at the MSRP for a C350 and theres about a 10-15 grand spread .....also was looking at the previous AMG model,check this out >05 C55 AMG.......$56000 Cdn (Victoria MB) ;06 C55 AMG.......$36500 USD (somewhere in Louisiana) .....
I just received an email from Mercedes Canada, normal justification why MB Canada is charging 20%-30% more the MBUSA, lots of B/S as far as I am concerned, but the killer is he told me no one is allowed to import any C class yet because the 'offical' list of what has to be done for conversion is not supplied to them by MB Germany yet!!
HE SAID DON'T EXPECT THAT FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS
What a bunch of B/S
I can't wait for 6 months,
I guess I will go over to the dealership this week & bend over
If you do find a new car and a willing dealer, you just bring down some Alberta plates, and do an out of state delivery to avoid the state sales tax.
How do you get an Alberta plate or any other Canadian license plates when you don't have a car yet? Do they just give you one if you say you're gonna buy the car in the States?
.....also was looking at the previous AMG model,check this out >05 C55 AMG.......$56000 Cdn (Victoria MB) ;06 C55 AMG.......$36500 USD (somewhere in Louisiana) .....
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