MB 270 CDI (W 210)- Conversion to US-Specs

[claws]

Hello, dear members of the Benz-Community,

An american friend is leaving from Stuttgart/Germany back to the States at the end of July 2007.

He owns a Mercedes-Benz Sedan W 210 - 270 CDI, Model June 2001.

The official quote of the Mercedes-factory (where I am employed): This car is not certified by the US-DOT and therefore can't be registered in the USA.

I believe though, there is another world, than the official statement.

My questions:

1.) If this car is imported to the US, what specs have to be changed ?
2.) How about the CDI-Diesel-engine ?
3.) The same engine is used in the USA inside the Dodge/ Freightliner-Sprinter van --> is there an additional permission possible to use this engine in the MB 210 sedan ?
4.) Is a registration possible, without official certification ?
5.) What kind of lists are available (maybe by the DOT) to confirm a registration/ nonregistration ?
6.) Who will check the car -leaving the ship into the country (Customs ? Do they car about the CDI-sign ?)
7.) How expensive is the body-conversion and the engine-conversion
8.) Does someone has an adress-list of converters ? Esp. in the Washingtonn D.C. area ?
9. Does someone has own exsperiences of the import and converison of a
MB 270 CDI ??

Thanks a lot, Claws.

Telephone: 0049-711-17-95020/ Fax.: 0049-711-17-91595
mail: claws.tohsche@daimlerchrysler.com

(Anyway, if you visit Stuttgart, please visit the new Museum)

[Musikmann]

There used to be a law stating that once in your life, you can import a foreign specification car to the USA (I know a family who brought in a few Porsches that way in the 1970s). Once it is here, and in order to make it a legal daily driver, is another story entirely and it will be quite expensive.

Financially speaking, and in my opinion, your friend would be far better off to sell that in Germany and buy another Mercedes once he/she gets here.

Here's hoping someone else has better news for you, and Good Luck to your friend!

[Kajtek1]

20 years ago, when $1 paid over 3 DM, lot of people imported cars from Europe here.
New Mercedes in Germany cost less, than 10 grands in dollars. From what I researched the subject than, they had to replace headlights, add reinforcements to bumpers and doors and get some exception on smogs. Today's more complex cars might have much more to deal with.
With today's prices, when $1 brings slightly above 1 DM, the trend reversed. I know people that imported BMW X5 from CA to Eastern Europe for profits.
I know 270cdi would make any high-mileage commuter drooling, but new cdi in US sells several thousands below MSRP. Just like Musikman, don't think that will make economical sense.

[Hirnbeiss]

As to the law, you have to bring the car inthrough one of a few "registered importers". These are listed somewhere on the NHTSA website, I believe. No idea if they accn "US-ify" a diesel, but am sure that it will cost some $$$.