The response on this one, here and in IMs has been very helpful. so I am proceding and am prepaired to 'wash it' by registering it to my property in another state.
I think the B will be a great addition to the now growing MB fleet. It is obevious that MB is holding it back as it's margin is a little low.
Thanks again, I am sure that this will make an excellent "CITY CAR'.
B
If you need it, I have some credits available at carcostcanada.com to help you along. Can obtain cost of the car and options.
Vehicle: 2008 B200Turbo Red + HID & 1999 ML320 Azure Blue + Class III Hitch
Location: Minnesota, US
Posts: 8
Importing B200Turbo Into the US...
I just purchased a B200Turbo in Edmonton, Alberta and am working on trying to import it into the US. This is not as easy as I thought!
In order for US Customs (technically, they are now called Department of Homeland Security) to clear a vehicle for import you must prove that it is compliance with US EPA regulations and US FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). EPA compliance can be proven by either the OEM sticker under the hood (as shown in the posts) or by a letter from the OEM (on official OEM letterhead) that the vehicle in question (make/model/VIN) meets US EPA requirements. The importer must then file EPA form 3520-1 with US Customs. (http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/forms/3520-1.pdf)
This part of importation is not a challenge since all B200's and B200T's I've seen already have the US sticker.
The next challenge is to show compliance with the US FMVSS. Here you must file FMVSS Form HS-7 (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...hs799short.pdf) indicating how the vehicle complies or why the vehicle may be an exception (e.g. government employee etc.) The options relavent here are:
2A. The vehicle has a US FMVSS sticker stating compliance.
or
2B. The vehicle has a CMVSS sticker stating compliance AND you have a letter from the OEM stating it meets the FMVSS Safety, Bumper and Theft Prevention Standards.
On all US and Canadian vehicles, MB places the safety compliance sticker on the driver's side door beam. My B200Turbo only has a CMVSS so I called MB-Canada to get a letter indicating compliance with FMVSS Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards and they would not provide one since (they said) they have not tested the vehicle to that standard!
Fortunately (or so I thought) the US NHTSA provides a list (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...elig050108.pdf) of nonconforming vehicles which ARE eligible for importation as long as they have the CMVSS sticker and for which you do NOT have to have this letter. The B200 and B200T are not specificly stated (02-07 Smart cars ARE!). There is, however, a "Catch All" classification (VSA-80) which is for all passenger cars not explicitly stated. It classifies cars based on manufacture date and then for each classification lists the specific FMVSS standard numbers which are required to be proven in compliance. The catch is that you must use a Registerd Importer (RI) who is certified by the US to import vehicles and will insure that all the listed standards are met by orginal equipment or that the vehicle has been modified to meet the standard. I have no estimate of how much this would cost; however, it appears there are no modifications required (as CA-B200 notes ).
The NHTSA has a list of RI's and indicates those that are qualified to import Canadian vehicles. The list is found here http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...I_list5108.pdf There are many in Califronia including the famous G&K who are responsible for bringing in 2002-2006 European Smart cars and modifing them to meet EPA and FMVSS. These are not the MB-diesels but are Mercedes 0.7L turbocharged gasoline engines. I do know that J.K. Technologies has imported several foreign MB successfully and currently have a petition with the NHTSA on a G-wagon. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...03_31_2008.doc)
This is far as I have gotten. Any additional input is welcomed.
I think it might be fruitful for you to print off a copy of the CMVSS and compare it, line for line, with the FMVSS of your country. You could then send a copy of the CMVSS to the Homeland Security boys and make your case. Get your elected federal representative involved to speed things up.
The CMVSS was in large part based upon the FMVSS. There are some exceptions though; the CMVSS allows for E-Code headlamps (but the CDN B-Class has USDOT headlights), for example.
The worst-kept secret in M-B land is that the B-Class was designed for the US market in the first place, so perhaps a letter to Doctor Zee's technical gurus in Stuttgart/Bad Cannstatt would give you some joy.
Hi letrsnow & welcome to the forum, sorry to hear that you are having so problems trying to import your B into the States. Please keep us posted with your results as I'm sure that there are many out there that would like to import a B and once one has done so it should be easier for others to follow your procedure.
I don't suppose you could 'lend / hire to or temporarily sell' your car to someone in Canada to get the required 7,500 miles on it, get it back from them and then import it as Nadine (CA-B200) did as a used car.
It seems an interesting technicality seeing as some US dealers are driving B's on US roads with blacked out VIN's in California.
Good Luck and please keep us up to date with your struggle!
Derek
Here in the West Coast several Custom Brokers have set up shop for the express purpose of cross border shopping of cars. I would contact a Custom Broker at the Manitoba border and see if they can help. The Brokers here even have mechanical services to upgrade cars from the U.S.A. to Canadian Standards ie; Daytime lights and metric speed odometers. Or back to miles if going south. My son has exported a few cars to the U.S.A. and has always used a broker, the fee makes things go faster and with less headaches.
Aren't Canadian safety standards stricter than that of the US? For example, someone had told me that our bumper standards are different than those in the US. This is why cars such as the Mitsubishi EVO was not initially brought into Canada was because the bumper standards had to be met first. Another is, Canada requires all new cars to have ignition disable. I would have thought that bringing cars into the US from Canada would be easier.
Car manufacturers in Canada also always insist that the Canadian versions of the same car generally has more content that comes standard as well. . .ie: heated side mirrors, etc.
Then again, emission standards - especially in California is a different story altogether.
Good luck anyway in your effort to import a B into the US. As other forum members have said, keep us updated on your progress.
As I want a LPG/Gasoline B.
That means geting it from Stutgart then to Canada, then to the US.
Unless I shuddenly get the extra time to do this I may have to wait on MB.
Film at 11:00
B
__________________
The finest example of automobile engineering in the world
Floats like a CADI
Stings like a BMR
Stingy as a Prius
and.... all Mercedes Benz.
Vehicle: 2008 B200Turbo Red + HID & 1999 ML320 Azure Blue + Class III Hitch
Location: Minnesota, US
Posts: 8
Canadian vs US Safety Standards
Quote:
Originally Posted by martman
Aren't Canadian safety standards stricter than that of the US? For example, someone had told me that our bumper standards are different than those in the US. This is why cars such as the Mitsubishi EVO was not initially brought into Canada was because the bumper standards had to be met first. Another is, Canada requires all new cars to have ignition disable. I would have thought that bringing cars into the US from Canada would be easier.
Car manufacturers in Canada also always insist that the Canadian versions of the same car generally has more content that comes standard as well. . .ie: heated side mirrors, etc.
Then again, emission standards - especially in California is a different story altogether.
Good luck anyway in your effort to import a B into the US. As other forum members have said, keep us updated on your progress.
The Canadian bumper standards are more strict; however the US airbag regulations are stricter than Canada's. And, there are new tire pressure monitoring regulations (NHTSA Standard #138) which are now different between the two.
The emissions regulations between Canada an 45 states are identical. The US, however, has 5 rogue states (CA,NY,ME,NH,VT) which have instituted even more strick engine emissions regulations than the EPA.
Vehicle: 2008 B200Turbo Red + HID & 1999 ML320 Azure Blue + Class III Hitch
Location: Minnesota, US
Posts: 8
Registration/Title Process for Foreign Vehicle Imports
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill F
Shawn
Here in the West Coast several Custom Brokers have set up shop for the express purpose of cross border shopping of cars. I would contact a Custom Broker at the Manitoba border and see if they can help. The Brokers here even have mechanical services to upgrade cars from the U.S.A. to Canadian Standards ie; Daytime lights and metric speed odometers. Or back to miles if going south. My son has exported a few cars to the U.S.A. and has always used a broker, the fee makes things go faster and with less headaches.
Still a brand new car is a little more tricky.
Bill
Bill,
Here is what I know for registration of import vehicle in MN. At the DMV You must supply the following:
2). CBP (Customs and Border Protection) Form 7501 completed, stamped, AND signed by a CBP officer.
3). Bill of Sale clearly showing ownership.
4). Copy of NHTSA Form HS-7 and OEM letter stating FMVSS compliance (option 2B) or NHTSA Form HS-7, copy of approved NHTSA petition (option 3), and copy of DOT bond letter/payment, and contract with RI!
5). Original NHTSA Bond release letter if a bond was required for import.
6). Copy of EPA Form 3520-1 and OEM letter stating EPA compliance.
7). A bottle of aspirin and Hemorid Creme to allieviate the pain in the neck and ass the whole import system process is!
I managed to call JK Technologies and talked with a lady who was very helpful. They are willing to petition NHTSA on the MB B200 to find out if they will allow the vehicle as a VCP (no US equivalent vehicle which complies or is capable of being modified to comply with FMVSS) at no cost. I have to send in my OEM letter of CVMSS and Canadian EPA compliance as well as information in regards to the chassis number (W245).
Just on a hunch, I called a couple of other RI's who specifically import Canadian vehicles and can perform the compliance mod's and they were pretty much of no help. So, it sounds like JK is the real "Go Getter" of the bunch.
When I called the MB-Canada compliance department, I got the following lady:
Maria Fernandes
Product Compliance Coordinator
Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc.
Tel. 416-847-7383
Fax. 416-425-4754
E-mail: fernandesm@mercedes-benz.ca
She really didn't provide much insight other than to offer the EPA/CMVSS letter.
Importing B200Turbo Into the US... 
) the US NHTSA provides a list (
).
in California. 
And it gets worse.... 
Linear Mode
