This stuff REALLY gets my goat. Not this particular situation, I saw a similar video from US Customs with a Land Rover Defender, another car produced over a long period of time where they tried to sneak in a newer model with an older cars VIN; clearly these guys knew what they were doing and got caught.

However, most people don't remember why we can't import <25 year old cars. It's got nothing to do with safety. Back in the '80s a lot of brand new European 'gray market' cars got imported by individuals to take advantage of the exchange rate. Mercedes went whining to the US government (and by whining I mean lots of $$$ of lobbying efforts) and that and that alone got the 25 year rule imposed. Our elected officials decided to go out of their way to help a massively wealth German corporation make more money off US citizens. Thanks for that!

If you want another fun very recent one, when you buy a car there's something in the contract stating that you will not export it for resale. So even though you buy the car with cash, and it's yours, you supposed can't really do what you want with it. So if you do this is the car company going to sue you? No need when you have the government in your pocket! Some people where buying BMWs here in the US and exporting them to China for resale. This violates your purchase agreement with BMW but to be clear isn't illegal in anyway. However, despite no laws being broken US customs was happy to spend your tax dollars on impounding these vehicles instead of it being a civil matter between the buyer and BMW. Another great use of resources to help a rich foreign company get richer at the expense of US individuals.


posted by 24.165.21...

• Be sure before you import that you can keep the car..., EAnderson, Sun, 14 Dec 2014 13:54:40
  • crushed because of VIN swap not safety NM, Trev, Mon, 15 Dec 2014 17:14:01
  • Re: Be sure before you import that you can keep the car..., Craig, Mon, 15 Dec 2014 13:25:15 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Gray market and Mercedes, Erik919kt, Tue, 16 Dec 2014 07:47:20
      • Re: Gray market and Mercedes, Bill Homer , Sun, 4 Jan 2015 18:47:10
  • Re: Be sure before you import that you can keep the car..., SWEDECAR , Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:55:39
    • Nice Pic would make a good Akvavit ad :-) n/m, EAnderson, Mon, 15 Dec 2014 12:53:23
  • This car deserved it - or rather its owner., dmz789qqq, Sun, 14 Dec 2014 14:53:19
    • so a 40yr old mini is safer/better than a 16yr old?, Trev, Mon, 15 Dec 2014 17:16:51
    • Re: This car deserved it - or rather its owner., Snowmobile , Sun, 14 Dec 2014 16:11:29
  • Fraud, AdamSAAB2kAero , Sun, 14 Dec 2014 14:42:07
    • Sigh, 15 years for Canada..., Mark from Toronto, Sun, 14 Dec 2014 20:42:56
      • There's a guy down in ATL with a legal original Mini, RS , Mon, 15 Dec 2014 07:12:09
        • My local Saab dealer has a '77 for sale., McTeague, Mon, 15 Dec 2014 08:00:02
          • Comparison of original Mini vs. new Mini, Bill Homer , Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:28:20
            • It's a Mini mini me!, RS , Mon, 15 Dec 2014 17:05:08

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