How to cross the Atlantic with your BMW

[Mordan]

Hello,

I searched the net and I can't find much info on how to cross the atlantic with my car. Time is not an issue.

Has anyone here done that before? How much does it cost? And how long?

[repenttokyo]

turn left at greenland.

[bsell]

I would suggest shipping it ahead as much time would be wasted waiting in the ports at either end. I seriously doubt you will find a 'ferry' to take both you and your car from the U.S. to Europe or vice versa.

My family and I did do what I think you want to do from Okinawa to mainland Japan. This is one of the things on their 'never again' list! Our daughter got seasick as soon as well pulled out of the harbor. Everyone else 'tossed their cookies' (except me!:D) due to 5 meter tall waves on the last night.

The ferry was as tall above the water line as a 7-story building and about a city block and a half long. The spray from the waves came by our window at the six-story height!

It was neat to drive onto the ship, spend a couple days and nights just chilling, and then drive off again and go about your business.

I hope you can find something similar for your situation (without the yarking),

Brian

[E34-520iSE]

As Brian said, you're going to have to ship it ahead, like in a container. I don't know if there's any roll-on,roll off, roll over ferries that run that sort of distance. Might be better to ring a few shipping companies up, get some quotes for containering a car that weighs say 3000lbs from port A to port B. No-one will refuse, but I bet it won't be cheap. That way you can plan your own journey around the cars' movement.

HTH,

Shaun M

[Mordan]

I don't know if there's any roll-on,roll off, roll over ferries that run that sort of distance.

that's what I wanted to find! roll-on, roll off.

I guess the offer ain't there because of the lack of demand.

[Paul in NZ]

there may well be some specialised car transport ferries that operate from europe to the US....I dont know how you find that out tho.....you prolly would not accompany the car.

[shogun]

Brian,
Okinawa >Mainland Japan is only 26 hours by ferry. I enjoyed it very much, my wife not at all, because she got seasick. But after taking the medicine for that, it was also fine for here.
I would always do it again, but you need a lot of newspapers/books.

[bsell]

As Brian said, you're going to have to ship it ahead, like in a container. I don't know if there's any roll-on,roll off, roll over ferries that run that sort of distance. Might be better to ring a few shipping companies up, get some quotes for containering a car that weighs say 3000lbs from port A to port B. No-one will refuse, but I bet it won't be cheap. That way you can plan your own journey around the cars' movement.

HTH,

Shaun M

Now that Shaun mentions it, my '95 525 was shipped from Tokyo to Germany for something like $2.8K (U.S.). They put it by itself into a container and sent it on its merry way. It took 45 days to make that journey which included a truck-haul of eight hours to get near me for pick-up.

On another note, I hear it is around $2K (U.S.) to ship from the East Coast of the U.S. to Bremen, Germany. The reason I looked into this is the prices on the late '80's 911s here are the same as brand new (back in the day)! I figure I could go back to the U.S., buy a clean model with lowish miles, ship it, and drive it for six months then sell it for a $10K or better profit in Germany. Not a bad gig if it all worked out...

I take it you are moving over here? Or did you just want to bring Ol' Bessy over to 'stretch her legs' on the autobahn?

If it is all about a mad dash/sightseeing trip, I would rather rent somebody else's hot rod and have a worry-free blast...but that is just me.

Brian

[whiskychaser]

Hello,

I searched the net and I can't find much info on how to cross the atlantic with my car. Time is not an issue.

Has anyone here done that before? How much does it cost? And how long?

These would be first on my list to call:
http://www.2wglobal.com/www/productsServices/productsServices/oceanTransportation/index.jsp

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

I did it two years ago, Tilbury UK to Montreal.By container but as I was the shipping agent and it was a freebie the cost was irrelevant. If you look at various english motor magasines they advertise shipping to US,its about $1k . The catches are numerous, the authorities do not understand that anybody would want to do it so the paperwork will be long. Better to buy an E34 in US via forum or find somebody who would do a rental deal. and another thing,is your car emissions legal because they will test it on arrival,I was told not to bother trying to do a temp import of a Diesel as they had no category to cover it, hence Montreal.

[Mordan]

These would be first on my list to call:
http://www.2wglobal.com/www/productsServices/productsServices/oceanTransportation/index.jsp

thx whisky. will take a look.

[Mordan]

I did it two years ago, Tilbury UK to Montreal.By container but as I was the shipping agent and it was a freebie the cost was irrelevant. If you look at various english motor magasines they advertise shipping to US,its about $1k . The catches are numerous, the authorities do not understand that anybody would want to do it so the paperwork will be long. Better to buy an E34 in US via forum or find somebody who would do a rental deal. and another thing,is your car emissions legal because they will test it on arrival,I was told not to bother trying to do a temp import of a Diesel as they had no category to cover it, hence Montreal.

yea another red tape sucker. paper work. you are deemed a thief citizen!.

i would love to go cruise in the US for 2 months during summer than come back. I'm not sure I can rent an old bmw convertible 325. besides I know my car and can service her.

about emission tests. I'm bound to fail that test with my old 325 convertible. :( It is euro spec and it doesn't have a catalyser.

[attack eagle]

yea another red tape sucker. paper work. you are deemed a thief citizen!.

i would love to go cruise in the US for 2 months during summer than come back. I'm not sure I can rent an old bmw convertible 325. besides I know my car and can service her.

about emission tests. I'm bound to fail that test with my old 325 convertible. :( It is euro spec and it doesn't have a catalyser.

no but for the 5 grand+ or so that you will spend importing the car and converting it to US spec to make it road legal here (no reciprocity agreements with non contiguous land masses/countries) ie MPH cluster, US spec lighting, reflectors, bumpers, new DOT stamped tires,all emissions equipment, etc... + costs to register it in the state you will be residing in, pay registration and inspection for a year, etc. you can certainly rent what ever the hell you want in the domestic American vein. i've even heard of Mini rentals.

in otherwords you have to federalize it, then DE-federalize it when you go home. there is no 'visiting' with your EU, JP, etc. car here.

[bsell]

Brian,
Okinawa >Mainland Japan is only 26 hours by ferry. I enjoyed it very much, my wife not at all, because she got seasick. But after taking the medicine for that, it was also fine for here.
I would always do it again, but you need a lot of newspapers/books.

My wife asked the chef on our ferry how long he had been working this route and he said something like 15 years. And he still gets sick every trip! I can't imagine keeping a job that makes me puke every day...

The dramamine helped the daughter somewhat but she finally lost the 'green' look after two days in Tokyo.

Brian

[Ross]

E30 verts are reasonable plentiful here and if a little rust doesn't bother you one could be bought for your shipping and incidental costs to use your own car.
What is your destination here?

[RockJock]

no but for the 5 grand+ or so that you will spend importing the car and converting it to US spec to make it road legal here (no reciprocity agreements with non contiguous land masses/countries) ie MPH cluster, US spec lighting, reflectors, bumpers, new DOT stamped tires,all emissions equipment, etc... + costs to register it in the state you will be residing in, pay registration and inspection for a year, etc. you can certainly rent what ever the hell you want in the domestic American vein. i've even heard of Mini rentals.

in otherwords you have to federalize it, then DE-federalize it when you go home. there is no 'visiting' with your EU, JP, etc. car here.


If a EU car is imported into the US then yes it must be federalized. However, I don't think this is true if you're simply visiting. I know plenty of folks that have imported either EU or JP cars into Canada and taken them on road trips into the US without any modifications.

Also, there are loopholes; I know for a 100% fact that there's a non-federalized Alpina B10 Biturbo that resides in the US. The car was purchased and registered in British Columbia but resides permanently in the US.

So, if he wants to bring his car to NA temporarily I don’t think it’s an issue. There’s RO-RO service to Halifax or container service to Montreal.

[Mordan]

E30 verts are reasonable plentiful here and if a little rust doesn't bother you one could be bought for your shipping and incidental costs to use your own car.
What is your destination here?

no specific destination. I just want to drive and see whatever I feel like seeing as a tourist. I want to see California. Las Vegas, Mississipi, Yellow Stone. I think I'm going to do it through Canada to escape the emissions tests and enter the US through Montana?. thx RockJock for the heart lifting tips
yea I might buy an E30 vert.. but then I'm kinda sentimental and would like my own car. she needs miles and I want experience. also there is nothing like driving with a foreign license plate. I always smile when I see a US plate in Europe. I guess you have never seen Red letters on a white background in the US.

like RockJock said, there is Ro Ro through Halifax. thx to the new Ro-Ro keyword I didn't know about before, I found

http://www.shipping-worldwide.com/car-exports.html there is lots of choice

[nirvana19]

My Canadian 535iA was never actually federalized yet resides legally registered and insured in Maryland. My gauges are in km/h and the car still has the Canadian safety stamps, it was inspected in Maryland. You can certainly drive a car from Canada into the US. I also think diplomats can bring over and drive their RHD cars (see a lot around the DC area) but I doubt that applies to most people.

It sounds like it would be completely impractical to do that with your 325iA, you could honestly come to the US, buy one, drive it for two months, sell it and leave. It would be much simpler and you could probably sell the car for what you paid (2 month depreciation?). Even that sounds like a lot of work, but if it seems possible.

[RockJock]

no specific destination. I just want to drive and see whatever I feel like seeing as a tourist. I want to see California. Las Vegas, Mississipi, Yellow Stone. I think I'm going to do it through Canada to escape the emissions tests and enter the US through Montana?. thx RockJock for the heart lifting tips
yea I might buy an E30 vert.. but then I'm kinda sentimental and would like my own car. she needs miles and I want experience. also there is nothing like driving with a foreign license plate. I always smile when I see a US plate in Europe. I guess you have never seen Red letters on a white background in the US.

like RockJock said, there is Ro Ro through Halifax. thx to the new Ro-Ro keyword I didn't know about before, I found

http://www.shipping-worldwide.com/car-exports.html there is lots of choice


Here’s some more info that may be useful:


-NONRESIDENTS may import a duty-free vehicle for personal use for up to (1) one year if it is imported in concurrence with the owner’s arrival. Under this provision, a vehicle that is imported and which does not conform to U.S. emission and safety standards may not be sold in the USA and must be exported within one year. These export requirement have no extension or exemption

From here: http://www.importexporthelp.com/importing-cars.htm

Anyways, I’m not sure how feasible it’ll be but I’m sure you’ll have a blast. The US is a beautiful place to visit, unbelievably diverse geographically, friendly folks, lots n’ lots to see. The same can be said for Canada…

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Nail hit on head mate! Yes there is a Ro-Ro service to US(Wallenius lines) but its unaccompanied and you pick the car up in Delaware. How about a swap deal with somebody who wants to see Europe???

[whiskychaser]

Nail hit on head mate! Yes there is a Ro-Ro service to US(Wallenius lines) but its unaccompanied and you pick the car up in Delaware.

Dont know if you mean my comment but I'm sure thats how they get into the UK. I'm going back some years but I think they used to dock in Liverpool. But bearing in mind the nationality I bet they docked in Hamburg or Bremerhaven too. That said, if I were going to the States again I'd probably opt for fly-drive

[Mordan]

http://www.uecc.com/

http://www.arrcnet.com/agents.htm

http://www.walleniuslines.com/en/Cargoes-and-services/22-Services/

http://www.uecc.com/wwwcms/ueccmma.nsf/lupgraphics/S_vsls_tegning_290.gif/$file/S_vsls_tegning_290.gif
http://www.uecc.com/wwwcms/uecccms.nsf/$all/5D09F0119CAB60C6C12570B4004366E8

[Ross]

That journey will put some miles on her all right.
I am nearly positive you will not need an emission test for visiting.

[Mordan]

That journey will put some miles on her all right.
I am nearly positive you will not need an emission test for visiting.

thx.. because she is bound to fail. the fumes really stink without a cat.