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!) 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/products...tion/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.