E30 Touring in the US

"Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney" (braddelaparker) 01/19/2015 at 09:47 • Filed to: e30, touring, imported, duurtlang, bob loblaw

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Finally got around to taking some solid pictures of the E30 Touring that duurtlang and I imported to the States. It's a pretty little car.

Coty > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 09:52

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I pass one of these on my way to work most days. I say most, because some days she has an iX, and some days she just has an iS. So 3 pretty cool E30s, she just has to choose which one to drive that day.

505Turbeaux > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 09:57

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wow cleaned up nice! How is that weird hatch cutout treating you though? I never understood why they didn't just put the taillights on the hatch on these for a flat load space. When is this going up for sale, or are you keeping it a while?

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > 505Turbeaux 01/19/2015 at 10:16

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Thanks man, it really is stunningly clean! Makes having settled for the auto and no A/C worth it.

I actually don't mind the hatch cutout; I hadn't even noticed it was so funky until someone mentioned it to me a month ago or so. I think it's actually pretty nice, as it keeps shit from spilling out. I'm sure it would be a bitch for loading anything big/flat/long, but for packages and boxes and the sort it actually works pretty well because the hatch slopes nicely which means you can just set stuff straight down and not have to lean into the hatch area to get it in there. The fact that the hatch opens 150* upwards helps, too; makes SUVs tailgates seem like dumb apparatuses that exist only to bump your head into.

It'll be going up for sale this week. I thought about keeping it a bit longer, but I've had it for going on 6 months now and I have a wedding coming up to pay for and I'm sure Rob wouldn't mind seeing his profit out of it either.

505Turbeaux > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 10:23

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Excellent. Yeah I am just about geared up to send him out on a private mission for me in the next month or so. Also just a matter of OCD, clean those door sills before you take the sale pictures. Everything was nice and presentable except for that!

Cé hé sin > 505Turbeaux 01/19/2015 at 10:24

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EU visibility regs. Lights have to be visible with the hatch open.

505Turbeaux > Cé hé sin 01/19/2015 at 10:27

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ah there it is. Answered. Thanks!

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > 505Turbeaux 01/19/2015 at 10:42

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You sonofabitch! I was in such a rush to get the pictures taken while I had some decent light that I didn't notice. Really just gave the car a full wipedown with quick detailer beforehand, thanks for pointing that out.

And go ahead and do it, man, Rob is good people, though you know that already. Have something in mind already or are you keeping your options open?

505Turbeaux > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 10:46

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still in the mind of a stripper w124 wagon, 200te or 250td with a stick and no options, but who knows. Alfa 33 sportwagon 4wd if I am insane enough, Citroen BX wagon 4wd maybe

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > 505Turbeaux 01/19/2015 at 11:00

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oh dear god 33 sportwagon please let me live vicariously through you

505Turbeaux > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 11:02

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yeah, it is low on the list though - parts and availability of the cars is slight at the current time

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > 505Turbeaux 01/19/2015 at 11:04

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I can imagine so. Is the parts issue the 4WD drivetrain or just the platform in general?

505Turbeaux > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 11:06

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the whole platform. The 4wd bits are unobtanium over here, but so are alot of parts for the boxer motors.

MonkeePuzzle > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 11:32

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this may be pathetic, but A: I love the e30 wagon better than any other variety of E30, and B: it has a lot to do with how tidy this trunk area is.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > MonkeePuzzle 01/19/2015 at 11:43

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Not pathetic at all, or rather, you're in good company as I feel the exact same way. It's unbelievably accessible and usable, and it just looks nice. It's a perfectly proportioned area of a very well-proportioned car.

MonkeePuzzle > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 11:45

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just love the simplicity, while at the same time it's very clean and finished, compartments on the side instead of just butting up against whatever odd shape the otuside of the car has.

Widget_Master > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 12:44

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wow I've never seen one of these, even in pictures haha.

MM54 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 01/19/2015 at 20:49

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How much does one spend importing such a car, not counting the actual cost of buying it overseas? This is a beautiful e30 and I'm sure there are more out there...

Andrew Robertson > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 02/19/2015 at 00:40

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but but but...... its an auto. I mean I cant hate because its an uber rare car, and I love it. but automatic E30.

Sonikku > 505Turbeaux 02/25/2015 at 13:50

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That's gorgeous!

TicoFJ > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 05/22/2016 at 16:40

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Hello, I’m registering a car in Texas from out of the country and was wondering if you can advise me in what to do. I have the car already here it passed customs. I’m just wondering on the VIN check mostly.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > TicoFJ 05/23/2016 at 09:43

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It’s been a little over a year for me so you’ll have to bear with me, but this is the process as I remember it:

1. Go ahead and get the title translated if it’s in a foreign language; you’ll have to use a notarized/certified service to do so.

2. For the VIN check you’ll need to speak with the auto theft division of your municipality so they can run an Interpol check on the VIN. I’m in Dallas which made it fairly straightforward for me as Dallas was able to handle it themselves, as some smaller cities can’t/won’t perform the VIN check. They made me schedule an appointment and there aren’t very many of them available, I think I had to wait 2 weeks or so to get in. Took the better part of a morning but it was an easy process.

3. As part of number two you’ll have to drive the car there, so go ahead and head to your local county tax office and get a temporary registration as you may get shit from the auto theft guys if you don’t have it. I did but they did ask me if I had done it. It will cover you for thirty days and, if you’re lucky, it will help you strike up a relationship with the folks at your tax office which will come in handy as you’ll be seeing them a few times. Also, go ahead and get insurance on it. My regular insurance company wouldn’t insure a car with a foreign VIN, but I hopped on with Geico and got insurance without so much as a hiccup.

4. After you have the title translated and the VIN check done, you then have to fill out a form for a reassigned VIN (can’t remember the form number right now) and then head to a regional DMV location to have the VIN reassigned. They’ll run through your paperwork and then place a metal placard next to the VIN on the door sill confirming the new VIN.

5. After you have the VIN reassigned you’ll return to the county tax office and apply for the title like you would any other car and you’re done!

What did you bring in to the country? Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll be happy to help as it’s not the easiest process. Just take your time and read the paperwork carefully and have it all together in a binder or something, they’re sticklers about everything and you probably won’t be able to cut corners.

TicoFJ > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 05/25/2016 at 22:13

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Hello, thanks for your reply. I brought in an FJ40. One more question do you know if there is a time by when to have it registered?

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > TicoFJ 05/25/2016 at 23:41

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Not that I'm aware of, it took me 3-4 months to get it all done

G.Michael > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 09/28/2016 at 10:59

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So I am about to take on importing an E30 touring to NC in November. I do have a good trick up my sleeve thanks to the military. Would you be able to answer some questions I have?

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > G.Michael 09/28/2016 at 19:44

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Absolutely. Shoot me an email to bradleysparker AT Gmail DOT com