Importing a car from the US to Spain (Barcelona)

M0.92 · 12-25-2014, 09:22 AM

I am a European citizen in the initial stages of moving to Spain and I plan on brininging my 2007 335 there as moving goods (exempt of VAT).

As it is brought in as moving goods it should also be exempt from certain modifications otherwise needed. I already have the switch for the rear fog lights.

There isn't much info online, at least not in English, regarding this process. Has anyone here recently gone through this process, or able to find some recent info (preferrably in English) on what needs to be done. I am guessing it has the potential of being a nightmare dealing with Spanish authorities.

Also, any members living in Barcelona?

keridil · 12-26-2014, 01:37 AM

I think your principal problem apart from taxes is going to be MOT. They don't mind at all if the car is imported you should abide the law which is very restrictive lately.

Good luck coming back mate.

BTW, try to seek for help in bmwfaq.com forums, I'm sure there are people used to import cars and its bits from the States.

m@rco · 12-31-2014, 09:09 AM

I imported my car into Switzerland and later to Holland. Doable and would do it again. Just make sure to prepare yourself well. Take time for it (both with exporting the car, handing in the title, etc.), organizing transportation (container and/or "Drive-on/Drive-off 'floating car park' vessels), arrival in Europe (which port? Avoid cost from the port to your location, maybe cheaper to drive from Antwerp or Rotterdam to Barcelona yourself). Expat forum provide some information, but most often it is the national road authorities that explain all necessary documentation (title, proof of insurance, proof of move of house hold goods, proof of residency, etc.). Typically you can drive up to 6 months (Switzerland 1 year) with your US plates, so you'll have some time.

For Switzerland I needed the headlight washers because I have xenons... Sh*t, that was an 800e expense that I didn't count on, but ok, it had to be done. But I believe that that is not necessary for other European countries. At least not for Holland, I found out later.

One thing though: you need to reprogram your amber parking lights. They need NOT be yellow/amber in Europe! Only indicators may 'blink' yellow. So when your parking lights are on, or your normal headlights, the amber must be off. I have my angel eyes as parking lights now, and that suffices.

By the way, red, read indicators are accepted in Europe. No worries about that. I still have mine, but I must say other drivers are less used to it, so they tend not to notice (as quickly as they otherwise would) that you want to change lanes. For example, when in traffic, and cars are close to each other, people may think it's a brake light (because they don't see the other light anyways), and don't think that you actually have your indicator on. Oh well, something to keep in mind and not be frustrated about.

M0.92 · 12-31-2014, 10:26 AM

Thanks guys.

With the rising value of the dollar Ihave to decide whether it makes sense to pay for the shipping, emission taxes and all other possible expenses associated with an import.

My car is in quite good condition with several wear items recently done (brakes x4, new KWs, power steering pump and HPFP) and I already have a pair of new OEM turbos in my closet should they crap out. Only thing needed is a new WP as preventative maintenance, which I will do prior to shipping the car. There's a lot of value in keeping a car which you know the history of, versus gambling on a new purchase.

The Spanish bureaucracy is something which does scare me, especially as I don't speak the language.

MSport_Jon · 03-07-2015, 03:29 PM

Word of advice...service your water pump. If not, Please buy the water pump, thermostat and supporting hardware in the U.S.
before you come over to Spain... Tremendously cheap there... I got the entire service kit from ecs tuning for the price of just the water pump alone. That was here in Germany... Good luck!

M0.92 · 03-07-2015, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSport_Jon

Word of advice...service your water pump. If not, Please buy the water pump, thermostat and supporting hardware in the U.S.
before you come over to Spain... Tremendously cheap there... I got the entire service kit from ecs tuning for the price of just the water pump alone. That was here in Germany... Good luck!

Already ordered a kit and having a e90 member install it for me here in the US.

MSport_Jon · 03-14-2015, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0.92

Already ordered a kit and having a e90 member install it for me here in the US.

Cool stuff..... good luck!

MSport_Jon · 03-14-2015, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0.92

Already ordered a kit and having a e90 member install it for me here in the US.

Hey bro... not sure if you go settle in or what but if you need help translating Spanish, let me know. That is my first language!

12-25-2014, 09:22 AM	#1
M0.92 First Lieutenant 19 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Barcelona, Spain iTrader: (1)	Importing a car from the US to Spain (Barcelona) I am a European citizen in the initial stages of moving to Spain and I plan on brininging my 2007 335 there as moving goods (exempt of VAT). As it is brought in as moving goods it should also be exempt from certain modifications otherwise needed. I already have the switch for the rear fog lights. There isn't much info online, at least not in English, regarding this process. Has anyone here recently gone through this process, or able to find some recent info (preferrably in English) on what needs to be done. I am guessing it has the potential of being a nightmare dealing with Spanish authorities. Also, any members living in Barcelona?
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12-26-2014, 01:37 AM	#2
keridil Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: '07 E90 335xi Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Spain iTrader: (0)	I think your principal problem apart from taxes is going to be MOT. They don't mind at all if the car is imported you should abide the law which is very restrictive lately. Good luck coming back mate. BTW, try to seek for help in bmwfaq.com forums, I'm sure there are people used to import cars and its bits from the States.
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12-31-2014, 09:09 AM	#3
m@rco First Lieutenant 24 Rep 322 Posts Drives: '20 540i; '07 328i; '03 R1150R Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I imported my car into Switzerland and later to Holland. Doable and would do it again. Just make sure to prepare yourself well. Take time for it (both with exporting the car, handing in the title, etc.), organizing transportation (container and/or "Drive-on/Drive-off 'floating car park' vessels), arrival in Europe (which port? Avoid cost from the port to your location, maybe cheaper to drive from Antwerp or Rotterdam to Barcelona yourself). Expat forum provide some information, but most often it is the national road authorities that explain all necessary documentation (title, proof of insurance, proof of move of house hold goods, proof of residency, etc.). Typically you can drive up to 6 months (Switzerland 1 year) with your US plates, so you'll have some time. For Switzerland I needed the headlight washers because I have xenons... Sh*t, that was an 800e expense that I didn't count on, but ok, it had to be done. But I believe that that is not necessary for other European countries. At least not for Holland, I found out later. One thing though: you need to reprogram your amber parking lights. They need NOT be yellow/amber in Europe! Only indicators may 'blink' yellow. So when your parking lights are on, or your normal headlights, the amber must be off. I have my angel eyes as parking lights now, and that suffices. By the way, red, read indicators are accepted in Europe. No worries about that. I still have mine, but I must say other drivers are less used to it, so they tend not to notice (as quickly as they otherwise would) that you want to change lanes. For example, when in traffic, and cars are close to each other, people may think it's a brake light (because they don't see the other light anyways), and don't think that you actually have your indicator on. Oh well, something to keep in mind and not be frustrated about.
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12-31-2014, 10:26 AM	#4
M0.92 First Lieutenant 19 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Barcelona, Spain iTrader: (1)	Thanks guys. With the rising value of the dollar Ihave to decide whether it makes sense to pay for the shipping, emission taxes and all other possible expenses associated with an import. My car is in quite good condition with several wear items recently done (brakes x4, new KWs, power steering pump and HPFP) and I already have a pair of new OEM turbos in my closet should they crap out. Only thing needed is a new WP as preventative maintenance, which I will do prior to shipping the car. There's a lot of value in keeping a car which you know the history of, versus gambling on a new purchase. The Spanish bureaucracy is something which does scare me, especially as I don't speak the language.
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03-07-2015, 03:29 PM	#5
MSport_Jon Captain 132 Rep 619 Posts Drives: X3 F25 LCI /// F80 M3 (SOLD) Join Date: May 2013 Location: Bavaria, Germany iTrader: (2)	Word of advice...service your water pump. If not, Please buy the water pump, thermostat and supporting hardware in the U.S. before you come over to Spain... Tremendously cheap there... I got the entire service kit from ecs tuning for the price of just the water pump alone. That was here in Germany... Good luck!
	Appreciate 0 Quote