[kaishang]

What's the logic with the delay in some models making it to Australia? Eg the new F10 5-series; you can buy now in Australia a 520d but not a 530d. The 530d has an estimated 1 year delay making it to Oz. In the past non/late availability of certain models was blamed on the sulfur content of Oz fuel but this has now changed so it's the same standard as European fuel. So why the delay in bringing some models to Oz?

This brings me to what the hell was I thinking? I'm in the UK for about 1.5 years and just bought a 330d which I'll ship back to Oz. If you are out of Oz for an extended period and have owned the car 12 months, you can bring it in as a personal import exempt from tax.

I should have got the F10 530d. This will have a drive away price of about $110,000 by the time it goes on sale In Oz in a year although I see guys driving them around London every day. Yet the same spec 530d in UK only costs equiv A$85,000 drive away. Less than a 3 series in Oz and about $25,000 less than the Oz cost.

The 530 is out of my price range in Oz but would have been ok in UK with me shipping it back in a year. Aaaaarrrghhh!

[dcg71]

Yeah, it doesn't make much sense.. we typically get about 3 models here when a range is introduced. Presumably what BMW AUS thinks it can sell. It still seems pretty poor in comparison to the UK. It's not just deisels either, petrol engine choices are also limited.
Good idea to import a car... the F10 530d would have been nice, but the 330d should still be worth more here than in the UK if you decide to bring it back

[TaylorA]

Originally Posted by kaishang

If you are out of Oz for an extended period and have owned the car 12 months, you can bring it in as a personal import exempt from tax.

Are you sure on this? I'm bringing a bike over and will have to pay GST. What about LCT when you come to register it? The shipping may be cheap as atm but once it's landed customs will gouge you all they can.

[anonymousmoose]

I know all about the rules of importing a car from overseas to Australia after 1989 is a no-no UNLESS that model is not sold in Australia. Does that mean that if Australia does not have a 330d model you are allowed to import it? Also, the E90 came in a 4 door M3 overseas but not in OZ. Can this one also be imported?

[dcg71]

Not sure about that.. my impression was that a personal import is ok if its a car you own while living OS for a certain period, like the OP. That rule about the model not being sold here applies to people living here trying to import a car I think.

And we can get both 330d and E90 M3s here

[kaishang]

I've checked it out. If you own the car for 12 months+ and have been genuinely living overseas you can bring it in to Oz. No GST, no LCT, can be a model which is sold in Australia.

I'm actually thinking of trading the 330d on a 530d GT (the enormous 5 metre long hatchback) even though the 330d is only a few months old. They 5 GTs aren't selling real well in the UK so you can buy a almost new second hand one for GBP37,000 with the same mileage my 330d now has. I'll probably lose GBP5,000 on the 330d but in return move up to a bigger 5-series, with the same odometer reading as my 330 currently has but has a higher spec level and which would go for maybe $130,000 in Australia.

The only downside is I'd be driving a car as big as a Commodore station wagon around crowded London for the next year...

[kaishang]

I just looked on the BMW Australia used car website.... there is a 530 diesel GT demonstrator which is listed at $185,000. WTF?????

You can buy the same model as a demonstrator in the UK for GBP38,000 or under $70,000.

I knew BMWs were priced jacked into oblivion in Australia, but this is ridiculous.

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by kaishang

I just looked on the BMW Australia used car website.... there is a 530 diesel GT demonstrator which is listed at $185,000. WTF?????

You can buy the same model as a demonstrator in the UK for GBP38,000 or under $70,000.

I knew BMWs were priced jacked into oblivion in Australia, but this is ridiculous.

Are you just making us feel bad that Captain Cook and all us other boat people couldn't have just moored closer to where you are in London?,lol, kidding..That's a big disparity in prices even considering shipping charges!!

Do have a friend who shipped a 3 series and a Merc years ago from Europe and though the whole thing worked out cheaper said the customs gave him a hard time with vehicle compliance paperwork for essentially the same models sold here and huge quarantine, storage and washing charges even though the car was cleaned as required when it came from overseas. He reckons if he were to import again he would pay a bit extra and use an agent to save on the headache the customs gave him and time lost, maybe something to be mindfull about if importing!!

[anonymousmoose]

Originally Posted by dcg71

Not sure about that.. my impression was that a personal import is ok if its a car you own while living OS for a certain period, like the OP. That rule about the model not being sold here applies to people living here trying to import a car I think.

And we can get both 330d and E90 M3s here

I realise that but what if your not living overseas... can you import current models that are NOT on sale here? Would be interesting to find out. I'm guessing no though because if it were true, we'd see a lot of E90 330d's, 4-door M3's etc over here.

[dcg71]

Those models are available here... You can walk into any dealer in Australia right now and buy an E90 330d or a 4 door M3.

While living here..
1) You definately can't import a car that is available locally.
2) You probably can import a car that is not available on the local market. You will have to pay GST, LCT, and probably numerous other taxes and duties, customs clearance on both sides, shipping costs, and costs for modifications to get the car compliant with local standards. You also need government approval to proceed.

[dcg71]

Actually after reading this, I think its pretty much impossible to import a car as an individual, unless its pre-1989, or like the OP, you are bringing back a personal vehicle from OS.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...riteria_2.aspx

[anonymousmoose]

Originally Posted by dcg71

Actually after reading this, I think its pretty much impossible to import a car as an individual, unless its pre-1989, or like the OP, you are bringing back a personal vehicle from OS.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...riteria_2.aspx

Interesting... but then there are all them late model Nissan skylines etc.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by kaishang

I've checked it out. If you own the car for 12 months+ and have been genuinely living overseas you can bring it in to Oz. No GST, no LCT, can be a model which is sold in Australia.

I'm actually thinking of trading the 330d on a 530d GT (the enormous 5 metre long hatchback) even though the 330d is only a few months old. They 5 GTs aren't selling real well in the UK so you can buy a almost new second hand one for GBP37,000 with the same mileage my 330d now has. I'll probably lose GBP5,000 on the 330d but in return move up to a bigger 5-series, with the same odometer reading as my 330 currently has but has a higher spec level and which would go for maybe $130,000 in Australia.

The only downside is I'd be driving a car as big as a Commodore station wagon around crowded London for the next year...

Please provide some links to your supporting evidence.
As all the publically available information on the government websites points to the contrary.

Either way there is still savings to be had, even if you are required to pay GST & LCT, however your better off picking up a 2nd hand car in the UK.
Cars on my potential UK (i.e. if i move there for a period) shopping list include E46 M3 CSL & Audi R8, both of these offer good profit on sale upon return to Aus. For example on the R8 you can pocked the best part of A$100k AUD, as you can pick up very good ones in London for GBP58k (a friend of mine recently got a 6 month old one with 3,000miles on it for that) which equates to A$100k, the GST & LCT will equate to circa A$50k to bring it home, where market value is roughly A$250k for the same car here.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by anonymousmoose

Interesting... but then there are all them late model Nissan skylines etc.

They fall under the non-AU market production models which allow them to be imported, the same applies to a series of Ferrari's & the like. There is a doc on one of the government websites setting out which cars you are allowed to import under this rule.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by BMW //MPOWER

Please provide some links to your supporting evidence.
As all the publically available information on the government websites points to the contrary.
.

Here it is:
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...f/VSB10_11.pdf

The applicable section for new migrants or returning Australians (me) starts on page 17.

I've done a personal import of furniture before (but not a vehicle) when I returned to Australia after 3 years in China - it was quite straightforward, didn't need to use an agent. Car looks like more paperwork so I'd get a specialist company to do it, but I still know people who have shipped a house full of furniture + vehicle across the world for well under $10,000.


I'm feeling a bit queezy; I knew about the personal import scheme before but I really should have researched oz car prices more before I bought the 330d in the UK. If I had I would have bought something which is ridiculously expensive in Australia like a new shape F10 530d or just go beserker and buy a Maserati, which you could buy new for just over equiv A$100,000 in the UK. How much are they in Oz, about $220,000?!?

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by anonymousmoose

I realise that but what if your not living overseas... can you import current models that are NOT on sale here? Would be interesting to find out. I'm guessing no though because if it were true, we'd see a lot of E90 330d's, 4-door M3's etc over here.

If you are not living overseas AND have owned the vehicle for 12 months before you want to import it then it is either impossible or just very, very expensive. You will end up paying the LCT, GST and 10% (supposed to be reducing to 5% sometime) import tariff. Forget about it, in other words.

Just to get things in perspective:
The 330 diesel I just bought cost the GBP equivalent of about A$65,000. The reason why one of the posts above said you can't buy 330d's in Oz... you can, but the reason you don't see them is they cost an eye watering $110,000 on the road - who can afford that? Or $45,000 more than I just paid.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Here it is:
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...f/VSB10_11.pdf

The applicable section for new migrants or returning Australians (me) starts on page 17.

I've done a personal import of furniture before (but not a vehicle) when I returned to Australia after 3 years in China - it was quite straightforward, didn't need to use an agent. Car looks like more paperwork so I'd get a specialist company to do it, but I still know people who have shipped a house full of furniture + vehicle across the world for well under $10,000.


I'm feeling a bit queezy; I knew about the personal import scheme before but I really should have researched oz car prices more before I bought the 330d in the UK. If I had I would have bought something which is ridiculously expensive in Australia like a new shape F10 530d or just go beserker and buy a Maserati, which you could buy new for just over equiv A$100,000 in the UK. How much are they in Oz, about $220,000?!?

Yeah, i've read that section, however i cant find where it explicitly states that LCT & GST are not payable, or exempt... I hope i'm wrong, but i'm struggling to find it.
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/re...ov09_Final.pdf
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4371.asp#duty
it also appears that they are carved out under the UPE's:
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/re..._factsheet.pdf

Hahaha, and as for a Maserati, your talking $300k here...

[johnnydad]

Interesting the fluctuations of currency. When I bought my 325i in 2008 I checked the UK site and in fact there was nothing in it by the time I'd added all the necessary options.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by johnnydad

Interesting the fluctuations of currency. When I bought my 325i in 2008 I checked the UK site and in fact there was nothing in it by the time I'd added all the necessary options.

the difference is bigger with higher end models.
but the other key point is, depreciation is much steeper in the UK, i.e. a brand new 2009 build car in dealerships move at 20% discounts to new & cars are worth a small fraction of the new price after a few years, whereas here they tend to hold on a bit longer.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by johnnydad

Interesting the fluctuations of currency. When I bought my 325i in 2008 I checked the UK site and in fact there was nothing in it by the time I'd added all the necessary options.

That's true... there's nothing like an Australian dollar collapse

It can be US$0.95 one year and US$0.50 the next.



I've started quizzing the Aus Dept of Infrastructure (issues import approvals)
Australian Customs (charges any applicable duty) and
Western Australia licencing (car would be rego'd and inspected in WA)

Looks OK so far. I also need to check out insurance and make sure I can find someone to insure an imported vehicle.

I've also started looking online ads in the UK for about 1-2 year old secondhand Aston Martins and Maseratis Maybe the wife can also bring a car in...

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Here it is:
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roa...f/VSB10_11.pdf

The applicable section for new migrants or returning Australians (me) starts on page 17.

I've done a personal import of furniture before (but not a vehicle) when I returned to Australia after 3 years in China - it was quite straightforward, didn't need to use an agent. Car looks like more paperwork so I'd get a specialist company to do it, but I still know people who have shipped a house full of furniture + vehicle across the world for well under $10,000.


I'm feeling a bit queezy; I knew about the personal import scheme before but I really should have researched oz car prices more before I bought the 330d in the UK. If I had I would have bought something which is ridiculously expensive in Australia like a new shape F10 530d or just go beserker and buy a Maserati, which you could buy new for just over equiv A$100,000 in the UK. How much are they in Oz, about $220,000?!?

yupz, and the Maserati's seem to have very good resale values if you got a used one from overseas at a bargain, then drove it till u maxed ur hapiness levels and then sold here, not sure how good they are reliability and maintenance wise... offcourse if one purchased a new one here in Australia would be staring at a big dollar loss on resale.
How are car prices in the UK compared to the US? Used Maseratis in the US are even cheaper with good used late model examples for 40-60K USD but then they drive the wrong side of the road to be imported
Love the Maserati Quattroporte