[Jffeijao]

I will be moving to Europe before the end of the year and I plan to take my 2011 335d with me - it has only 20.000km.
After not much research, found a reputable carrier to transport it and got all necessary information related to documentation, etc.
However there is one key aspect that remains a big 'black box' as I got no replies to my inquiries to BMW USA and BMW AG. Besides I found no valuable information on line:
What are the modifications I need to perform on the car to get it registered in Europe?
All I know that rear signal lights must be orange/amber there (US spec are red). This is a simple fix. What else is required? Will the FM/AM radio work in Europe? What about emissions? I know diesel requirements in US are tighter than Europe but....
- does anybody know a company that can give me a list based on make/year/model of the car?
I hope to find somebody that went through this before to give me the insights. I do not want to find once in Europe that I need $10k to get the car compliant!

The ride is completely stock.

Thanks

[taibanl]

I would definitely get a euro f30 335d with the n57 if you can afford it.

[AzureHaze]

Originally Posted by taibanl

I would definitely get a euro f30 335d with the n57 if you can afford it.

Or grab an F10 M550dX. Just saying...

[cyrano]

Originally Posted by Jffeijao

I will be moving to Europe before the end of the year and I plan to take my 2011 335d with me - it has only 20.000km.
After not much research, found a reputable carrier to transport it and got all necessary information related to documentation, etc.
However there is one key aspect that remains a big 'black box' as I got no replies to my inquiries to BMW USA and BMW AG. Besides I found no valuable information on line:
What are the modifications I need to perform on the car to get it registered in Europe?
All I know that rear signal lights must be orange/amber there (US spec are red). This is a simple fix. What else is required? Will the FM/AM radio work in Europe? What about emissions? I know diesel requirements in US are tighter than Europe but....
- does anybody know a company that can give me a list based on make/year/model of the car?
I hope to find somebody that went through this before to give me the insights. I do not want to find once in Europe that I need $10k to get the car compliant!

The ride is completely stock.

Thanks

My company usually change US spec cars to EU spec to pass our TUV, MOT etc here in Europe.

Give me to PM your VIN and i will let you know what will you need ( i need last 7 digits only)

[Jffeijao]

Originally Posted by taibanl

I would definitely get a euro f30 335d with the n57 if you can afford it.

I rented one and used for few days during my last trip to Germany. Engine is very good, mpg much better than mine. However the ride is not. Serious step back. Considering I would have to pay significantly more for the car, it is a bad deal.

[dL_EVO]

Would you like to loan your car to any one of the Euro Tuners so they can finally crack our protected ECUs?

Pretty please...

[Timujin]

^ yeah this please

[cyrano]

Please come to me maybe we can try to figure something out and spread it all over e90post , actually my friend done his us spec 335d to figures about 360hp and 710nm with custom IC and exhaust car is a true monster right now

[Jffeijao]

Got the car here in Europe this week!
Took 4 weeks due to a weather delay caused by the severe winter in US. Car got here exactly as it left US
After some investigation, few tips from fellow e90post colleages and selection of service providers it is all done.
It was much easier than expected, and from a cost perspective the best I could have done.

I enjoyed the D this past week more than I did during the last year in US!

Tks guys and let me know in case you want to know more details. I will be glad to share the companies that have helped me on this.

[JDG]

please do share, I may make the move overseas in a bit over a year (job dependent) and would look into brining over my d as well.

[dixy2k]

You also need a stop light switch for the left side of the car. Weird EU laws for parked cars.

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by dixy2k

You also need a stop light switch for the left side of the car. Weird EU laws for parked cars.

The way it used to work is through your turn signal. If you were parked on the right side of the street, you put your left signal on; vice versa if parked on the left side of the street. It just kept the appropriate turn signal lamp lit, but not blinking. Maybe it's changed now. We always saw it as a way to somewhat protect your car in dark villages with narrow passageways.

[taibanl]

Still works

[arayz]

i dont get it ? why cant u guys tune a 335d like a euro version, u guys dont got a downpipe or what?

[Jffeijao]

Originally Posted by JDG

please do share, I may make the move overseas in a bit over a year (job dependent) and would look into brining over my d as well.

My first concern was with specs conversion.
It almost consumed my will to bring the car due to the uncertainity of what is really required and associated cost.
I took some risk and it turned out to be a minor issue relatively easy to resolve:
1. Navigation = dowload europe maps, buy a FSC code and invest 45min with update
2. Emission specs = do nothing
3. Radio FM reception = convert to euro specs with one line of coding
4. Front lights = deactivate via coding
5. Rear signal lights + fog light = need to invest EUR 300 on new switch and new tail lights. Wiring is aleady in the car if you have a LCI model. It becomes a 60 min DIY.

Now the big waiver: in case you intend to take your car back to US you do not need anything. Just clear customs, register and drive
If you want to sell the car in Europe, conversion is mandatory.

A 'wrinkle': winter tires are mandatory on snow/ice conditions. You can get ticketed or denied on an insurance claim if you are driving on summer ones.
All weather is ok but tricky to drive with the D.
For safety, there goes another EUR1000 (rims, tires,TPMS).

In the end, considering absolutely everything, from door to door the cost of the move was just under $5k. A similar car here would have cost me about $15k more.

[RallyeRalle]

Thanks for this great summary! I was looking particularily for such information as I also intend to take my 335d back to Europe end of this year.

Your posting gives me hope that the whole thing might be a bit easier than I thought. Two questions however bother me still:

* In Europe headlight washers are mandatory for Xenon lamps... did you have to upgrade to a washer system or did you have that already installed (I belive the 335d with Cold Weather Package) is the only model version that has the headlight washers installed by default).

* I will be bringing the car back to Finland where the annual car tax is dependent on the CO2 emissions of the car. These are usually stated in the Certificate of Conformity which comes with all European spec cars. I bet the system must be similar in Luxembourg. How did tou find out about thr CO2 emissions (g/km)?

Thanks for your input

-RallyeRalle

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by Jffeijao

My first concern was with specs conversion.
It almost consumed my will to bring the car due to the uncertainity of what is really required and associated cost.
I took some risk and it turned out to be a minor issue relatively easy to resolve:
1. Navigation = dowload europe maps, buy a FSC code and invest 45min with update
2. Emission specs = do nothing
3. Radio FM reception = convert to euro specs with one line of coding
4. Front lights = deactivate via coding
5. Rear signal lights + fog light = need to invest EUR 300 on new switch and new tail lights. Wiring is aleady in the car if you have a LCI model. It becomes a 60 min DIY.

Now the big waiver: in case you intend to take your car back to US you do not need anything. Just clear customs, register and drive
If you want to sell the car in Europe, conversion is mandatory.

A 'wrinkle': winter tires are mandatory on snow/ice conditions. You can get ticketed or denied on an insurance claim if you are driving on summer ones.
All weather is ok but tricky to drive with the D.
For safety, there goes another EUR1000 (rims, tires,TPMS).

In the end, considering absolutely everything, from door to door the cost of the move was just under $5k. A similar car here would have cost me about $15k more.

You dont need a fog switch. Just cut the tabs so you can press the button :shrug:

[Yozh]

Originally Posted by taibanl

You dont need a fog switch. Just cut the tabs so you can press the button :shrug:

Ditto. I just did that on Friday and works like a charm. Even thinking of going and getting a rear fog marking pad printed on the button.

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by Yozh

Ditto. I just did that on Friday and works like a charm. Even thinking of going and getting a rear fog marking pad printed on the button.

Did you partially disassemble it, or just cut the tabs while in place?

[Yozh]

Disassembled it. Piece of cake. There is a pictorial guide on the net somewhere. Oh, here it is:
http://www.fastm.com/e92m3/rearfog.html

[RallyeRalle]

Thanks Yozh! That hint was most helpful!

Now i only need to figure out how to code the radio to European specs and whether I need those headlight washers for my Xenons on Europe.

I saw that the 5-Series has those little washer caps on the front bumper, but a dealer told me that there's nothing behind them on most 5ers. Just space holders, but no retractable washers, tank and hoses...

[Yozh]

For cars that do not come with headlight washers blanking plates in the bumper are different than headlight washer lids. However, as I remember from my E92, to retrofit them into a car (as long as your bumper has holes) all you need is a pump, hoses, and nozzles with covers. Will have to colour match nozzle lids. To add headlight washer pump to the washer fluid reservoir, you would need to remove pass side fender as tank is behind there. But it should not be too difficult to do.

EU Directive 2007/46 deals with approval guidelines for cars in EU, but you may have different requirement for imported vehicle than the ones destined for EU. Also, depends if it is going to be exported out after.