I'm a Canadian, currently living in Michigan ,and we're thinking of retiring back home in Canada. Has anyone successfully imported a used MINI from the US. I'd like to bring mine with me, but I don't know what it will take.Any input is welcome.
And "Yes" I've read the other thread,but I'd like to hear from someone who has successfully imported a used car. Mine's a 2003 MCS, if that matters.
Thanks
Warren

 

If you actually own the car and you're moving back to Canada, it shouldn't be an issue. I think all the problems have to do more with somebody living in Canada and buying a car in the US for the sole purpose of importing into Canada even for personal use. YOur current ownership registration papers say you live in the US. If you move into Canada, I think it's just a matter of registering your car when you get back to Canada.

 

I ran into that same situation when I moved from Ontario to Michigan. I brought a Canadian spec Chev Astro and had to get paperwork from GM that said it wasn't compliant with US regs. I was allowed to import it, but I can't sell it here. I would hope to avoid that same scenario if I move back and take the MINI with me.

 

I have been through the whole dilemma about US minis being less expensive. I finally opted to buy here in Montreal as the difference in price after all the RIDICULOUS charges by BMW Canada and Transport Canada is not that big.

• So first of you will need to get a recall clearance letter from BMW Canada (500 $) then a nonsense conformity paper inspection paper(350$)
• Then you will need to get both cluster changed (if not a nav-equiped model) ~1600$ parts and labor. (about 800$ for nav model). BMW Canada being the generous and open hearted company that they are will included the price of reprogramming your ECU for day lights in the WHOOPING 1600$ to change the clusters. All this even though all we actually need to do by law is have the Km/h somewhere on the cluster which the US ones do have.
• The next part I am not sure because I had basically given up at this point but I think you still have to get both provincial and federal inspections done at about 400$ total.
• Then you have both the federal and provincial taxes AND the marvelous 6% ''I haven't screwed you enough so give me more money'' tax

When you factor in all this you pretty much come up about even or a little more expensive on the canadian side ... but you haven't lost A LOT of time on getting all the paperwork and giving all that money for taxes. Plus if you are looking at a used car like i was you only pay one tax so you save even more. My advice to you is to wait for the right deal to come along for a Mini like I did ... Ended up costing me 20000$ CDN for a 2005 MCS Fully equiped with 1 yr of warranty left (had ~60 000km) which is not that far off US prices.

Just my humble opinion

P.S Have a look at this ... I love that BMW is finally getting called on their crap.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=132904

 

I am in the process of moving from Michigan to Canada and importing my 2005 Mini S. RIV (Register of Imported Vehicles) says that I need a recall clearance. This should be in the form of a printout from the dealers service data base showing that there are no recalls. Sounds like an easy matter and it is for everybody but MINI. I already imported a GM car and it was no problem I just went to the US dealer where I bought the car and got a printout and sent it to RIV and that was fine but not with MINI.

The US MINI dealers are not allowed to give customers a printout verifing that there are no recalls on the vehicle. The other alterntive that RIV allows is to get a letter from the manufacturer indicating that there are no recalls. When I contact MINI they say that they won't give me a letter I have to get one from a Canadian MINI dealer. When I contact the Canadian MINI dealer that say that it will cost me $500 to get a clearance letter and not only that but I have to bring the MINI into the dealer so that they can do an inspection, replace the tachomter, speedometer and re-program the lights for a total cost of $1,800. I know from importing my other vehicle that these changes are not necessary to comply with Canadian vehicle requirements. My speedometer has miles and Km and I already have running lights. The MINI dealer won't issue the letter without doing the car modifications.

As far as I can see this is an extortion game that Canadian MINI dealers have worked out with MINI but I am stuck since MINI won't verify that there are no recalls unless I pay for all of these unnecessary modifications. It is a total sham not only for charging $500 to get a printout from their service database but to force owners to make these modifications that aren't required by the government. I loved my MINI before this and the US dealer has been great but this unethical behavior on MINI and the Canadian dealers part has me fumming.

Does anyone know a way around this Kabal?

 

I am going thru this painful process right now.... Moved to Ontario 3 weeks ago, from Baltimore, taking our cars with us.
Absolutely no problems with my wifes 2003 Honda Odyssey. The US dealer gave us a printout that was accepted by RIV Canada and we were allowed to register our van.

With the MINI..... RIV Canada would not accept the letter from the US dealer. They wanted a recall clearance letter from a Canadian dealer.....the plot thickens.....

So i called the local dealership - MINI of Ottawa told me a couple hours ago that the charge to get a letter is $500; but they will only issue that after i complete about $2250 worth of modifications at their dealership!!!! Oh and the parts are on backorder from germany and it will be about 6 wks before i can bring my car in to get this "Work" done!!1 WTF???

I do not think i have a choice but to pay the dealer and get my car registered, but I am positive this violates some free trade policies...
I even asked the dealer if i could buy a Canadaian gauge cluster off ebay or similar and install myself; and they clearly said that they will only provide me the letter i need if i get the "work" done at their dealership.

I will sell my MINI as soon as it is compliant in Canada and registered. I ma disgusted and refuse to support a company that openly rapes its customers..

 

Hi,
I have had the same bad experience as you all. Moved to BC in 2006, along with my once beloved Mini. Now that we have decided to stay and establish citizenship, I was trying to do the right thing and finish importing cars, etc. Yes, they now want 2,200. apparently to do some esoteric labor on the car. It has already met inspection here and the dealer actually already did the daylight running light conversion. It is really bad business as i am now detesting the whole company and the car i used to love along with it. I can't imagine the ill will is worth their stance in the long run. Have never encountered this level of pure greed and ugliness.

 

This sounds like a nightmare. When I bought my MINI here in BC, I emailed my dealership asking if they could give me the specs based on the VIN. I got an email back saying I would need all these expensive documents and so forth, etc. He thought I was importing it from the USA because that's what he normally works with, but it still sounded shady. I guess that's just how it's done.. crazy.