Ya I don't know why you are having problems with the pictures? I didn't block them.

 

I have no problem with the pictures

clear your cache and reset your router . . .

 

Now they populate. Yep that's the one they had on the trailer all the way. They could not let me drive it due to it being a euro car and not approved for the states. Had a MINI Camden interior with a custom boot. Like a large cooler. It was funny to see it with the divider gate behind the seats.

Great MTTS event on the speedway then up to the dragon.

 

We imported a 2002 Swedish-spec MINI at the end of 2001 under what's know as Temporary Import Under Bond, meaning that we had to lay a bond with the proviso that we re-export it once we are done with it. It required several permissions, including ones from U.S. Customs and NHTSA. We were technically not allowed to drive it on U.S. highways (the speedo was in KPH, among other non-USA features), so I absolutely, positively, without a doubt, unequivocally never drove it on US highways. BTW, we re-exported it to Sweden several years later and it's now my cousin's daily driver in Stockholm.

Here it is on the track at Pocono.

 

Eric, this opens up a new option for me!! Thanks for the tip.
Would you have been allowed to drive it on US highways, if you had changed it to US specs?(*) How high was the bond in relation to the car?

(*) And yes, I understand that the specs would need to be changed back to EU when re-exporting it again.

 

I don't think you could register the car in the US with a Euro VIN, regardless of the modifications you did. NHTSA has all sorts of requirements for crash safety that a Euro car would technically not meet, even though it's basically the same car from a safety standpoint. If you're serious about making a diesel MINI, you'd be better off buying a motor, trans and DME from a euro wreck and installing it into a US MINI Cooper.

 

That is pretty difficult because you will also have to re-line it with all the new diesel fuel lines. OP could just buy one sneak it into the US and revin with another of the same car. Get caught and car goes to the crusher but, that is another way.

 

I'd never have the ***** to do something like this.

 

You also go to the Federal pen. And if you've ever worked in the automotive industry, all of your former employers (and possibly some of your coworkers) will have to answer a bunch of questions posed by men with ZERO sense of humor.

A buddy of mine owned a shop. A guy who had worked for him five years prior got caught with a VIN-swapped car. The Feds interrogated my friend and inspected his shop to see if he had anything to do with it.

Not worth it in any way, shape, or form.


Go buy a Golf TDI if you want the diesel so bad. I bet you can get them dirt-cheap now...

 

I would stay away from Vdub for a little bit. Let the dust settle on their punishment and what the fix is going to be. It sounds like they are just going to have to retune all the cars with will make them less fuel efficient.

 

I am patiently waiting until the day when I can import the 2001 MINI One D of my dreams. 2026, correct? Hopefully there will still be one in the EU still worth importing at that point.

The sweet clatter of a diesel and no A/C to slow you down. Seems like a perfect car for up here in Seattle.

Val

 

Put me on the list for the Diesel Gen 1.

 

Did anyone tried to complete this task?

I want take my Italian 2013 Paceman over to Florida.

i checked and i can swap electronically Km/h to Mph.

Paceman has been sold in USA since 2014 what differences in specs they have aside EPA emission?

 

It's about 4k to ship form Italy to NY, included fee's. FL probably higher.
I posted some info on the Classic Mini page as I was looking to import an 86.

See videos below regarding car needing to be 25 years old (EPA). I asked other sources, and they confirmed anything newer can cost 10's of thousands to convert to US spec's.