Has anyone imported a brand new car from the UK?

[cheddar]

Morning chaps, a friend wants a new X5, it'll cost him nearly $140k if he buys it locally or around $90k if he imports from the UK, a $50k saving isn't to sniffed at but he's nervous about the process, possible hassles and whether BMW will honour the new car warranty.

Any advice appreciated.

[colin79666]

Looks like the first two years are covered warranty wise but they might try and wriggle out of it: http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ownership/servic...

Keep in mind that it might be cheaper new but it will put some buyers off when it comes time to sell. The speedo and odometer will be in miles but should have KM as well, not sure how that sits with NZ regulations - might need to be changed. Might cost more to insure too.

[dtmpower]

Why order it from the UK ? Surely best bet would be to buy it direct / in Germany to your preferred local specification ?

[cheddar]

dtmpower said:

Why order it from the UK ? Surely best bet would be to buy it direct / in Germany to your preferred local specification ?

GBP is weak, the cars are right hand drive me and I don't think BMW Germany would be very helpful.
Aren't these made in the U.S. nowadays?

Some good points raised above, thankyou.

[Caterhamfan]

cheddar said:

Morning chaps, a friend wants a new X5, it'll cost him nearly $140k if he buys it locally or around $90k if he imports from the UK, a $50k saving isn't to sniffed at but he's nervous about the process, possible hassles and whether BMW will honour the new car warranty.

Any advice appreciated.

You don't say which model X5 but $140K NZD is about mid-range here as far as I can see and at current exchange rates $90K NZD is the equivalent of £46,750 GBP which looks like bottom of the range over there?

Don't forget that there will be 15% Goods and Services Tax (GST) to pay. This is on the cost of the car and may be charged on the shipping costs as well. Then there is Customs duty on top of that. There are also costs associated with Customs clearance and getting the car on the road over here.

The New Zealand Treansport Agency website is probably a good place to start:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/importing-a-vehi...

and this fact sheet
https://tauruslogistics.co.nz/images/downloads/adv...

and NZ Customs
http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/feetyp...

[cheddar]

Thanks for that, I'd factored in a VAT free export car with gst to be added plus shipping, compliance etc etc, but......

He got scared and bought a new Jeep Grand Cherokee instead, cost $100k

[Rostfritt]

colin79666 said:

Looks like the first two years are covered warranty wise but they might try and wriggle out of it: http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/ownership/servic...

Keep in mind that it might be cheaper new but it will put some buyers off when it comes time to sell. The speedo and odometer will be in miles but should have KM as well, not sure how that sits with NZ regulations - might need to be changed. Might cost more to insure too.

Speccing the car for NZ would not be that difficult. BMW would be able to get anything made to order to a dealer with whatever spec you want.

Chatting to someone recently they were saying about how things used to work before the 90s, when the rules changed and 2nd hand JDM cars flooded the market. Back then, a common thing to do would be to travel to the UK, buy a brand new car on arrival, spend a month or two driving around the UK/Europe then sticking it in a container and sending it back to NZ. As long as you didn't sell it in two years there were no import taxes to pay. Apparently Ford would meet you off the boat and hand you the keys to your new car, so the manufacturers were geared up for this market too.

Obviously this is now moot but I thought this would be useful to know. Also I did spot a UK plated BMW driving round Wellington several months ago.