Saw a very weird E60 this weekend

JST · 01-24-2006, 09:28 AM

At the Best Buy in Bailey's Crossroads (VA). It was a right hand drive 525d, with manual transmission and cloth seats, with what looked like European tourist delivery plates on it--but the weird thing was, it ALSO had Virginia license plates. Not sure how one registers a RHD 525d in VA; I thought that cars brought over by tourists/students/etc. retained their home-country tags.

FC · 01-24-2006, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

At the Best Buy in Bailey's Crossroads (VA). It was a right hand drive 525d, with manual transmission and cloth seats, with what looked like European tourist delivery plates on it--but the weird thing was, it ALSO had Virginia license plates. Not sure how one registers a RHD 525d in VA; I thought that cars brought over by tourists/students/etc. retained their home-country tags.

That is pretty weird.

lip277 · 01-24-2006, 09:42 AM

blee · 01-24-2006, 09:45 AM

Interesting. As you know, there's a pretty healthy contingent of foreign workers around D.C., but the most exotic thing I've spotted was an A3 well before it was available stateside. I've seen a handful of Opels, too, but nothing RHD. A couple of them have had the VA tag on top of the European plate.

bren · 01-24-2006, 10:31 AM

I saw a brand new RHD X5 on a dealer's back lot once....I assumed it was some sort of mistake, or a very wealthy mail man.

BahnBaum · 01-24-2006, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

I saw a brand new RHD X5 on a dealer's back lot once....I assumed it was some sort of mistake, or a very wealthy mail man.

Alex

wdc330i · 01-24-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

At the Best Buy in Bailey's Crossroads (VA). It was a right hand drive 525d, with manual transmission and cloth seats, with what looked like European tourist delivery plates on it--but the weird thing was, it ALSO had Virginia license plates. Not sure how one registers a RHD 525d in VA; I thought that cars brought over by tourists/students/etc. retained their home-country tags.

Diplomat? World Bank? IMF?

JST · 01-24-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Diplomat? World Bank? IMF?

Something like that--I think it actually had a DoD sticker on it, so maybe it was someone posted here temporarily from a long-term post overseas (NATO?).

But according to the VA Code, in order to register a foreign-market vehicle, you have to show that it meets safety and emissions rules, which can't be easy for a RHD diesel BMW.

01-24-2006, 09:28 AM	#1
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,607	Saw a very weird E60 this weekend At the Best Buy in Bailey's Crossroads (VA). It was a right hand drive 525d, with manual transmission and cloth seats, with what looked like European tourist delivery plates on it--but the weird thing was, it ALSO had Virginia license plates. Not sure how one registers a RHD 525d in VA; I thought that cars brought over by tourists/students/etc. retained their home-country tags.

01-24-2006, 09:42 AM	#3
lip277 The old cranky SOB.... Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: several cars... way too many.... Location: Near Seattle Posts: 4,798	__________________ *Kevin* 1970 2800CS - - 2001 740iL - - 2006 997.1 - - 2012 Escalade 1968 Mustang GT Convertible - - 2003 Ford F250 PSD - - 1985 728i

01-24-2006, 09:45 AM	#4
blee Doctor Mudgeon Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 6,433	Interesting. As you know, there's a pretty healthy contingent of foreign workers around D.C., but the most exotic thing I've spotted was an A3 well before it was available stateside. I've seen a handful of Opels, too, but nothing RHD. A couple of them have had the VA tag on top of the European plate.

01-24-2006, 10:31 AM	#5
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	I saw a brand new RHD X5 on a dealer's back lot once....I assumed it was some sort of mistake, or a very wealthy mail man.