The BaT thread for the cars we won't buy, but kinda wish we would

[nate]

What a fantastic Alpina E46

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/30B...w-alpina-b3-33

[JST]

Originally Posted by nate

What a fantastic Alpina E46

https://carsandbids.com/auctions/30B...w-alpina-b3-33

Yeah, but sitting in Canada and not legal here for another few years.

[nate]

Originally Posted by JST

Yeah, but sitting in Canada and not legal here for another few years.

It may just be a matter of getting a letter from BMW: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.go...da09122017.pdf

[JST]

Originally Posted by nate

It may just be a matter of getting a letter from BMW: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.go...da09122017.pdf

On a car that BMW didn't make? With an engine that BMW never offered?

In any event, this car doesn't qualify, because it's a Japanese market example and thus almost certainly didn't originally meet all CVMSS standards. See the note in that doc:

Note: To be imported under Box 2B a motor vehicle must be certified by its original manufacturer as complying with all applicable CMVSS. Certain vehicles that are at least 15 years old that are not so certified can be imported into Canada without restriction. Such vehicles may not be imported into the United States under Box 2B.

[nate]

Originally Posted by JST

On a car that BMW didn't make? With an engine that BMW never offered?

In any event, this car doesn't qualify, because it's a Japanese market example and thus almost certainly didn't originally meet all CVMSS standards. See the note in that doc:

The VIN decodes with NHTSA as being manufactured by BMW of North America, LLC.

But yeah, I don't know whether Japanese market 2000 model E46s comply with both Canadian and American motor vehicle safety standards. It wouldn't be shocking though given how standardized auto safety was worldwide by 2000.

Getting the emissions certification would be an issue though.

[nate]

I am also curious if that car really is a Japanese market vehicle since it's LHD. The listing only states that it was imported from Japan.

[JST]

Originally Posted by nate

I am also curious if that car really is a Japanese market vehicle since it's LHD. The listing only states that it was imported from Japan.

Fair number of LHD vehicles in Japan, though it's a fair point that I don't know what Japanese standards require.

[JST]

Originally Posted by nate

The VIN decodes with NHTSA as being manufactured by BMW of North America, LLC.

But yeah, I don't know whether Japanese market 2000 model E46s comply with both Canadian and American motor vehicle safety standards. It wouldn't be shocking though given how standardized auto safety was worldwide by 2000.

Getting the emissions certification would be an issue though.

Also the VIN doesn't decode right in any of the decoders I've tried. According to this, WAP is the WMI for Alpina, which makes sense.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicl...ication_number

[JST]

Originally Posted by JST

Also the VIN doesn't decode right in any of the decoders I've tried. According to this, WAP is the WMI for Alpina, which makes sense.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicl...ication_number

The original VIN decodes as an E46 328, which also makes sense.
https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/check...AM510XGEZ51617

This has the original 328 as being a European market car, which also makes sense.

https://bimmer.work/vin/e437de585c9e...644cdbefd9bb3/



But I think it's pretty definitely a Japanese model, at least as far as Alpina was concerned:

[nate]

Ok, as a Euro market BMW I think it would require some federalization work.

I can't believe I searched the Federal Register for this, but there is an NHTSA Notice containing the federalization work required on a 2000 BMW 3 series.

Instrument cluster is probably the only thing you'd notice and that can probably be re-swapped after the feds bless it.