UK Imports

TheBazman

Does anyone know of any company/dealership that specialise in importing cars from the UK - I know with VRT etc it wouldnt be any cheaper but the choice/spec in the UK is so much more

PauloMN

Do it yourself rather than pay someone else thousands for the service.

Eoin

Any make in particular? A place near me specialises in BMWs, but their prices seem quite high (21K for a '00 316).

kluivert

Dont be lazy and do it yourself.

If you want Ill do it for you.

PM me details of the car you are looking for ok. Ill source the car for you.

TheBazman

Only sussing it out at the moment - I have to try and sell my own first. Ideally I would be looking for a one year old BMW 525d or 530d. As you say it is cheaper to do it yourself - I have a few friends over in the UK who could keep an eye out

Eoin

TheBazman wrote:

Only sussing it out at the moment - I have to try and sell my own first. Ideally I would be looking for a one year old BMW 525d or 530d. As you say it is cheaper to do it yourself - I have a few friends over in the UK who could keep an eye out

Well, this is the link to the crowd near me for what it's worth:
http://www.blacklionmotor.ie

Eoin

MrPudding

Someone said that Irish and UK spec on BMWs was the same. Given that, is there much money to be saved importing one?

kluivert

And you should be able to pick one up no bother as there are very very popular as a company car over there.

Good luck and happy motoring.

Yakuza

MrPudding wrote:

Someone said that Irish and UK spec on BMWs was the same. Given that, is there much money to be saved importing one?

That's a bit of a sweeping statement, and in my experience, UK spec cars *do* have a higher spec. Things like all-electric windows, aluminium trim around the windows, a trip computer / multi function steering wheel, cruise control were present on all imported BMWs I looked at. Stuff like that was notably missing from the cars I saw from the Approved Used BMW dealers. Either they were missing, or at a premium from equivalently aged cars.

Anan1

MrPudding wrote:

Someone said that Irish and UK spec on BMWs was the same. Given that, is there much money to be saved importing one?

The spec on any BMW either here or in the UK was chosen by the person who originally ordered the car. Very few completely standard cars were sold in either country.

TheBazman

Yeah I suppose the difference is the choice - if you look up carzone for 2005 530d's you might have 3 or 4 to choose from, whereas in the UK the market is so much bigger

bazz26

MrPudding wrote:

Someone said that Irish and UK spec on BMWs was the same. Given that, is there much money to be saved importing one?

Since about 2003 I think BMW have the same importer both in Ireland and the UK which means we were both getting the same basic spec cars. That is how you can order the SE or Sport models. Before 2003 the cars were very basic here and most things were on the options list.

Ba$tard

2 things (IMHO)...

1) Most car manufacturers slim down the offerings and possible car extras variations to Ireland due to a smaller market and keeping the initial cost down due to the extra sale cost due to VRT

2) Every time an extra is added, that extra is also subject to VRT if put on to the vehicle before it comes into the country, so extras are more naturally expensive and so people dont buy them.

Cars in the UK can come in extras "packs" not in Ireland, like the Audi range, Sport, SE, Sline (the true sline pack in ireland is not the same as UK), so people opt for a pack and get a deal throw in to go with that. Also UK car co's offer monthly special offers on such packs or sub-packs (like suspension & bigger wheels).. you think we'd here be offered same? not a chance.

I am off to the UK in 2 weeks to pick up an A6 Avant Sport with 27k on the clock and it will cost me on the driveway 26k euro. Same car here is not available, as the sport pack wasnt offered and the nearest I could find was a bog std a6 avant with 38k for 38k euro.......it all makes sense to go to the UK..

Use the AA Car data check in conjunction with Dekra 150point inspection......its great ...all for £200.
HTH

Rudolph Claus

2) Every time an extra is added, that extra is also subject to VRT if put on to the vehicle before it comes into the country, so extras are more naturally expensive and so people dont buy them.

Is that correct though. Because the Vrt calculator website yoke doesnt charge for extras. Its based on year/mileage/and open book selling price only.
Would new cars not be treated similarly?