03 BMW UK Import - Is it worth it?

GB15

I’m looking at import prices for a BMW 320d around the 02/04 year. However there doesn’t seem to be obvious savings which I thought would be the case for this car and age. For example

02 320d £10,000 ( = €14,844 + VRT = €11085)
total = €26k roughly excluding travel, mechanics etc
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/detail.asp?Id=314793

Roughly the same car on carzone costs €27k
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=491497

Another example
2004 320D £12,499 ( = €18,553 + VRT = €14297)
total = €33k roughly excluding travel, mechanics etc
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/detail.asp?Id=316118

Simlar car on carzone costs €32k – 35k
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=543052
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=551137

When VRT, mechanics, travel, HPI checks are all taken into account it would cost more to import. I was under the impression that the very worst case scenario would be to break even. These are just 2 examples but I looked at a few more and it turned out the same. Am I missing something?

Lex Luthor

not really....I'm looking for a Mazda 6 estate and it looks like I'll pay the same for similar car here but just with a grand of extras on the UK one that doesn't come on the Irish model.
Not sure if its worth the hassle

kdevitt

Its usually worth it imo! You're unlikely to get the same options on an Irish car as you would on a UK one. The first Irish one you listed is poverty spec - standard aircon, cloth seats, hubcaps... with regards to the other two listed on Carzone - one is definitely a UK car, and I'd reckon the Estoril Blue one came in from the UK too given the spec.

rebel.ranter

It's certainly worth it for the spec of the UK cars versus the Irish VRT battered versions. Plus the roads ver there are not as blessed with as many potholes as ours so the car is less likely to be rattly, suspension problems & buckled alloys. Having said that they love salt on roads.

How were you planning to get HPI check & inspection done? A lot of garages offer RAC checks as part of the deal, i.e. they are checked before being put up for sale. RAC stand over them.

http://www.hpicheck.com

Moanin

Defo better car from UK even if you don't save you get a better minded car.The dealer I bought my car from did a HPI check which was included in the sale price.It was a main dealer (Audi).I bought my car last year and saved about €3k versus prices here.It might be worth holding off until the plate changes in the UK in March / April

PauloMN

GB15 wrote:

I’m looking at import prices for a BMW 320d around the 02/04 year. However there doesn’t seem to be obvious savings which I thought would be the case for this car and age. For example

02 320d £10,000 ( = €14,844 + VRT = €11085)
total = €26k roughly excluding travel, mechanics etc
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/detail.asp?Id=314793

Roughly the same car on carzone costs €27k
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=491497

Another example
2004 320D £12,499 ( = €18,553 + VRT = €14297)
total = €33k roughly excluding travel, mechanics etc
http://www.cargiant.co.uk/cars/detail.asp?Id=316118

Simlar car on carzone costs €32k – 35k
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=543052
http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=551137

When VRT, mechanics, travel, HPI checks are all taken into account it would cost more to import. I was under the impression that the very worst case scenario would be to break even. These are just 2 examples but I looked at a few more and it turned out the same. Am I missing something?

Where are you getting your VRT calculations from? They appear to be way off to me. The VRT on an '02 BMW 320D should be around €5000 (I've been checking regularly myself as I'm looking to bring in something similar).

Note that the VRT rate jumps from 25% to 30% when you go over 1900cc so that's something else to take into account.

Finally don't forget Northern Ireland when looking for a UK car - similar prices and you can easily visit to check a car before you buy - no planes or ferries to worry about.

rebel.ranter

Just a point to note the Revenue apparently monitor the hit rates on the VRO site to see which cars are being checked the most. Not sure whether it's true or what they do with the information. A friend of mine had been checking Merc AMG C36 for a few months, believe it or not the amount actually went up!!! So don't do too many checks!!!
He still hasn't cleared it, stopped checking it for a few months to see if it goes back down. Car tucked away in a garage until then.

galwaytt

rebel.ranter wrote:

Just a point to note the Revenue apparently monitor the hit rates on the VRO site to see which cars are being checked the most. Not sure whether it's true or what they do with the information. A friend of mine had been checking Merc AMG C36 for a few months, believe it or not the amount actually went up!!! So don't do too many checks!!!
He still hasn't cleared it, stopped checking it for a few months to see if it goes back down. Car tucked away in a garage until then.

.....and hoping that Revenue don't read the internet too, no doubt....:rolleyes:

as for the OP question, it's worth it for the extra's, but I'd be shocked if you didn't save at least 3k by bringing in your own........Case in point my friend has an Irish 01 320D, manual w/cloth seats.....and cassette player !. I wouldn't take it at any price.........

bf

The VRT on a 2003 320D SE is €6052 according to the revenue website so your total costs would be €21k - that should get you your €3k saving at least on an Irish car.

Cargiant prices are fixed but you should be able to pick up a well specced 2003 320 diesel with under 60k on the clock from any decent UK dealer for £9k to £9.5k haggling.

Good luck with buying!