[rpsharman]

Hello!

I am moving to the UK in two months, and bringing my 2011 335d is is proving more and more difficult. I can't explain how much I LOVE this car. It's the best car I have ever owed. The best car I have ever driven. I still walk out of my house every day and look at my beautiful car, and I turn my head with desire every time I see another E90 on the road.

I drove a new 2014 before buying this, and I was horribly disappointed. This 2011 is really amazing. The 335d is remarkable to drive.

I can't find the proper engine to research taxes on UK.GOV - I am finding it hard to research insurance - I have "unlocked" the rear fog lights and know how to swing the lever on the headlights to aim them the correct way for driving on the left.

What else am I missing? Any engine modifications required?

I will owe no import duty or VAT on the vehicle, as I am a returning UK citizen who has lived in the US for many years and have driven the car for more than 6 months.

I could sell the car, but I'd be taking a bit of a loss doing so, and likely couldn't afford a similar car in the UK.

Thoughts?

[murkee]

Falls under 335D, cant see that being a problem apart from LHD... Other then that, surely the transport costs will be hefty? If i was you I wouldnt bother, Id bloody stay in LA!

[dest]

How much could you sell it for over there?
It would be a lot easier to do that and buy one here.
Remember your insurance will be higher with it being LHD, plus after shipping it over, registering with DVLA, MOT, tax and any other charges will it really be cheaper than selling it and buying another one here?

[dest]

Here's some similar examples and what they would cost over here

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01403132486840
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01404043079958
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01404022993200
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01402151818643

Tax is £200 a year.
Insurance obviously is impossible to predict but would be quite high if you didn't have any no claims bonus.
You could always go on moneysupermarket website and put all your details in to get a quote.
Use an old address and one of the registrations Ive linked above and you'll have a rough idea then.

Plus, is the UK 335d about 20bhp higher than the US one?

[ndj]

Unfortunately I think this will be a false economy and work out to be more hassle than it's worth.

In addition to shipping, insurance, left hand drive, etc, etc, you may need an SVA test, parts and software could be an issue, and at the end of the day it will be a pain to sell when you're done with it.

As much as you love it, I wouldn't bother I'm afraid.

[BMWChap]

Originally Posted by ndj

Unfortunately I think this will be a false economy and work out to be more hassle than it's worth.

In addition to shipping, insurance, left hand drive, etc, etc, you may need an SVA test, parts and software could be an issue, and at the end of the day it will be a pain to sell when you're done with it.

As much as you love it, I wouldn't bother I'm afraid.

Have to agree, had a friend from the states who wanted to do the same, he said it was too much hassle. there are plenty of 335D's here albeit right hand drive

[dest]

My Dad made the same mistake when moving to Spain years ago, he thought it would be cheaper to take his own car (wasn't too bad cost wise as I drove it there) but it only took about 2 months before he realised he was better off with LHD and didn't have the headache or reregistering it

[Digitalize]

Honestly not worth the effort. Car will be awkward to get parts for as soon as it's anything LHD. You'll be forever getting annoyed with your car being LHD, for overtaking, pulling out, any ticket machine etc.

Import costs must be considerable, along with registering it in the UK, insurance consistently being higher as it's an import, difficulty to resell etc.

I can't see how it would be more to sell and buy a UK one honestly.

Also need to consider insurance, will you be able to realistically insure a 335D? UK insurers may decide you effectively have no road experience and 0 no claims discount meaning insurance could be thousands for a 335D.

[joeyt]

Why would you move here its a s**t hole. This whole country is ruined. Stay in LA mate. If not ill move into your house for you and leave this hell hole behind.

[BMWChap]

Originally Posted by joeyt

Why would you move here its a s**t hole. This whole country is ruined. Stay in LA mate. If not ill move into your house for you and leave this hell hole behind.

[Kassim786]

I'm not sure how much it would cost you but guessing it would be pretty high

Why don't you sell it there, and with that money you can get something here

It's a 50/50 situation as what you spend on transportation cost you will probably spend similar by selling it in the US

[rpsharman]

I'm just having trouble with the foolish impulse buy in the first place, and trying to minimize the impact. I should have kept driving my old car and bought something in the UK. In my prior experience, similar cars in the UK were so much more expensive. I didn't look to see that the used car market was so soft there, and a comparable car could be had for about the same money.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

I thought I was old enough to have outgrown that. I suppose I'll sell it.

[dest]

How much will it sell for over there?

[gangzoom]

Your get use to it...just about everything is more expensive here

[woggledog]

Originally Posted by joeyt

Why would you move here its a s**t hole. This whole country is ruined. Stay in LA mate. If not ill move into your house for you and leave this hell hole behind.

You've obviously never driven in LA.

[djgandy]

Cars are cheap here! Maybe not quite as cheap as the US but our second hand market is one of the cheapest.