Import Benz from U.S. to Canada

[DVNCTONY]

Anybody bring a CLS from the U.S. to Canada. Is it worth it? Does Mercedes Canada honour the waranty? Does anyone know of a car broker that can do all of the paperwork for me? It would be crossing the border in the Buffalo area.

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[A_B]

Hey,
I haven't done it yet but might be doing it in April or May. From the people that I know that do it regularly they say definitely get a car broker to do all the paperwork it shouldn't cost more than $500. Here is a site with some good information: http://www.riv.ca/

Best bet is call MB Canada and ask them about the warranty.

[KLR CLS]

I just brought my CLS55 in from Chicago in January. I've imported several cars from the US( CTS V, Audi S6, now CLS55). You do not need to pay a broker. It's a waste of money to fill out 1 form. Couple of points to note for Mercedes Cars:

1. To import a Mercedes to Canada you need the admissability letter and recall clearance see:-> http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cf...nguage=English

2. Warranty will only apply once the compliance inpection is completed, which means you have to pay 1500 + for a swap of the speedometer and $500 for the MB Canada Rep to certify it as compliant. Basically this is a 2K cash grab from MB.

3. If you do not want the warranty ( or the car is out of warranty) you only need to have the DRL's turned on by STAR coding. Dealer or indy shop should be able to do this for you. You do not need the compliance letter if you don't want/have warranty.

4. Follow the RIV process for importing
Coles notes version
-> Buy car( only after getting the admissability letter in step one)
-> Fax copy of title and lien release to US port of export 72 hours in advance of crossing
->Pickup car/get it to border
->Export on US side( basically a stamp- 10 mins and done)
->Import at Canadian side Where you fill out Form 1, and pay Duty(6.1%) and GST(5.0% on both duty and Red Book value)
-> Pay RIV fee and submit Recall Clearance and Admissability letters to RIV to get Form 2( Inspection Form)
->Take car to Canadian tire for federal inspection( after DRL's have been coded). They Stamp form 2 as clear
-> Register your car in your provicial MTO( where you need Safety, Emissions, and pay provincial taxes)

5. Enjoy your new Mercedes having saved $10 000+, or spend that on your stage 5 mods....

Pete

[nickia]

Originally Posted by KLR CLS

I just brought my CLS55 in from Chicago in January. I've imported several cars from the US( CTS V, Audi S6, now CLS55). You do not need to pay a broker. It's a waste of money to fill out 1 form. Couple of points to note for Mercedes Cars:

1. To import a Mercedes to Canada you need the admissability letter and recall clearance see:-> http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cf...nguage=English

2. Warranty will only apply once the compliance inpection is completed, which means you have to pay 1500 + for a swap of the speedometer and $500 for the MB Canada Rep to certify it as compliant. Basically this is a 2K cash grab from MB.

3. If you do not want the warranty ( or the car is out of warranty) you only need to have the DRL's turned on by STAR coding. Dealer or indy shop should be able to do this for you. You do not need the compliance letter if you don't want/have warranty.

4. Follow the RIV process for importing
Coles notes version
-> Buy car( only after getting the admissability letter in step one)
-> Fax copy of title and lien release to US port of export 72 hours in advance of crossing
->Pickup car/get it to border
->Export on US side( basically a stamp- 10 mins and done)
->Import at Canadian side Where you fill out Form 1, and pay Duty(6.1%) and GST(5.0% on both duty and Red Book value)
-> Pay RIV fee and submit Recall Clearance and Admissability letters to RIV to get Form 2( Inspection Form)
->Take car to Canadian tire for federal inspection( after DRL's have been coded). They Stamp form 2 as clear
-> Register your car in your provicial MTO( where you need Safety, Emissions, and pay provincial taxes)

5. Enjoy your new Mercedes having saved $10 000+, or spend that on your stage 5 mods....

Pete

Is the CPO warranty valid in Canada? I'm looking for a CLS55 or CLS63 pre-owned but MB's warranty policy is scaring me off

[KLR CLS]

No it's not. Only original factory warranty.

[nickia]

Originally Posted by KLR CLS

No it's not. Only original factory warranty.

Thanks! Is the CLS55 reliable enough without the CPO warranty?

[KLR CLS]

55K platform is pretty stout. As long as all the recalls and services have been performed you should be good. I am a fairly advanced wrench turner, and mod the hell out of my cars, so warranty is never really a deciding factor for me. There are always indy shops if you look around who charge a lot less then dealers if you can't do much yourself.

[NL007]

Can you tell me about luxury tax, gas guzzler tax....are those payable again to Cdn govt when bringing it across?

Originally Posted by KLR CLS

I just brought my CLS55 in from Chicago in January. I've imported several cars from the US( CTS V, Audi S6, now CLS55). You do not need to pay a broker. It's a waste of money to fill out 1 form. Couple of points to note for Mercedes Cars:

1. To import a Mercedes to Canada you need the admissability letter and recall clearance see:-> http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cf...nguage=English

2. Warranty will only apply once the compliance inpection is completed, which means you have to pay 1500 + for a swap of the speedometer and $500 for the MB Canada Rep to certify it as compliant. Basically this is a 2K cash grab from MB.

3. If you do not want the warranty ( or the car is out of warranty) you only need to have the DRL's turned on by STAR coding. Dealer or indy shop should be able to do this for you. You do not need the compliance letter if you don't want/have warranty.

4. Follow the RIV process for importing
Coles notes version
-> Buy car( only after getting the admissability letter in step one)
-> Fax copy of title and lien release to US port of export 72 hours in advance of crossing
->Pickup car/get it to border
->Export on US side( basically a stamp- 10 mins and done)
->Import at Canadian side Where you fill out Form 1, and pay Duty(6.1%) and GST(5.0% on both duty and Red Book value)
-> Pay RIV fee and submit Recall Clearance and Admissability letters to RIV to get Form 2( Inspection Form)
->Take car to Canadian tire for federal inspection( after DRL's have been coded). They Stamp form 2 as clear
-> Register your car in your provicial MTO( where you need Safety, Emissions, and pay provincial taxes)

5. Enjoy your new Mercedes having saved $10 000+, or spend that on your stage 5 mods....

Pete

[KLR CLS]

Originally Posted by NL007

Can you tell me about luxury tax, gas guzzler tax....are those payable again to Cdn govt when bringing it across?

no,only AC tax- $100

[gogu]

Originally Posted by KLR CLS

I just brought my CLS55 in from Chicago in January. I've imported several cars from the US( CTS V, Audi S6, now CLS55). You do not need to pay a broker. It's a waste of money to fill out 1 form. Couple of points to note for Mercedes Cars:

1. To import a Mercedes to Canada you need the admissability letter and recall clearance see:-> http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cf...nguage=English

2. Warranty will only apply once the compliance inpection is completed, which means you have to pay 1500 + for a swap of the speedometer and $500 for the MB Canada Rep to certify it as compliant. Basically this is a 2K cash grab from MB.

3. If you do not want the warranty ( or the car is out of warranty) you only need to have the DRL's turned on by STAR coding. Dealer or indy shop should be able to do this for you. You do not need the compliance letter if you don't want/have warranty.

4. Follow the RIV process for importing
Coles notes version
-> Buy car( only after getting the admissability letter in step one)
-> Fax copy of title and lien release to US port of export 72 hours in advance of crossing
->Pickup car/get it to border
->Export on US side( basically a stamp- 10 mins and done)
->Import at Canadian side Where you fill out Form 1, and pay Duty(6.1%) and GST(5.0% on both duty and Red Book value)
-> Pay RIV fee and submit Recall Clearance and Admissability letters to RIV to get Form 2( Inspection Form)
->Take car to Canadian tire for federal inspection( after DRL's have been coded). They Stamp form 2 as clear
-> Register your car in your provicial MTO( where you need Safety, Emissions, and pay provincial taxes)

5. Enjoy your new Mercedes having saved $10 000+, or spend that on your stage 5 mods....

Pete

I am also trying to import a CLS55 from Arizona into Ontario, and I have two questions:
1. Are you sure that if the car has no warranty left it does not need the compliance letter and I'll be 2K richer? I requested the admissibility letter for my 2006 CLS55 and they said they need to inspect it, etc for a minimum of $500.

2. You say "pay GST(5.0% on both duty and Red Book value)" - does it mean that if you bought it for $40,000 and the redbook value is $50,000 you pay GST on 50,000?

Thanks

[KLR CLS]

Originally Posted by gogu

I am also trying to import a CLS55 from Arizona into Ontario, and I have two questions:
1. Are you sure that if the car has no warranty left it does not need the compliance letter and I'll be 2K richer? I requested the admissibility letter for my 2006 CLS55 and they said they need to inspect it, etc for a minimum of $500.

2. You say "pay GST(5.0% on both duty and Red Book value)" - does it mean that if you bought it for $40,000 and the redbook value is $50,000 you pay GST on 50,000?

Thanks

1.100% sure as I just went through this in January. Despite what the admissibility letter says you do not need the compliance letter. The compliance letter is not needed for the RIV process, only for the MB warranty transfer. The inspection that CanadianTire does only really cares about DRL's and child seat anchors. All you need to do is get an MB dealer to code the DRL's to come on via the STAR, then take it to CT for the inspection. That's it.

2.Customs will look up red book value, then calculate 6.1% duty on. Then add Redbook Value+ Duty paid x %5.0 GST. I think my value for duty was $45000 or so.