[michal12]

I am based in continental Europe and would be interested in getting a UK spec car but with left hand drive in order to have it registered outside UK. (exchange rate is favorable right now)
Would it be possible to order a LHD car from UK price via a UK dealer?

[michal12]

Anyone, please?
I believe it is possible since one does get to see UK registered cars with LHD around cental London for example but the question is whether they have been supplied by a UK dealer.

Originally Posted by michal12

I am based in continental Europe and would be interested in getting a UK spec car but with left hand drive in order to have it registered outside UK. (exchange rate is favorable right now)
Would it be possible to order a LHD car from UK price via a UK dealer?

[trixman]

I tried myself but couldn't find anyone reputable, places like lhdcarcompany are rip-off merchants as covered throughout numerous forums.

I ended up buying a right hand drive and bugger the consequences, bit weird driving on the right hand side of the car but Im getting used to it. No real problems driving it on the right though, easier than i expected.

[Dave_3]

You may get VAT (17.5%) back by buying in the UK, but you will need to add back on any Local CZ sales tax and/or import tax when taking it back to CZ. It will also exclude any warranty/servicing deals. And you may need to go through a pointless expensive homologation check imposed by your Driving & Licensing Authorities.

It may be possible, I did the same thing once buying a RHD Jag in CH, but had to sign a paper saying it was for personal use. Diplomats and Embassies do this. Importing a RHD car from the UK into CH I had to jump through silly hoops imposed purely by the big car maker lobbies to prevent cheap imports.

Why not just pick up the phone and ask a BMW Dealership in the UK directly ? Best time to ask them, as they will be selling a lot less now with the credit crunch ... and may be more wiling to look into it for you. Or phone BMW in your country and ask about a personal import (was there not an option to do this before ?).

D.

[Cafe.Racer]

Oh, how times have changed...

[robbie99]

Originally Posted by michal12

I am based in continental Europe and would be interested in getting a UK spec car but with left hand drive in order to have it registered outside UK. (exchange rate is favorable right now)
Would it be possible to order a LHD car from UK price via a UK dealer?

I guess the guys to talk to are BMW Park Lane. It seems that they can export the cars in whatever spec you want but you need to be living or working in the UK for 3 months, but I'm sure they'll overlook this for a sale. As for whether they'll use UK or Czech prices I've no idea. Let us know how you get on.

http://www.bmwtaxfree.co.uk/6000-export/index.html

[robbie99]

Oh, and if you can find a regular UK dealer that can provide the car in LHD then you won't have to pay the UK VAT if you fill in form VAT 411. Unlike BMW Park Lane, the regular dealer may still have to register the car as a UK car in order to meet BMW UK sale targets but you could easily negotiate a discount on UK prices with the regular dealer.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/consumers-vehicle.htm

[michal12]

Yes I know I will get the VAT back as I will pay the Czech VAT. No problems here.
Warranty should remain, though. It is still an EU spec car staying within EU.
No sure about free servicing deals.

Originally Posted by Dave_3

You may get VAT (17.5%) back by buying in the UK, but you will need to add back on any Local CZ sales tax and/or import tax when taking it back to CZ. It will also exclude any warranty/servicing deals. And you may need to go through a pointless expensive homologation check imposed by your Driving & Licensing Authorities.

It may be possible, I did the same thing once buying a RHD Jag in CH, but had to sign a paper saying it was for personal use. Diplomats and Embassies do this. Importing a RHD car from the UK into CH I had to jump through silly hoops imposed purely by the big car maker lobbies to prevent cheap imports.

Why not just pick up the phone and ask a BMW Dealership in the UK directly ? Best time to ask them, as they will be selling a lot less now with the credit crunch ... and may be more wiling to look into it for you. Or phone BMW in your country and ask about a personal import (was there not an option to do this before ?).

D.

[michal12]

Interesting. Obviously if they would charge me Czech prices it wouldnt make sence. My idea was pure price arbitrage.

Originally Posted by robbie99

I guess the guys to talk to are BMW Park Lane. It seems that they can export the cars in whatever spec you want but you need to be living or working in the UK for 3 months, but I'm sure they'll overlook this for a sale. As for whether they'll use UK or Czech prices I've no idea. Let us know how you get on.

http://www.bmwtaxfree.co.uk/6000-export/index.html

[booforty]

Speak to BMW UK - 0800 325 600

[michal12]

You mean the £? Or the Eastern Europeans buying cheaper cars in the UK?

PS No offence!

Originally Posted by Cafe.Racer

Oh, how times have changed...

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by michal12

Yes I know I will get the VAT back as I will pay the Czech VAT. No problems here.
Warranty should remain, though. It is still an EU spec car staying within EU.
No sure about free servicing deals.

Check the small print - some countries offer less cover than the UK. I had a colleague import a Mini into CH, you used to get 3 years cover with the possibilty to extend to 5 years (TLC) in the UK - not in CH, just 1 year warranty.

I know CH is not technically in the EU, but worth checking if the warranty they offer in CZ is the same as the UK. For my E92 in CH, I have 3 years parts/labour cover, then further 7 (10 total) years free labour.

I had no problems with some Fords that I imported to CH, Ford CH were happy to offer warranty even running on a UK Plate.

You could always run the BMW on British Plates for a little while (I even got 1 years insurance cover from a UK broker) ? In CH I had a year to import. There are enough Polish/Czech drivers doing that in the UK

D.