Used import of BMW 3 series? -A calculation example

How will the tax change and the currency situation affect import prices in 2016?

 

BMW's 3 Series has long been a favorite import object. Used imported cars have tax-friendly engines, M-sport styling, leather seats and other tax-friendly equipment. What we really want is a powerful engine - a proper BMW engine. It looks promising. This year, the tax system has been changed so that motor power will no longer be taxed to the same extent as before.

Will we get more horsepower in newly imported 3 Series models?

The 3-series is a good candidate for second-hand imports, - not only with the basic engines that BMW developed in collaboration with the PSA group, but also the engines that the Germans themselves have pressed to their chests. How much is a well-engined 3-year-old 3-series used import from Germany? I want to find it general the price level, rather than the good individual offers. That shouldn't be a problem, as the 3 Series was Germany's third best-selling new car in 2013.
 
Let me clarify again that this is only about a calculation example. No one in the editorial office intends to buy any 3 Series right now.

The 3 series of our dreams?

I have decided to search for a 3 series Touring, type F31, with petrol or diesel, automatic and sports seats. Either 320i with 184 HP or 320d with 163 HP or 184 HP, preferably with xDrive. Possibly a 328i or 325d. I use mobile.de to search for cars in Germany. I set mandatory requirements such as "sports seats", "seat heating" and "mwst. Ausweisbar" (VAT refund). These choices narrow down the selection very much. "Automatic" and "Sports seats" show me cars with good equipment packages, "seat heating" gives me pictures of cars in snowy surroundings. Actually, cars imported to Norway should have the equipment package 842 "Kaltlandsausführung". It is standard on all cars sold in the Nordics and consists, among other things, of a more powerful starter battery, oils and antifreeze that can withstand the cold, heated washer nozzles as well as extra insulation of the crankcase ventilation - probably a need that has been pushed forward based on feedback from Nordic workshops. Anyway, I can't find any German vehicles listed with this package. I naively think that if you choose well-equipped cars that have been used in snowy German environments, they will surely work in Norway as well.
 
Insulated crankcase ventilation? - Which engines is it relevant for? Can it be retrofitted?

BMW's bestseller has 184 horsepower and runs on diesel.

Almost all F31s for sale in Germany are 320d with 184 horsepower. In Norway, the down-chipped 320d variant with 163 HP is more widespread due to lower taxes. In Germany, there is no large market for this variant. But the economical model "Efficient Dynamics" - 163 HP diesel with reduced CO2 and clear environmental appeal - has found its way to some German owners. If you import a 3-year-old car, there is a price difference of just NOK 4. Everything speaks in favor of the 000 horses.

Pitfalls

It has been written page up and page down about the pitfalls of second-hand imports. When you search for cars with a VAT refund, you will mainly get leasing cars that are traded in the dealer network. It is not is you make the biggest bargains, but in return you can count on meeting someone who speaks English, uses e-mail, and can handle the forms you need. In addition, it will be safer when you have to follow up the car at home.
 
Please note that all BMWs sold new in Norway have standard equipment which is not necessarily standard equipment in Germany. This applies to light alloy wheels, xenon lights, automatic climate control and the armrests, to name a few. Make sure you are looking at the correct model. The F31 came in the spring of 2012 in Germany and replaced its predecessor, the E91, which is also a good car, but at a much lower price than its successor. Some retailers use creative camera angles and image sections to make outgoing models look newer.

Correct data

You need reliable figures for the vehicle's kerb weight, CO2 and NOx. When I search online for correct CO2 and NOx values, I find many different figures. Which ones can be trusted? I found my figures in a price brochure from 2014 and assume that the figures are the same for the 2013 models. Correct figures are needed to calculate the taxes.

As of this year, it is the Swedish Tax Agency that collects car taxes. They have their own import calculator online. Use it! In order to calculate as low a fee as possible, I concentrate on cars registered more than 3 years ago. For example, if you are going to collect the car on 25.01.2016/XNUMX/XNUMX, the car must be registered for the first time before 25.01.2013/XNUMX/XNUMX. If you miss the date by just one day, it could cost you several thousand Swedish kroner.
 
In addition to the general template calculation based on weight, age and environment, there is an alternative calculation method that allows for additional deductions based on age, condition and use. There are probably some good industry tricks here that professional car importers know, but which do not give as reliable figures as the template calculations.
 
Surprises when the car is to be registered in Norway are something we do not wish us.

Research

I have searched for German cars for sale on mobile.de and Norwegian cars on finn.no. The purpose is to compare the prices of cars we can import ourselves from Germany, and cars that are currently for sale in this country - probably used imports, too. Several cars have recently appeared for sale that have just turned 3 years old. The years in the form are the year the car was first registered - not the car's model year. Norwegian cars are inclusive of the re-registration fee. All cars are exclusive of annual tax. I have chosen to calculate all German cars first registered in 2013 with a registration date of 24.01.2013. The one-off fees are then calculated as if the cars were brought into Norway exactly on the 3rd anniversary of their respective first-time registration dates - be it in January or later throughout the year.

Model (F31)	NOx	CO2	Own weight	HK	2012 (DE) Number	2012 (NO) Quantity	2013 (DE) Number	2013 (NO) Quantity	2012 (DE) Price 1000	2012 (NO) Price 1000	2013 (DE) Price 1000	2013 (NO) Price 1000
316	25	138	1470	136	0	0	1	0			330
320	28	143	1495	184	26	1	1	0	352	459	372
320xi	28	152	1575	184	0	0	0	4				447
328	32	152	1540	245	11	1	4	0	415	509	453
328xi	32	162	1610	245	0	0	0	0
320d	171	123	1510	163	0	16	2	3		389	334	375
320d Eff. cushion.	171	112	1510	163	0	0	4	0			328
320xd	171	129	1585	163	0	1	0	0		459
320d	171	123	1510	184	189	5	63	3	362	439	377	427
320xd	171	129	1585	184	0	1	15	2		468	407	449
325d	148	127	1560	218	0	0	1	0			425

The differences here are only to be considered as a guide, especially with so few cars in the selection. Let's take some typical examples from the best-selling models in Germany. The euro exchange rate is set at 9,42. All the cars are well-equipped and have all the relevant equipment. I only show equipment that distinguishes the models. The pictures in the examples are cut from the ads in mobile.de and are intended to give an indication of the level of equipment of the cars.

2013 BMW 320i NOK 371 € 23 Euro (net price) gives NOK 445 + 220 (VAT) + 851 (taxes) 184 HP – Petrol – Automatic First time reg. 11/2012 Mileage: 23 1 eier Black sapphire metallic – Full leather – Gray interior – Sports package – Xenon Similar cars for sale in Norway (1 pc): NOK 459 – fabric interior – sports package – navigation – xenon
2013 BMW 320i NOK 382 €24 (net price) gives NOK 353 + 229 (VAT) + 405 (taxes) 184 HP – Petrol – Automatic First time reg. 11/2012 Mileage: 22 1 eier Black sapphire metallic – Fabric – Schwartz interior – Navigation – Sports package – Xenon Similar cars for sale in Norway (1 pc): NOK 459 – fabric interior – sports package – navigation – xenon
2013 BMW 320d NOK 415 €27 (net price) gives NOK 727 + 261 (VAT) + 188 (taxes) 184 HP – Diesel – Automatic First time reg. 01/2013 Mileage: 92 1 eier Alpinweiss uni – Full leather – schwartz interior – Head-up display – Navigation – Xenon Similar cars for sale in Norway (8 units) 434 (average price) This car had a high price without me understanding why. Maybe it was the gorgeous color combination on the interior?
2013 BMW 320d NOK 384 €25 (net price) gives NOK 084 + 236 (VAT) + 291 (taxes) 184 HP – Diesel – Automatic First time reg. 01/2013 Mileage: 61 1 eier Mineralgrau metallic – Full leather – Braun interior – Head-up display – Navigation – Panoramic roof – Xenon Similar cars for sale in Norway (8 units) 434 (average price) You can choose several well-equipped cars for this price.
2013 BMW 320d NOK 368 €23 (net price) gives NOK 717 + 223 (VAT) + 414 (taxes) 184 HP – Diesel – Automatic First time reg. 01/2013 Mileage: 66 1 eier Melbourne red metallic – Fabric – Schwartz interior – Sports package – Head-up display – Navigation – Xenon Similar cars for sale in Norway (8 units) 434 (average price)
2013 BMW 320xd NOK 414 €26 (net price) gives NOK 496 + 249 (VAT) + 592 (taxes) 184 HP – Diesel – xDrive – Automatic First time reg. 03/2013 (NB! calculated as 21.01.2013) Mileage: 46 KM 1 eier Imperialblau metallic – Split leather – Beige interior – Navigation – Xenon Similar cars for sale in Norway (3 units) 455 (average price) This stated price assumes importation by the end of March.

Conclusion

It is not possible to draw any conclusions regarding the calculation examples for the petrol model 320i. Just en only Norwegian car is too little basis for comparison. For 320d, however, we see a pattern. It is possible to obtain good German cars that are 30-50 below Norwegian prices. But remember that the difference between German and Norwegian prices must cover winter tyres, shipping and VAT on shipping. The remaining part of the difference will cover preparations, travel and business. If you take time off from work, it is not certain that you will get the calculation to go in the positive. But if you can combine the trip with a visit to someone you know in Frankfurt or the like, you may have the journey covered and more, - and you can treat yourself to a cozy trip in first class back to Norway.
 
I don't think the currency will pose any threat to used imports in the long term. The new car dealers will soon come out with new price lists that take into account the weak krone. That means not only more expensive new cars, but also more expensive used cars. Furthermore, used car importers have the opportunity to act quickly if it turns out that the Norwegian krone will strengthen for a period. This applies not only to the professional importers, but also to you and me.
 
My own experience with second-hand imports several years ago was entirely positive. A friend arranged the practicalities through his sole proprietorship, where he picked up one car each from a brand dealer in Geneva. My expectations were high when he called me and told me that he was on his way home to Norway at over 200 km/h on the Autobahn. Once at home, the hard all-season tires were replaced with Nordic winter tires and new summer tires on rims.
 
Although the mileage was a bit high, the car had never been exposed to toddlers, slalom boots and dogs before it came to us. After four problem-free years with the car, I can only say that the cars on the continent are at least as good as the Norwegian ones.

 

While I am working on this article, the number of 3-year-old 320d/xd 184 HP for sale on finn.no has doubled. Are we seeing the effect of the new tax system?

 
The Norwegian Tax Agency's import calculator for 2016

The Swedish Tax Agency: How to import a car

See