TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1990 Mexican VW bus. California transfer and smog. Worth

Fri Apr 21, 2017 10:36 am

Hi Folks,
I have the chance to buy a very clean 1990 Mexican VW bus for what I consider an extremely reasonable cost. Directly driven from mexico and licensed and plated there. How much would a Mexican bus be worth?

How hard is it to register it here in California if it is even possible, with California DMV laws that are very difficult when it come's to switching foreign vehicles.

I have had so many buses in the past. Back when you could buy and sell a 1960's through late 1970's VW buses for a few hundred bucks or even free a couple of times. Well Clearly I should have kept all of them since their prices are flat out insane these days I would be rich. I always wanted to get another bus, and I figured someday I would have another. But for some reason these buses prices are too much for most people considering its just a VW bus for crying out loud. Never worth more than five to fifteen grand tops. for "ANY MODEL" in the best shape ever!

Fri Apr 21, 2017 10:50 am

Do your homework, to be sure.

I expect that in the USA, this Mexican bus is not registerable, and has value only as a show piece.

Fri Apr 21, 2017 11:04 am

https://yuma.craigslist.org/cto/6041280246.html

This seller mentions he tried to sell it in California but registering it would be costly.

Fri Apr 21, 2017 12:23 pm

RixiesRide wrote: https://yuma.craigslist.org/cto/6041280246.html

This seller mentions he tried to sell it in California but registering it would be costly.

Yeah, you should be able to sell that bus anywhere in the US that doesn't smog older cars. But in CA you're probably SOL.

That being said, that price for a 1990 doesn't seem like a terrible deal, although I've heard that later mexican busses are very cheaply built compared to the earlier German ones.

Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:18 pm

It is not importable. There are ways that they have snuck in and we certainly see them in the US. Most of the schemes are fraudulent, ie changing vin or calling it a vanagon, some are just dumb luck (ie temporary importation for a foreign visitor who breaks down and leaves the vehicle, shop gets title after mechanic's lien).

"Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards
Importers of motor vehicles must file form HS-7 at the time of vehicle is imported to declare whether the vehicle complies with DOT requirements. As a general rule, motor vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in order to be imported permanently into the United States. Vehicles manufactured after September 1, 1978, must also meet the bumper standard, and vehicles beginning with model year 1987 must meet the theft-prevention standard. For more information, please contact the DOT import hotline at (202) 366-5291."

From here: https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car

More:
"A vehicle must be imported as a nonconforming vehicle unless it bears the manufacturer's label certifying that it meets U.S. standards. If it is a nonconforming vehicle, the importer must contract with a DOT-registered importer (RI) to modify the vehicle and certify that it conforms to all applicable FMVSS. The importer must also post a DOT bond for one and a half times the vehicle's dutiable value. This bond is in addition to the normal CBP entry bond. Copies of the DOT bond and the contract with the RI must be attached to the HS-7 form.

Before a RI can modify your vehicle, however, it must first be determined whether the vehicle is capable of being modified to comply with the FMVSS. If a vehicle has not previously been determined to be eligible for importation, it must go through a petition process to determine whether it's capable of being modified for such compliance. If the vehicle under petition is not similar to one sold in the United States, the process of bringing it into compliance becomes very complex and costly."

The "similar to one sold in the US" provision is why Vanagons (which met US bumper and antitheft) can be imported but loaf busses made after 77 cannot.

I know, I know, some have managed to import loaf busses through CBP past the officers. It happens but I wouldn't bet on it. Then you always have to worry that someone will figure it out later.

Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:57 pm

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewforum.php?f=29

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_keywords=Mexico&search_forum=29

Good luck
Tcash

Fri Apr 21, 2017 4:09 pm

I think the 25 year rules overrides most other rules excepting in California. It is my understanding that in California even a 25 year old vehicle must meet pollution standard for that particular vehicle. The problem that it is impossible to meet a standard that never existed and many vehicles built for foreign markets had no written standards that they were required to meet.

I might be full of it too.

Fri Apr 21, 2017 4:26 pm

what year did the big black plastic side mirrors appear? I would have thought they would have been on this 1990. Maybe he put vintage mirrors on?

Fri Apr 21, 2017 4:49 pm

alman72 wrote: what year did the big black plastic side mirrors appear? I would have thought they would have been on this 1990. Maybe he put vintage mirrors on?
Maybe that started with the water-cooled series.
This bus is nice but I doubt it will ever legally turn a wheel in CA.
Unless someone gets a Kennedy adapter & bolts a 1990 VW smog legal
straight four water cooled into it.
Not impossible.
EDIT: make that a 1980 VW 1700cc maybe? Gotta be chassis year specific.
perhaps a 1980 Vanagon 2.0 air cooled would legalize it?

Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:23 am

Wildthings wrote: I think the 25 year rules overrides most other rules
Did you see the link from US Customs I posted above about importing?

Why do you guys think all these 1994 or 1984 busses get vinswapped and titled as 74s when they are snunk into the US? Those Mexi busses are everywhere south of the border and cheap. Why do we think they aren't being imported by some industrious dude in Nogales by the tens of thousands?

Understand that I think it's a stupid rule, but I don't want people losing money out of ignorance.

Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:10 am

nemobuscaptain wrote: Wildthings wrote: I think the 25 year rules overrides most other rules
Did you see the link from US Customs I posted above about importing?

Why do you guys think all these 1994 or 1984 busses get vinswapped and titled as 74s when they are snunk into the US? Those Mexi busses are everywhere south of the border and cheap. Why do we think they aren't being imported by some industrious dude in Nogales by the tens of thousands?

Understand that I think it's a stupid rule, but I don't want people losing money out of ignorance.

Yes I did read it and it conflicts with other stuff I have read from various government agencies when I have checked on this before. There would be no need in a 25 year rule if there was a '78 cut off date that for all intents and purposes couldn't be worked around.

Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:07 am

I think most people import/register in another state then get it into Kalifornia.

Wed Aug 10, 2022 12:34 pm

Hey there, did you ever figure this out?

Wed Aug 10, 2022 12:59 pm

I think he bought a bridge in Brooklyn instead

Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:36 pm

SGKent wrote: I think he bought a bridge in Brooklyn instead

Wait, I have the title to that Bridge.

Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:38 pm

Abscate wrote: SGKent wrote: I think he bought a bridge in Brooklyn instead

Wait, I have the title to that Bridge. how much do you want for it? I know someone who collects them. Some guy came door to door last year selling engraved ones and we bought a bunch for our friends. They plan to retire on the trolls they collect, er I mean tolls.