Dear Readers:
To receive the Letter of Admissibility for your BMW import you must telephone your local dealer (the one that will inspect the vehicle for you) and provide them with this information:
VIN/SN:
Year:
Make:
Model:
The dealership will take this information over the phone and charge you $350.00 by credit card. They will then submit the request to BMW Canada who will issue the Letter of Admissibility.
You will need to present this letter to the CBSA agents, so please ensure that you have it prior to crossing the border.
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25 comments:
I bought a BMW vehicle in the US on Nov 15th. This 'new' rule was introduced on Nov 26th, while my vehicle is in transit. I called RIV Canada and was told that this applies only to vehicles purchased after Nov 26th. For vehicles purchased before that date, a Bill of sale would be necessary, as a proof of purchase date. Let's hope they don't change their mind when the vehicle comes to the border as BMW Canada takes upto 5 days to provide this Letter.
All importers of most new or recent BMW's will find that they must now replace the instrument cluster on their imported vehicles to make them comply.
This will add about $1500 to the $850 BMW Canada forces on all importers of new or used vehicles. The reason they give is 'software issues'.
Interesting that these issues didn't exist 2 weeks ago!
Submitted by a UCanImport Subscriber:
--------------------
MEMO
TO: All BMW and MINI Retailers
ATTN: Service Manager, all those co-coordinating recall clearance letters or letters of admissibility
CC: Retailer Principals, Regions, John Cardinale, Kevin Rendl
From: Bruce Caton
Date: November 27, 2007
Re: Recall Clearance letter & letter of admissibility - update.
To All,
Recently we sent you a memo outlining changes to the process of vehicle importation in regards to the adding of requirements for a "letter of admissibility" and the mandatory activation of the daytime running lights at your store.
The effective date of Nov. 26th/07 has arrived and both the RIV/Transport Canada website and our website reflect the changes.
Based on questions we have received I wanted to clarify a few items;
1) If the vehicle is already in the country, you do NOT need to request a "letter of admissibility". Since the change to Transport Canada's website happened at approx. 4pm on Nov. 26th, there will be vehicles that came into Canada earlier, but just now are showing up at your dealership. From this point on, providing the border attendants enforce the guidelines as per the list of admissible vehicles, all units coming into Canada will require this letter.
2) Further to point number 1, if the vehicle is already here, simply proceed to the recall clearance letter request which would include doing any outstanding recalls and activating the daytime running lights, which must be done before the recall clearance letter can be given out.
3) In addition to our previous bulletin, we will require a faxed copy of the work order showing the activation of the daytime running lights (of the confirmation check, see point 4) before we can issue the recall clearance letter. Please fax them to 905-428-5066, and cleary mark on the RECALL CLEARANCE LETTER.
4) In cases where the customer has already activated the lights (at a US Retailer or by purchasing a part and having it installed, etc. ) we require you to check the process to ensure it fully complies with our service bulletin. If so, then they have been done properly and permanently and you can charge the customer for the check and no further work is required. If they have not been done as per our bulletin, then you must advise the customer they will need to be redone at your facility. They should be given an estimate and further informed until the daytime running lights have been activated; the recall clearance letter cannot be issued.
5) There is a form to request a letter of admissibility, you can get it by emailing to admissibility@bmw.ca (please note our initial letter had the incorrect email address) and there is a separate form to request a recall clearance letter which you can request from recallinformation@bmw.ca. In both cases complete the form and email it back to the same address. Please remember to advise your customer, letters of admissibility will take 2-5 business days and be sent back to you by email and recall clearance letters will take 15-20 business days and be sent back to you by Retailer mail.
6) Please do not encourage your customers to call our Customer Relations staff to ask when their letter will be ready; this will not help speed things up. Our process should not exceed 15 business days. If it does and you need to check on a letter, please email to recallinformation@bmw.ca and we will check into it and reply to you.
We sincerely appreciate your efforts in this regard and as always are here to help, 905-428-5653.
Best Regards,
Bruce Caton
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Right from the horse's mouth!
Sample Letter of Admissibility
Submitted by a UCanImport Subscriber:
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Re: Admissability of U.S. spec vehicle into Canada
Vehicle Model: BMW 525
Model Year: 2006
Vehicle Identification Number:
Dear Mr.
In regards to your inquiry involving possible importation of the above referenced vehicle from the United States("U.S.") into Canada, the purpose of this "letter of admissibility" is to outline specific conditions which much be met in order for the subject vechicle to be successfully imported and registerd in Canada. These conditions are as follows:
- The above referenced vehicle was manufactured to U.S. specifications and as such does not meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) No. 108- Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. Specifically the vehicle does not fulfil the requirements of this Standard related to Daytime Running Lamps ("DRLs").
- The high sofistication of BMW and MINI vehicle components involves a large amount of interaction and inter-dependency between the fitted control units of the vehicle. This highlights the importance of carrying out a proper U.S. to Canadian conversion of the vehicle to ensure compliance of the systems but also to ensure proper functioning and interaction of all control units. In order to ensure that the factory recommended procedure is followed properly and without deviation, BMW Group Canada requires that all retrofit must be carried out exclusively at authorized Canadian BMW/MINI Retailers.
- BMW Group Canada does not, under any cirumstance, support hard wiring of DRLs due to the complexity of the vehicle electronics, nor the activation of DRLs via the vehicle Personal Profile feature (i-Drive Controller), as such activation does not constitute compliance under CMVSS 108 or otherwise.
- Depending on the vehicle model, production date and specification, the required retrofit work to be carried out by an authorized BMW/MINI Retailer may consist of vehicle component replacement and/or vehicle software coding done with the BMW Diagnostic and Programming equipment.
- Following this process ensures that the DRLs function as per Canadian specifications, and any further vehicle programming updates can be carried out without problems.
- The required vehicle modifications vary by model and may be expensive. An authorized BMW/MINI Retailer can provide you with model specific information in this regards.
In summary, the subject vehicle does not currently meet the requirements of CMVSS 108. As a condition of admissibility from the U.S. to Canada, the vehicle must be modified by an authorized Canadian BMW/MINI Retailer exclusively in order to ensure compliance to CMVSS 108, and such modification must be completed within 45 days of being imported into Canada.
Please note that this official letter of admissibility must be presented to a Canada Border Services Agency officer at time of importation.
In addition, BMW Group Canada will only issue an official recall clearance letter once the required DRL retrofit work has been completed and documented by an authorized Canadian BMW/MINI Retailer, and this recall clearance letter must be presented to the RIV in order to properly register the vehicle.
We trust this adequately outlines the conditions of importing ths subject vehicle to Canada from the U.S. Should you require any clarification in this regards, please contact an authorized BMW/MINI Retailer, or BMW Group Canada Customer Service at 1-800-567-BMW1 (2691)
Sincerely
John Cardinale Kevin Rendl
National Service Manager Customer Relations Manager
BMW Group Canada BMW Group Canada
Submitted by a UCanImport Subscriber:
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According to this Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy letter to the NHTSA...The FMVSS 108 (US) and the CMVSS 108 (Canada) are essentially the same.
http://dsl.torque.net/images/DSL_8885.pdf
US: refers to headlamp photometric standards and test procedures contained in US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 108 (FMVSS 108), and to the headlamps that conform to FMVSS 108. Many industrialized countries worldwide prohibit US vehicle lighting and signaling equipment, due among other reasons to high levels of glare produced by US low beam headlamps. Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 is substantially the same as US FMVSS 108, and most cars in Canada have US headlamps. Canada, however, also permits ECE headlamps under CMVSS 108.1; US & Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 108 are collectively referred to herein as MVSS 108.
There is huge misconception re: what's required to legally import a BMW from the US to Canada. I just recently purchased a 2002 BMW 325ci and was aware of this extortion that BMW is trying to pull. I called BMW dealerships in Houston, Austin, Oak City and Topeka and was told by all that they can't release the recall letter.
So, I decided this was futile and stopped at a BMW dealership in Wichita. The Wichita dealership scanned my key, took down the VIN # and when the service department opened on Monday.....they sent me my Warranty Vehicle Inquiry letter. I sent this letter into RIV and had my Form 2 in 2 days.
Clearly, BMW is trying to gouge their customers for $500 and any changes that need to be made (ie. Daytime Running Lights). It's not right and I personally will never take my vehicle in to the local BMW dealership for service. I wonder if that $500 was worth the loss of potentially $5000 in service over the next 10 yrs???
Very bad business practice!!! Luxury car or not, I don't appreciate being taken advantage of!!!
Thank you for your feedback. I understand from another importer who successfully completed his importation without paying these fees, that he completed his purchase pre-November 26th. Did you do the same or was it post-November 26th, after the guillotine came down?
My vehicle was imported before Nov 26th......I'm not sure what this deadline represents tho. Perhaps you can clarify??
BMW's regulations with respect to Letter of Admissibility and the need for modification work to be done by their technicians came into effect on November 26th. After this date, the RIV website also changed to reflect the new edict from BMW.
I understand from my clients that even if the DRLs were turned on at a BMW representative dealership in the US, (and a work order from the BMW dealership was provided)the Canadian dealership will have to verify that it was completed to standard. I can't understand this at all.
Does it mean that they don't trust their own company-trained technicians in the US? I think not. You and I both know that this is a money-grab plain and simple.
I'm just starting to learn and feel the pain of this BMW extortion scheme. I've purchased a 2006 330XI which I'm in the process of shipping now. My car is equipped with i-Drive and BMW is insisting that when the DRL's are activated using this method it does not conform with CMVSS 108. I've downloaded and read CMVSS 108 and this is what it has to say regarding switching:
Switching
(54) Subject to subsections (55) and (56), daytime running lamps shall be on continuously when the engine is operating and the master lighting switch is not in the headlamps on position.
(55) Daytime running lamps may switch off
(a) while the automatic transmission control is in the park or neutral position;
(b) while the parking brake is applied; or
(c) after the engine is started but prior to the vehicle being set in motion for the first time.
(56) A daytime running lamp that is optically combined with a turn signal lamp shall switch off while the turn signal lamp is switched on as a turn signal or hazard warning signal.
(57) Daytime running lamps shall switch off
(a) whenever the master lighting switch is moved to the headlamps on position; and
(b) where the lamps are on a vehicle equipped with concealable headlamps and the master light switch is moved to the headlamps on position, once the headlamps attain the fully open position.
(58) Where the lower beams of the headlamps operating at normal operating voltage are used as daytime running lamps,
(a) it shall not be possible to activate the upper beams of the headlamps except for signalling purposes;
(b) where there is a tell-tale that is automatically activated, and visible to the driver, in dark ambient light conditions to indicate that the tail lamps, licence plate lamps, side marker lamps and parking lamps are switched off, those lamps shall not come on automatically; and
(c) where there is no tell-tale that is automatically activated, the lamps referred to in paragraph (b)
(i) shall come on automatically and remain on in all ambient light conditions, or
(ii) shall come on automatically in dark ambient light conditions.
(59) Despite section S5.5.1 of TSD 108, the lower beams and upper beams of the headlamps may be activated simultaneously when the headlamps are in use as daytime running lamps.
(60) Despite section S5.5.10(d) of TSD 108, daytime running lamps may be wired to flash for signalling purposes.
Turning the Daytime running lights on in the iDrive menu meets these specifications, I've tried to press them to ask what portion of the spec the programmable DRL's contravenes and they refuse to comment just saying that they must be on permanently.
I've sent an email to transport Canada to get their interpretation of this spec but have not heard back.
Has anyone considered challenging this extortion in court?
Thank you for your comments.
Writing to Transport Canada is certainly a good step. Unfortunately, Transport Canada claims that the auto manufacturers are self-certifying and that they inform TC where they meet Canadian Safety Standards.
There is an audit and compliance arm to Transport Canada and the head is Mr. Jim Bain. They will act on your information to audit the BMW issue with compliance to CMVSS 108 by auditing the iDrive against the standard, but they cannot make BMW stop charging for the letter.
This is an outright money grab by BMW and a poor PR strategy. But that doesn't mean that your MLA, Transport Canada and the Media shouldn't hear about it. The publicity may have BMW reconsidering their stance and opt for a simpler and more positive PR position. Oh wait, I know - LOWER PRICES IN CANADA!!!
Submitted by a UCanImport Subscriber:
BMW dealers in the States can not issue a internal recall clearance letter, they are forbidden. I had the dealer write up a letter saying that there was no recalls on the bike but RIV would not take it.
Anyway,I am still waiting for the letter. It has been sitting on some V.I.P.'s desk for one week waiting to be signed. This is from Nov. 19th. I paid them the $500.00 + GST I had to get a extension from RIV.
I have made many phone calls to them but just get run the around. I
explained to them that I am going out of country for Christmas and
have to get this all completed before I go but that did not matter to them.
Canadian Tire came over and did their inspection. Very nice people to deal with. My next dead line is Dec. 31/07
I can not figure out the manufactures, they have been greasing us right a long. They should have lowered their price as soon as dollar went down, so if I go to the US it is my fault for buying there and saving $6000.00.
The consumer has the last say!!!!
Submitted by a UCanImport reader:
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In the arrangement that BMW Canada has concocted with RIV:BMW Group Canada will only issue an official recall clearance letter once the
required DRL retrofit work has been completed and documented by an authorized Canadian BMW/MINI Retailer, and this recall clearance letter must be presented to the RIV
in order to properly register the vehicle.
In trying to book an appointment to arrange for this inspection, wait times in Calgary are in the 2 month timeframe, exceeding the 45 day stipulation for approval indicated in the letter. Calls to RIV and BMW Canada have proved fruitless in trying to move this forward. It is simply the penalty that BMW is placing on consumers who choose to buy the cars in the US.
RIV and Transport Canada are turning a blind eye to this practice which now gouges the Canadian Consumer over $1100 in fees to BMW Canada to admit and approve cars built for North America into Canada. BMW's responses simply whitewash the matter by stating: The high sophistication of BMW and MINI vehicle components involves a large
amount of interaction and inter-dependency between the fitted control units of the
vehicle. This highlights the importance of carrying out a proper U.S. to Canadian conversion of the vehicle to ensure compliance of the systems but also to ensure proper functioning and interaction of all control units. In order to ensure that the factory recommended procedure is followed properly and without deviation, BMW Group Canada requires that all retrofits must be carried out exclusively at authorized Canadian BMW/MINI Retailers.
Until the rules has been altered without notice by Transport Canada on Nov 27, this practice was not in effect. BMW has strong-armed Transport Canada into this arrangement at the detriment of Canadians. I am appalled.
I write this "Anonymously" at present as I just encountered this website and have yet to submit an identity which I will shortly.
I'm in the process to import a 2005 BMW 325i to Ontario. I got caught up in this whole mess. Car arrived mid-November, so I am only faced with the long wait, (no $350 admiss fee) and the $500 fee + tax at BMW Canada for a 10 minute inspection / letter. Now I am waiting and waiting for a letter to be emailed to me. Only BMW can give you this poor level of service for $500.00. 15 - 20 Business days for a 3 line letter!!! That is the worst customer service turn around I have ever heard of! Atleast I won't ever be servicing my vehicle by the BMW dealership when it arrives. Consumers know a cash grab when they see one! Shame on you BMW! I won't be recommending BMW to anyone I know after this hassle. BMW :thumbsWAYdown
The clear thing to do here is to *B O Y C O T T* BMW and every other mfr. that resorts to these kind of tactics.
Never mind TC and RIV for they serve only as a puppet for the GD industry. That's right - the mfrs tell the gov't what does and does not meet the "standards". Talk about putting the fox in charge of the henhouse!
Never mind court challenges-- for only the lawyers win.
Simply do NOT buy their products. And be sure to let them know.
That's all what it is.....
JDY
NB
After reading all this I will not import a BMW from US and WILL NOT buy it either in Canada.
Rather go for Lexus. I learned from RIV that only BMW and Mercedes require this letter of admissibility etc.
Please note that as of January 1, 2008 Volvo has joined the ranks of those manufacturers requiring Letters of Admissibility.
On December 26th, this information was sent to all e-mail registrants and subscribers in the UCanImport Importer Insider, the monthly e-letter that keeps you in the importing know.
To receive your copy please register on our e-mail opt in list.
To receive the last issue, please send us an e-mail to info@ucanimport.com
For those of you who are process or interested in importing a BMW from the USA, this thread maybe of some help for you:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=813438
Near the end of it, they say the people at the border are not even asking for the letter of admissibility. They have even gone back to the dealership and recieved a refund for paying for something they did not need in the end.
Secondly, form 2 they recieved from RIV states that their vehicles do not require a recall clearance letter... This could save you the $500 for the letter, plus the $1300 to chance the instrument cluster (Which is complete BS in the first place.)
I have just learned of this blatant extortion today.
Unbelievable.
What are we going to do?
Looks like they reduced the time for the letter from 15 - 20 days to 7 - 10 days. I just received this in an email:
Once the vehicle is here in Canada, you should make an appointment at a BMW Retailer in order to request a Recall Clearance letter. The Retailer will conduct a visual inspection of the vehicle to ensure all VIN plates are intact and as well obtain a Car Fax report to check the vehicle's history. The Retailer will check the recall history and complete any recalls that are required. BMW Group Canada will only issue an official recall clearance letter once the required daytime running lamp retrofit work has been completed and documented by an authorized Canadian BMW Retailer. Once the process has been completed, the Recall Compliance Letter will be issued for a fee of $500 plus tax. Please note that the approximate timeframe for obtaining this 7-10 business days.
This is such an obvious attempt to restrict the flow of bmw and mercedes into canada, not by lowering their prices in canada but to raise the cost of importing so the differential in costs is reduced. It's strictly a cash grab. In effect, a commission paid for the privilege of getting the bmw or mercedes. Why TC/RIV would participate in such a scam is more unbelievable. Big business can exert political pressure. All the details about compliance is strictly to overwhelm the public with inane details, serving ZERO public good.
I moved back from the US to Canada in Dec. '07, bringing with me my 2004 BMW which I had bought in July '07. I called BMW USA beforehand, was referred to BMW Canada, and heard about having to pay them $350 for a recall clearance letter. Fortunately, I was able to go to the US BMW dealer where I had bought the car, get them to activate the daytime running lights, and provide a printout with their stamp, stating there were no open recalls (they did all this for free). After bringing the car across the border, I had originally booked an appointment to take it to a BMW dealer to be inspected. I had to wait a week for the appointment, so in the meantime I thought of calling Canadian Tire, who inspected and approved it the same day. So I guess I was lucky but it seems that others have had more hassles.
It is not surprising that these manufacturers and dealers would be lobbying the government to allow these policy changes, given that this is their livelihood. What is ridiculous is that this supposedly independent federal agency relies on the manufacturers and dealers to tell them what is safe. Apparently this can change overnight from no modifications to thousands of dollars of modifications needed. Doesn't the government have anyone with any technical sense to evaluate these claims? Unfortunately I don't know which political party would do things differently, since the Liberals invented the RIV, and the NDP aren't exactly proponents of free trade. However, this will make me think twice about getting service or buying a car from any of the offending companies / dealers.
ps. Despite my pessimism that the government will change its policies (see last post), I wish the plaintiffs good luck in their lawsuit!
i have an old 1999 M3, I have tickets to florida for May to get another BMW NOT!!!!
I guess BMW Canada would rather see more US Audis in canada than US BMWs.. smart move...it takes expertise and ruthless cunning to design these fundalmentalist marketing strategies...
Guys, I want to let you know what I did to bypass BMW Canada intervention for owner who import. I can say now, that I would have taken my car for service at BMW, but now the car will NEVER.. EVER.. see a BMW dealership.
They hold you hostage. "Do these unnecessary modifications to your car that we require to make some money or you don't get your recall letter."
I just imported a BMW 5 series and here is what they told me needed to be done.
New Instrument Cluster - $1590 + $125 Programing
I said to them, why do I need a new cluster when it has KM/H on the cluster and that is OK with the RIV.
IHKA Heating Module - $1060 + $125 Programing
They told my the IHKA Module is for Canadian emissions standards... I said to them, the car already passed drive clean, it meets the standards.
Daytime Runners - $375
This is a requirement, but you'll note my costs to have this done below.
Car Inspection - $187
CASH GRAB.. This is to verify all of the VIN, which CDN Tire does with their FREE Government inspection.
RECALL LETTER - $500
Finally I am "allowed" to have the honor to pay for this letter, which is free with most car manufactures.
Grand Total with Tax: $4,477.06
Here's what I did...
Contacted Unity Auto - http://www.unityauto.com/licensing.php They supply you with the letter for $400
Went to TechMax Auto - http://www.techmax.ca/ To get my Daytime lights activated - $100
Grand Total with Tax: $500
That's almost $4,000 in savings.
The changes BMW requires are unlawful and not required by law to certify the car in Canada. Canadian Tire is the certified shop that determines the requirements + your provincial standard inspection. Which my car meets every single requirement.
I called BMW's head office and was told that there are several lawsuits pending right now due to these charges, and I'm not surprised. I've heard stories of the dealers telling people they cannot activate Daytime Runners unless the cluster is replaced which is falsifying the truth and highly illegal.
As a final note, my car is out of it's warranty period, so having BMW Canada support me is not required for myself, and now I have $4,000 to give to the indy mechanic TechMax for any repairs I need. If you do go this route and have a very new BMW with lots of warranty you're stuck the 5K way as far as I know, and I can understand the modifications and letter fees are for them to re-coupe costs they will incur fixing your car under warranty for years. But if you're importing a car that has no warranty this is the route to go IMO.
I hope that this really helps out a lot of people. I found out all of this information by doing hours of searching the net, so I wanted to add my contribution back. If you're looking for a local dealer to set up your daytime lights, just google your area and European Independent Mechanic.
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