For anyone interested in the "show and display" clause - have a read. This is reproduced from the e30 ME SIG, May 2009. Should dispel some common misconceptions about the process. Also note from the pdf that the elise s1 and 340R have been previously denied.
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Well, after a long process that began last year, I finally managed to legally import my Brilliant Red Sport Evolution into the US.
I obtained a "Show or Display" approval last year after I submitted a detailed application where I had to prove the car had historical and technological value since more than 500 SE were made. After that the car had to pass emissions tests meaning it was sent to an EPA lab. The tests were basically a series of dyno test, cold start tests and vapor leakage tests.
For those of you who are interested in this process, here are the official rules & regulations from NHTSA
Vehicle Importation Regulations
Today, after a long wait, the ICI / RI told me they got the lab results and the car passed without any problems.
Technically speaking I didn't have to change anything in the car. I just did a full maintenance tuning including new catalytic converters but besides that, I didn't do anything special to get the car approved for the EPA tests.
The car is going to be in Los Angeles where I'm currently living after spending 9 year in Venezuela where I'm originally from. This car has traveled with me a couple of times now after I bought it in London in 1999, then Miami for a year, then Caracas - Venezuela for 9 years and now Los Angeles.
The process itself isn't that complicated, it just take some time and dedication, that's all. At the end I believe it was a combination of hard work, perseverance and some luck getting it approved, plus the fact the car was one of the few 50 officially imported into the UK from Germany. Maybe that was why NHTSA gave it the label Sport Evolution M3 (UK Version). Interesting enough someone else had filed a petition before me to get a Show or Display approval for a Sport Evo which was denied. Take a look at the latest NHTSA list at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/sdlist040109.pdf . My car is on the first page and the denied one in the "Not Eligible" section.
Whatever it was that got my car approved, I'm just happy it worked...
Thanks to some current and some ex SIG members who helped me at some point during this process, you know who you are...
I guess this also means some of the other E30 M3 Evo cars can be approved for Show or Display if a good application is submitted. It just requires the right amount of work and dedication.
Cheers,
Octavio.