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      11-29-2021, 09:37 AM   #1
thatBimmerBloke
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Quebec originated fully loaded F30s for sale in US, what's the catch?

I've been looking at a few 340/440s for sale in US that show initial registration from Quebec, Canada. Some were even registered as commercial vehicles and show minor accidental damage on carfax. Normally I'd not even have a second look but these cars have some nice colors that we don't usually see in US and are fully loaded with all M Performance parts. What's the catch? I'm pretty sure there;s something shady going on here. I won't buy one unless I get a huge discount and have it fully checked by a 3rd party but again the resale value will not be very good. I also read Quebec is notorious for shady car business.
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      11-29-2021, 11:40 AM   #2
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Canadian spec cars don't have all the same equipment as US cars, so they're priced lower. Unwary buyers can buy a Canadian spec car thinking they got a better deal than actual. If it seems too good to be true it is.
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      11-29-2021, 11:45 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
Canadian spec cars don't have all the same equipment as US cars, so they're priced lower. Unwary buyers can buy a Canadian spec car thinking they got a better deal than actual. If it seems too good to be true it is.
The VINs don't lie, some are specced quite well and still cheap(er). Sure, you may not get the outlet under the glove box and maybe folding rear seats, but there are some nice cars up there...
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      11-29-2021, 11:48 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
Canadian spec cars don't have all the same equipment as US cars, so they're priced lower. Unwary buyers can buy a Canadian spec car thinking they got a better deal than actual. If it seems too good to be true it is.
As a European I am wondering: So what equipment don't they have in Canada that they do in the US?
Hamburger holders on the dash? Shotgun racks?

Just kidding, genuinely interested to find out...
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      11-29-2021, 12:14 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by im_an_alien View Post
The VINs don't lie, some are specced quite well and still cheap(er). Sure, you may not get the outlet under the glove box and maybe folding rear seats, but there are some nice cars up there...
I've read Canadian spec cars are fine for registration in US, in some cases only the speedo needs to be changed from kph to mph. If it's a digital dash as in case of newer F30s then it can most likely be coded to display mph. What worried me was initial registration as commercial vehicle and minor accidental damage on carfax. They're not priced cheap either, fairly priced as per current market rates. I still have 2-3 months before I'm buying one, just checking what's available out there.
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      11-29-2021, 01:23 PM   #6
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Shotgun racks?
Those are mandatory in Texas.

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What worried me was initial registration as commercial vehicle and minor accidental damage on carfax.
They could have been taxi cabs.
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      11-29-2021, 01:29 PM   #7
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They could have been taxi cabs.
That's surprising, they have all the possible options, from M-Perf Exhaust with CF tips to M-Perf CF lip and side skirts. 20" 405M wheels and even the M-Perf diffusers are color matched on the sides.
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      11-29-2021, 01:31 PM   #8
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from my Canadian car, prob just that you have Flat tire monitors instead of tpms.

Everything else missing is kind of not a deal breaker. Under glove outlet? Pfft. I have rear folding seats. I can see how that's a deal breaker, but mine came with them and it's an earlier year too, 2013. People are maybe blowing it out of proportions
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      11-29-2021, 01:54 PM   #9
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Really depends on how they are optioned…Not sure if there were any available in the US that were not available in Canada or vice versa.

The options were definitely packed differently like M Performance 1 & 2 packages vs. Track Handling.

Mine is only missing the adaptive cruise and MSPPK, other than that it has every option including the digital dash, which you can change from KPH to MPH in iDrive.

I’m actually debating on trading/selling it as with the crazy prices it’s worth more than the buyout.
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      11-29-2021, 02:12 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bongoxxx View Post
Really depends on how they are optioned…Not sure if there were any available in the US that were not available in Canada or vice versa.

The options were definitely packed differently like M Performance 1 & 2 packages vs. Track Handling.

Mine is only missing the adaptive cruise and MSPPK, other than that it has every option including the digital dash, which you can change from KPH to MPH in iDrive.

I’m actually debating on trading/selling it as with the crazy prices it’s worth more than the buyout.
My only concern is shady car business going on in Quebec that I've read about on various forums. Plus the cars being registered as commercial vehicles in the beginning and nearly all of them having some minor damage on carfax.
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      11-29-2021, 02:26 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thatBimmerBloke View Post
My only concern is shady car business going on in Quebec that I've read about on various forums. Plus the cars being registered as commercial vehicles in the beginning and nearly all of them having some minor damage on carfax.
Maybe they were dealer demos? Used for test drives to entice potential buyers...
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      11-29-2021, 02:42 PM   #12
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If not taxis then maybe rentals. I don't know how tags in Quebec work, but a rental could have a commercial tag. If they're rentals avoid them like the plague. If it's like in the US they're not dealer demos, which typically are not registered but use dealer plates, and are seldom run more than a few thousand miles before they sell them.
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      11-29-2021, 04:40 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thatBimmerBloke View Post
My only concern is shady car business going on in Quebec that I've read about on various forums. Plus the cars being registered as commercial vehicles in the beginning and nearly all of them having some minor damage on carfax.
I would avoid any used car coming from Quebec, unless you know the original owner of the car - as you have read lots of shady things going on.
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