Crossing the US border with a complete engine - page 2 - General - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• #15 by subsonic on 05 Mar, 2007 18:54
• Myke, I just brought in two 1.6td motors on the 27th of feb.  Ran into MAJOR hassels at us customs.  Both where out of original car, one had head off.  I had receipt with names dates addresses phone numbers sale price.  1st customs guy I delt with  was a putz.  I saw him right at the end of his shift.  Not a happy camper.  This guy wanted the epa certificates for the engines.  When I told him they were pulled engines, and in pieces, he did not care.  "Take em back to Canada, there not coming in."  Long story short.  The section you quoted about parts,,engines not in chasis, thats what you need.  The second shift Sup dug that out, filled it out with me and I was on my way.  Call ahead to the border crossing you intent to use. Ask to speak to a importation specialist.  Tell them what you want to do.  Get there name and contact info.  Perhaps if the engine was broken down you might get some slack.  If you contact vw america and have all the info from the original car, vin etc, they will cut you a letter about compliance with emissions, but they said it would take almost two weeks to process.
  Hope this helps, Jim
• #16 by myke_w on 06 Mar, 2007 05:09
• Well I'm planning to tear it down anyway, I just don't want the hassle. I'm taking the form in case anyone ***es...
  
  BTW did they make you put a vin on the form?
• #17 by subsonic on 06 Mar, 2007 06:19
• Nope.
• #18 by myke_w on 06 Mar, 2007 06:58
• Could you elaborate on what you DID have to put on the form?
  
  Thx..
  
  
   
• #19 by subsonic on 06 Mar, 2007 18:33
• Honestly, The guy just put a form in front of me, said mark it here, put this here, n/a, n/a, n/a, fill out name address etc, have a nice night.  There where no import fee's, it was quick and simple.  Who know's, I was really beat at that point.  I could have just sold my first born and signed up for a thirty year hitch in the French Forigen Legion.   :shock:
  When this second shift Sup came on, man life just got easy and I was greatful. I beat feet, wound it up to 80 and drove due south for 5 hours.
  Hope yours goes smooth
  Jim
• #20 by jtanguay on 07 Mar, 2007 02:48
• Quote from: "subsonic"

  Honestly, The guy just put a form in front of me, said mark it here, put this here, n/a, n/a, n/a, fill out name address etc, have a nice night.  There where no import fee's, it was quick and simple.  Who know's, I was really beat at that point.  I could have just sold my first born and signed up for a thirty year hitch in the French Forigen Legion.   :shock:
  When this second shift Sup came on, man life just got easy and I was greatful. I beat feet, wound it up to 80 and drove due south for 5 hours.
  Hope yours goes smooth
  Jim

  
  
  sometimes i think these people have power trips or something... and feel it necessary to 'bully' us... i mean come on... if i was crossing with a motor and i was super agitated and dodgy.. then yea cause for suspicion!  :lol:
• #21 by wolfsburgnut on 07 Mar, 2007 06:27
• A friend of mine bought an Olds 442  (86) from the states for really cheap and did all the paperwork as he was supposed to.  When he came up to the border, he got through the American side OK, but when he got to the Canadian side he got hassled, the guy didnt think he paid 1000 dollars for the car, because his book said it was worth 6000.  The guy threw him in a holding cell because he thought my friend was lying to him.  After a few hours the guy called the PO of the car, found out that it was only sold for 1000 dollars and let my friend go, but vowed "he would find out the truth and that both he and the PO would pay for lying to him"  Nothing ever happened.  
  
  Peter
• #22 by subsonic on 07 Mar, 2007 07:25
• You know, it's like everywhere.  Out of 10 or 15 people on a shift you are going to have your great people, some clock punchers and some non-people skill havin dickheads.  I actually checked with the Customs guys I work with a week before I went up.  Had them call a import specialist and everything.  I was told it would be no problem.  Even gave the 1st guy at the border the specialists name. still no joy.  Second shift Sup was just like they said it should be.  My suggestion, if you find a good inspector, get their name. Be friendly, without putting down the other dickwads you don't want to deal with, and try and find out when they most ofton work so you can come through when they are working.  Kind of like hitting the bar when the bartender your in good with is working.
  The Canadian guy's thought it was cool I was going to do a swap, he had a TDI and loved it.
  You roll ya dice, ya take ya chances.  Course it never hurts to load the dice as much as possible before you roll
  Jim
• #23 by Kudagra on 07 Mar, 2007 10:31
• Yaknow...if this was like the southern border you could just cross where there is no fence and be done with it.
• #24 by myke_w on 08 Mar, 2007 11:48
• Quote from: subsonic

  Honestly, The guy just put a form in front of me, said mark it here, put this here, n/a, n/a, n/a, fill out name address etc, have a nice night.  There where no import fee's, it was quick and simple.  Who know's, I was really beat at that point.  I could have just sold my first born and signed up for a thirty year hitch in the French Forigen Legion.   :shock:
  When this second shift Sup came on, man life just got easy and I was greatful. I beat feet, wound it up to 80 and drove due south for 5 hours.
  Hope yours goes smooth
  Jim

  
  
  Did you just wait until the first shift guys left?
• #25 by subsonic on 08 Mar, 2007 14:10
• I was off in a side room using a payphone yelling at a guy from vwusa, who sounded in my opinion to difinatly not be in the usa.  Anyway, I was on the phone with these jerkwads for like an hour, when I came out, the shift had changed.
  
  What are you going up to get myke?
• #26 by jtanguay on 08 Mar, 2007 22:39
• Quote from: "wolfsburgnut"

  A friend of mine bought an Olds 442  (86) from the states for really cheap and did all the paperwork as he was supposed to.  When he came up to the border, he got through the American side OK, but when he got to the Canadian side he got hassled, the guy didnt think he paid 1000 dollars for the car, because his book said it was worth 6000.  The guy threw him in a holding cell because he thought my friend was lying to him.  After a few hours the guy called the PO of the car, found out that it was only sold for 1000 dollars and let my friend go, but vowed "he would find out the truth and that both he and the PO would pay for lying to him"  Nothing ever happened.  
  
  Peter

  
  
  man... those guys are total asswipes.  *** them! see if i get off my ass to help those guys at work... lol like i said earlier, its a total power trip.  they put a uniform on and think they are god.  i wouldn't wish harm on them... but maybe once if they just got humbled... and i'm talking OWNED by their supervisor for being a dick!  I'm all about safe border crossing, but still.  focus on inspecting the vehicle.. not how much the guy payed for it!! omfg makes my blood boil[/rant]
• #27 by jtanguay on 08 Mar, 2007 22:43
• Quote from: "Kudagra"

  Yaknow...if this was like the southern border you could just cross where there is no fence and be done with it.

  
  
  did you hear of the border guard down south who shot out the tires on an SUV who illegally crossed into the states???lol.. some noob was hiding in the wheel well and got her front teeth shot out from the ricochet...  all occupants sued, and are now living for free, getting $$$ from the government, and that border guard is now facing like 12 years in jail for doing his job.
  
  sorry guys, but if you are dumb enough to hide in a wheel well... you takes your chances!!!  like wtf... if they would have hit a huge enough bump that *** would have been hurting anyways  :lol:
• #28 by myke_w on 12 Mar, 2007 06:18
• Hey all, I figured I'd update you on what happened.
  
  So I go to Canada, pick up the motor, drag it to the border in the back of my Jetta wagon. When asked if I bought anything, I told him "car parts".  He asked "what kind of car parts?" "An engine", I told him. He just gave me this crazy look, and asked, "you have an engine in the back of a station wagon?".
  I invited him to have a look, which he did, and then asked what it was for. I told him "a VW bus" (it was a Vanagon TD motor). He asked how much I paid... I replied in Canadian currency. He said "So, you drove all the way from Ohio to pick up an old motor like this.. why?" I said, they are getting harder to find in the US these days..
  
  I handed him the invoice, I had a sales slip ready, stating that it was a core motor from an 81 Vanagon D with the sellers name, number, address, etc. on it
  
  
  Have a good day he said..  
  
  So, no hassle at all.. I suspect it matters alot if the state you bring the thing into has an environazi stance. IIRC, New York, Maine and Vermont have strict laws about that kind of stuff, Michigan however, does not.
  
  That's my $.02 ....Canadian
• #29 by BlackTieTD on 12 Mar, 2007 06:37
• hey wuddya know. glad it worked out. stock up on beer and smokes??  :lol: