Avant import?

[xalfa]

Has anyone imported an B7 RS4 Avant to the US? Because I want one real bad. Sedans are so... effete.

Oh, Sedan-to-Avant conversion stories are totally welcome.

[basemntboy]

How about B7 A4/S4 Avant to RS4 Avant???

[ArcticAvant]

I agree. I would sell my left nut for a B7 rs4 Avant. SUCH a beautiful car...However, I love my Arctic white B6 S4 Avant and plan to supercharge it to outrun rs4's!!! That's the plan anyway

[Scotty@Advanced]

It would require federalization which means a whole lot of money and possibly crash testing.

[Unleaded20T]

It would require federalization which means a whole lot of money and possibly crash testing.

party pooper.... lol

j/k

[xalfa]

How about B7 A4/S4 Avant to RS4 Avant???

No.

[Mr.Wrong]

How about B7 A4/S4 Avant to RS4 Avant???

Already been done, infact by a member on this board. B7 S4 Avant to RS4 Avant exterior only though, and the car is up for grabs as well.

[xalfa]

Already been done, infact by a member on this board. B7 S4 Avant to RS4 Avant exterior only though, and the car is up for grabs as well.

Not of interest. We are talking about an actual RS4 here, not a skin job.

[Mr.Wrong]

Not of interest. We are talking about an actual RS4 here, not a skin job.

It would be technically RS4, if you swap in drivetrain which I believe he still has as well. At least that's probably going to be the cheapest option... It's going to be quite a task, to say the least, to get one from overseas.

[basemntboy]

It would be technically RS4, if you swap in drivetrain which I believe he still has as well. At least that's probably going to be the cheapest option... It's going to be quite a task, to say the least, to get one from overseas.

That was my thinking. I had not realized it had been done already... Found the classified, pretty sweet....But I do see the point of it being just a skin job.... So would you do the opposite swap then? Instead of putting RS4 parts on an S4 put an Avant roof and back end on an RS4?

[xalfa]

It would be technically RS4, if you swap in drivetrain.

"Technically" you would be correct, if you don't really care about what defines an RS4. There are a few critical differences beyond the drivetrain. Again, S4 Avant conversions, while impressive undertakings, do not qualify for this thread.

The original car must have been produced at Neckarsulm as a B7 RS4 Avant or sedan and now be street legal and registered in the US in Avant form. That is what we are looking for here.

Apologies if I wasn't clear.

[xalfa]

So would you do the opposite swap then? Instead of putting RS4 parts on an S4 put an Avant roof and back end on an RS4?

That works.

[Scotty@Advanced]

so you can either have the car federalized or pull a RS4 shell from Europe and swap parts with a USA VIN?

[chris@fifteen52]

I know that there is at least 1. It is black and has a stage 3 APR SC, I think he is in VA and I think NGP installed the SC.

[RS4bro]

Really, if you know him ask him to post here.

[Mr.Wrong]

I know that there is at least 1. It is black and has a stage 3 APR SC, I think he is in VA and I think NGP installed the SC.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...S4-Avant-in-MD

[xalfa]

Good thread ^

Thanks

[Scotty@Advanced]

The black RS4 is probably owned by a foreign dignitary and is on a temporary import.

There are several legal ways to bring an RS4 over however all are temporary in nature.

Citizens of another country are allowed to bring over a vehicle temporarily for personal use in a vacation or work (I think it's 6 months or less).
Foreign military and dignitaries are allowed temporary import and use of their vehicles.
US military stationed in the USA temporarily with permanent station overseas.
Companies are allowed to bring non conforming vehicles over temporarily for research and testing.

There are a couple others

[scmguru]

I think you can bring one over as a track car only as well

[koolade9]

How about B7 A4/S4 Avant to RS4 Avant???

I'll do this one day, gutting my RS and moving everything to an A4 avant shell...and all the haters and nay-sayers can say whatever they want, as it won't impede my smile, or the dropped jaws.

[MattboyR32]

or you can wait till it is 25 years old, then it is classed as "vintage" and can be imported easier than the aforementioned options

[basemntboy]

or you can wait till it is 25 years old, then it is classed as "vintage" and can be imported easier than the aforementioned options

I'd die of anticipation! lol Although..........the RS2 on the other hand is only a few years away.....

[WerkzRS]

there is a way.......if you have a contact (dependable) who can import it to a central american country and then drive it from there....sketchy, but i know one guy did it now has a sweet right hand drive japanese mitsu evo and its registered in CA...

question is do EU cars vin have 17 digits?

[Scotty@Advanced]

there is a way.......if you have a contact (dependable) who can import it to a central american country and then drive it from there....sketchy, but i know one guy did it now has a sweet right hand drive japanese mitsu evo and its registered in CA...

question is do EU cars vin have 17 digits?

You can also ship a car partially disassembled, and reassemble it in the USA, however it is still required to meet us standards.

There are a number of ways to get cars in. But that does not mean they can stay. A guy in Minnesota (IIRC) lost two skylines even though they were registered.

Most newer EU cars have a 17 digit VIN but they do not adhere to the USA FMVSS standards. They generally follow the ISO 3779 standard.

[jlaudio]

I know someone in Canton CT with a rs6 avant imported from europe, specifically the netherlands i think. from what i heard from him the country of origin dicates a lot of the requirements when the car hits our shores. certain EU countries carry like requirements for cars sold in their country.

[Scotty@Advanced]

The C5 RS6 Avant is on the approved list to be federalized. There are a handful in the USA legally.

Also regardless of where the vehicle comes from it is required to adhere to Federal Motor Vehicle Saftey standards and must meet EPA emission standards. The whole thing is a really convoluted process and designed to make it prohibitively expensive for the average Joe to import cars them selves. Thank you Mercedes Benz USA.. Prior to 1988 anyone could import a vehicle and perform the necessary modifications, but MB-USA decided that this was cutting into their bottom line and lobbied congress to change the law.

Here's some good info on vehicle importation.

Importing a Vehicle from CPB
EPA importing BS

[MattboyR32]

Isn't there also a "temporary registration certificate" you can get from the DMV. I think it means you can only drive it for 20 days at a stretch or something like that, and they are not cheap. I heard that when the first C63 Black Series came out, someone in Newport Beach imported one and drives it on these temp registrations. Not a cheap option either, and not for a daily driver. By the way, the previous head of Audi USA had the twin turbo V10 RS6 Avant and I think Paul "what'shisface" from Fast & Furious has one as well.... Got enough $$$ you can make it happen!

[troyguitar]

Paying for the car in Euros also makes it that much more expensive right off the bat.

I'd still consider doing it though since Audi has given up on the manual transmission. B7 RS4 Avant = the last fast MT wagon from Audi, probably ever.

[rennsport]

I'll do this one day, gutting my RS and moving everything to an A4 avant shell...and all the haters and nay-sayers can say whatever they want, as it won't impede my smile, or the dropped jaws.

I don't doubt you will do this. The haters are just jealous they don't have the ability/balls to do it. Would be a fun build and great time to upgrade any known problem/out-dated features. Question though...moving everything to a A4 shell I assume you would install the RS flared fenders including rear quarters? Cut and weld in the sedan quarters or use euro RS4 Avant complete rear quarters? OR........ would you go for the "sleeper look" and forgo the wide-body?

I really think a good custom shop could do these conversions and sell 10-15 of these based on how many people who want a manual RS4 Avant in the states.

[Scotty@Advanced]

Isn't there also a "temporary registration certificate" you can get from the DMV. I think it means you can only drive it for 20 days at a stretch or something like that, and they are not cheap. I heard that when the first C63 Black Series came out, someone in Newport Beach imported one and drives it on these temp registrations. Not a cheap option either, and not for a daily driver. By the way, the previous head of Audi USA had the twin turbo V10 RS6 Avant and I think Paul "what'shisface" from Fast & Furious has one as well.... Got enough $$$ you can make it happen!

I'm not sure about specifics state regs but for the feds, you can bring over stuff temporarily however use is generally very restricted. I've brought several cars over on a temporary basis. However once the time is up the car has to be exported or pressed into Mountain Dew cans.

Paul Walker had a C5 Rs6 Avant, one of the few legal ones, and Audi being a car company is allowed to temporarily bring cars over for testing etc.

[RS4bro]

Great Thread!

I had heard (rumor) that it is easier to bring the car to Canada and then bring it into the states? I had also heard that bring in cars from Canada (cars that were made for Canada that is) can be easier as well.

[koolade9]

I don't doubt you will do this. The haters are just jealous they don't have the ability/balls to do it. Would be a fun build and great time to upgrade any known problem/out-dated features. Question though...moving everything to a A4 shell I assume you would install the RS flared fenders including rear quarters? Cut and weld in the sedan quarters or use euro RS4 Avant complete rear quarters? OR........ would you go for the "sleeper look" and forgo the wide-body?

I really think a good custom shop could do these conversions and sell 10-15 of these based on how many people who want a manual RS4 Avant in the states.

The idea is to source OEM rear quarter panels and bumper...the expensive bit. I travel to Deutschland quite a bit and have some avenues to get large parts shipped which may cut some costs. I'd source a 2nd set of rear doors as well, a euro front bumper, and new front fenders. When all is said and done, I should have an RS4 avant, and a wide-body A4 in the driveway that'll be sold. The avant will have to be an '07 ibis 2.0tqm for things to go smoothly with the swap/paint and the subsequent registration. There's more to it, but that's the gist of it. As for timing, won't be in the next year, but eventually.

[Scotty@Advanced]

Great Thread!

I had heard (rumor) that it is easier to bring the car to Canada and then bring it into the states? I had also heard that bring in cars from Canada (cars that were made for Canada that is) can be easier as well.

It doesn't matter how the car gets here it still has to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. But to get it into Canada you have to have the vehicle conform to Canadian specs which for all intents and purposes is impossible.

It may be easier to physically get the vehicle into the USA but you still have to have it federalized to make it legal.

However there are certain cars built to Canadian specs that can be imported without federalization but that is on a year/make/model basis.

Canada also has a 15 year import rule, any vehicle over 15 years of age can be drought in without having to meet Canadian specs, but in the USA it's 25 years so you still have to go through the federalization process.

[zmon]

am i totally off base or if the body and engine are already in the states it other form, in this case b7 a4 wagon and 4.2l v8 in the US rs4, then it is much easier to federalize and import?

[RS4bro]

Thanks Scott.

It doesn't matter how the car gets here it still has to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. But to get it into Canada you have to have the vehicle conform to Canadian specs which for all intents and purposes is impossible.

It may be easier to physically get the vehicle into the USA but you still have to have it federalized to make it legal.

However there are certain cars built to Canadian specs that can be imported without federalization but that is on a year/make/model basis.

Canada also has a 15 year import rule, any vehicle over 15 years of age can be drought in without having to meet Canadian specs, but in the USA it's 25 years so you still have to go through the federalization process.

[xalfa]

am i totally off base or if the body and engine are already in the states it other form, in this case b7 a4 wagon and 4.2l v8 in the US rs4, then it is much easier to federalize and import?

I like how you're thinking here, amigo.

[xalfa]

It doesn't matter how the car gets here it still has to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. But to get it into Canada you have to have the vehicle conform to Canadian specs which for all intents and purposes is impossible.

Scott, are you familiar with the term "buzzkill"?

[ShockwaveVT]

am i totally off base or if the body and engine are already in the states it other form, in this case b7 a4 wagon and 4.2l v8 in the US rs4, then it is much easier to federalize and import?

This may be wrong (or incomplete) but I believe the North American market wagons have different rear bumpers than the European / Rest of World market wagons. Since no RS4's were built to the NA specs they would have to go through crash testing to prove they meet US/CAN rear bumper requirements. (which they won't.. the bumpers had to be redesigned for US/CAN market). These regulations changed in 2002/2003 or thereabouts in a way that requires bigger rear bumpers on most euro wagons. My '03 Jetta Wagon is on the wrong side of the rule change, which means no aftermarket rear valences for me. Unless I do a swap for an '02 bumper....

koolade's plan to fully mod a US-market A4 wagon is unfortunately the best way to go since it will have the correct US/CAN bumper (or at least the VIN to match such a bumper...)

[Scotty@Advanced]

Scott, are you familiar with the term "buzzkill"?

Yeah but I'm just the messenger.. Thank our wonderful Government!