Importing a RS4 Avant

[Fizikal S4Avant]

Has anyone imported or looked into importing a RS4 Avant from over seas? I would like the power, wide body, Recaros of a RS4 but I don't want a sedan. I know people import cars from Japan but wasn't quite sure how it works from Europe.

[kneel]

I think lots of money but if your gonna import a car from europe. ...............rs6 avant!

[cerfus]

this has been talked about forever.

bottom line, unless you have well over 100,000$ to blow on it, it ain't gonna happen.

[Fizikal S4Avant]

I was thinking of trying to find a used one to save some $.

[mcb001982]

I work for a highline dealer in NYC and export cars all around the world - the only question which I can't answer is how much will it cost to put it through DOT certification? Find out that answer and if it isn't much then you can do it for less $$$ than people are thinking. Shipping is nothing $4,500.00 at most in your own container with insurance, you could also do it a little cheaper roll on roll off but the car would be exposed to any and all elements - not worth it in my book. Here are a few listings. Another thing you will want to check on is warranty and you can do that by simply calling AOA. I know for instance with Porsche they have a world warranty which means if the car is new or within the parameters of what ever that countries warranty is it will follow the car. It can be done, but will take time and $$.

Ebay is not the bible or the best place to look but it will give you a good idea of what market is in other countries for the car.

http://cgi.ebay.de/Audi-RS4-Avant-4-...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audi-RS4-Avant...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-56-Audi-R...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-07-Audi-R...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-Audi-RS4-...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-07-Audi-R...3A1|240%3A1318

This would be the easiest car out of the UK since it is left hand driver.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LHD-Audi-RS4-4...3A1|240%3A1318

no reserve auction

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-AUDI-RS4-...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audi-RS4-2007-...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2007-07-Audi-R...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-56-Audi-R...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2006-Audi-RS4-...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Audi-RS4_W0QQi...3A1|240%3A1318

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDI-RS4-2006-...3A1|240%3A1318

[B528QM]

You can OEM widebody an S4 Avant, VF Supercharge it, get an RS4 interior, do suspension and brakes and still have cash left... In the end it will be faster then an RS4 ;)

[SleeperAvant]

You can OEM widebody an S4 Avant, VF Supercharge it, get an RS4 interior, do suspension and brakes and still have cash left... In the end it will be faster then an RS4 ;)

There it is.

[mcb001982]

You can OEM widebody an S4 Avant, VF Supercharge it, get an RS4 interior, do suspension and brakes and still have cash left... In the end it will be faster then an RS4 ;)

How much $$?

[d.p]

How much $$?

A fair amount. Do the math, 12K for an S4 avant, 7K for the parts, 10K for the body? 5K for wheels, 3K brakes, 8K for VF?

45K roughly.

[mcb001982]

A fair amount. Do the math, 12K for an S4 avant, 7K for the parts, 10K for the body? 5K for wheels, 3K brakes, 8K for VF?

45K roughly.

Are you figuring only spending $12k for a S4 Avant? I know it will be easier and have better resale value if you actually bring in a real RS4 Avant.

[mcb001982]

So at the current asking price and with todays exchange rate you would need to pay.

38,500.00 GBP = 57,114.52 USD
United Kingdom Pounds United States Dollars
1 GBP = 1.48349 USD 1 USD = 0.674084 GBP

For this car.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LHD-Audi-RS4-4...3A1|240%3A1318

Figure another $4,500 on the high side to get it here from port to port, figure about $5,000.00 on the very high side for DOT (only thing that needs to be changed to pass DOT is the cluster from kilometers to miles) and you're still doing ok. I think importing should be looked into.

[lookaught]

I agree it would be better to just put a widebody on a B7 S4 avant and supercharge it. Plus with the widebody it'll be all fresh paint so you'll have the chance to really take car of it.

I would guess $65,000 all said and done for that conversion. $25k car, 12k super, 15k widebody, 5k wheels, 3k suspension, 5k brakes.

Id much rather have that car than buy a $65,000 new car. You don't get much for $65k anymore....

[sickspeed]

theres a guy here in MD that has a red 2001 RS4 avant. apparently he linked up with a guy in the military who was shipping it back with him from germany but then the military guy's move changed or fell through but the car papaers were already signed so this other guy took it over and bought it for like 50k. its not a b8 rs4 but its still pretty rad and rare.

[d.p]

Are you figuring only spending $12k for a S4 Avant? I know it will be easier and have better resale value if you actually bring in a real RS4 Avant.

B5 S4 avant.

[d.p]

theres a guy here in MD that has a red 2001 RS4 avant. apparently he linked up with a guy in the military who was shipping it back with him from germany but then the military guy's move changed or fell through but the car papaers were already signed so this other guy took it over and bought it for like 50k. its not a b8 rs4 but its still pretty rad and rare.

I thought he bought it for 40K? It was for sale in FL on ebay.

[chrislane31]

You would also need to change the lights and I think you have to figure something out with the battery. I don't think having the battery inside the cabin is dot approved. I thought the B7 S4's have the battery in the trunk.

[mcb001982]

You would also need to change the lights and I think you have to figure something out with the battery. I don't think having the battery inside the cabin is dot approved. I thought the B7 S4's have the battery in the trunk.

The battery on a Porsche Cayenne is under the d/s front seat so the battery can be in the cabin and as long as the RS4 has xenon headlamps it will pass DOT.

[chrislane31]

but they are ecodes, aka not dot stamped

[doobiesdaddy]

C5 rs4=allroad with conversion.Your best bet is to get an allroad and do the rs4 conversion. you will get the wide body and the power of the 2.7t. You can tune this engine to rs4 spec and put in the recaros and bingo...you have a full on bastardized rs4..you will save a grip of loot if you do this instead of importing form Europe. Good Luck

[doobiesdaddy]

You would also need to change the lights and I think you have to figure something out with the battery. I don't think having the battery inside the cabin is dot approved. I thought the B7 S4's have the battery in the trunk.

rs6 battery is in the cabin

[ewytt]

I support all options posted on this thread.

[Fizikal S4Avant]

Thanks for everyones input. Let the countless hours of research begin...

[doobiesdaddy]

Thanks for everyones input. Let the countless hours of research begin...

Let us know how it works out for you

[lookaught]

Thanks for everyones input. Let the countless hours of research begin...

Do yourself a favor and research the DOT legalization for the B5 RS4. There was a copy of the ruling by the DOT stating that it could be imported... the list of shit they had to prove was adaptable to the US standards was really long and detailed. Wiring, the motronic system, bumpers, lamps, etc etc etc. It is really really expensive. If you aren't 100% serious about getting one then don't even bother with the research. You'll almost certainly need to hire a company with the knowledge to pitch the technical side of the differences and how they can be converted, adapted, or replaced to conform to DOT standards.

It is much more difficult than you think.

[btrichards]

hey there, its a pain in the ass to do, however not impossible. jk importers is the place to have the fed work done. it will take time and if you want the registration to be solid you need to have all the work done properly and with documentation. when i bought my car from josh decker he had done all the fed work. however registering the car in california was a different story. i had to go back and forth with sacramento head dmv office for about 5 months before things were all sorted out. taxes are a bitch too, especially if you insure the car for what its worth to you.

[MYDWAGON]

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/factmtop.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

[TDI]

MAYBE A VERRY STUPID QUESTION

I live in belgium
The dollar to euro conversion is verry interesting we you LIVE IN EUROPE
1 euro is 1.46 dollar today
so...why in the name of god import a euro rs4 to usa when you can buy a USA rs4 for less money?

[chris23]

MAYBE A VERRY STUPID QUESTION

I live in belgium
The dollar to euro conversion is verry interesting we you LIVE IN EUROPE
1 euro is 1.46 dollar today
so...why in the name of god import a euro rs4 to usa when you can buy a USA rs4 for less money?

The U.S. never got legally imported B5 RS4 avants and I don't think we get any RS avants anymore (damm mini vans)...not sure if we ever did (may be wrong here).
Have you been paying attention to the financial crisis and the way people in the U.S. treat money...Not many people are smart w/ money. Maybe it's the "I gots to have it" syndrome. They will pay any price to get it even if it's for the next 15yrs! : D lol

[iconoclast]

youd prolly save a lot of cash by converting a b7 s4 avant into an rs4 body, then buy a super charger from vf/awe and youre ahead the game financially and power wise.

[audifirst]

There was someone who imported B5 RS4 avant back couple years ago, from Europe, at that time it cost him close 65000 usd to make it legal on US roads not including the cost of buying the car, shipping, transport etc.. and later I guess got broke or something like that and was selling the car for over 120k,
the only way you can do it to save money if you have research company that does products for automotive industry, they give you 2-5 year lease to allow drive it on public roads.. but best bet is to contact Ministry of Transportation in your country/state and ask them questions...

[btrichards]

you have no idea what you are talking about

[iconoclast]

start here:

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPA...-27/i19118.htm

[Silvant]

you have no idea what you are talking about

oh. what. and, you do??? oh wait, you do...... haha....
retodd..

[btrichards]

silva, did you go to the bird today ?

[RenoAudiNV]

I tried importing an S3 a few years ago. Bottom line is i wasted lots of time and lots of other people's time because the S3 wasn't approved by DOT. Only way to get one was to be a foreign diplomat living in US or to have it as a show car. Listen to the guys on here who pointed out the DOT links talking about whether RS4 is allowed/convertable. If it is, then get ready to pay a shitload for all the paperwork and of course all the waiting. might as well trick an S4 Avant out and save yourself the gray hair.

[RAUDIS6]

Besides Richards, has anyone else done it recently. Not that I am even condisering it, but just curious.

[lookaught]

I tried importing an S3 a few years ago. Bottom line is i wasted lots of time and lots of other people's time because the S3 wasn't approved by DOT. Only way to get one was to be a foreign diplomat living in US or to have it as a show car. Listen to the guys on here who pointed out the DOT links talking about whether RS4 is allowed/convertable. If it is, then get ready to pay a shitload for all the paperwork and of course all the waiting. might as well trick an S4 Avant out and save yourself the gray hair.

There are other ways. I know someone in Pittsburgh with a genuine RS2 Avant imported on a tuning license that he managed to get titled permanently without any major complications. I think he was lucky and managed this in a time before computers ruled the world, but the point is that there are other ways.

I agree 100% though, pimping out an S4, even paying for the widebody, is definitely the better route.

[tdimpreza]

the b5 RS4 avant is Legal for importation- thats it thats the end of story. You need to locate one, or have an importer buy one for you. ship it and then DOT approve it. They have a the list of modifications on their site for what needs to be done to the particular car. - What a lot of people dont like is spending 5k-10k In PAPERWORK but if you want to play (with the REAL thing) you gotta pay. But they are right -a B5 s4 Avant with an oem widebody and Stg 3 would be more car than an OEM b5 RS4 and be cheaper. You can buy carbon fiber trim kits, you can buy custom recaros, you can buy suede steering wheels.

[boy412]

I work for a highline dealer in NYC and export cars all around the world - the only question which I can't answer is how much will it cost to put it through DOT certification? Find out that answer and if it isn't much then you can do it for less $$$ than people are thinking.

Spoke to a guy who has a B5 RS4. He says the guy he got it from paid $30k to get it over here. That's a LOT! Probably cheaper to move to Europe. Or just build your own with OE parts.

[iconoclast]

its going to cost you about ~15k to build an oem b5 rs4 on a b5 s4 chassis (just body, not including wheels and brakes).