thrash;248093 wrote:
Well, because putting a jdm/euro motor in a US VIN still leaves you with a car with a US VIN

As far as if it is legal or not-- I don't actually think it is. But someone would need to be seriously irate to even notice.

It's legal, as long as u have every little piece of paperwork, and it passes emissions testing, etc.... Unless u live in MN, ND, probably most of the midwest, u can pretty much do whatever the hell u want to ur car...

zbrown;247666 wrote:
I always thought 1500 for first offense.... I dunno though

yeah it very well could be, but i think like your 3rd time you get fucked by the dick of the law

and i think if THE MAN finds died diesel in your semi your fucked, but i think if your pickup gets checked they aren't as gay about things. i know me setting in line at the local wheat growers elevator in one of the petes, they come around every so often and check your fuel

As far as if it is legal or not-- I don't actually think it is. But someone would need to be seriously irate to even notice.

KA-T_240;247911 wrote:
So why is it so easy to put a JDM motor in a car????????????

Diesel technology in Europe is 5-10 years ahead of what we have being sold in the U.S.

Because most of the time its not taken to get tested for emissions, otherwise most of the time a JDM engine swap isn't "legal", but states like ours that dont test cars for that dont really care...

thrash;247716 wrote:
For a private individual to get a euro-spec motor into the US, you need to go through a registered EPA importer and submit the car to tests totalling between $11,000 and $13,000. Any modifications required to the car to actually make it pass are extra money out of your pocket.

This is for an engine difference only; the car body must already be something that is sold in the US.

The specific example I am thinking of is the 1992+ BMW M5 euro spec. The USA car was a model year 91 USA car with an S38B36 engine. In 1992 european models got the S38B38 spec motor, which was the same engine with coil packs, a revised crank hub, 200cc extra displacement, and some different cam settings.

There are a handful of of the 3.8 liter 92+ M5s in the USA, and all of them had to pay this outrageous surcharge for EPA approval. Not the first guy that did it. Every guy that imported one.

It costs an individual over $10k to get a euro-spec motor. It costs the manufacturer over $100k to do type approval. It has nothing to do with keeping the best stuff for themselves; the USA is BMW's largest market and also BMW's largest ///M car market. I'm sure they'd be happy to not engineer things twice if they could avoid it.

Like I say about everything -- the government is fucking it up for us.

Under a thrash presidency, vehicle import restrictions for individuals would be abolished. The state government already has laws saying what constitutes a "vehicle" on ND roads (turn signals, headlights, height of bumpers, etc). No need for the feds to make everything dumber for everyone.

So why is it so easy to put a JDM motor in a car????????????

Diesel technology in Europe is 5-10 years ahead of what we have being sold in the U.S.

kylush;247761 wrote:
If the JDM models were offered here in the states and readily available I don't think people would think they were near as cool.

Would kinda take the "mad tyte" out of "mad tyte JDM" huh.

DaveH;247636 wrote:
I dunno, with my programmer on the 85hp tune my truck is around 300 rwhp and 640 rwtq. It's pretty fun to drive.

:icon_rr:
Sorry, was referring to cars regarding the two engine choices.

bubba;247736 wrote:
I'm sure there's a bigger market that u think... I know most people with civics and integras would much rather buy the JDM counterpart if it was available, and i'm sure it goes the same way for the majority of the rest of the import and euro crowd, not to mention some of the fuel efficiency and luxury market as well... But then again if that stuff was offered, then the american manufacturers would definately be fucked...

If the JDM models were offered here in the states and readily available I don't think people would think they were near as cool.

MisterCMK;247729 wrote:
Wowzers, you just rescued the Big 3 with that idea. Why didn't they think of it?

Oh wait, it won't sell. Yes, there are people here who want them, but it is foolish to cater to a small market in the grand scheme of things.

I'm sure there's a bigger market that u think... I know most people with civics and integras would much rather buy the JDM counterpart if it was available, and i'm sure it goes the same way for the majority of the rest of the import and euro crowd, not to mention some of the fuel efficiency and luxury market as well... But then again if that stuff was offered, then the american manufacturers would definately be fucked...

KA-T_240;247632 wrote:
Yes, but why do the companies not bring the technology they have in their EDM models to the US???? They bring over detuned models that get less performance, the fuel economy is lower.....

Wowzers, you just rescued the Big 3 with that idea. Why didn't they think of it?

Oh wait, it won't sell. Yes, there are people here who want them, but it is foolish to cater to a small market in the grand scheme of things.

This is for an engine difference only; the car body must already be something that is sold in the US.

The specific example I am thinking of is the 1992+ BMW M5 euro spec. The USA car was a model year 91 USA car with an S38B36 engine. In 1992 european models got the S38B38 spec motor, which was the same engine with coil packs, a revised crank hub, 200cc extra displacement, and some different cam settings.

There are a handful of of the 3.8 liter 92+ M5s in the USA, and all of them had to pay this outrageous surcharge for EPA approval. Not the first guy that did it. Every guy that imported one.

It costs an individual over $10k to get a euro-spec motor. It costs the manufacturer over $100k to do type approval. It has nothing to do with keeping the best stuff for themselves; the USA is BMW's largest market and also BMW's largest ///M car market. I'm sure they'd be happy to not engineer things twice if they could avoid it.

Like I say about everything -- the government is fucking it up for us.

Under a thrash presidency, vehicle import restrictions for individuals would be abolished. The state government already has laws saying what constitutes a "vehicle" on ND roads (turn signals, headlights, height of bumpers, etc). No need for the feds to make everything dumber for everyone.

Course then again, most of the cars with the better features, parts, etc... wont pass crash testing, emissions, etc...

beachbum_jon;247664 wrote:
my uncle actually got caught running died diesel in his pickup, the officer that pulled him over (not the currier inforcement surprisingly) let him off with a warning or something being his record was completely clean, although i think in sd, im not sure about nd, you can get like a $10k fine or some ridiculous shit

I always thought 1500 for first offense.... I dunno though

Grr;247647 wrote:
or out of the farm tank, like most of us......

With the outrageous diesel mark ups at the pump right now probably be seeing this more often. Normally markup is less than $0.10, average now since prices have been falling is close to $0.60. Crazy when the tax is only $0.474, I guess some are fooled when the truck stops are saying they aren't making money.

Grr;247647 wrote:
or out of the farm tank, like most of us......

shhhh....

haha

You get shitty diesel filling up at gas stations. Go to truck stops and get your diesel where they actually sell lots of it.

• Shitty gas
• Shitty laws

The 2nd point really encompasses a lot of things.. like the fact that each imported powertrain variant (i.e. engine blah + transmission foo) must be independantly tested for EPA compliance... at some 6 digit cost to the manufacturuer. Each chassis has to be crash tested, and the tests are different.

There are some rules like the car has to have a catalytic converter... no matter how clean it runs if you sniff it.. or that it needs air-injection and EGR systems... no matter how clean the engine runs.

In general, to comply with US emissions standards and bad US gas you lose a little fuel economy and a little horsepower. Then you add in all the vehicle weight... USA spec cars are very heavily optioned whe nthey make it over here, since you have to justify a higher price that was forced on you via the extra stuff you have to go through to get the car legally sellable here.

I drove a year 2004 BMW with no cruise control when i was in germany. And i think it had crank windows in the back but power windows in the front. (This was a common setup on Euro-spec BMWs to save cost).

KA-T_240;247639 wrote:
^lol!

Zac..... you need a bigger turbo on that thing

I don't think the gassers would appreciate even deeper penetration, haha
.
.
.
but seriously it needs something bigger badly, after the injector install i had to pull a bunch of fuel out of the pump because boost and especially EGT's were crazy on the stocker....

even with fuel backed off i can still bury the 1600* pyro within 5 seconds

give me a nice phatshaft 62-14 and it would be super happy

Zac..... you need a bigger turbo on that thing

DaveH;247636 wrote:
I dunno, with my programmer on the 85hp tune my truck is around 300 rwhp and 640 rwtq. It's pretty fun to drive.

:icon_rr:

agreed....

I like living in the realm where 100hp+ injectors and oversize tires help my MPG

I pull 20-22mpg in a 3/4 ton, 4wd on I-state @ 80mph.......and still give it to the gassers in the anus

with DDP injectors, fuel plate, and other goodies

3_Series;247628 wrote:
Diesel may have the mileage advantage, but gas = more fun to drive, at least if you like revs.

When comparing the two you either get torque or revs, but not both.

I dunno, with my programmer on the 85hp tune my truck is around 300 rwhp and 640 rwtq. It's pretty fun to drive.

:icon_rr: