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<misc>

     I'll try to keep this short:  In case you were serious about importing a 
     car from Yurrup (sorry your name is buried in the 8 million digests I got 
     while I was on paternity leave) - all that stuff the "importer" told you is 
     for cars already certified for the roads here in the US of A.  It works 
     both ways, if the only differences are lights, tires, and the color of the 
     emergency flasher button (yes, that is seriously required for Germany.)
     
     If it ain't already legal here on the roads, you have a problem.  If it was 
     built before 1/1/68, you're in.  If you never want to drive it on the road, 
     you're in.  If not, say in your case a Euro M3 or in my case my dreams of a 
     Lancia Delta Integrale, oh my, you're in trouble.
     
     Yes, I've seen all kinds of clever title tricks for non-emissions certified 
     or non-crash tested cars, but the bottom line is:  the feds can take it 
     away and crush it, no appeal.  If they happen to not catch it, someone who 
     got mad at you could easily turn you in, same result.  If you get away with 
     it, and ever have an accident, your insurance company refuses to pay. Ouch. 
     And it might be interesting to sell it, unless the next guy is willing to 
     take on your same risk, as well as trusting your honesty.
     
     Cars can be crash tested for you, and emissions certified for you, which is 
     darned expensive.  If it works.
     
     For a fine example, ask any of the Microsoft guys on the digest where their 
     boss's Porsche 959 is.  Last I checked, the richest guy on the planet was 
     still parking it in the oh-so-handy impound lot in San Francisco.  If he 
     can't use smarts or dollars to get around the rules, heaven help us 
     mortals.
     
     Mike 
     
     ps - can somebody who's built their own 2.7/2.8 stroker in an E30 eMail me 
     with comments?   thx.