Middle East Market Caprices
Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 11:30 am
So, here is a discussion topic which could have a real world benefit for those of us who like these cars:
What are the fact-based challenges of importing a 2011-2017 middle east market (let's call the "MEM") Caprice into the US? (Please, no speculation without definite facts/references.)
There are, of course, many potential aspects to the question. I am NOT focusing upon the shipping aspect, rather on the characteristics of the MEM cars which would and/or would not make them readily US market compliant.
How different from US-spec are the MEM cars? What ARE the specific differences.
To be able to import a car <25 years of age into the US, it has be able to satisfy emission and collision requirements. There is a precedent for Caprices already having completed NHTSA safety/collision testing. The imported PPVs had to satisfy that part.
1. The MEM cars are already LHD, so that would seem to be a non-issue.
2. Instrumentation is in kilometers instead of miles, but that isn't/shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Canadian market cars which come in km/hr, but otherwise conform to US standards are commonly imported into the US.
3. The engines/drivetrains in MEM cars are (I think) the same: LFX 3.6L or L77 6.0L.
4. The MEM cars have passenger restraints and airbags.
That would seem to leave two categories: emissions and exterior illumination/marker/repeater lighting.
Can anyone speak knowledgeably about how different the MEM car emissions are?
- Do they share the same hardware (e.g., catalytic converters, O2 sensors, etc.)?
- Is the engine programming/software any different?
- Different ECM?
How about exterior lighting?
- Do the MEM cars have the same exterior markers/blinkers/repeaters as US market cars?
Did I miss anything?
What are the fact-based challenges of importing a 2011-2017 middle east market (let's call the "MEM") Caprice into the US? (Please, no speculation without definite facts/references.)
There are, of course, many potential aspects to the question. I am NOT focusing upon the shipping aspect, rather on the characteristics of the MEM cars which would and/or would not make them readily US market compliant.
How different from US-spec are the MEM cars? What ARE the specific differences.
To be able to import a car <25 years of age into the US, it has be able to satisfy emission and collision requirements. There is a precedent for Caprices already having completed NHTSA safety/collision testing. The imported PPVs had to satisfy that part.
1. The MEM cars are already LHD, so that would seem to be a non-issue.
2. Instrumentation is in kilometers instead of miles, but that isn't/shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Canadian market cars which come in km/hr, but otherwise conform to US standards are commonly imported into the US.
3. The engines/drivetrains in MEM cars are (I think) the same: LFX 3.6L or L77 6.0L.
4. The MEM cars have passenger restraints and airbags.
That would seem to leave two categories: emissions and exterior illumination/marker/repeater lighting.
Can anyone speak knowledgeably about how different the MEM car emissions are?
- Do they share the same hardware (e.g., catalytic converters, O2 sensors, etc.)?
- Is the engine programming/software any different?
- Different ECM?
How about exterior lighting?
- Do the MEM cars have the same exterior markers/blinkers/repeaters as US market cars?
Did I miss anything?