I have been wondering for a while now...why cant you just go over to Germany, and buy a euro spec M3 there and ship it back? (just like European delivery) I would think that most people buying a M3 could afford to do this if they wanted to.
Or am I missing something? Will they not let you purchase one?
Then on the other hand I know plenty of people in the military that have euro spec german cars they brought home...Ive even taken a ride in a right-drive VW GTI, in the US, it was cool! There arent many differences in the euro and US E46 M3 but I bet quite a few M3 buyers in this forum, including myself, wouldnt mind 10 more horses, the 19 inchers, the cross drilled brake discs, and especially the launch option on the SMGII (COOL!).
Anyone have a answer for this?

Hey,
The reason that people dont get euro spec M3's is because when you order your car with the European delivery program that BMW offer, your car is a U.S. spec. The reason for this is because the car is built and sold with the intention of ultimately ending up in the U.S.

The reason that people dont just buy a euro spec M3 and ship it over is becaue the cost of doing it is not worth it. Not only that, but the cars in Europe dont have to meet such high polution standards and that is also the reason why they have 10HP more than the U.S. spec cars. So, technically, they would be illegal.

I hope this clears thing up for you.

-Steve

I know about the exhaust and everything but its probably not hard to get your hands on a US spec catalytic coverter, get it to pass pollution checks, register it and put the euro stuff back on. My uncle does this with his ferrari. My question is just is it possible, cost not being an issue. Because it costs the same to do BMW's european delivery as it does to buy your own plane ticket and go over there, which you have to do anyways i think, and you have to pay car shipping w/euro deliver too.

Well if you can, i would say definately do it. I wanted to do that originally, but my dad said that he wouldnt be willing to go through all the trouble and paying the extra costs seeing as the differences between euro and U.S. spec are so minute. If the engines were different as they were with the e36 M3, he may have considered. But, if you want your car to have the euro spec brakes and 19" wheels, you can buy them from TMS and you will have a euro spec M3, except for the catalyst and launch control if your car has SMG II

Yeah I was actually just looking at the TMS stuff last night but the reason I really want the euro is cause of the S6 launch option on the SMGII. Why didnt they include it here??? I read at BMW's international webpage that they thought about it and decided it was "inapropriate" for the US market. WHAT?! inapropriate? come on...
Well I want to go to europe, and especially germany anyways.