justandyc..  CBP can NOW hold up to 60 days.. after they detain.. and BEFORE SEIZURE.. NOW after  60 days. if NOT SEIZED. it is automatic release..   if CBP recalls an entry..on a ( car) after you pick it from the port..  you MUST take it back to them.. or they will come TAKE it from you. and in most cases NEVER get it back..  I get release  ( called Tally or pick up order) in about an HOUR.. sure does NOT take 2-3 days..BUT I have a bond.. and CBP will just bill me for storage.. VACIS  ect..  when did you become an arm chair expert?/ stay at holiday inn last night and now you KNOW it all about importing?? Or been  taking  BAD advise from EX dealer/ EX broker in LA?? later bc

Don't be surprised if you get a storage bill from the shipping line as most ports anything after 10 days is around $15 a day no cash no checks money orders only i was told. BTW they kept that car well over 30 days and finally released it with a large storage bill paid.
Make sure everything is correct when you leave the port and make a copy of the gate release because when you come to title the car you don't want the tag office to say "it is showing still on customs hold" BTDT, the gate release (which they keep) is proof of release. It is a PITA to take care of any customs business once the car has left the port they can sometimes be most uncoperative which is putting it mildly.
Good luck with the cars you seem to have a good grip on the situation.

Just to be clear, I'm only relaying what is happening to me right now in Savannah.  I'm sure over the span of 44 years procedures & people change .  CBP can detain (hold without reason stated) an imported vehicle for up to 30 days- I know this because they sent me the "notice of detainment" stating this. At the moment they are over 30 days detainment on one of my Minis so I asked for release.  Actual full release involves 3 or 4 parties- Shipping line, Port, CBP (and a broker if you are using one).  CBP is top dog, when they "detain" it stops the process, when they release it starts the process back up- so I'm waiting for Shipping Line, Port and broker to process the Delivery Order which can take a couple days. Hopefully that makes more sense to those reading.  The act of CBP detainment moves the vehicle into their special holding area. During the 30 day detainment window they can release or seize.  At 30 days they are suppose to choose one or the other. On this particular shipment of 6 cars (2 minis) CBP released all cars on a Tuesday in July so I was able to get a Delivery Order.  Then they changed their minds a week later and detained all cars.  Sadly I only picked up one of the cars before they changed their minds so 5 cars were detained.  Two weeks after that they released 4 cars and held one mini.  Now it's 3 weeks later and I asked if they will release it since the 30 days is up.  TLDR- importing involves several 'releases', Customs is top release dog.  If you get all releases & your Delivery Order -pick up ASAP-  Oh, and fyi, the other releases are basically just checking that bills have been paid.

just andy .. there is NOT soon to be release option with CBP ( US CUSTOMS)  it is either RELEASED or on intensive manifest hold  or on VACIS hold..( vehicle and cargo inspection system)  no in between..  I have ONLY been importing minis for the last 44 years.. what would I know about this  ?? later bc ps  we call VACIS. as the car / truck being in JAIL with No bond..

I did contact BMIHT to get certificates on these Longbridge minis, they returned my payment & apologized saying no production documents for Longbridge in '91~'92 were available.  It amazes me that records from this time period are missing, gone without a trace..

Just a short update, the first detained '92 SAXXN Mini was OKed by DOT, the others will be released shortly. Basically I presented info that sequence numbers lower than 049349 were made before May 1992.  All the Minis I bought were lower than that, even though one was first registered in Japan on November '92.  So happy that was sorted out.

malsal.. the BMHT certs have date of dispatch..  I would have thought you could get one of these from BMHT archives..on JBM,s. I know now  you MUST have photo of the classic mini,, and  vins of  car. I am told now.. this is why I stay away from 1992 productions cars.. and have to remember CBP have SEIZED  dozens of classic minis from David Ellison of Mountain minis  ( UK) in last few years.. and this got CBP looking very closely at all Classic minis and then there is the land rover defenders fiasco in Wilmington NC.. with Dr Aaron with 78 land rovers getting SEIZED  in 2014.. later bc

Good luck on that Longbridge is long gone and now a park. Years ago i had a car held at customs and the officer did not believe me he was fully convinced the records were still at Longbridge and even thought they made the BMW Mini's there.

I have found that the EURO vins  17 digits are different sequence than USA ones.. I even have to do vin inspections here EVEN if USA title on NON US version.. and classic minis..   btw..I think.. ROVER
did NOT start 17 digits vins until early  1980.. .  [email protected]

hey shoot me your emails

Very true on the bill of sale -if- the VIN will go into the DMV system. If it won't then you need the proper import docs & have a police officer verify VIN on docs & match VIN on car.  The issue Customs had with my SAXXN cars was DOT 25 yo. proof, as they are 1992 cars.  Even if you have month & year on your Export Certificate the CBP officer can request a DOT review, and DOT doesn't go by EC dates- they want to find production records.  That said, the DOT guy I've talked with is very reasonable. I'm showing him all the online Mini resources. Should have some good news very shortly.

what a tosser.. 

hahaha I feel threatened.....Is that grounds to get you banned again?? Didnt know that physical violence is allowed on these boards

Italian wanker..  I might be an old timer.. but can still flatten you like pancake with my right hook.. later bc

You need your bifocals old timer.....I have 3 currently. I have imported several others. You just LOVE me dont you. I am  not looking for a relationship sir.....So please off the nuts

italian wanker.. oh boy you have imported  a total of THREE JDM minis.. Malsal and I have both imported about 500 each in last 20 years..   can of hard you to do. since you are only 15 years old. as of today.. later bc

I import them all the time still. I have 3 at the current moment and i special ordered an SPI for a customer. If you need any help let me know. Talk soon Handsomerob

No idea Bill. They only did it for a couple of years around the time the 1275's phased out the 998's they used the SAXX numbers.

malsal.. so why did Japan DOT  do the 99x on the minis in the first place?/ since it has 17 digit with WMI from rover ?? bc

I think that would be impossible to obtain on a 99X vin as they were stamped in Japan, but do able on a SAXX vin for sure.