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 Posted: Jun 22, 2018 06:08PM
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 Posted: Jun 22, 2018 07:27AM
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so where is the miserable one.??. with his shameless plugs. for folks that can NOT post on MM?? bc

 Posted: Jun 20, 2018 07:07AM
 Edited:  Jun 21, 2018 06:17AM
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mini177.. might try the car broker, www.miniguy.com seems to have some 96-2000 re vin minis on his website for sale today.. later bc

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 10:48PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thewerewolf
mini177.. ok. the ICI. independent commercial importer.. only one. G and K.. in santa ana .cali. 1,714.545.9503 talk to george.. they have been ICI for about 30 years.. NOT cheap. or just buy revin. plenty for sale in Cali.. later bc
Thanks for the info, appreciate it.

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 10:47PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fMix
Find and read through the other post from a few months ago about getting a newer Mini titled and registered in California.  I think it cost about $5000 in fees and work, if I remember correctly.  Plus the cost of the car.  You can also go for a 1992 or 1993 model and do the minor tweaks and changes to get the style of the 1998 car you are looking at.  Then you don't have to worry about the 25 year law either.
Searched the forum for “import” and “california” and i got very old posts. If you can find that post please send it through my way. Thanks

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 10:46PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spank
There are exemptions for Show and Display, and for Historically Significant Vehicles and vehicles for Race Use Only. But those are all tantamount to flea circumcisions-- you'll want to have someone experienced in that jump through the hoops for you. I believe others have done it for the last 500 Cooper Sport or Sportspack models.  Sometimes the exemption certificates expire and the vehicle must be destroyed or exported. I'm really not sure, though; I'm purely speculating based on what I think I've read elsewhere. If Volkswagen can retrofit cars with cheaty/illegal emissions, then surely someone with deep pockets can get a 1998 mini registered and compliant.

The '68-7'5 reference is for the grey / gray area smog exempt years-- While Smog exempt, they still have to meet CARB (California Air Resources Board) requirements and those are the sticky situations we hear about most on this forum. I now realize I was answering a question you didn't ask. Sorry about that.
Thanks for the information, helpful indeed. I mean if you want to go the illegal route then yes it is possible and I have seen it in person. Last year I was at a car show here in CA and I saw an obvious 90’s mini with stock sport fender flares and the newer steering wheel and and dash and on the windshield it said 1973 for the model year of the car. Yes, I am 100% sure it was a 90’s mini.

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 10:42PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by malsal
Someone posted here and got a newer Mini cleared and through the hoops for registering in California recently although it was expensive.
With regards to a 1998 i would say no chance it has to be 25 years old or older.
It has been said here many times with all the bureaucracy you have to go through just buy one already registered in California if you plan on keeping it there. 

Tried to find that post but all of them are pretty old. If you ever find that post please send it through my way.

the model I really like is a 1998 model and if I really want that one I will need to wait till it turns 25 years old and I agree there are plenty for sale here in CA, in fact my uncle just got a 1972 model and I am excited to drive it soon.

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 06:03PM
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Find and read through the other post from a few months ago about getting a newer Mini titled and registered in California.  I think it cost about $5000 in fees and work, if I remember correctly.  Plus the cost of the car.  You can also go for a 1992 or 1993 model and do the minor tweaks and changes to get the style of the 1998 car you are looking at.  Then you don't have to worry about the 25 year law either.

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 12:44PM
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mini177.. ok. the ICI. independent commercial importer.. only one. G and K.. in santa ana .cali. 1,714.545.9503 talk to george.. they have been ICI for about 30 years.. NOT cheap. or just buy revin. plenty for sale in Cali.. later bc

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 12:06PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thewerewolf
listen to spank.. you can NOT import a 1976 or newer to Cali.. with out going to ICI . commercial importer. which on a 1998 might cost you $20 large.. if it can even be done.. later bc
Yes, he suggested to register and title it somewhere else and then try Registering it in California. I did not know commercial importers are expensive. How much is the typical cost of direct import without going through importers?

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 09:09AM
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There are exemptions for Show and Display, and for Historically Significant Vehicles and vehicles for Race Use Only. But those are all tantamount to flea circumcisions-- you'll want to have someone experienced in that jump through the hoops for you. I believe others have done it for the last 500 Cooper Sport or Sportspack models.  Sometimes the exemption certificates expire and the vehicle must be destroyed or exported. I'm really not sure, though; I'm purely speculating based on what I think I've read elsewhere. If Volkswagen can retrofit cars with cheaty/illegal emissions, then surely someone with deep pockets can get a 1998 mini registered and compliant.

The '68-7'5 reference is for the grey / gray area smog exempt years-- While Smog exempt, they still have to meet CARB (California Air Resources Board) requirements and those are the sticky situations we hear about most on this forum. I now realize I was answering a question you didn't ask. Sorry about that.

 Posted: Jun 19, 2018 06:26AM
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Someone posted here and got a newer Mini cleared and through the hoops for registering in California recently although it was expensive.
With regards to a 1998 i would say no chance it has to be 25 years old or older.
It has been said here many times with all the bureaucracy you have to go through just buy one already registered in California if you plan on keeping it there. 

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Jun 18, 2018 07:59PM
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listen to spank.. you can NOT import a 1976 or newer to Cali.. with out going to ICI . commercial importer. which on a 1998 might cost you $20 large.. if it can even be done.. later bc

 Posted: Jun 18, 2018 07:39PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spank
The crossout is a feature to tell you that you have already read the post.

You can have whatever car you want sitting in your garage. It just may not travel on or over public roadways to get there otherwise it is subject to taxes.

The problem is 1968-1975 cars that are being titled and registered for the very first time in CA. Those are the ones we hear about on here when people have problems/troubles with their local DMV. The clearest advice anyone can offer you at this point is for you to go ahead and import it and then title & register it in another state. Once you have a physical title from an actual TITLE issuing state (recommendation is NOT to use a non-title state) and THEN you bring it into California, you are much less likely to encounter problems at your local DMV. And, if you DO end up with problems from the CA DMV, you at least still have a physical title in your hand from another state that signifies ownership and you can legally sell it on to someone else more simply, or have it sit in your CA garage as something you legally own but cannot use on CA roadways.
Thanks for your input. I thought that was the reason at first but then I read some other posts and they didn’t get crossed out for me, thanks for clarifying.

It is interesting why those specific model years are more likely to have problems here at CA dmv. I am looking at a 1998 model.

That is a wise thing to do to register and title it somewhere else and bring it here in CA, just need to see where is the closest state to CA that gives a title and smog check is not required.

 Posted: Jun 18, 2018 05:52PM
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The crossout is a feature to tell you that you have already read the post.

You can have whatever car you want sitting in your garage. It just may not travel on or over public roadways to get there otherwise it is subject to taxes.

The problem is 1968-1975 cars that are being titled and registered for the very first time in CA. Those are the ones we hear about on here when people have problems/troubles with their local DMV. The clearest advice anyone can offer you at this point is for you to go ahead and import it and then title & register it in another state. Once you have a physical title from an actual TITLE issuing state (recommendation is NOT to use a non-title state) and THEN you bring it into California, you are much less likely to encounter problems at your local DMV. And, if you DO end up with problems from the CA DMV, you at least still have a physical title in your hand from another state that signifies ownership and you can legally sell it on to someone else more simply, or have it sit in your CA garage as something you legally own but cannot use on CA roadways.

 Posted: Jun 18, 2018 05:26PM
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Why was this post crossed out? I am seeking advice from owners in CA if anyone ever could register their 1975+ in Califronia? And if not, is it possible to import a car and keep it in your garage as non-operational without intention of driving the car without registration.

 Posted: Jun 18, 2018 05:00PM
 Edited:  Jun 18, 2018 05:21PM
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Hi All,

I have always liked some of the later versions of classic minis (96-2000 model) and I would like to import one from either UK or Japan into the US if possible, California specifically! 

I know if the car is 25+ years old, it is exempted from EPA and DOT regs. However, I am aware that the car would still need to go through California emission testing to be able to be registered in CA. Is it possible to register a 1975+ Classic mini in California? Have you or anyone you know done it? 
If the car is not possible to be registered in CA, is it still possible to import it and keep it in your garage as non-operational, or the car would get crushed upon arrival? 
I’d appreciate if you share your knowlede about this matter.