Plastic Straw Man: 1998 BMW 325TDS
The E36 generation BMW 3-series was sold from 1992 through 1998 in North America — mostly as a two door coupe and 4-door sedan. They also offered a convertible version, but the wagon you see here is unfamiliar because they didn’t sell them new anywhere near the Gulf of America. BMW also neglected to bring any of their fabulous diesel engines to the land of freedom. That means what you see here is so totally Euro (5speed manual box, wagon, turbo diesel) that it is banned in California to this day…that’s something special. You can drive a diesel Humvee, a ’57 Chevy with an alcohol-fueled big block, or a vintage two-stroke motorcycle, but this thing is too dangerous for the citizens of California. “You’ll shoot your eye out!” This is the 20-round magazine filled with plastic straws of the automotive world. Find this 1998 BMW 325TDS offered for $11,500 in San Diego, CA.
From the seller:
1998 BMW 325tds
$11,500
Listed
a day ago
in San Diego, CA
About this vehicle
Driven 150,042 miles
Manual transmission
Exterior color: Silver · Interior color: Black
Fuel type: Diesel
Very good condition
Seller’s description
1998 BMW 325TDS – Euro car with 5spd gearbox, AC , front power windows. AC system serviced with new condenser and cabin filter. Recent oil change, air filter. fuel filter . great daily driver 33mpg. Not for CA registration. More info please contact me.
See a better way to drive with a euro trailer hitch? tips@dailyturismo.com
The 25 year law doesn’t cover this in California?
This is kinda the inverse of the usual situation with grey-market imports under 25 years old, where just because you can find a state that will title/reg it doesn’t mean it’s legal to the Feds.
In this case, just because it’s over 25 years old and thus legal to the Feds doesn’t mean it’s legal for Cali emissions. Generally, CARB requires that a car must have been sold new in the US market, with Cali emissions if such a variant was made, or (IIRC?) otherwise substantially identical to such a US/Cali model (e.g. Canadian cars identical to their US-market brethren) with the same engine and accompanying intake/exhaust/emissions equipment.
That said, there are some technicalities and exemptions this car might qualify for, tho’ you’d be taking a risk that the car might not pass their “Certificate of Conformance” test/inspection process:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/frequently-asked-questions?f%5B0%5D=topics:143&keywords=grey
So does that mean that all those JDM Kei cars aren’t California legal? Or the Toyota Century?
I could swear that I have seen pictures of them with California plates.