Illegal Imports - The Best Mercedes-Benzes Forbidden on US Soil

[@eddieplaysgh]

I recently picked up a 2005 E320 CDI for only $900. Owner said it "needed a trans" but it only needed a new conductor plate. Did the whole service myself and now I have a fantastic daily driver. I've never owned a diesel before but this car has completely converted me. The torque is on-demand and power delivery is smooth beyond belief. It's a shame we didn't / still don't get a lot of diesels in the states, especially high-quality pre-emissions diesels like the OM648. I plan on holding onto this car as long as I can.

[@fcpeuro]

OM648 is one of my personal favorites for the domestic market! I'm hoping to nab one of my own to tinker with in the near future. Excellent buy! -Danny

[@the8419]

That’s insane, although I’m assuming it’s high mileage.

[@eddieplaysgh]

@@the8419 eh, only 216k, not bad for a cdi. It was listed for $3k obo but I talked him down due to it “needing a trans” and a few other small things.

[@lucasdegraff2226]

Great buy

[@CarloPlaya]

Based

[@w204mikull]

This guy knows more about benzes than most techs at the dealerships.

[@fcpeuro]

😁That's why we call him our "Resident Mercedes Expert/Nerd"

[@ndg49]

You got it.

[@YoungFrankMatthews]

Fun fact: Doug was not the 1st celebrity to bring the G wagon cabriolet to the states it was actually Lil Kim the female rapper who had one in the early 2000 which I believe was brand new when she had it

[@fcpeuro]

We had no idea! Definitely a fun fact, and we wonder where that example is today.

[@janinstuning5495]

​@@fcpeurodj envy from breakfast club has it. He reviewed it on djvlad platform.

[@readegodbody3053]

@@fcpeuroshe still has it it’s in dj envy’s garage he has one as well

[@paulspindler5849]

I had a 2007 ML 420Cdi with the v8 diesel when I lived in the UK, was an amazing towing machine, pulling all sort of stuff out of fields with very little throttle, Could also get 30mpg (imp) on the motorway .

[@Andrew-zv4fm]

A few years ago, I was talking to a Mercedes executive in Germany and they said they were thinking about bringing the CLA shooting brake or wagon to the US. But as we know that did not happen.

[@fcpeuro]

If only! While it looks great as a small sedan in the C117 chassis, we can't help but feel that pretty much any car is made better as a shooting brake.

[@MarcusFitzhugh]

I've seen a couple of real CLK DTMs in the states, all in Southern California. There was a regular street driven one in Burbank and the Mercedes Benz Classic Center had a coupe and a Cabrio for sale at their facility in Irvine

[@mrmonday42]

Wild

[@fcpeuro]

The only thing cooler than physically having one, is using it every day! Good for that owner, and hopefully the few who have gotten them into the states are enjoying them as much as we'd imagine they are!

[@SY-tn2io]

How about the CLS shooting brake? Those are just gorgeous!

[@fcpeuro]

Another great shout! Definitely takes the CLS to an elevated level cosmetically.

[@Fivefiddyserg]

I was looking for this comment!!

[@BubbleDouble]

Sorry but in europe no one prefers the shooting brake over the sedans. Same goes for wagons, be it c class, or e class. I guess this is just a case of not having something, and thinking it's good. They're cheaper, slower, handle worse, subjectively (according to most people) look worse. People often mistake black e class wagons with hearses.

[@1marcelfilms]

ew. CLA looks much better

[@HUGO-xo2mv]

They didnt sell too well actually, but now as they are discontinued people buy them and they dont drop in value (Same price as a normal CLS)

[@MrToastyman900]

I have an Obsidian black over saddle Brown E420 CDI (with factory black headliner and factory BBS split wheels) as my daily driver, highway economy at 75mph is close to 34 mpg and it happily sits at 155mph at 3500rpm in 6th gear😅 already had custom made BMC intake filters made for it and i’m Going to tune + dpf delete it eventually

[@fcpeuro]

An absolute beast, even before modification! We'll keep this bookmarked and check back in a decade or so to see if you're interested in sticking it in a container and selling stateside... 😉

[@uweschaper8648]

The AMG Performance Studio build only 120 Pieces from the SLK 55 AMG Black Series …I am proud to have the No. 78 😎👍

[@fcpeuro]

💙

[@STRGHTSXBNZ]

For anyone who want a fast European diesel Benz; Source them from the Netherlands. The government is financially bullying/banning them more and more and the prices are on a massive down surge. Scoop them up while you can!

[@jimwest3748]

My daily driver is a 2005 E320 CDI. Completely agree - The penultimate Mercedes Diesel is the E400/420 CDI. Only 6 more years to wait..

[@lucasdegraff2226]

I didn’t know about them until I watched this. Powerstrokes killed v8 diesels for me. So hard to work on. I love my in-line 4 and 6 diesels. Definitely a cool car tho. I’d love to take a rip in one

[@davidraezer5937]

I love your enthusiasm and passion for the brand. I’m still stuck on the W124,C124, R129 cars myself.

[@johnbinford3287]

I was a fan of the 6.9L S sedan....the original german banker's muscle car. In 77 I got my hands on several 5.0L S sedans in Heidelberg/Munich/Ramstein AFB as part of a USArmy team evaluating trucks for the US Army, including the Iltis long before it became the Audi Quattro wet dream....the MB had winter tires still in April and was limited to 160KPH. I think it still had ¾ throttle left at 160...

[@fcpeuro]

There's a good reason these are commonly called some of the best Benzes of all time. We're surprised that the values have more or less stayed approachable, but there's nothing more desirable than a well-kept, well-optioned R129 or E/S-Class Coupe! Definitely due to become collector cars in the not-so-distant future.

[@davidraezer5937]

@@fcpeuro yea, I figured enjoy them while they are cheap. My 88 C124 is going to get the powertrain and brakes from a 92 300SL I bought with the 3.69 final and the 722.5 trans for the overdrive. Basically a euro build some markets got that we didn’t. Not as fast as the 400E I fixed up but the coupe is a good looking car. I have turned into a total Mercedes nerd the past couple years. Had several air-cooled 911’s but way out of my league now.

[@Andrew-zv4fm]

Great video.

[@fcpeuro]

Thanks Andrew! We're glad you enjoyed it!

[@lemons4315]

I think more Mercedes diesel content would be awesome

[@osmaks1518]

The regular OM612 was also installed in the C class, E class and I also got one in my W163 ML 270 cdi. It's a fabulous engine even without the AMG touch! The last real inline MB diesels were the 00s 5 & 6 bangers!

[@TopiasSalakka]

That CLK DTM footage is from Finland, Veho is the main Mercedes dealer over here. I had no idea we even had CLK DTMs in Finland, such a rare car.

[@fldon2306]

*Used to hear a lot about “Grey Market” Mercs in the ‘80’s… *The G-Wagon was imported and upgraded by a company Europa Imports (New Mexico?) years before Merc did; apparently their success is one reason Merc began selling the G here. *Ive seen A-class Mercs in the USA, but with Ontario (Canada) plates! A-class was never sold here… *Great vid! Thx!

[@Genome69420]

wow did not know about the e400cdi what a cool car new lust unlocked.

[@ndg49]

Oh, one of the best Benzes to own is a W124 300E. We had a 93 in blue-black metallic and with the 2.8L motor. I could pull off just under 7 sec 0-60s and cruise at 70mph and get slightly over 30mpg. Handled great and looked stunning. Great design, but succumbed to some rust. That M104 is one terrific engine.

[@anthonysalloum3678]

Glad the last one was a E420 CDi with the twin turbo diesel V8 such a cool car we didn’t get here🙃same with the bmw 550D

[@racekorthings7165]

I saw a clk dtm at the Audrain auto museum in Newport RI in 2022. Was part of a modern super car exhibit, would keep an eye out incase they showcase it again!

[@fcpeuro]

That's a day trip from our HQ in Connecticut! Sounds like we might have to keep an eye out for a quick roadtrip in our future...

[@sirnik84]

The G wagon forbidden fruit is the 300GD, like Otto, the G wagon Gunther Holtorf drove around the world.

[@amaresch66]

Salivating and I'm not even an MB fanboy. FCP needs a car import division now; with a watchlist of what is coming up as legal.

[@fcpeuro]

Head to the FCP Euro DIY Blog on our site and take a look at "Our Favorite Cars Eligible For Import In 2024!" Not entirely Benz-focused, and it has a list of some of our experts' favorites that are becoming legal to own stateside in the near future!

[@johnbinford3287]

Put a link in the above!@@fcpeuro

[@XGenBoomer]

I’m a big E320 CDI buff. I actually run the finders group on Facebook. That said, all of our members including myself wish they would have sent them over here in S211 form. An E320 CDI straight 6 would, hands down, be a collectors item! Great video! 🫡

[@WHTMAN-ei7ik]

You can get the later W205 (technically S205 since its a wagon and not sedan) C43 Wagon in the United States. Since it was sold in Canada a few people have been able to legally import them into the United States. I believe there about a dozen or so S205 C43 AMG Wagons in the United States. Im guessing its like the RS4 where an importer was able to argue and prove that the RS4 version meet the same crash standards as the regular A4/S4 and only major difference was drivetrain. Believe you still had to have DOT approved lighting and etc but with the S205 that are in the US all of them are Canadian spec meaning they are 100% the same as the USDM spec and only difference is the speedometer showing KM/H instead of MPH.

[@fcpeuro]

Yes, the "Substantially Similar" clause! For someone willing and ready to do just a biiiit more research and legwork than your typical 25 year-rule import, it's a great way to get some awesome machines in the States. We've actually seen an S205 C43 for sale around the Boston area ourselves!

[@johnbinford3287]

business partner imported a Z8 through Canada, US-ed it through a grey market retrofit, lights, etc. The original Z8 BMW had neon tail lights...he put them back on when the car was registered in MD. Nobody every looks at them elsewhere except maybe Cali.

[@Andrew-zv4fm]

In my view, I you think you missed a few Mercs that we don't get. Your list was what you think are cool and the overall have a performance factor to them, and I think you are spot on. I think my list would have included the A-Class (not counting what we have now) and the B-Class. In the late 90s and 80s hot hatches from VW were still going strong and Mercedes could have capitalized on it when the A-Class of the first generation. Now for either the A and B-Class hot hatches the market has dried up because I don't see VW Golfs and their variants on the road. I would agree with your list to date, there is not much I would add to it. With maybe the exception of an E220 diesel/Cabrio version and the W204 (S204) wagon in addition to what I said earlier. I had both of these cars in Germany as rentals. I have to add I enjoyed both of them equally.

[@fcpeuro]

S204 as an entire entity is a great call. We have our US-Spec W204 C300 that we built for track competition in AER, and definitely agree that it's a great platform from a daily-driver or even a performance standpoint (made infinitely more fun with the 6-speed 716.6 transmission)! An estate would be a dream come true, especially with some of the engine and transmission pairings seen in them overseas. Those other MFA twins would be excellent to have filling gaps in the US market as well!

[@johnbinford3287]

Agree. I still don't see S3 audi hatchbacks in this country but maybe in a few years.

[@readegodbody3053]

@@fcpeurowhat did you do to the w204 was it with the m276 engine if so what performance mod is available for that engine?

[@jay_tarantula899]

As a happy owner of an 02 e430 4matic with the m113, it's stellar. My particular variant of the m113 can very easily have the m113k supercharger installed as long as I also swap the water pump. Am really tempted to do so in the future. She's at slightly over 47k rn. I think 47202 or so. So is still a baby in 2023/24 goals though. She's a beast already with the awd.

[@christiancompton2326]

I for one am really glad the CLK DTM is one of the very few cars you don't have to wait to import. But I still never seen one before

[@fcpeuro]

😎

[@miekieliebenberg4888]

Danny you forgot about the C270CDI W203. What a stunner. A bit more tame than the C30 but a beaut. 290GD was also lovely as well as W169 A180CDI with manual transmission. What fun!

[@adriangaber9176]

The 270 was the base AMG built the C30 on, which what Jenny got wrong in a way, yet not. Small complaint

[@philippebeaumier]

I was wondering why the US never had the 2008 Mercedes R550? In America, it was only sold in Canada and for that one year only. It had the m273 5,5l engine with 382hp. It was even built at the Mercedes Alabama plant.

[@sazlefraz]

How reliable is the 4 cylinders from the mfa platform because im looking into getting a 2020 gla. Would it be a good car to keep for 5+ years?

[@Kasi01]

I own a federalized Puch G, really great car, finally up to 25 years so there should be more coming into the states.

[@agnesf2659]

Did you import yourself? I'd like to import one from Europe but had no experience before, wondering the cost on top of the truck price.

[@mentally.retired]

There's a CLK DTM at Foothill Ranch Mercedes in CA. And the owner has a matching convertible CLK DTM at the Laguna Niguel Mercedes location.

[@kent426]

Know of any W203 camber plates and more options for a track focused coilover with 2.5" diameter coils for a C55?

[@CarsIn4K]

Kangaroo team makes a camber plate for w203/209

[@CarsIn4K]

I gave KWs V2 on my C55, they work great with camber plates

[@fundamentallybroken4194]

I got to drive a well sorted 4.0 diesel E-class while i was in poland. Buddy had just over 850lbft tq at the rear wheels, and that thing was a tank. That is my choice if i were to bring something back with me. But for now, ill survive with my 2011 ML 350 bluetec.

[@fcpeuro]

We're jealous! One of the craziest, yet least-talked about cars on this list.

[@redriver15262]

W204 C63 Wagon 😢 i would looooooove one

[@fcpeuro]

This is a great pick, and one near and dear to our hearts as well! We love our W204s.

[@lucasdegraff2226]

I was fingers crossed for the diesel segment glad it came! Thank you I would love to hear some talk about the w211 cdi 4matic and rwd with the om 648. I believe in S class and E class. I’m not 100% on S class tho. Also I believe they did a wagon for the om 606 also. I’m a huge wagon fan. Alas I have an e320 om648 cdi as I’m from the states. As well as many other diesel wagons. It would be cool to do a bmw video like this. Talk about the 7 and 5 series bmw diesel wagons we never got .

[@jamesbambury]

How about anything based on a W203 coupe we’re robbed of that to except the first generation with small engines. We also never got the early first two generations of a-classes. Or the X-class pickup that was based on a Nissan we did get.

[@Stamina1337]

also still sad to see that the US never got the 204 C63 as Wagon... you guys will love it.

[@fcpeuro]

We absolutely would love it!

[@jacintocabrales6372]

IVE BEEN WANTING A DIESEL AMG FOR LIKE 5 YEARS. I'm getting one damnit

[@eric_9565]

Love my 89 230GE (2 Door G Wagon) in North Carolina 😎

[@samgrabel8648]

I think the g 300 and 320 with the the om647 and the om 617. If I got the codes correct.

[@janbevelsborg]

Drove the OM606 tuned in a W210 in the 90’s. What a powerplant. Very high rpm for a diesel.

[@fcpeuro]

Great in stock form, yet so easy to wake up with just a little bit of tinkering and massaging! One of the best Benz engines of all time, for sure.

[@janbevelsborg]

@@fcpeuro i had a tuned could do 250km/h without any issues. Just one of the cars that you’re sorry to let go. We had it for twelf years as a family car.

[@Genome69420]

my first car was w 123 240d 4speed. i lust after mbz d variants. was just looking at a really cool w210 250d for sale in uk with 40k miles. importing that or an om606 variant for a sleeper car is the dream for me atm.

[@JE-tt3hu]

I live close to I16 in south Georgia and on occasion see brand new GLE400d on the car hauler going to the ports in south Georgia. The specs on this vehicle are awesome in regards to fuel mileage and speed/acceleration. Too bad they are not available in US.

[@kwiekclassics]

I have a 98 C43 AMG wagon in a container on its way to the US right now! First thing I’m doing is dropping in a 5.4.

[@fcpeuro]

We're very excited to see what you do with it! We're sure it won't be stock for very long...😉

[@rv.d.h6587]

did u guys get any carlsson benzes like the mercedes 190 carlsson

[@fcpeuro]

We did not! However, we have started to see some of their goodies float over stateside; not uncommon to find the odd Carlsson set of wheels for sale online.

[@hercheshiresmile-1321]

I've been slowly working at getting my W203 back into shape and your guys's videos are so helpful..... But now i want to get my hands on one of those 209 CLKs 😂😂😂 Thing looks sick!

[@fcpeuro]

Hehehe.

[@tvtechnicaldirector]

Fun fact: Beginning in 1993, Europa International out of Santa Fe, MN had the exclusive rights to the Gelandewagen until Mercedes purchased the rights in 2002.

[@fcpeuro]

The more you know! Great note.

[@cyruswoolard3737]

Om606/648 owner. Only thing ill say about an otherwise great video is the 606 makes just slightly more torque than hp. Being idi you dont get the burn at low rpm that allows for classic diesel torque. They are, for all intent and purpose, petrol engines that run on diesel. High way behemoths that sound like farm implements at idle. Ppl are blown away by mine.

[@tonychavez2083]

My ideal merc would be a W212 E63 estate w/ 4-matic that’s absolutely perfect in my mind

[@fcpeuro]

A rocket you can drive every single day!

[@tonychavez2083]

@@fcpeuro love my sedan but a wagon is sooo much cooler.

[@johnbinford3287]

it has it's moments but every time I tried to get a used E63 wagon (and they showed up in MD about 3X year) they were gone within 48 hours at asking price. Could have bought a new one, but way too expensive new.

[@YYZ-SRQ]

You don't have to go overseas for a S205 C43, you only have to go north of the boarder as they brought both versions of the wagon into canada. I have the pedestrian version, unfortunately could not afford to go for the more powerful version of it

[@fcpeuro]

Something to think about.....😬

[@Sickif]

heres a fact there's korean brand in the 90s and early 2000s that has used multiple detuned Mercedes diesel engines like the om602 and the Mercedes m104 and m111 gasoline engines and thats the comaany ssangyong currently known as KGM these engines where found in the Korando and musso suvs

[@wolfgang383]

Hey I picked up a w203 , all my light on my dash are on but it won’t crank, any suggestions?

[@fcpeuro]

Best to try jump-starting the vehicle first! A low battery can still power up the smaller electronics, but not have enough power to turn over the starter/engine.

[@ajones7199]

As a past w126 sedan owner I'm upset we never got the 500sel amg. Those things were sick

[@fcpeuro]

Yeah, they would have been real cool to see around here.

[@nornibres]

I own a 2005 SLK55 and a 2016 GLA45. MB is my favourite marque.

[@fcpeuro]

Very nice combo!!!

[@Pirouz100]

Nice video! Just one thing to mention, the footage shown at 17:59 is related to the OM642 which is 3.0 V6 diesel, not the V8.

[@fcpeuro]

Great catch, Pirouz! That's definitely one lonely turbo rather than two. Thanks for the heads-up!

[@gamingpersonality4306]

I've noticed in the US mercedes, Audi, BMW all start with 2.0. the base model engine was much higher than other countries base engines. That always made me envious. 😂

[@fcpeuro]

😅

[@jamesbambury]

We did get a GLA 45 that was essentially an A45 AMG

[@johnrbnsn]

Thumbnail shows a c class hatch, but video, why u no show c.class hatch? Best MB ever.

[@CarsIn4K]

W202 C55 AMG, S210 E55 Wagon and 4matic wagon, w203 C55 Wagon, CLS63S shooting brake

[@deimosian]

I wish I could get a 2016 E300de

[@danielacosta2856]

I love w203 I had a coupe but would love another one sedan on wagon

[@encinobalboa]

Did USA get S203 C32/C55 or S204 C63?

[@fcpeuro]

None of the above! Awesome picks for this list as well. When it comes to C-Class AMG wagons, there's definitely a hole in the US Benz market from the late 1990s through the mid-2010s.

[@jamesbambury]

If we were going into really special Mercedes we did not get, w140 s-class wagon (custom for the BRF). We also never got a diesel S-class or even any c-class AMG wagon like the w202 and w203 C55.

[@karmann20v]

Great list, however with all the W463 talk, I think the "Professional" as in the G300 CDI Professional should have been mentioned as a forbidden fruit for North America

[@fcpeuro]

Great point!

[@MANTHELEXUS]

The CLS shooting brake is going to be so highly sought after when it becomes importable.

[@fcpeuro]

😎

[@carlosceluriantorreblanca4244]

I just saw a w203 sportcoupe on the title card and I click on the video.

[@fcpeuro]

💙

[@lLilleAlexX]

My dad has a c30 amg wagon😂 i did have its little brother, the c270 cdi wagon a couple years ago

[@fcpeuro]

That sounds like a delightful pairing!

[@lLilleAlexX]

@@fcpeuro it was! But i had to come to equal grounds, and got a 204 c350 cdi to compete😂

[@baltykaimports-benzbimmerman]

No 60’s 70’s 80’s or 90’s love? Plenty to to be spoken about all eras

[@Marklin15]

I know of a W203 C220 CDI estate in the US

[@fcpeuro]

👀

[@Blacklightdtb]

4:13 the jeep wrangler?

[@fcpeuro]

Great call! Sometimes the most obvious answer evades you...

[@aircraft2]

So unfortunate that diesel enthusiasts like myself can no longer buy diesel cars in the US because the government banned them.

[@fcpeuro]

We certainly get a lack of diesel love

[@MsDiruzza]

You forgot the S210 E55 AMG ! (Wagon)

[@fcpeuro]

C'mon, Danny!

[@fxui]

Why compressor on the thumbnail i literally had one in US 😂

[@Slim]

Mercedes X-Class? Yes, it's basically a Nissan pickup. But still cool. Can only imagine if they made a X63 AMG. Raptor/TRX killer.

[@fcpeuro]

One can dream 🌟

[@tranquy7252]

Also the A45

[@Ren200Z_MotoringLife]

the good old ML w163 ML400 4.0 cdi

[@fcpeuro]

Unfortunately, we do not, as we did not get that drivetrain here in the U.S.

[@MrAVA700]

OM606 best motor

[@fcpeuro]

😎

[@nickmlad4677]

W203 C32 coupe manual

[@OneManOnFire]

I have the OM648 in my Dodge Sprinter Van. That thing hauls ass

[@fcpeuro]

Heck yeah.

[@lucasdegraff2226]

Swapped out the junk 5 cyl?

[@siuchumug]

Pls turn off background music.

[@fcpeuro]

👍

[@1marcelfilms]

its not illegal if you wait 25 years

[@hEXordo]

Cls63s wagon

[@nicholasplesko533]

If I was a billionaire, I would illegally import tens of thousands of new cars, and sell them for practically nothing.

[@fcpeuro]

😮

[@TheNismo777]

Many cars would have came to US, but americans just have no intrest for wagons. Its been tested many times, sales wasnt enough to stay :/

[@UrielArtsGarage]

which is surprising since a lot of instances wagons can actually haul and fit more things in comparison to a typical crossover!

[@whisper263]

400CDI is terrible engine and 420CDI you cant even get glowrelay anymore, they killed 420 and 450CDI because of emissions rules even though last two of those are very good engines

[@fcpeuro]

Definitely becoming tricky to keep on the road given the limited engines produced and sold, but in our opinion, that OM629 is still a great Mercedes engine worthy of trying to keep on the road!

[@hyper8545]

Om605 f

[@fcpeuro]

OM605 cars are a great one as well, and the S202 nearly made it on this list specifically for the 5-cylinder! Really, you cannot go wrong with any of the "Superturbo" family.