SE 2023 from Canada to France

[tinpanalley]

We're in Canada and wondering if moving our 2023 Mini SE with us to live in France is something that's just considered bonkers.
(Hear me out, before -- like on an expat group on facebook where a few people chewed me out for even asking -- you judge the idea.)

We'll be, very likely, about 30 minutes outside Paris, living and running a business, and a car would come in handy for supplies, etc.
1. Can anyone speak to the cost if you do something like a roll on-roll off service?
2. Is there any way to know which parts in the car right now are EU compliant? Is the fact that it was assembled in England enough to assume it will probably be fine for compliance?
3. Has anyone specifically done this to France?

 

[Rexsio]

We're in Canada and wondering if moving our 2023 Mini SE with us to live in France is something that's just considered bonkers.
(Hear me out, before -- like on an expat group on facebook where a few people chewed me out for even asking -- you judge the idea.)

We'll be, very likely, about 30 minutes outside Paris, living and running a business, and a car would come in handy for supplies, etc.
1. Can anyone speak to the cost if you do something like a roll on-roll off service?
2. Is there any way to know which parts in the car right now are EU compliant? Is the fact that it was assembled in England enough to assume it will probably be fine for compliance?
3. Has anyone specifically done this to France?

look at a price of electric cars in EU I put a picture prices in EU I’m in USA Mini SE $20000- $ 22000 price as a year 2022-2024 is not reasonable to shipping to pay extra $ and your SE to EU as 114 miles range as you get similar car Dacia/ Citroen and more models with similar price brand new good service living in France and my happens your Canada model my not meet EU requirements just sell it in Canada as they get more rare for good price and get new there is a way to go as I was living in EU 30 years and in USA 44 years Old dud with very conservative approach as my kids 48 and 50 years old never taking my advice at all .And Mini Cooper SE J01Chinese build I believe is available in EU with 250 miles .as you want to fit in Mini Cooper bc you love a car .Better speak French there for your advance not English .

 

[Rexsio]

look at a price of electric cars in EU I put a picture prices in EU I’m in USA Mini SE $20000- $ 22000 price as a year 2022-2024 is not reasonable to shipping to pay extra $ and your SE to EU as 114 miles range as you get similar car Dacia/ Citroen and more models with similar price brand new good service living in France and my happens your Canada model my not meet EU requirements just sell it in Canada as they get more rare for good price and get new there is a way to go as I was living in EU 30 years and in USA 44 years Old dud with very conservative approach as my kids 48 and 50 years old never taking my advice at all .And Mini Cooper SE J01Chinese build I believe is available in EU with 250 miles .as you want to fit in Mini Cooper bc you love a car .Better speak French there for your advance not English .View attachment 24001

. As you worry about range get that BABY MB EQS450 + 481 miles / 774 km. Only $ 105,550 sounds cheap! And you can travel from Paris to Warsaw with one charge 1/2 way between in Nuremberg Germany . Will be my next car if I tired of Mini SE !

 

[inferno10]

One thing you'll need to consider are charging adapters. The charging connector used in France is different. You'll need to always use a CCS2-to-CCS1 adapter for DC and AC charging. Needing to always need an adapter might become frustrating, as it could add another source for charging difficulty.

Another consideration is that J1772 doesn't support 3-phase charging, so you won't be able to take advantage of faster AC charging that's possible in much of the EU.

 

[tinpanalley]

so you won't be able to take advantage of faster AC charging

I can do level 2 and level 3 though like in North America, no?

 

[inferno10]

I can do level 2 and level 3 though like in North America, no?

I might be incorrect about this, but for AC charging, you might experience slower level 2 charging speeds in France. According to Google, most residential places are wired for 3-phase w/ 16A max per phase; since J1772 can only do single phase, you're likely going to see a typical max charging speed of 3.6 kW on AC (230*16). If the building was wired for 32A per phase, you could up to the max 7.4 kW that the NA Mini can take on AC; while this is less-common for residential, it does sound like many public AC chargers are wired for 32A.

For DC, you should be able to get up to the 50 kW max.

But again, for both AC or DC charging, you're going to need an adapter no matter what.

 

[tinpanalley]

I might be incorrect about this, but for AC charging, you might experience slower level 2 charging speeds in France. According to Google, most residential places are wired for 3-phase w/ 16A max per phase; since J1772 can only do single phase, you're likely going to see a typical max charging speed of 3.6 kW on AC (230*16). If the building was wired for 32A per phase, you could up to the max 7.4 kW that the NA Mini can take on AC; while this is less-common for residential, it does sound like many public AC chargers are wired for 32A.

For DC, you should be able to get up to the 50 kW max.

But again, for both AC or DC charging, you're going to need an adapter no matter what.

Yeah, I've seen the adapters, that doesn't bother us.
The biggest concerns we have are
- what are the compliant parts that would need replacing and would there even be any at all considering the car was made in England?
- what is the effect charging there has on the car (you've answered this already, thank you)
- the shipping charges seem reasonable but what other one-time costs are waiting for us once we get there that make this more expensive than we'd like.

 

[CuriousGeorge]

I vote for selling the SE and using the proceeds plus what you save by not shipping/updating it to buy some other small, sporty EV not sold in North America. You can then report back to us how it compares, which will either enhance our jealousy or our smugness. Deal?

 

[grozier]

I have done this with a Dodge Sprinter Westfalia to Germany. To register permanently there you need to get a special one-time detailed version of the Hauptuntersuchung. It cost about 300 Euro instead of the standard fee. They will go over every bit of the car and make sure it confirms to EC specs.

I don’t know how it works in France but is likely similar. It is a much smoother process if you can provide a certificate of compliance from BMW. But I don’t think you will get one, because the lamps are different.

You will need to change the taillights to amber turn signals. You will need a rear fog lamp. Maybe headlights, given that they aren’t E-code marked. Again, depending on the test (and probably the tester) they may need to be replaced. Both these items need new BMW programming, if it’s even possible.

And anything you have done to the car that doesn’t have an E-code (tires, shocks, etc) has to come off. In Germany you must have a tire and wheel combo specified on the door pillar.

Shipping for the huge van was about $2500 from Baltimore to Southampton. More if you want insurance.

The SE is nice but not particularly unique. If it were me, I would sell here and get something new there.

 

[teslarati97]

Are you moving to become a chatelaine? That would be pretty awesome.

As for programming it is possible to code, but you will have to source the parts. What about the new Renault 5 electric?

 

[dyent]

Sell your 2023 Mini SE here and purchase one in France, I am sure there are Mini SE's in France or whatever other EV's, if that is what you want, good luck!
David

 

[Puppethead]

I vote for selling the SE and using the proceeds plus what you save by not shipping/updating it to buy some other small, sporty EV not sold in North America.

Like the J01 SE?

Seriously, though, there are a number of smaller EVs available in Europe that don't exist in North America. I endorse this recommendation.

Update: for fun, here's the link to MINI France's J01 SE page: https://www.mini.fr/fr_FR/home/range/all-electric-mini-cooper.html

 

[Rexsio]

Like the J01 SE?

Seriously, though, there are a number of smaller EVs available in Europe that don't exist in North America. I endorse this recommendation.

Update: for fun, here's the link to MINI France's J01 SE page: https://www.mini.fr/fr_FR/home/range/all-electric-mini-cooper.html

Taking mini SE to France from Canada make as much sense like take Champagne to Paris from here

 

[tinpanalley]

Taking mini SE to France from Canada make as much sense like take Champagne to Paris from here View attachment 24002

This is brilliant. Thank you.

 

[Rexsio]

This is brilliant. Thank you.

You’ll likely face a 10% import duty and a VAT (Value Added Tax)rate of 19-27% depending on a specific EU member state but on a good side you can drive up to a year on your Canadian plates and insurance as long you talk to your insurance provider to find out specifics. Good luck!

 

[Busdriver]

My opinion ( you know what they say about opinions)
I would sell and purchase a vehicle in France. The attached is a bit long, but it is a UK video on range comparisons for their smaller cars. I don’t know specifics, but I would imagine the taxes and regulatory hurdles might be a real PITA.

Now if someone could tell me about importing from the US to Canada, as my Canadian wife swears she is moving back

 

[Rexsio]

My opinion ( you know what they say about opinions)
I would sell and purchase a vehicle in France. The attached is a bit long, but it is a UK video on range comparisons for their smaller cars. I don’t know specifics, but I would imagine the taxes and regulatory hurdles might be a real PITA.

Now if someone could tell me about importing from the US to Canada, as my Canadian wife swears she is moving back

You should not be worry about a car importing to Canada you always can walk there or bike you should keep your wife in the best of USA or maybe buy a better car for your Wife to stay here to bribe her and as you move there you may became miserable as you born red blood American as I’m emigrant 44 years appreciate a country you cant move me anywhere only 6’ under and I’m not sorry about my opinion.

 

[insightman]

 

[MrSnrub]

You’ll likely face a 10% import duty and a VAT (Value Added Tax)rate of 19-27% depending on a specific EU member state but on a good side you can drive up to a year on your Canadian plates and insurance as long you talk to your insurance provider to find out specifics. Good luck!

if you are moving there permanently there is no tax to pay. There are lots of US spec cars on the road in Europe and only modifications are slightly different lightning. Nobody is swapping over suspension for “E code”. Tires and brakes are the biggest thing. Fresh brake fluid and tires that match the door card. Also you will be required to have Hi Vis vests in the car for number of seatbelts

charging isn’t a problem just get the adapters from A2Z. The big issue might be the connected services not working but our cars have minimal.

Temporary imports such as our friends with a BMW i4 for a diplomatic mission had an easier time.