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Germany Bound 1LE...
Purchased this 2018 Camaro SS 1LE expressly to take overseas for several year long job transfer to Stuttgart, Germany.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/4...bc4be240_c.jpg Bought on 2 July for $8200 off sticker - not exactly what I wanted for options - only desired the 1LE and PDR, but also included the gas cap, trunk mat, wheel locks, and a GM Air Intake (this part led to great challenges). https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4805/...dfc4b9e4_c.jpg I planned to purchase early to work out any bugs prior to shipping over. This was a good idea as a simple track event (SCCA Track Night @ Palm Beach International Raceway) resulted in power loss, missing, and Check Engine Light which was eventually traced to a programming discrepancy...computer was not reflashed with the GM Air Intake program during PDI as it was supposed to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNhjwXBl4f0&t=30s 2 trips to the drags, 4 trips to the dyno, 5 dealer visits, 26 days out of service, and 1 Defect Notice (Lemon notification) to Chevrolet resulted in a car that I should have from day one. I'm crossing my fingers damage was not significant to the cats or other parts of the powertrain during nearly 7000 miles of incorrect operation. There is no warranty outside of North America! See thread here as to not regurgitate the ordeal: LINK Quick summary can be shown on the dyno chart below...runs with bad program are the low squiggles with the healthy runs reflected in the higher smooth arcs (405 RWHP / 401 RWTQ on a SAE standardized Dynojet). https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4820/...3aec9da6_c.jpg The best drag time was a 12.8 @ 112 mph...conditions weren't ideal, but quickest I was going to get it to go that night. Certainly closer to expectation for this car. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4880/...78d1620d_c.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7858/...ea0741f9_c.jpg With that complete...I was down to literally one day to make the boat drop off - leaving no time to prep the car as planned (fluid change, second set of wheels with preferred all season tires just to suit the German inspection, refined full alignment, etc.) I did get an initial/conservative alignment on the front early on, but had hoped to recheck it again before shipping - no chance with the timeline. Additionally, when the car 'greened-up,' I ordered 4 new Goodyears for it from TireRack...only three came the night before the tire installer was scheduled...UPS lost the 4th tire. So I killed the idea of changing only 3 (sticking those in my household goods shipment) and requesting TireRack forward the lost tire to Germany. UPS eventually found the tire and reshipped to my now vacant residence! Sometimes things don't work out... Nonetheless, 4-hour drive from Tampa, quick car wash, splash gas (must be below 1/4 tank), and drop off was executed at Port Jacksonville, FL. It was not a reassuring process! The port escort service was out of a trailer in a dirt lot filled with crashed cars...figured I would get a nail in the tires at the very least along with a nice coat of dirt on the hardly dry car. Took a bunch of images and off we went to the port for drop off. Essentially no inspection was performed in my presence, a hand written sticker placed on the windshield, and a half filled out dock receipt with a stamp stating 'Received.' https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4915/...212b0a31_c.jpg This thread may be very short when the car is lost forever! Boat sails on 27 Jan with arrival on 13 Feb in Bremerhaven, GE. Then it will be trucked to Stuttgart. Interesting data point: roll on/roll off shipping cost from Jacksonville, FL to Stuttgart is $1584. The escort service (water port is like airport security) ran another $90. My USAA insurance covers the 'marine' insurance (while at sea) so avoided another extra cost. I've learned marine insurance is typically 2.7% of the value of the car. Registration/safety inspection will be another challenge with worn summer tires (1.6 mm minimum across entire face) installed as well as front tires that extend past the front fenders (German law prohibits). They way the Goodyears are molded...one segment of the tread is shallower than the rest - unsure how much they will be sticklers...I'm far away from the 2/32 tread wear indicator on the deeper thread. If I survive this car, hope to have a few European snaps of the car's travels...the way my luck is going - may just wad the car up on the first lap of the Nurburgring (~3 hour drive from Stuttgart). Either way, should be interesting for someone... |
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I can't imagine. Best of luck with the shipping and what ever is going to happen with/to your car in the next month. I hope it arrives in one piece and inspection is a breeze. In my head, some dock worker is already out in a 1LE trolling for hookers and bouncing off the rev limiter showing off for his boys. I was stressed out when my car went to the body shop, and I had the PDR in valet mode. |
I'm right there with you, brother. My car is already on a boat on the way to Bremerhaven. It will be trucked down to Spangdahlem Air Base, where I'll be stationed. From what I've been reading, if your car is inspected from October to March, you'll need all-season tires, as well... Please keep us updated with your inspection process, as I won't be doing mine until the beginning of March.
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Best of luck, Tim!
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I remember when I shipped my BMW bike to Mexico from Miami,Customs had to inspect it prior to being placed in the enclosed shipping crate and being accepted for shipment. The forwarder arranged that. Good luck with the move.
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$8200 off sticker is a great price. Don't see deals like that in CA
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Your car is going to be a blast on the autobahn but a bitch to park in the very tight parkhaus and lots. I think you will need to change your side marker lights to non-illuminated clear.
I drive from Stuttgart to the Bodensee early Saturday mornings. Beautiful lake area on the boarder with wide open autobahn in the morning. Check out Kressbronn am Bodensee for a weekend getaway. Coincidence- I’m going to be in Stuttgart from February 17 to 22 ...right as your car arrives. |
computer has to be reflashed after the GM cold air intake is installed???
Sounds like they do something with the tune for more power..... |
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Boost: More disturbing is I sought this car out as it only had 8 miles on it...never test driven as I'm particular about autos. Previous family cars had almost never visited the dealership for instance...this one has been driven by countless folks testing the 'lack of power'...26 days at the dealership.
It would almost be better if the car is lost at sea so I could start over...I agree on the dock hands... Jerome: I shipped two cars...the Camaro out of my pocket and spouse auto via military routing. The Atlanta VPC was an inspection to the nth detail...one could see they were concerned about liability at the other end. This is very good! The Camaro on the other hand was the opposite. Admittedly, I've done this before with a Mini from UK to FL. Same deal...just leave the keys in the car and walk away. It did arrive with nary a scratch 4 weeks later. But 38 HP isn't really fun to beat on... If I hadn't been so pressed for time, I would have pursued the containerized method...believe it was only ~$500 more and would have minimized folks moving it here and there. The RO/RO was my only option to make the date. I doubt the car will arrive in STR before nearly March. Nonetheless, certainly concerned on the tire rule. My hope is snow tires are only required during inclement weather...so if I attempt to inspect/register during a 40 degree day...I'm not sure how much wiggle room there is. I do know that all season tires used in the inclement (snow) weather are only grandfathered if the date code is 31 Dec 17 and earlier. My fall back is to order a set of snow tires/wheels from TireRack (at significant cost) for the inspection and likely never install them. I don't plan to use this car in the winter...will buy a sub $3000 car for the cold season. ScottyZ: I don't know the cold air tune requirement. I do know that the GM cold air setup makes zero HP/TQ improvement - see my other thread where we dynoed a non-CAI car with my nearly identical CAI car...1 WHP/4 WTQ difference - certainly within the machine's error tolerance. It looks to be a good design...but the OEM air box is completely acceptable. I'd spend you money elsewhere...sure wish I did! Vlad: I've heard of others getting a better deal, not to mention I've had enough challenges with this car due to the bad computer tune...quite nearly offset the 'savings.' hotlap: Thanks...I hope there aren't other mods required especially wiring. Guess I will start asking questions once I arrive...which is Tuesday. |
Oh, my...you folks are going to be in car heaven having a 1LE in Germany. I've had a number of Corvettes in Europe and I think you may be mistaken about warranty work while there. My 02 Z51 Corvette experienced the steering column lockout issue while traveling from Aviano, Italy to Hockenheim (Frankfurt) for a track day with Corvettes Italia. The car ceased to run near Salzburg, Austria. I had it towed to a GM dealership there and contacted the US GM support division in Germany and they negotiated getting the column lock fixed under GM warranty. However, the dealership drove my car 90km while it was in their possession (several weeks) and from the scuffing of the tires, it was pretty much abused. They tried to deny it, but my towing receipt had the mileage on it when delivered to them. They gave me a free service (big deal), for the privilege of abusing my car.
I did 21 laps of the Nurburgring in my Corvette and it was the best car experience of my life. If you don't know the Nurburgring, get the Forza Xbox game and you will truly learn the track. There's a road going up to Cortina, Italy in the Italian Alps that's nothing short of a public sports car road course and that was nearly as much fun as the 'Ring. I sure do envy all of you. I spent 9 years in Germany at Bitburg (now closed) Spangdahlem and other places. Awesome! Good luck with getting your car delivered and in good order. |
Wow, a little nerve wracking! I'm crossing my fingers for you.
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Paris: Great to hear it was such a memorable event. That is a considerable time abroad...lucky! Also quite interesting to hear on the warranty although I had been informed otherwise...Will hope to not cross that bridge when required.
Learned today that summer tires will fail during October to April...still not convinced that is the law, but must go with what the local inspectors say. Likely will process the car on temp tags followed by non-operational status until summer tires are legal. Have no plans to drive the car in the snow. I may order a ZL1 Add-on's front license plate bracket that mounts from the tow hook area to avoid drilling into the front bumper. The offset may still be a concern. |
I think the American GM representative is located in Frankfurt, but I'm not sure. My Italian co-worker found the number from Aviano italy so it must be something on the web. I remember going somewhere near Frankfurt to a GM dealership and seeing C5 Corvette convertible for sale on the showroom floor for over the equivalent of $100K. Also, there are many military people who shop GM cars to Europe so there must be somewhere for them to get work done. Good luck.
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Paris: honestly, I hope I don't have to service this car ever again by GM folks, but history doesn't support that. Thanks.
Finally acquired a car and some miles on the autobahn...unfortunately, the vehicle of choice was a Fiat 500 rental. Nonetheless, the famous unrestricted autobahn sign greeted us...as we passed 120....KPH (about 72 mph). https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7802/...67d6f9ff_c.jpg Winter is an unpleasant time to move...don't recommend it. |
I know that road...
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My current transportation during winter months...
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7806/...cd1e6c05_c.jpg 2006 BMW 318i Touring with a mighty 127 HP (unsure with 160,000 miles!) and 6 speed. Bought for $4100. The seller admitted a routine 35 mpg...it is no power house! BMW claims 129 mph...bit surprising at the low hp rating...will wait until the winter tires/wheels are replaced. |
Hey Tim hopefully I will be in a similar situation to you soon as I'm waiting to see if I'm going to get a slot at Ramstein! If all goes well I may have to hit you up with some questions, but for now about your shipping cost on the car, it looks like under $2k as long as you don't run into anymore issues which is WAY less than I was expecting. I have a Colorado ZR2 (which I hear is a literal unicorn in Europe) as well as my 1LE and was assuming it wouldn't be worth it pay to ship that after having the AF ship my car but if it's only $2-3k I would probably be inclined to just take both.
Anyway hope everything goes well for you and if I end up over there too it will be good to potentially know another 1LE guy fairly close by haha |
FNxR3DNECK: Wish you luck on the possibility. Ramstein has several benefits...Ring is quite a bit closer and better services (USAF!).
My auto has yet to arrive so can't say if my price is a good deal or not. May also look at containerized shipping. It is not much more, but takes a bit longer lead time to coordinate. You can easily call them for a quote - based on cube and weight from some standardized references. Some have said tires sticking past the fenders is a big failure item. Unsure of the ZR2 situation. Even the Camaro I've got concern. PM me if you want further specifics...happy to report my failures/lessons learned. Good luck! |
Received notification the car is on the boat (HOEGH TRIDENT).
Also received Onstar notification that the tire pressure is low...likely due to the temperature changes...(or the nails I picked up in the dirt lot of the port escort). Also verified I can use a US size plate offset on the front of the car. I ordered a OEM front plate, but drills into the plastic bumper cover...rather not. ZL1 Addons mounts on the front tow hook mount - sturdy aluminum as well...should withstand the autobahn runs this car will experience. Paid the shipping bill as well...$1623 (with credit card fee included). There may be additional fees upon arrival into Bremerhaven/German customs. |
I'm really interested in seeing how this turns out. Thanks for posting! My wife and I are considering moving there after spending a month in Europe last year, but there is a lot to consider. You're helping my research
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Track the ship and your car:
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais...:HOEGH_TRIDENT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9zM5UX-4ew |
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Here's mine. I dropped mine off in January of last year, and had it in storage this whole time... So, I haven't driven it since January 2018... :pout:
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Picking up more vehicles? |
Boost Creep: Thanks for posting the link...shipping company provided similar. Interesting to track the ship...at such a slow pace!
JeromeS13: Stored the car for a year! Wow...I'm a bit impatient after only a month. |
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Jerome: of course - should have known. You are much more deserving of a 1LE lap of the ring than I. Great overseas homecoming...
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Mine just arrived at the port! :D
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Jerome: Fantastic...hopefully it will only be a couple of days or already enroute. Our temps in the south are touching 50 degrees - possibly your weather is similar for a delivery?!
Post some images... |
This week my assistant and I got to repair our beater BMW...while driving to work, the front suspension collapsed! The right front coil spring broke in two which dropped the corner down, but more concerning allowed the broken coil to gouge the inside of the tire. Only drove it to work and home and the tire was knackered.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4884/...f66ca19e_c.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7855/...eb6ee24f_c.jpg New replacement coil was $58 plus two tires at $200 each. This following two headlight failures and two check engine lights (O2 sensors). Should of bought a Honda (we bought what was available...). I'm tempted to install Koni's and Eibach lowering springs - to reduce the ground clearance for this winter car in the snow...hmmm. |
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Well, you certainly have something to look forward to...hopefully the weather is conducive as well.
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Update: ship is delayed...now moving thru the English Channel.
Unfortunate it was not on-time (13 Feb) as the temps have been in the 50's for highs...trending lower in the future. Did receive the ZL1 Add-ons license plate frame - looks to be the ticket! |
Getting close... cool car to have over there...:thumb:
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mlee: Do agree. A ZL1 1LE would be ideal, of course.
Nurburgring finally posted their schedule for public days...first opportunity is 17 Mar. LINK I've yet to see a 6th gen Camaro in the country - few 5th gens (with all season radials in the snow!). I have come across a German car resale company selling a 1LE on their site...so our cars won't be the first 1LE in the country. Interestingly, 1LE doesn't seem to be mentioned in the details of the add (translation error possibly). LINK 61,000 Euro...equals roughly $69,000 USD! Realize Germans must pay a 30% tax on the import along with some other caveats which drive the cost of the car up somewhat artificially. I'm not smart on the process. Temp was to touch 60 degrees today...rare heatwave in supposedly the coldest month of the year. Would have been nice to have a on time delivery...although in reality hope it slides thru customs a ok. |
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With only a handful of 1LEs there and the new ones selling for that much think about how much we could sell our used ones for?!?! You can potentially enjoy it for 3-4 years and then sell it for 30-40k Euros and get most if not all of your money back haha |
FNxR3DNECK: Good to know...I hadn't seen any others other than JeromeS13, but I likely missed them.
Notified the car arrived Bremerhaven...my paperwork is on hand...unsure if the customs is cleared on their end though. |
17 March at the Ring is coming up quick..:lol:
I can't even imagine running that. |
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Plus my only other real option is Alaska and it's not likely that I would get much enjoyment out of a 1LE up there lol |
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