Saw a 2005 C220CDI Registered in Virginia Today - How Did it Get Here? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RLGDiesel · #1 08-02-2007, 07:16 PM

It was parked by the dealer's service bay for an exhaust system malfunction. After noticing the poverty rims, Euro plate bracket, fabric seats, 260 km/h speedo, and plastic door handles, I had to ask how it got here. No one in the dealer thought it was anything special. The only response I received was..."That must be fast...it has got 260 mph on the speedometer...I've never seen caps on a Benz!" I should mention that the license plates looked like ordinary Virginia plates with the addition of "Drive Away" on the bottom. What does that mean?

yellowbenz · #2 08-02-2007, 07:32 PM

Could it be a foreign diplomats's car? Perhaps someone in the military returning from overseas?

Kevin
1979 240D manual
1984 190D manual

DieselAddict · #3 08-02-2007, 07:52 PM

It may be a legally imported gray-market car. The "Drive Away" may be some sort of a moving permit for moving to another state. Sounds like the people at the dealership are a bunch of retards.

diametricalbenz · #4 08-02-2007, 07:57 PM

They probably assumed the spark plug gaps fouled.

RLGDiesel · #5 08-02-2007, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

It may be a legally imported gray-market car. The "Drive Away" may be some sort of a moving permit for moving to another state. Sounds like the people at the dealership are a bunch of retards.

That's what I was thinking until I saw that nothing (including speedo, headlights) had been "federalized." Plus it has been registered with a county since 2005...mysterious

Hatterasguy · #6 08-02-2007, 08:32 PM

Its possible to get Euro cars in, the Gumball guys do it. I think you have to have lots of money and know the right people.

tankdriver · #7 08-02-2007, 08:46 PM

I would guess diplomat, UN, or someone in the military brought it from Europe.

#8 08-02-2007, 09:17 PM

According to Virginia DOT:

Quote:

Use of drive-away plates on repossessed or foreclosed vehicle is limited to drivers transporting unladen vehicles. Drive-away plates may not be used to test-drive vehicle or demonstrate it to potential buyers prior to purchase.

Quote:

It shall be unlawful for any person to use these license plates other than on unladen motor vehicles … which are being delivered from points of assembly or distribution in the usual course of his delivery business or which are being used as provided in subsection D of this section

Quote:

License plates issued under this section may be used by any financial institutions specifically excluded from the definition of "motor vehicle dealer" in subdivision 5 of § 46.2-1500 for the purpose of using them in the normal course of business in taking, repossessing , or otherwise transporting vehicles for the purpose of preservation, sale, or otherwise in connection with repossession or foreclosure of the vehicle on which there is a security interest securing a loan to a financial institution.

Quote:

Section 46.2-733(D) permits a financial institution to use the special license plates ("drive-away plates") for the "taking, repossessing, or otherwise transporting vehicles" for the purposes enumerated therein. When a statute contains a specific grant of authority, such authority exists only to the extent specifically granted.

In other words,
1: It's been confiscated from the owner and it's being moved.
2: The plates are being illegally used.

DieselAddict · #9 08-02-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLGDiesel

That's what I was thinking until I saw that nothing (including speedo, headlights) had been "federalized."

Good point. Then maybe it was illegally imported.

In any case, it's a very special car to find on US soil. MBUSA should get its act together and start importing cars like these to the US. New E-class is rather overpriced IMO.