Making Unimog meet American DOT/EPA emissions regulations?

[simon.winchester56]

Does anyone know if it is possible to make a new European Unimog meet American EPA and DOT requirments?

If this is even possible, is it a matter of adapting the engine or a completely new engine in place of the original Mercedes Benz Unimog engine?

Will any efforts to adapt or replace the engine have any adverse effect on performance etc...

I know I probably sound like a fool, but the regulations in North America really do baffle me!

SW56

 

[charlieaarons]

My somewhat knowledgeable advice:
take a Valium (no driving for at least 4hrs after taking), then find a North American market U500 with low mileage and buy it.
If you purchased an optioned new U5000 in Germany for $200K, you'd spend $100K homologating it for the US, if it can be done at all, and $75K putting in a 6cyl engine and U500 gearing so it can keep up with US/Canadian traffic in the slow lane.
For that much you can buy a lovely U500 camper from Global Expedition Vehicles already registered in the US and easily registerable in Canada.

Charlie

 

[simon.winchester56]

Thanks,
But sooner or later the supply of U500s in North America will dry up and finding one will become harder. I don't know how easy it is to get one in USA or Canada atm, I'll have to check, but I don't get the impression the U500 is as 'formidable' as the U4000/5000? What are your thoughts.

In Europe there is a very good used market and these vehicles can be picked up at good prices. The problem is converting it for North America. I was wondering if 1. this can even be done, if so - 2, how?

Cheers

SW56

 

[Martyn]

Simon
Manufacturers build US spec vehicles as indicated on there compliance stickers. Vehicles that are non-US spec vehicles can be brought into compliance through "Registered Importers" a list of them can be found here

It's been a while since I looked into this but I believe that the RI's do the safety compliance work and that some of them also do the EPA work for emissions. You would have to check further into that.

 

[simon.winchester56]

Thanks,
So it seems it could be possible to bring a new unimog up to US standards, albeit costly and a bit of a faff.

I suppose the alternative is to import an older model (>25 yrs), from before 1985. Here in Europe there are lots of good value vehicles from that era at excellent prices. As many of them are ex-military, the mileage is very low too. With this:

1) Is it easy(ish) to import and register vehicles over 25 years?

2) What is the thought in N.America on older 2nd hand unimogs - popular or not?

In the UK, there is an excellent Unimog dealer/garage which can assist with anything unimog - http://www.unimogs.co.uk/
______________________
Cheers,
SW56

 

[charlieaarons]

It is extremely easy to import and register in MOST states a >24yo Unimog (Wisconsin might be a problem). But remember you'll be buying a lot of maintenance and parts, inevitably. And any 25yo Mog will not go up hills fast, will not go over 55mph unless extensively modified, and although there are a few good Mog places (maybe about the number you can count on one hand), the US is larger than the UK.

Charlie

 

[Martyn]

The issue would be that Simon is importing a vehicle he would need to first conform with all Federal regulations as required by NHTSA, DOT, EPA.

After he has done that then he can register the vehicle in one of the States and then be subjected to local regulations.

Simon for clarification, enforcement at the States level is all over the place. Some have no checks at all, others like California require all the Federal EPA requirements, plus a higher emissions test standards.

 

[simon.winchester56]

Martyn, I was under the impression vehicles over the age of 25 years (and 15 for canada) can be imported anyway, regardless of the EPA/DOT emissions jargon?

Charlie, do you have any names of any good mog places in the US, who can do the modifications and services etc..?

Cheers
SW

 

[Martyn]

Martyn, I was under the impression vehicles over the age of 25 years (and 15 for canada) can be imported anyway, regardless of the EPA/DOT emissions jargon?

Charlie, do you have any names of any good mog places in the US, who can do the modifications and services etc..?

Cheers
SW

Simon

Sorry for any confusion, I was talking about new vehicles.

 

[4xdog]

Everything is relative, I guess, but ANY Unimog seems more "formidable" than anything else on two axles to this fan of the marque.

I can remember the Unimog city vehicle in Baden-Baden (Germany) that took care of the flowers and shrubbery every day a few years ago. An older, smaller one, sure, but still pretty formidable coming down a garden path.

I think you'll always be ahead buying something from the factory made ready for our market. The idea of making a modern vehicle DOT-EPA compliant is a pipe dream without being prepared to spend cubic dollars on the project. I'm with Charlie on this point.

Don

 

[dzzz]

Importing a 25 year old unimog compared to dropping a couple hundred thousand euros on buying and modifying a U5000 are opposite end of a huge spectrum of choices.

You can buy a low milage U500 in the U.S. for 2/3 or less what they cost in Europe. As far as formidable, this may help:[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDD0MU7jVIU"]U500[/ame]

I'm not sure what your planning on doing in North America that exceeds the vehicle needs of U.K. special forces. But whatever you have in mind it's probably best not to mention it when going through customs.

If you've never seen a U500 in person it's a lot bigger than it appears in the video clip shot (wide angle lens). 10.5' tall with four foot tires. Driver sitting height is the same as the largest lorry.

 

[Victorian]

i just remembered that friends of ours bought a new Unicat Unimog about 13 years ago and brought it to Canada. As far as I know, they got license plates from British Columbia.

http://www.globetrotters.ch/galerien/globgalerie_unimog_de.asp Drop them a line, maybe they can point you in the right direction.

 

[Victorian]

There is/was another one that had BC license plates. It was owned by a Swiss couple and was just up for sale here in BC.
http://www.unicat.net/de/pics/UL15AS-2.html

 

[dzzz]

How do unicat customers choose between the U500 and U5000?

 

[charlieaarons]

How do unicat customers choose between the U500 and U5000?

They don't. They've all used MANs the last few years. I ended up with a U500 for what should be obvious reasons - you can (could) get them here!

Charlie