Thanks to the forum and a nice person at the Zurich STVA I managed to get through the registration procedures for an imported car. There is now even a nice pdf that describes the various procedures depending on the type of import.

However, I have a question of a slightly different nature, to which I couldn't find a clear answer, so here goes:

The car is still on it's California plates and landed on 24th June 2010. It did the MFK Prufung and requires the control arms to be replaced because the bushings are buggered, purely as a result of usage, and not out of conformity issues. Painful but still happy that it passed without major technical changes. Anyway it turns out that we are moving back to California in the next month or two and we will take it with us. In which case I am not going to bother with getting swiss plates. Additionally, we want to do a last road trip to Germany and Italy before we pack everything into the shipping container.

So considering that it is over it's "12 months", what are the issues if I get pulled over?

Also I have been stopped at the border a few times but I called the Customs Headquarters in Bern and they said, so long as you have paid your duties/taxes from their perspective it's all good.

As far as I can figure, so long as I have valid international car insurance, I should be good in Germany, Italy and in Switz. So what is the deal with the 12 month time limit? Is it only if you want to be able to make it available for sale in Switzerland at a later date?

Cheers

Good question. Which raises more question here. If you have passed inspection, why not register the car and then sell it for more, since you can replace the same car for much less in CA. (what kind of car is it anyway?)
I'm currently in the same situation, driving on my Ohio plates. I have been to Germany few times and their main concern is insurance. If you have that, and your CA plate is valid you should be able to drive in Germany. As for getting back to Switzerland without problems, you might want to check with the customs.

Good Luck

The car failed on control arms.

you can always play stupid.....

I'm with you thinking sell it for more. However, other people are saying you won't get a good price because it was a "foreign import". I'm thinking of coming over with a 2004 A6. It has only 22K miles on it. I would take care of any changes necessary e.g. lights. I was of the opinion that I could sell it for more than in the US after we used it for a year of probably more low mileage driving and pay off my transport/conversion costs.

So a question to you since you seem experienced with this. It appears I can drive on my US license for a year, I can keep my plates for a year. Our assignment is for a year. Do I have to have the changes made if only a year? Do I need it inspected immediately or can it wait some period of time and if so for how long? Is insurance any problem? Would I get it there or from the US prior to leaving?