No, that is not correct. Please see ASA directive No 1 for the actual rules.
https://asa.ch/it/biblioteca-online/direttive/

As said in OP particular situation they can only use it till late January.

Yes it is.
How many times have you done this?

I really am interesting in seeing what they come back with. A lot of my hope is based on another forum members positive experience importing a 3 series with basically nothing need and the inspection letting light signals slide. I could imagine an E60 M5 which isn't mass produced like a 3 could really be a headache.

Headlights as you mentioned is typically a big one. Would be a huge expense. Luckily I have the Xenon Headlight with the washers(cold weather package) which means a programming change to basically switch the light to act like a EU light.

Rear fog lights also need to be programmed and I have to replace the panel to have the button to active the lights.

The other piece are going to be cosmetic differences which when selling could be a pain. I've considered changing the speedo even though it is in both MPH/KM.

This first month of registration is the current hurdle I am trying to surpass. Basically since I bought it used, I don't have the original title. Unluckily for me, the car was first registered in New Jersey which has some pretty crazy consumer privacy laws. Since the registration wasn't under my name, I would have to get approval from the original owner. In my research, I did not really come across this requirement and this has been an unexpected setback. Seems like the Swiss office potentially know this is an issue for US car owners. Going to call the New Jersey DMV and see what can be done but I fully expect to not be able to get anything from them. My alternative is a CarFax report + a Sales record from the BMW dealership. Others said that the Swiss office has either waved this requirement or been satisfied with these "unofficial" documents. Any experience on if they let this slide?

In terms of maintenance, I swapped out all fluids, changed the brakes/rotors and they are on 4 new tires. Suspension part replacement is not something that was on my radar but its good to know.

So you think what the ASA writes is incorrect

His point may be around cars imported without be part of personal move. It does seem like if its part of the move(and I'm not paying import taxes), the 12 months start based on when my move has taken place.

I could see if you already lived here for more than 12 months and imported a car, you could have 12 months to drive it but also pay import tax.

Again, what I said above could be totally wrong, but it makes sense in my head : )

A US BMW dealer should be able to give you the date of first registration but sometimes they don't want to. Try BMW manhattan.

I had a similar problem with a '73 2002 Tii. No hope of getting the first US registration. The BMW archive in Munich gave me a letter with the date the car arrived at the US importer and I eventually convinced them to accept that instead. Although they made a big deal about it for a while.

I'd recommend you have a friendly local garage take the car instead of yourself. Preferably someone who speaks good local dialect!

They are in the "collaudo" box.

Tom

its the opposite actually. If you already live here you can't drive it at all on foreign plates. garage or police plates or trailer it only. if its part of your move, you have the first 12 months (since the date on your permit) to drive it as long as its insured on foreign plates. this is perfectly clear. i'm not sure what ASwissInTheUs is banging on about..... (in fact in post #3 of this thread he even said exactly the same thing as I did)

for next time?

Exactly.

Tom

Sure you can. One month after the import. It is clearly stated so in the ASA directive 1 and also in Art. 115 Abs. 1 lit. c VZV. which is the legal base.

OP is a Swiss resident since late January last year. Car was imported October last year. According the ASA directive 1 the car can be used on Swiss roads on foreign plates till late January.

Still working with Strassenverkehrsamt on the topic of First Registration date(Nachweis der 1. Inverkehrsetzung).

New Jersey will not provide the information but I found a Federal website that compiles title data.

Federal Government Vehicle Data

Through that federal website, you can obtain a free copy of the NMVTIS (National Motor Vehicle Title Information System). I used carsforsale since it was the top link and free but there is a bunch of providers to choose from. In the report it shows the date, mileage and location the car was titled.

Just provided them the report and an explanation(with link to the federal website) around the fact that this is title data from the Federal Government but which ultimately comes from each state's DMV. Hopefully this can stand in place of the DMV's record, I really don't see why not.

yes. exactly as i said.

yep. that should be fine. the problem comes when the car was first titled before national records were kept. certainly before vin standardization in 1981 but i think also right up to the late 1990s.

An other information which you might not have but is relevant for Swiss registration is the cars top speed.

Did you

One month is a hell lot more than "can't at all". Important: Only possible with a 13.20 and valid liability insurance.

I admit I some how did not read the "your own" part

correct. although for run of mill stuff like BMWs they usually have that. If they can't be bothered to look it up for you, the BMW dealer here can print out the swiss federal type approval fiche. its amazing they have that data going back to the 1950s on lots of cars even obscure stuff.

As I mentioned the only issue is when the manufacturer type number of the car is different for US market cars as is often the case with BMWs.

For example an F30 335i (not sure which era 335 OP has, but as an example) has the type code 3A93 for US cars and 3A91 for european cars. The swiss type approval is based on this number and when they look up 3A93 they find a non swiss approved car. If you can convince them its the same, then you're fine but that process isn't automatic.

I came recently aware that this is open data. Some dude (not me) made a website were you can look it up: https://typenscheine.ch/
(Here for motorcyles https://motoriker.info/ )

If you need it more official you can still order the TARGA CD https://www.targatyre.ch/

that's awesome. i did not know that. look at the old fiches:
https://typenscheine.ch/en/Info/2936-MORRIS850

i particularly like the 'active stock'. i apparently have the only mk1 morris mini in ticino!

This is really good info. It is an F30 335 AWD which will have a 3B93 code I'm guessing. The EU model would have a 3B91 code. What would cause them to not equivocate that they are both the same? Same engine, transmission etc. Emissions might be an issue but I heard the Swiss will take or equivocate US emission standards for newer models.