The Gelaendewagen is a very special vehicle available only in limited quantities here in the USA. Since most of the G-wagens here were imported by private individuals or small ventures, and not by Mercedes Benz, it was necessary for each vehicle to be individually "Federalized" or modified to meet the road-worthiness specifications of the United States before it was allowed to be legally registered for road use in the USA. Before buying any G-wagen, we urge you to verify with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) that the vehicle is registered with them as having been properly federalized and properly certified by the EPA according to laws in force at the time of importation.
Sounds like a daunting task, doesn't it? Well, luckily, this is one area where our government is making things easy for us. A simple phone call is all that is necessary. If you are thinking of buying a G-wagen, simply inform the seller that you wish to verify it was imported properly, and that in order to do so, you need the complete Vehicle Identification Number(VIN) of the vehicle which should be visible on a plate attached to the left side windshield post just behind the class. Once you have the VIN, simply dial 1-202-366-7982 (in the USA) and ask to speak with Ms. Rena Lee. She will be able to tell you, based on the VIN, whether or not the vehicle has been properly certified for road use in the USA.
If you find out the vehicle is not properly certified, it is probably best not to purchase it. For, while it may have a clear title, a title alone does not make the vehicle legal to operate on US roads, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to register it in any given state in the USA without the full and proper importation requirements having been met. Also, as more and more people become aware of the potential for these illegally imported trucks to be circulating in the market, their re-sale value will fall and you may be then stuck with something that is un-registerable, and un-sellable. You may be a bit disappointed that your dream G is not properly certified. But better to find that out now and keep looking, than to find out after your purchase and be left holding the bag.
Please be a fully informed consumer.
Sincerely,
The ClubGwagen Administrators