Hi there all,

This is my first post. I live in the middle east (UAE) and recently got a 2021 Tahoe before moving back to the US towards the end of the year. Naturally I'd very much like to take the vehicle.
As I have been advised I the car needs to comply with EPA and US D.O.T standards and I need to prove that it does. Sadly, there are no labels regarding any of this on the car, presumably because it was made for the middle eastern market and not the North American one.

This is the numbers i have: Vin: 1GNSK8KD6MR213724

Eng: L84AMR213724

I managed to find the NA EPA certificate for my model car online. It specifies an Engine Family (MGMXR017350D) which if it corresponds with the engine in my car would mean that it complies with EPA standards. Unfortunately I cannot find the engine family anywhere and the dealership as well as GM middle east has been of very little help. The other option would be a letter from GM (letter of compliance) stating the vehicle meets U.S. EPA and U.S. DOT standards - but again, very little help from GM customer service...

I know it might be a long shot, but I thought someone here might have experience with something similar.Many thanks and take care,

Tom

 

Is there an engine family sticker under the hood? That sticker usually exists. Also look for DOT on all the glass and all the exterior light lenses.
Other than maybe the headlights everything should still be DOT approved. Some headlight housings are different for EU specs but the rest should be the standard DOT parts.
Drivers' door jamb sticker may have some useful info also.

 

Welcome from Florida. Just wondering, wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to sell it and buy another one once you get to the US? The shipping costs must be very expensive.

 

Thanks guys!

No, oddly there is no sticker whatsoever under the hood... There might be under the plastic coverings, but I assumed the dealership would know if there are. There is none of the stickers that you get if you buy the car in North America though. The below is the sticker in the door jamb. It basically states (from what google tells me) that the car has been manufactured to GCC (Gulf Country Specs) and information similar to the one found on the NA VIN sticker.

Regarding selling it here, of course its something I've considered, but the used car market is horrible (and here in general as ppl are always leaving). I worked out that I can spend 10k on moving and modifying the car (if need be) and still come out cheaper than buying it again in the US... Hence why I would like to know what needs to be modified and how much the cost would be. But again, the importers I've been in touch with need the details on what's different (without them being able to see the car...) or indeed the letter (which would make it pretty easy to import).

 

In the US there were a ton of valve lifter issues on the '21's in both motors so I would get rid of it there and just buy a new one here.

 

So you're saying its worth selling it only for that reason?

 

Depending on where in the US you are going to register this truck a lot of states require California emission equipped vehicles also. I doubt it's got CA emissions and that will be another giant issue. There are no add ons to make that work.
Every state has it's own rules so I'd look into that also. To import a common vehicle may not be worth the hassle or expense or even to be able to meet Federal and state requirements. It's not like it's a exotic sports car.
And add in the lifer issues, there are a ton of posts about in on this site about the '21's having problems.

 

Thanks a lot for your thoughts.
I see. Its a real shame that they make the cars so different, even if manufactured in the US. As you're saying, I was assuming the vehicle sold for export and for domestic markets would be very similar. I would be taking it to TX.
Is there any way to determine if the car has for example got CA emissions or not? What would I (or a dealership) have to look for specifically?

The best information on the differences I got from GM so far was:

• Outside rearview mirror with the Arabic script instead of English
• The certification label in Arabic language instead of English
• The short range frequency devices such as remote keyless, TPMS are operated using European frequency instead of the U.S.
• It has the Middle East fuel economy label instead of the U.S. fuel economy label
• The radio has different AM/FM frequencies compare to the U.S.

Now this seems pretty straightforward but as you're saying it is probably very incomplete...

 

Welcome to the forum. My suspicion is that the best source of information to answer your question would be General Motors in Michigan. Whether or not you can get in touch with them is another question. California emission standards are more extreme than the ones for the other 49 states.

 

You wouldn't happen to have a point of contact there? Or who would you write?