Here is what http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov had to say about it:

VEHICLE IMPORTATION GUIDELINES
(Imported From a Country Other Than Canada)

The following provides information concerning the importation of a passenger
car, truck, trailer, motorcycle, moped, bus, or MPV built to comply with the
standards of a country other than the U.S. or Canada. Importers of motor
vehicles must file form HS-7 (available at ports of entry) at the time a
vehicle is imported to declare whether the vehicle complies with DOT
requirements. As a general rule, a motor vehicle less than 25 years old must
comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) to
be imported permanently. Vehicles manufactured to meet the FMVSS will have a
certification label affixed by the original manufacturer in the area of the
driver-side door. To make importation easier, when purchasing a vehicle
certified to the U.S. standards abroad, a buyer should have the sales
contract verify that the label is attached and present this document at time
of importation.

A vehicle without this certification label must be imported as a
nonconforming vehicle. In this case, the importer must contract with a
DOT-Registered Importer (RI) and post a DOT bond for one and a half times
the vehicle's dutiable value. This bond is in addition to the normal Customs
entry bond. Copies of the DOT bond and the contract with an RI must be
attached to the HS-7 form.

Under the contract, the RI will modify and certify that the vehicle conforms
with all applicable FMVSS. Before an RI can modify a vehicle NHTSA must have
determined that the vehicle is capable of being modified to comply with the
FMVSS. If no determination has been made, the RI must petition NHTSA to
determine whether the vehicle is capable of being modified to comply with
the FMVSS. If the petitioned vehicle is not similar to one sold in the U.S.,
this process becomes very complex and costly. A list of vehicles previously
determined eligible for importation may be obtained from an RI or from the N
HTSA web site.

Since the cost of modifying a nonconforming vehicle, or the time required to
bring it into conformance, may affect the decision to purchase a vehicle
abroad, we strongly recommend discussing these aspects with an RI before
buying and shipping a vehicle to the U.S.

For federal regulations concerning vehicle emissions contact the
Environmental Protection Agency, Manufacturers Operations Division, EN-340,
401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 564-9660. Information
concerning duty or other Customs matters can be obtained from the
Classification and Value Division, U.S. Customs Service, Washington, DC
20229, (202) 927-0300, or http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/travel/auto.htm

For information regarding registration or operation of a properly imported
vehicle in a specific state, we advise you to contact the Department of
Motor Vehicles or other appropriate agency in that state since the
requirements vary by state.

REGISTERED IMPORTERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN
EUROPEAN OR "GRAY MARKET" VEHICLES

Black Shrine *
(949) 515-8056 1760 Monrovia Avenue
FAX: (949) 515-8035 Costa Mesa CA 92627

Northern California Diagnostic Lab. *
(707) 258-1753 2748 Jefferson Street
FAX: (707) 258-1611 Napa, CA 94558

G & K Automotive Conversion *
(714) 545-9503  3231 South Standard Avenue
FAX: (714) 545-7667 Santa Ana, CA 92705

Motorex
(310) 224-5085 20695 Western Avenue #116
FAX: (310) 224-5089 Torrance CA 90501

Amerispec Corporation
(203) 744-0844 190 George Washington Parkway
FAX: (203) 743-9771 Ridgefield CT 06877

Atlantic ICI
(407) 298-3500 2605 Clark Street, Unit C
FAX: (407) 298-9911 Apopka FL 32703

DC Imports *
(954) 755-8868 12079 NW 50th Drive
(954) 755-7768 Coral Springs FL 33076

JK Technologies *
(410) 366-6332 3500 Sweet Air Street
FAX: (410) 366-7655 Baltimore, MD 21087

Bayway Auto
(973) 824-8687 558-562 Frelinghuysen Avenue
FAX: (973) 824-8782 Newark, NJ 07114

Europa International
(505)984-8888
(Mercedes Benz Gelaendewagens only) 2586 Camino Entrada
FAX: (505) 471-6191 Santa Fe NM 87505

Champagne Imports *
(215) 799-1445 132 Penn Avenue
FAX: (215) 799-1421 Telford,  PA 18969

Wallace Environmental Testing Lab. *
(713) 956-7705
http://www.wallacelab.com/  2140 Wirtcrest
FAX: (713) 956-0104 Houston,  TX 77055

Western Cascade
(206) 243-2667 6440 South 143rd Street
FAX: (206) 439-7833 Tukwila WA 98168

Milwaukee Motorcycle Imports *
(414) 321-9607 3144 South 47th Street
FAX: (414) 321-9608 Milwaukee WI 53219

* Registered with DOT and EPA

An RI is an independent business and may be selective in the type of work it
performs. The agency does not endorse or recommend any of the listed RIs nor
does it imply or guarantee that any work or service performed will meet your
satisfaction.

Thanks,
Chris Gronski
Toronto, Ontario
'80 Westy "Pokey"

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael J. Sullivan" <sullivan@openmarket.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: Question:Vanagon Importing Costs?

> Dear Frank,
>
> As I understand it, without the DOT sticker attached to the body of the
> vehicle (as well as all the glass, and lighting) it will be nearly
> impossible to import that German van since you cannot prove that it will
> comply with the crash and safety standards for the US model!!!
>
> NOTE: one of the reason that NA Vanagons cost so much "way back when" was
> all this DOT & EPA red tape.
>
> Even Bill Gates can't import any car he wants. Supposedly there is a
> Porsche somewhere in Seattle that was confiscated by customs 'cause Mr.
> Bill couldn't prove that his fancy wheels would pass the DOT crash test.
> Solution? Crash the vehicle under DOT-approved controlled conditions
> (around $1,000,000.00) then you can bring it in!
>
> Cheers,
> MJS
>
>
> At 03:27 AM 7/22/00 EDT, Frank Grunthaner wrote:
> >I have been trying to get an estimate as to the costs of registering an
1988
> >Vanagon Turbo Diesel Westfalia built in Germany for the German market in
the
> >US (specifically California). I have traced the DOT, EPA and Customs web
> >pages and talked to local customs brokers, but I sure need some advice.
The
> >key questions are:
> >
> >1. How different is the German Market Vanagon from the US version.
> >
> >2. What are the problems qualifing the turbo diesel with the EPA, given
that
> >it was never imported into the US in this configuration.
> >
> >Appreciate any advice,
> >
> >Frank Grunthaner
> >
> Michael J. Sullivan
> Marshfield Hills, MA
> Central America 2001 or bust!
>
> '87 VW Vanagon GL Syncro Westfalia "Sunny" (soon to be TDi-powered)
> '86 VW Syncro Doublecab "Claude"
> '96 VW Passat TDi "Teddi" (46mpg)
>
> *********************************************
> work:       http://www.openmarket.com
> my vanagon: http://www.hsdesign.com/vanagon
> scan tips:  http://www.hsdesign.com/scanning
> *********************************************
>