Has anyone used Hubauer for parts?

[Court_S]

I’ve been scouring the int for a few bits that I want / need for the E91 and prices from Germany look very competitive from Hubauer / Lebmann.

Does anyone know if I’ll get stiffed for import / handling fees? I’ve asked them but they’re a bit slow to respond.

Cotswold seemed expensive compared to my local dealer. On the face of it, ordering from Germany will save me a decent wedge.

[d_a_n1979]

My pal used them and got stung for import tax....

Have you tried Douglas Park BMW or other BMW dealers on eBay Sam?

Autodoc no good?

What about C3BMW?

[Court_S]

Tits - thought the prices for darkline rear lights was too good to be true!

Having done a bit more googling, it looks like orders below £135 are exempt, so I can potentially save a worthwhile bit on some things like the steering wheel trim which are hideously expensive all of a sudden (I paid £55 last year, its now £76 with my discount).

[pmorg4]

I've used LLL Parts for genuine BMW parts in the past and had no issues, although I've read others that have received wrong parts, had orders cancelled etc, so just offering a balanced view. They more or less offer the entire parts catalogue (similar to Costwold BMW etc) so handy if you need BMW-specific parts. Although they are based in Europe they charge in GBP and charge the VAT up front so no customs issues, similar to Autodoc.

Below £135 isn't exempt per se, it's just that they are supposed to charge VAT at source meaning you don't need to deal with the hassle when it arrives. I much prefer this approach, particularly after getting a bill from FedEx in the past that was impossible to pay online without a business account, the phone number went through to a useless automated service, and no-one ever responded to the email address!

[Court_S]

pmorg4 said:

I've used LLL Parts for genuine BMW parts in the past and had no issues, although I've read others that have received wrong parts, had orders cancelled etc, so just offering a balanced view. They more or less offer the entire parts catalogue (similar to Costwold BMW etc) so handy if you need BMW-specific parts. Although they are based in Europe they charge in GBP and charge the VAT up front so no customs issues, similar to Autodoc.

Below £135 isn't exempt per se, it's just that they are supposed to charge VAT at source meaning you don't need to deal with the hassle when it arrives. I much prefer this approach, particularly after getting a bill from FedEx in the past that was impossible to pay online without a business account, the phone number went through to a useless automated service, and no-one ever responded to the email address!

Thanks; I’ve binned the idea off because PayPal’s exchange rate is so st that it wipes out most of the saving, so I’ve ordered via Cotswold and Sytner (basically whoever was a bit cheaper).

[pmorg4]

Court_S said:

Thanks; I’ve binned the idea off because PayPal’s exchange rate is so st that it wipes out most of the saving, so I’ve ordered via Cotswold and Sytner (basically whoever was a bit cheaper).

If you have a fee-free debit or credit card, link that to your PayPal account and choose the option to bill you in the local currency. PayPal will spit a big scary looking warning at you that you have no visibility over the exchange rate, but of course what they mean is you've just excluded their huge spread from the cost

[d_a_n1979]

pmorg4 said:

Court_S said:

Thanks; I’ve binned the idea off because PayPal’s exchange rate is so st that it wipes out most of the saving, so I’ve ordered via Cotswold and Sytner (basically whoever was a bit cheaper).

If you have a fee-free debit or credit card, link that to your PayPal account and choose the option to bill you in the local currency. PayPal will spit a big scary looking warning at you that you have no visibility over the exchange rate, but of course what they mean is you've just excluded their huge spread from the cost

Yup; I've got a Revolut account for that (and I use it when I pop over to Dublin to see my colleagues etc)

Comes in handy

[_Hoppers]

Court_S said:

pmorg4 said:

I've used LLL Parts for genuine BMW parts in the past and had no issues, although I've read others that have received wrong parts, had orders cancelled etc, so just offering a balanced view. They more or less offer the entire parts catalogue (similar to Costwold BMW etc) so handy if you need BMW-specific parts. Although they are based in Europe they charge in GBP and charge the VAT up front so no customs issues, similar to Autodoc.

Below £135 isn't exempt per se, it's just that they are supposed to charge VAT at source meaning you don't need to deal with the hassle when it arrives. I much prefer this approach, particularly after getting a bill from FedEx in the past that was impossible to pay online without a business account, the phone number went through to a useless automated service, and no-one ever responded to the email address!

Thanks; I’ve binned the idea off because PayPal’s exchange rate is so st that it wipes out most of the saving, so I’ve ordered via Cotswold and Sytner (basically whoever was a bit cheaper).

Is it too late but you can get 15% off at Sytner Leicester using code MAT15?

[Court_S]

_Hoppers said:

Is it too late but you can get 15% off at Sytner Leicester using code MAT15?

I’d forgotten that one….tits.

I think I’ve got maybe 10% off through Cotswold / local Sytner.

[VeeTenM]

Sytner Leicester using code MAT15 always cheaper compared to anyone else for me, good ol Mat

[Court_S]

VeeTenM said:

Sytner Leicester using code MAT15 always cheaper compared to anyone else for me, good ol Mat

I’ll use them for the dark lines then.

[I-am-the-reverend]

On recommendation I've bought parts via Ebay from C3BMW and Motormec in the past, both have been excellent.

[d_a_n1979]

I-am-the-reverend said:

On recommendation I've bought parts via Ebay from C3BMW and Motormec in the past, both have been excellent.

Both superb; but they don't sell OEM parts unfortunately...

Literally rebuilt my E39s via C3BMW and BMWMotormec

[Court_S]

I-am-the-reverend said:

On recommendation I've bought parts via Ebay from C3BMW and Motormec in the past, both have been excellent.

I’ve used C3 in the past without issue.

I’m just tying to be tight and save some cash on bits that I’d like for the incoming touring.