bimmerspecialist
02-19-2010, 12:00 PM
#1
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bimmerspecialist
Just wanted to post about a parts supplier I just used for the first time.
For me being in Canada, and far from the border (maybe an 8 hour drive?), it's a pain to get parts for cheap from American suppliers. If an American based shop does ship, then I typically have to pay higher shipping costs, plus if they send by UPS, then a ridiculous brokerage fee (which UPS doesn't tell you about) and then any taxes on import. And any difference in exchange rate (it was rough years ago when we had a weak dollar, it's okay now though). So while there may be great savings on the initial price, by the time it gets to me, I'm paying sometimes 50% more. Might as well buy it from the dealer almost!
If I lived near the border, I could whip over and grab stuff myself. I use a parcel service in Blaine, Washington called Pacific Mail and Parcel, and what they basically provide is a US shipping address for me. Thing is, I have to plan a trip to Vancouver to do that, but we go maybe twice a year to visit relatives there. I like that, it's a great way to take advantage of any suppliers that do free shipping in the US.
Anyway, sometimes I can't wait, so it's either the dealer or local parts suppliers. Then I stumbled upon bimmerspecialist.com. Of course I thought they were only BMW parts, but they supply almost everything European.
Reading the oil cooler oil leak and DIY repair thread, and after looking at my engine bay, I wanted to do that repair too. Dealer wanted about C$48 EACH for the two seals. I paid about C$20 each from bimmerspecialist, AND they have a Canadian connection. I think they run the parts over the border twice a week and send it from Vancouver or something. So I paid $10 shipping by Canada Post (also got a trans oil pan gasket and filter kit for C$20 too).
Long story short - if you're a Canadian, try bimmerspecialist!
For me being in Canada, and far from the border (maybe an 8 hour drive?), it's a pain to get parts for cheap from American suppliers. If an American based shop does ship, then I typically have to pay higher shipping costs, plus if they send by UPS, then a ridiculous brokerage fee (which UPS doesn't tell you about) and then any taxes on import. And any difference in exchange rate (it was rough years ago when we had a weak dollar, it's okay now though). So while there may be great savings on the initial price, by the time it gets to me, I'm paying sometimes 50% more. Might as well buy it from the dealer almost!
If I lived near the border, I could whip over and grab stuff myself. I use a parcel service in Blaine, Washington called Pacific Mail and Parcel, and what they basically provide is a US shipping address for me. Thing is, I have to plan a trip to Vancouver to do that, but we go maybe twice a year to visit relatives there. I like that, it's a great way to take advantage of any suppliers that do free shipping in the US.
Anyway, sometimes I can't wait, so it's either the dealer or local parts suppliers. Then I stumbled upon bimmerspecialist.com. Of course I thought they were only BMW parts, but they supply almost everything European.
Reading the oil cooler oil leak and DIY repair thread, and after looking at my engine bay, I wanted to do that repair too. Dealer wanted about C$48 EACH for the two seals. I paid about C$20 each from bimmerspecialist, AND they have a Canadian connection. I think they run the parts over the border twice a week and send it from Vancouver or something. So I paid $10 shipping by Canada Post (also got a trans oil pan gasket and filter kit for C$20 too).
Long story short - if you're a Canadian, try bimmerspecialist!
02-19-2010, 01:35 PM
#2
If any of my relatives need any parts from the US, I buy it and ship it for them.
(I used to own a mint 19k miles 00 Honda S2000 which I sold to someone in Calgary)
If you see somebody in Alberta driving with California plates in the front, that's the one.
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