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What to bring back from UK?
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=80082		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  frank [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:26 am ]
Post subject:  What to bring back from UK?
Hi,

We (daughter and I) have just started working on a roundy (she had to have a mini for her 1st car),
car is stripped and on rotisserie, rust is almost all fixed.
car came in pieces and its not all there. Have picked up some stuff off Gumtree (ie 998 engine and box, rear drum brake assemblies, front drum brakes and hubs).

Workmate is going to UK and is willing to send stuff back or bring it back with him as baggage.
What should I buy (and where from)?
I'm thinking
-all rubbers (which means what? I know nothing about minis)
car was/is hydrolastic but am thinking it would be easier for me if I made it dry. Can pick up dry subframes easy enough but what do I need to buy to replace whatever wears?

Naturally preference will be to buy stuff that is expensive here and cheap in UK, light and not overly bulky/long/awkward.

any help/suggestions appreciated.

thanks
frank
I'm in Perth, WA if that makes any difference.
Author:  Blunder [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:01 am ]
Post subject: 
Personally I would recommend front disc brakes. For a New driver in today's environment I think drums are not sufficient.
Author:  Davo [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 1:36 am ]
Post subject: 
G'day Frank,

One thing to take account of is that your friend buying in the UK will be required to pay VAT @ 20% on purchases they make for you. Now it is possible to claim that VAT back by doing some administrative stuff at the airport (exit port) by your friend on his way leaving the UK, though that is from my recollection a reasonably involved process.

The reason I raise this is that with most reputable traders of Mini parts in the UK, if you buy online yet you are from outside the UK/Europe then they won't charge you VAT anyway (as it doesn't apply), however will of course charge you to post whatever you have purchased to Australia.

My experience with this is that often the VAT saving ends up being around the international postage/freight charge, and so I find myself here in Melbourne being able to have stuff delivered from the UK to my door for pretty much the same price as people in the UK can buy over the counter!

Of course one has to keep purchases under the AUD1,000.00 threshold to also take advantage of saving on potential duty and GST, however that is pretty easy!

Sorry for sticking my beak in, however just thought it worth highlighting that there are some pretty good ways to buy from the UK, save a motza, yet you don't need to go any further than your computer keyboard!

Cheers,

Dave
Author:  Convertible Mini [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:57 am ]
Post subject:  What to bring back from the UK?
SOME RAIN FOR THE VICTORIANS!
Author:  Bubbacluby [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:28 am ]
Post subject: 
Some second hand rims we dont have in australia, or are rare in Australia
Author:  BALLISTIC [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:16 am ]
Post subject: 
I agree with Davo, if buying parts from uk, buy on-line otherwise support our local mini community/business' & keep them going as it helps us all out in the long run.
Author:  SuperCooper [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
You can bring me back a short stroke billet Crank.
Author:  1071 S [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
IME freight is always more than VAT... maybe not for something small/light but expensive.

The process for reclaiming VAT is more or less pain free. There are usually different booths for cash VS credit card refunds (which can take a month or so). Naturally the cash lines are much longer. The catch is that you must have the goods with you to show the customs man (although I've never (sic) had them actually look) - which means you have to have the goods in your carry-on and not checked luggage. I'm pretty sure there is provision for doing the VAT claim after you get home to Oz - but you have to prove export from the UK and don't really know how you'd go about that (but there must be a mechanism).

As freight is weight based, your biggest bang-for-the-buck is expensive, dense stuff - like cylinder heads. But you do have to get it past the carry-on Nazis. I would suggest Qantas are the worst at this... Although I once managed to get a carry-on onboard a 747 that I couldn't actually lift off the floor with one hand.

The other main benefit of an OS purchase is to be able to "feel the quality" before parting with your cash.

Cheers, Ian
Author:  MiniBill [ Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
1071 S wrote:
IME freight is always more than VAT... maybe not for something small/light but expensive.

Cheers, Ian


I agree postage on heavy items is expensive , ive looked at carpet and postage was $98 and similar for a set of shockers with some hilo's , so i think as you mentioned something light would be cheaper , but go for some of the more heavier items " within reason " as i think the weight limit on a suitcase is around 23kg.

So have a look at

http://www.minispares.com/default.aspx

http://www.minisport.com/

http://www.minispeed.co.uk/

http://www.minispares-online.co.uk/

Pick something you might want and email them for the size and weight.

Cheers:
Bill
Author:  frank [ Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:43 am ]
Post subject: 
thanks for the websites. Some of them I hadn't found. Still trying to sort out what we should buy (and pay VAT on) and what we should buy online and ship directly to us, and what we should buy over here. Who are the suppliers over here; I have found miniports.com.au and minis.com.au
any others?

Initial thoughts and reasons are:
buy and pay VAT - Body Seam covers -difficult to ship
Suspension cones - expensive here
suspension arm repair kits - heavy
door, boot, bonnet rubbers - bulky
brake and clutch master cylinders - heavy??

buy online and ship - brake hoses, seal kits, flare nuts, fittings
small suspension rubbers

buy here the million and one other bits and pieces we don't have
we really need to find a cheap complete mini that is totally shot body wise and mechanically worthless. we need all the little fittings, brackets, even the nuts and bolts etc.

Guess I should start a rebuild blog (with photos).
cheers,
frank
Author:  PDJ [ Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think you should phone the guys at Karcraft and ask them to send you a copy of the latest mini parts list on PDF.
I've found them to be VERY competitive on price compared to the U.K. you can speak to someone with regards to what you want or need. plus you are supporting the local economy.
The same goes for MiniKing. The benefit of going local, talking to someone who knows what they are on about and the knowledge they are prepared to share is invaluable. Plus if you can go into these places youll get to meet some great people and some very handy contacts. :wink:
Author:  drmini in aust [ Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
What he said ^^^
I got burned last time on a small shipment from Minispares, on a £49 order the freight was £40! Thanks UPS, not.
Post? Royal Mail are useless, they won't send anything airmail over 2kg.

I could have driven to Karcraft and bought the parts cheaper. :twisted:
Author:  michaelb [ Sat Jan 26, 2013 6:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
The other option is to visit the Mini shop and pick out what you want and have it shipped home.
I have done this on a few trips for large items like wheels and tyres, brakes kit, suspension kit, and you get to feel the parts.
Small items I have carried back and claimed the VAT at the airport, which was credited to my bank account after about 5 weeks
Author:  MiniBill [ Sat Jan 26, 2013 7:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Has anyone got a current Karcraft price list they could email me ?

Cheers Bill
Author:  drmini in aust [ Sat Jan 26, 2013 8:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
MiniBill wrote:
Has anyone got a current Karcraft price list they could email me ?

Cheers Bill

If you email them they will send you one. Either a printed copy, or a CD. My CD one has to get the .dat file updated every 3 months or it don't work. But the paper one will still work just fine after 3 months...> haha
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