Since we are all in the same boat with non-US cars, I thought it would be helpful to have a thread for sharing parts sources.
Most of the parts I've needed so far are shared with US E30s, so I've just gotten them from my local dealer. For the Touring-specific (non-US) parts, here's what I've learned.
1. Local dealer - My local dealer has ordered several non-US parts for me. They show as available and the BMW parts system let's the order be processed, but the parts never come in. I eventually gave up.
2. Maximillian Importing (BMW Classic) - I've successfully ordered from them several times. Great guys. Orders usually take a month to arrive. Prices are high. For decent sized orders, I've found that Schmiedmann is faster and cheaper (even with the international shipping).
3. Schmiedmann (Denmark) - They have become my go-to source for new OEM parts. I have been able to get parts from them that Maximillian shows as NLA. Fast shipping. Good prices. Minimum $23 shipping cost.
4. Guten Parts and BluntTech - Many euro-BMW owners get parts from these 2 places. I've never used them.
5. Sskoda - Dismantler in Ireland. He advertises in the r3v classifieds. Good seller. I bought some parts from him through his web site willswheels.co.uk.
6. UK eBay. There are some random Touring parts on the US eBay, but many more on the UK eBay. I actually found a guy who advertised a Touring he was dismantling and bought some parts directly from him. I tried German eBay once, but did not find much, probably because the translator I was using was not that good. My guess is that if you can read German, that would probably be a great source for used parts.
Hope this is helpful. Please post anything you all have learned!
Cory
Most of the parts I've needed so far are shared with US E30s, so I've just gotten them from my local dealer. For the Touring-specific (non-US) parts, here's what I've learned.
1. Local dealer - My local dealer has ordered several non-US parts for me. They show as available and the BMW parts system let's the order be processed, but the parts never come in. I eventually gave up.
2. Maximillian Importing (BMW Classic) - I've successfully ordered from them several times. Great guys. Orders usually take a month to arrive. Prices are high. For decent sized orders, I've found that Schmiedmann is faster and cheaper (even with the international shipping).
3. Schmiedmann (Denmark) - They have become my go-to source for new OEM parts. I have been able to get parts from them that Maximillian shows as NLA. Fast shipping. Good prices. Minimum $23 shipping cost.
4. Guten Parts and BluntTech - Many euro-BMW owners get parts from these 2 places. I've never used them.
5. Sskoda - Dismantler in Ireland. He advertises in the r3v classifieds. Good seller. I bought some parts from him through his web site willswheels.co.uk.
6. UK eBay. There are some random Touring parts on the US eBay, but many more on the UK eBay. I actually found a guy who advertised a Touring he was dismantling and bought some parts directly from him. I tried German eBay once, but did not find much, probably because the translator I was using was not that good. My guess is that if you can read German, that would probably be a great source for used parts.
Hope this is helpful. Please post anything you all have learned!
Cory
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