I am needing something NA in USA but common in Europe, U.K..
My part is easy to find from several vendors but I know nothing of their reputations.
Do any of you have experience with any vendors there?
If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue
I do but not so much recently.
I probably made 2-3 dozen purchases in span of 5-6 years so I have some practical experience:
If you buy from EU member country, you won't be paying the 20% VAT since it's only charged within EU.
Make sure you use CC without 3% foreign exchange fee (plenty of those).
I only had to pay import duty once which was $70 for $2000 purchase so there is that posibility too.
PM me if you have sensitive question and I might be able to help you.
2010 BMW M6 SMG Coupe * Black Saphire Metallic * Full Leather Merino Black
2019 BMW X3 M40i * Alpine White * Mocha Leather
Former:
1997 BMW 532M (528i with 3.2 S52 engine from E36 M3 / 5 speed manual)
1998 BMW 540i 6 Speed
2003 BMW M5
You might reach out to Sreten at M539Restorations on youtube...I think you can find his email there. He is probably also on Instagram.
He was in the states, then he moved to Frankfurt a few years ago. He'd know the good vendors in Europe...
I've ordered parts from the UK from a dealer (got my plain door sills I used to refresh my Msport seals) and a new steering wheel, padded leather storage armrest from Latvia. If from a dealer who's sales depend on reviews on the web you'll be fine. If from a private party who's sales depend on good reviews where they advertise you'll be fine. If someone is asking you to pay via Zelle or Western Union or something like that you won't be fine, you'll be pissed.
A great ending is all you'll see..
__________________________________________________ _____________
Good idea.
If ross1 PM's me, I can forward the question to Sreten. It's faster this way as he's extremely busy and he's having hard time responding to everyone.
Sreten is close friend of mine and I'm actually visiting him this summer.
The only problem that may arrise from his recommendation is the fact that some vendors won't ship to USA.
Few months ago he found me a great deal on E60 M5 Bosch fuel injectors but the vendor ships only to EU.
I face this issue routinely as some parts for my Euro-spec E39 are nowhere to be found in the US, or special order items but they are plentiful in Europe. I normally get all my parts imported from the US so that's a problem. Ross, keep us posted. Perhaps we can start building a list of vendors there who are willing to ship to the US.
Resident Third World Country Advisor
Lithuania has lots of used parts for some reason. I have bought rare trim sets and used modules from over there.
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Thanks, guys.
Amazon global has it over there but is showing 4-6 wks to ship.
Mrs. Ross is a native German speaker so I'll ask her to navigate Amazon de for me and maybe find quicker shipping.
Its an oil pan, errr "sump", gasket set for an Opel CIH 30E which there are zillions of over there.
Meanwhile I just shot myself in the foot big time over my E39.
If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue
How about Schmiedmann ?
https://www.schmiedmann.com/
Looking for an E39 belly pan , passenger front inner fender liner …
Amazon.de has an option for english and it's right there on the opening page.
4-6 wks must be due to current crazy times or the parts itself.
I'd typicaly get the part in 4-5 businees days from them and sometimes even sooner.
- - - Updated - - -
Yes, I forgot.
Used them about 7-8 times and the only issue I had was their info system.
They may say "in stock 9 bussines days" then after I'd order and contact them after that period, they would say NLA. There was no issue with refund but just frustrating.
Other than that, I scored some good parts for my E60 M5 manual conversion and for a really good price.
Last edited by BMW540san; 02-17-2023 at 11:48 AM.
Current stable:
2002 525i (Daily Driver)
1994 SN95 Mustang 'Vert (The Bumblebee)
2001 325i Convertible (Beach cruiser project)
I've ordered from Schmiedmann with no issues. However they seemed to have 30 day delays with Genuine BMW parts for awhile now unless they have it in stock. Not sure why? If you are in a rush, I'd avoid them.
+3 for Schmiedmann https://www.schmiedmann.com/
I have ordered Floating rotors and Hella headlamps from them
Current Garage Highlights
2003 525iT TiSilver
2002 M5 TiSilver
1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)
Former Garage Highlights
2005 X5 4.8is
2004 325iTs (2x)
1973 Pantera L
1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack Alpine White
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 340 Six Pack GoManGo Green
1969 Road Runner 383
1968 Barracuda Formula S 340 Sea Foam Green
I’ve bought from the eBay guys in Poland, Latvia, UK, etc. takes a while, but I’ve done ok.
ebay.de in general or Schmiedmann as I've done tons of business with them.
Also, FYI, no import duty until $800+
2003 BMW 540i [Sterling Gray / Gray]
[Msport] [Mods from A-Z] [Two-Tone Interior]
Stuff For Sale :
All types of E39 OEM Used HVAC Buttons
Other E39 Parts, see my ebay! [Click]
Back in the mid-‘90s when I was in grad school at UNC, there was a Bitter I would see all the time. Dark metallic brown, it was a very sharp car. I never did catch up with the guy, and have forgotten about them until you mentioned yours. They’re beautiful looking cars, but I know very little about them.
Good luck on your parts hunt.
-Donny
I've seen E39 and E38 parts that are considered sacred here in the US sell for a couple euros in the junkyards and pull-a-parts in Lithuania and Latvia. An E38 Euro armrest in good condition was selling for 15 euros, meanwhile on Ebay the sellers from those countries put them for sale at over $450 USD. E39 armrest? Same thing. Also found an uncracked center console wood trim that only had swirl scratches that can buff out with compound sell for 35 euros in a Lithuanian pick-a-part site and then sell for more on ebay. Not exactly sure the price I saw one from Lithuania but it was around the $200 range. Demand and supply I guess. They'll hate me for this
IMG_7950.jpg
The styling is widely regarded as greatly influenced by the Pininfarina designed Ferrari 400gt/i
I think the car's resemblance was both a plus and its downfall. Some may have expected Ferrari performance which it doesn't offer.
The Bitter was a better car in many ways, speed not one of them.P1010002.jpg
Some reading if it interests you: https://www.bittercars.com/SC.php
Last edited by ross1; 02-21-2023 at 12:19 PM.
If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue
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