New wheels: importing from the US?

[Alex L]

Given the current UK/US exchange rates, I have been considering importing a set of new (HRE or Champion) wheels from the US to the UK instead of buying them here.

A nice set of either will cost over £5500 (incl VAT) over here, yet if I import a set they are about $5500! So with a 2.11 exchange rate that's about £2600.

I assume I would then have to pay:

- Shipping
- Import duty
- US State tax??
- New tyres, fitting, TPMS calibration somewhere local.

Does anyone have experience in such imports, and if so do you think the 'extras' will be greater than £3000 to take it passed the UK local costs?

Many thanks

 

[wblackw9]

Ask the company to confirm costs but i had a mate who went to the states and bought some wheels while over there. To ship them back would have been $900!!! so he took them back on the plane and had to pay £50!!! total

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: wblackw9

Ask the company to confirm costs but i had a mate who went to the states and bought some wheels while over there. To ship them back would have been $900!!! so he took them back on the plane and had to pay £50!!! total

The wheels are effectively over $5000 cheaper from the US, so even $900 shipping is still saving a packet!

Just trying to recall how much a set of 4 Turbo tyres would be.

 

[wblackw9]

It was Fedex who quoted that to him, they were 19" wheels for his 930. Shop around for the tyres, check ebay etc. Let me know the size and make you are after and i will have a word with a friend at a tyre company. Depending on weather you are near of cours.

 

[38F3E1]

You shouldn't have to pay US state tax as the wheels are going outside the US. Import tax into the UK will probably be 10% then there is 17.5% VAT on the total amount of parts + import tax + shipping.

Ian.

 

[Alex L]

Well I just did some phoning round and this is what I *think* I discovered...

Going to use HRE P40 wheels as an example, coming from California (although it may be cheaper shipping-wise to find a reseller on the east cost):

US cost of wheels = $5620 = £2663 (2.11 exchange rate)
FedEx Shipping using 'international economy service' = £730 (takes about 1 week)
Duty = 4.5% = £153 (based on wheels + shipping)
VAT = 17.5% = £620 (based on wheels + shipping + duty)
TOTAL = £4166

Then I will need a set of tyres, fitting, TPMS calibration = so perhaps £1500?! So I am now up to £5600 ish.

The same wheels here in the UK cost about £4700 with everything, including tyres. So unless I am missing something, then perhaps importing is not as good an idea as originally thought []

 

[wblackw9]

Have a holiday there to justify the cost of bringing them back!!

 

[snarf]

ORIGINAL: Alex L
. . . perhaps importing is not as good an idea as originally thought []

That has been my experience too, although with much smaller items. Charges in addition to shipping and tax get added on by various people at the port of entry for documentation, handling etc and no one seems to use numbers below £20.

 

[robert997]

Alex, why not buy the tyres in the US too - about $1,200 for four rather than £1,200 over here. Guess makes a difference on shipping too because of the weight ?

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: robert997

Alex, why not buy the tyres in the US too - about $1,200 for four rather than £1,200 over here. Guess makes a difference on shipping too because of the weight ?

Yes, the shipping cost is based on weight and value of goods. Up that and it also has a knock on effect for Duty and VAT [&:]

 

[Alex L]

Hmm, just been told by the reseller in the US that it would only cost about $350 (£165) to get it delivered to Heathrow airport.

That put's a whole different spin on it. Now the numbers come out like this

 

[Alex L]

So if I say went for the super-light RG5's then £2800 + 1200 tyres = £4000. Cargraphic wants to charge me £5600 for these same wheels/tyres.

Hmmm, suddenly much more like it.

 

[robert997]

Yep, looks even better if you use your Turbo tyres anyway off your existing rims. Just make sure you get two sets of locking nuts, given the number of stories I've heard lately of 997's on bricks !

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: robert997

Yep, looks even better if you use your Turbo tyres anyway off your existing rims. Just make sure you get two sets of locking nuts, given the number of stories I've heard lately of 997's on bricks !

Hmmm, that's a good idea. I will have to check the wheel I get will fit OEM tyres.

With regards to locking nuts, are you saying the ones Porsche give you don't work? Or that you assume the Porsche ones won't fit so get some other too?!

 

[robert997]

No no no, you can buy the relevant part to defeat any locking wheel nut from most hardware stores for under a tenner - he says vaguely not to give too much away.

It takes a while to use the tool though. Also, as with all car manufacturers, there's only maybe a dozen or so wheel-nut 'keys' so they can get your wheels off in service even if you don't have your own wheel-nut key with you, and I'm sure the odd disgruntled or enterprising dealership employee would make these key sets available to the under-class that nick wheels.

Therefore, relying on only the standard locking-wheel-nut per wheel is risky since they're easily defeated either with the master keys or the 'tool' referred above. Therefore, having two different brands of locking nut should deter all but the most determined and well equipped gang...

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: robert997

No no no, you can buy the relevant part to defeat any locking wheel nut from most hardware stores for under a tenner - he says vaguely not to give too much away.

It takes a while to use the tool though. Also, as with all car manufacturers, there's only maybe a dozen or so wheel-nut 'keys' so they can get your wheels off in service even if you don't have your own wheel-nut key with you, and I'm sure the odd disgruntled or enterprising dealership employee would make these key sets available to the under-class that nick wheels.

Therefore, relying on only the standard locking-wheel-nut per wheel is risky since they're easily defeated either with the master keys or the 'tool' referred above. Therefore, having two different brands of locking nut should deter all but the most determined and well equipped gang...

Good info, thanks! []