Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 11:16:15 -0400
Reply-To: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Subject: GERMAN source for VW parts
In-Reply-To: <002b01c25feb$7ecfdc20$7900a8c0@attbi.com>
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<font size=3>At 07:47 AM 9/19/2002 -0700, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite cite>Hi all:<br>
<br>
I'm looking for the boot the covers the guide pin/rear shift
linkage<br>
connection near the transmission, part # 251 711 167A. None of the
internet<br>
retailers I've contacted have it and according to my local VW dealer
no<br>
warehouse in the U.S. has one either. I thought I might take a
flyer and<br>
try to contact a Germany-based retailer for this part. Has anyone
tried<br>
this, and can anybody offer any URL's where I might try my luck?<br>
<br>
TIA.<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------<br>
Tom
Young
'81 Vanagon<br>
Lafayette, CA 94549
'82 Westfalia<br>
----------------------------------------------------------------
</blockquote><br>
I have set up a mechanism to get any part direct from the mother ship in
Germany at low prices. <br>
<br>
Of any 20 parts, typically the distribution is as follows: <br>
<br>
5 parts not available in north america but available in germany<br>
5 parts available from VW in North American at the same or less
cost<br>
5 parts available in germany at 25% discount<br>
5 parts available in germany at 50% discount<br>
<br>
Many of the parts with the largest discounts are large and expensive
items so it pays to check on the overseas price of those.<br>
<br>
The procedure is to send me a part number and then I will check the price
and give a soft quote (which is subject to change in the event there has
been a large price movement recently in Germany.) I have a database of
300,000 prices here so I can check these soft quote prices quickly.
<br>
<br>
You can then indicate that you want that part by sending me payment for
it via <a href="http://www.paypal.com /" eudora="autourl">www.paypal.com
</a> <br>
<br>
I will then usually get the part for you and I typically am able to
receive it here in about 60 to 90 days. (Long lead time!!!!!!!!!)<br>
<br>
Sometimes, in special cases, I can use airmail which will cause the part
to get here in about 2.5 weeks. <br>
<br>
I will then email you the final price including local shipping costs and
after your final
<a href="http://www.paypal.com/" eudora="autourl">www.paypal.com</a>
payment send you the part. <br>
<br>
In about 1% of the cases, even though I tell you I can get the part, when I go to order it the order will bounce because it is no longer available in Germany either. <br>
<br>
This process is so efficient that it often results in your obtaining parts you want more cheaply than almost any other method for OEM-only parts provided you check the USA price first, say, at Camelback (800-876-5199) or Rennie, and then order the parts from the USA dealer that turn out to be cheaper there. (You can also check prices in the USA at <a href="http://www.vwparts.com/" eudora="autourl">www.vwparts.com</a>, <a href="http://www.busdepot.com/" eudora="autourl">www.busdepot.com</a>, <a href="http://www.vanagain.com/" eudora="autourl">www.vanagain.com</a>, <a href="http://www.volkscafe.com/" eudora="autourl">www.volkscafe.com</a>, or <a href="http://www.bus-boys.com/" eudora="autourl">www.bus-boys.com</a>. For transmission parts, you can also check with Weddle [<a href="http://www.2weddle.com/" eudora="autourl">www.2weddle.com</a>]). <br>
<br>
The key in all this that makes it so easy is if you can get your part number in advance. In order to do that, the best method is to use the E_K_T_A computer disks/ CD-ROMS disks that are going around and are plentiful and excellent. Email me if you lack such a disk.<br>
<br>
I have been a little low profile about this because there are people in VW who could get into trouble for helping us this way but for now they are happy to do it and we have had no trouble so far.<br>
<br>
Also, note that due to time constraints, I am unable to help with small orders (like $5 orders) unless it is a matter of the USA dealer having declared this part obsolete or it is no longer sold in North America. <br>
<br>
It delights me to help list members obtain VW parts not normally sold in North America either because they are no longer sold here, having been declared obsolete, or because they were never sold here to begin with. <br>
<br>
Regarding the part you asked about, the price is $6.<br>
<br>
I have been meaning to post the 300,000 prices on the web and will do that as soon as I can solve how to do it. If somebody else knows how to easily put up a web page with 300,000 prices using Excel or MS Access or conversions from thereof, let me know. </font><br>
<font size=3>________________________________________________________<br>
Derek Drew Washington, DC (& NYC)<br>
derekdrew@rcn.com<x-tab> </x-tab> Phone 202-966-7907<br>
Email me for viscous coupling s (Cell 703-408-1532)<br>
'90 Syncro Westfalia... <br>
...seen off-road at <br>
<a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/Syncro_Madness_Area.htm" eudora="autourl">http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/Syncro_Madness_Area.htm</a><br>
Note: most valuable Vanagon sites on the planet (for owners) are:<br>
<a href="http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon" eudora="autourl">http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon</a><br>
<a href="http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/" eudora="autourl">http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/</a><br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro</a> <br>
<a href="http://www.vanagon.com/" eudora="autourl">http://www.vanagon.com</a> <br>
<a href="http://www.syncro.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.syncro.org</a> <br>
Many of my Syncro list postings consolidated<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/messagesearch?query=212-580-6486" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/messagesearch?query=212-580-6486</a><br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/messagesearch?query=202-966-7907" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/messagesearch?query=202-966-7907</a> <br>
My refrigerator article: <br>
<a href="http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/Refrigerator/Reefer_Madness.htm" eudora="autourl">http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/Refrigerator/Reefer_Madness.htm</a><br>
All About 16" Wheels And The CV-900.htm<br>
<a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/All_About_16-Wheels_And_The_CV_900.htm" eudora="autourl">http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/All_About_16-Wheels_And_The_CV_900.htm</a><br>
All About Viscous Couplings<br>
<a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/viscous_couplings_vanagon_syncro.htm" eudora="autourl">http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/viscous_couplings_vanagon_syncro.htm</a><br>
How To Live With Heavy List Volume--Mail Filters<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7403" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7403</a><br>
My article that shows how to deal with insurance companies: <br>
<a href="http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/auto-insurance-madness.html" eudora="autourl">http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/auto-insurance-madness.html</a><br>
To read some material about how to add a front differential lock to your syncro<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/13105" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/13105</a><br>
To view Wolfgang's incredibly informative wheel article<br>
<a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/fitbigtiresonvanagon.htm" eudora="autourl">http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/fitbigtiresonvanagon.htm</a> <br>
To view Tim Smith's incredibly useful gearing calculator<br>
<a href="http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/syncrotireandgearratios.xls" eudora="autourl">http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/syncrotireandgearratios.xls</a> <br>
To view two articles about how to think about improving your gears at transmission rebuild time<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7207" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7207</a><br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7221" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7221</a><br>
To view an overview article about choices in larger sized tires see<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/11535" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/11535</a> <br>
To view some 16" Trailing Arms that enable much larger tires see<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/syncro-org/files/Wheels,%20Tires%20%26%20Gearing/Wheel%20%26%20Tire%20Photos/16_Inch_Trailing_Arm.jpg" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/syncro-org/files/Wheels%2C%20Tires%20%26%20Gearing/Wheel%20%26%20Tire%20Photos/16_Inch_Trailing_Arm.jpg</a><br>
My article about belt protectors and CV joint protectors<br>
<a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/6112" eudora="autourl">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/6112</a><br>
SYNCRO OWNERS WHO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD:<br>
You only get to change your ring and pinions once every 10 years <br>
because that's how long the average syncro transmission goes before <br>
its next rebuild. If you want bigger tires and more ground clearance<br>
start planning your higher number ring and pinion sets right now so you <br>
can take advantage of your next trans rebuild. <br>
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