Buying used alloy wheels and tyres from Germany?

[Logbrog]

Come with winter tyres, which I’m replacing with p zeros

 

[WylieECoyote]

Come with winter tyres, which I’m replacing with p zeros

Perfect. I'm thinking of an extra set with all season tyres so I can use my C63 during the winter..

 

[Logbrog]

I’ve got 4wd and a Nissan Navara for the winter, and a southern softy climate

 

[WylieECoyote]

....and I've got a warm garage if the weather is too bad!
Didn't buy it to be a garage queen so it'll be doing the commute - when I know how many days I'll be in the office in future..

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

3 out of 4 arrived yesterday. final wheel according to tracking should be here next week. how they got separated I don’t know
no extra charges yet

Chuckle, as expected it sounds like the usual unnecessary Remainer "Sturm und Drang."

Looking forward to hearing how your charges worked out, especially about VAT and import charges (both German domestic and UK)

Broadly, I think it's virtually impossible for a shipper to have delivered goods to you without charging, and receiving, any applicable UK import charges, if they were due. It's a very basic control for the shipper to demand and receive payment before handing over the kit.

Hope the quality is all as expected.

 

[merc estate]

Just as a thought, what happens ( when or if ) they are not as described just a thought i wanted to put out there.

 

[markjay]

Just as a thought, what happens ( when or if ) they are not as described just a thought i wanted to put out there.

Agreed, but Returns is always a potential issue when buying from abroad (EU or elsewhere).

 

[Logbrog]

Wheel update,
All 4 now arrived,
price paid with carriage £1280 plus
import VAT £233 + £25 admin.

all 4 wheels look perfect, as good as new condition.
4 new summer Pirelli’s being fitted Friday to replace winter tyres.
I’ll fit them on the car on Saturday.

overall experience good, great seller to deal with. Couldn’t find equivalent condition wheels in the UK at any price.
new would have been £3k

 

[zipdip]

Well there was a tyre place at Merton in London who had a good supply of Mercedes wheels direct from Germany,but that was about 5 years ago.

 

[zipdip]

Just remembered they were in Mitcham at Cruso road,well Merton is close

 

[amazighman]

Brexit Bonanza , Customs , VAT , Paperwork , Checks , Borders ....

 

[Logbrog]

Alloys update.
The 18” new amg wheels have made a tremendous difference to ride and road noise.
unfortunately i have now just sold the car, so the new wheels and p zero tyres, plus Michelin winter tyres are for sale. If anyone interested pm me

 

[Scooby_Doo]

They look as if they've been refurbished.

 

[Logbrog]

They have to a very high standard.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Wheel update,
All 4 now arrived,
price paid with carriage £1280 plus
import VAT £233 + £25 admin.

all 4 wheels look perfect, as good as new condition.
4 new summer Pirelli’s being fitted Friday to replace winter tyres.
I’ll fit them on the car on Saturday.

overall experience good, great seller to deal with. Couldn’t find equivalent condition wheels in the UK at any price.
new would have been £3k

OK, just to be clear: You paid £1538, and this included Import VAT and admin.

And you did NOT pay German VAT - is that correct? So you've paid roughly the same amount, including delivery charges, as you would have paid before Brexit? The main difference being that the UK Chancellor, rather than the German Chancellor receives that £233 worth of VAT ?

Did you have to do any "demanding paperwork?"

That's for four high quality refurbished wheels that you couldn't find in the UK for love nor money, and which would have cost £3k new. Did you just throw away the winter tyres that you didn't want?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Just remembered they were in Mitcham at Cruso road,well Merton is close

That's a blast from the past. I used to use Mitcham Tyres back in the '90's. (I use Micheldever Tyres these days - they have a phenomenal "production line" style operations and amazing perfectionist kit)

I don't know how they do it but Mitcham Tyres used to be famous for used wheels and tyres which it was said came to them from the dealer networks.

Can't recommend them on recent experience, but Mitcham Tyres always did have a good reputation, amongst the "Pistonheads" mob.

Mitcham Tyres - South London's no.1 for tyre repair and replacement

 

[4alexbike]

I have no problem buying used wheels and tires, but if you have the budget, would it be better to buy new ones?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I have no problem buying used wheels and tires, but if you have the budget, would it be better to buy new ones?

It's a fair question, but if you bought a used car, would you replace the wheels and tyres with new ones?

There's an oddity in the European Market here. "There's a requirement for German car owners (to use snow tyres in addition to summer tyres. They have to use them O bis O (October bis Ostern). This results in them having second sets of wheels with winter tyres that they don't necessarily trade in when they sell their car. These then arrive with specialist resellers, possibly via the dealer handling the trade in, or via direct sale.

So this is different / additional to the UK or US situation where wheels might be discarded by an owner because of the usual "I want bigger wheels" upgrade.

So there are fresher / newer wheels washing around in Germany, usually with winter tyres on them.

This is the explanation on Germany's lovely bureaucracy,
https://www.german-way.com/travel-and-tourism/driving-in-europe/driving/snow-tires-winter-driving/

 

[tel55]

Has anyone bought used alloys from Germany on eBay Recently
there are 2 or 3 big established ebay sellers from Germany.
question really is about VAT/ import charges since we have left EU single market.
thanks

Go on Facebook market place local sellers

 

[Scooby_Doo]

I was very lucky about 2.5 years ago, picked up , via ebay, a set of brand new Mercedes AMG 5 twin spoke 18" alloys with unused Bridgestone Potenza tyres for £900.00 , retail via AWD was in excess of £3000.00
The guy I bought them from had contacts in the trade , always has a good selection of virtually new alloys for sale , although not always full sets.