Buying Automotive engine electrical parts from EU anyone have experience?
 

I'm looking at buying a high pressure fuel injection pump metering unit from a seller in Latvia. The item is an electrical part valued at 134 Euro with about 24 Euro shipping by DHL. The reason I'm buying the part overseas is it appears the part can't be sourced anywhere but a John Deere dealer and their price is $1000. I can't figure out if I'll have to pay any customs fees to get this part. I'm paying for expedited shipping and want to make sure the part doesn't get hung up due to customs. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

I’d be very surprised if you had to pay any import fees. I have had countless packages from Europe and I’ve never once had any import fees. Although I’ve never had anything valued over $1000 I think, but many in the $100 - $750 range.

I’m sure you’ll be fine with around $150 euros.

Good luck.

$150.00 vs $1,000.00 is worth the gamble.

You won't have any issues with customs.

If the seller regularly ships international they are the ones who have to fill out the Commercial Invoice and will know how to get it through.

is it from a website or from a privat seller?

they seem to have quite the cottage industry there parting out cars obtained (not necessarily legitimately) in germany and other EU countries.

Ended up going with a UK diesel site. I had the same thought you did.

The place in Latvia was called Parts Bos. They seemed very knowledgeable about Bosch parts and helped me identify the part I needed. Based on their site they deal in new Bosch sensors but I don't see where they deal with the high pressure pump itself.

Here's the thing, $200 USD vs $1000 for what appears to be the exact same part from Deere. Worst part is, I'm not entirely sure this part will fix the machine. I went and looked at the machine and on a guess after doing a few basic checks said "I think it's the suction control valve". So to be sure we paid a Deere technician to come look at the machine. After about 4 hours of messing around he calls and says
Tech: I'm going to replace the SCV.
Me: so that's what's wrong with it?"
Tech: I'm not sure. :
Me: who pays for the part if it doesn't fix it?
Tech: You'll have to pay for it
Me: Why am I paying you to guess at the solution? I did that in less than 30 minutes.
Tech: Its what the next step in troubleshooting says to do.
Me: So if this doesn't fix it, then what?
Tech: We replace the High Pressure Pump
Me: Does it come with a suction control valve?
Tech: Yes
Me: So you'll take the unused valve off and credit me for that right (I knew the answer)
Tech: No

The other really nice thing is, if this doesn't fix it Deere wants $4000 for a pump I can buy in Europe for about $2000 USD. This control valve and the high pressure pump are common on a lot of European diesel cars. Can't find the part or pump in the US from a Bosch dealer.

Electronics have in my opinion made technicians more part changer than technician.

just make sure it is not a "jon dear" part.