Need info re: shipping DRW 6-speed from Germany

[andrewc]

OK, I took the plunge yesterday and bought a DRW 6-speed TDI gearbox on ebay. I'll be in Hamburg next week on business, and plan to pick up the item from the seller near Wolfsburg, about a 200km drive. I know I can ship via UPS for about $360, assuming the trans weighs 100lbs. Checked baggage on the airplane (SAS Air) looks ugly also, since the item will be over the 70lb max.

I'm not in a hurry, and am looking for a lower cost way to get my purchase back to the US.

Does anyone have contacts with an ocean shipper? Or know someone who's loading a container from Hamburg to the northeast US (anywhere DC to Boston)? The quotes I've gotten so far are in the $600-$800 range, due to all the charges for Bill of Lading, Forwarding Fees, Terminal Transfer, Port Charges, Origin Receiving, Truck Loading, DAD (?), Residential Pickup, and Insurance.

Any ideas appreciated.

Also, is there a VW shipping container for gearboxes that I could take with me? Proper crating may a challenge once I'm there, and it would be nice not to worry about it.

Lastly, the seller mentioned he may have more than one DRW trans available. If I can get decent shipping worked out, I may post to see if anyone wants a DRW via this method.

Cheers,
andrew

 

[SVTWEB]

Take the $360 and run... I paid $550 for mine....

 

[andrewc]

Hi Eric,
Actually $360 is just for the shipping; I am paying ~$510 for the gearbox alone. You mentioned having a friend who ships containers full of (????) back to the U.S. - Any suggestions on how I could find someone like that?

andrew

 

[SVTWEB]

I understood... I paid $550 for shipping.... Take the $360 and count your blessings. Big things being shipped from germany are not cheap.

 

[andrewc]

Oh. Then I hope my estimate taken from the UPS Web Site for 100lbs is close to correct - if that's what you paid, I may be forgetting something. I guess it'll either work out, or it will be a good story.

 

[KOMET155]

Air freight is your best bet given the size and value of your transmission.
If you want to make things even simpler, ask SAS how much they'd charge for a piece of cargo that would
accompany you on the flight... I know British Airways and Alitalia allows it, so it might be an option available
to passengers if they ask. Not only will clearing customs be easier if you're going through it with your
baggage anyway (the first 450$ or so is duty free on return to the US), but the rate for cargo
accompanying you should be less than the normal rates...there's no extra air waybill and related paperwork
to pay for.

I know these things /images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[andrewc]

Update: gearbox purchased and on its way to NYC. The only car I could rent in Hamburg turned out to be a Smart Roadster (2-seat, mid engine, tiny) but I was able to put the gearbox on the passenger seat. The ebay.de seller was an independent mechanic outside Wolfsburg with a limited command of English. The conversation with him to get directions to his shop was comical - but good enough to get me within a few km of where I needed to be.

Shipping was made easier by my hosts in Hamburg, Airbus Spares Support. They ship a lot of aircraft parts, so they had several freight forwarding companies on site. Still had to ship by air, and about the same cost as UPS (~$275), but they took care of all the details and all I had to do was bring it with me to my meeting there. They boxed it for me and it should be at JFK airport this week.

Next is the search for driveshafts and flywheel/clutch - Hopefully I can find used TT Quattro or VR6 6-speed parts and avoid the cost of new parts.

 

[oldpoopie]

Let us NJ locals know when your going to install this bad boy. I'd like to be there.

 

[andrewc]

Justin, I wouldn't even dream of doing this without lots of help! I'll post on the GTG board once I get all the parts in hand.

cheers,
andrew