Needed: One-Off ECU Shipping to UK

[Citroënbender]

I have a problematic body module, it’s Italian but an English company (ECU Testing) think they can likely fix it with lifetime warranty, no re-initialisation required. This saves me fees at the return side; no programming, retention of access codes, the radio works without hassle and mileage (high) is honest for a vehicle identity check.

With their T’s and C’s, comes this constraint:

Please Note:
If you are sending a component for testing from outside the EU (European Union) we will not accept ANY package that incurs customs duty, please take this into account when declaring a value of goods for customs. Any parcel that incurs any import duty will be refused and returned to sender.

I feel that rules out Oz Post/Royal Mail as they aren’t going to tango with me if it gets pinged for import costs.

Has anyone here, more recent (post Brexit) experience with a similar situation, and have a carrier to recommend?

[slowsnake]

Why would posting a parcel to the UK be problematic?
Or is it a UK company operating within the EU, if so, why can't you send it to the UK company and let them ship it to the EU?

[Citroënbender]

They’ve also told me that post-Brexit, HMRC are getting more persnickety about incoming parcels, especially addressed to registered businesses.

I’m hopeful of not being docked VAT on the job or return freight, the repair is likely to be £195 ex-tax, plus carriage. So - not exactly a cheap fix.

[oldel]

Quick googling indicated there is forms for exemption for the purposes of repair.
Maybe it's the OPR (outward processing relief form)?
I don;t know which end has to complete it and I've got to rush out the door now, but look into it or maybe ask the business if they're familiar with it?

[Franco Cozzo]

Can IM Group/Injectronics repair this in Melbourne? Might be worth sending it to Melbourne instead of Europe because you have a much higher chance of not losing it between Sydney and Melbourne rather than Australia and the UK.

http://injectronics.com.au/

They only deal through your local Burson or Repco, they don't deal with the public, Burson use Startrack or Toll to go interstate to them so it'll land relatively quickly in Hallam from Sydney.

I'd be very hesitant to send any control modules from your car overseas, very risky.

[Citroënbender]

Is that who the people in Moorabbin (PEC?) use? Their quote is north of $600.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/154466048368

Plus freight to/from Melbourne is probably slower than Oz Post outbound to the UK and DHL back. :-/

[Franco Cozzo]

Could be - they're the guru's of this sort of electronic witchcraft in the industry locally

Worth a call anyway I reckon, see if they're familiar with it and if they are, rock into your local Burson branch and ask them about core exchange on IM Group/Injectronics and see what they charge.

They'll likely ask for key reader, key, BCM and the ECM.

[64fordomatic]

I sent something to ecu testing late last year through auspost and it wasn’t an issue. You really shouldn’t have to pay duties as you’re sending it there for a service. (Not exporting it).
I’d use them again. They knew their stuff.

[Citroënbender]

That’s quite positive, thanks.

I’ve also tonight sent an email to an NZ company, recommended by a forum member here. Something will come out of it all.

[GTLEGEND]

These guys in Auburn NSW can fix ECU's also. Give them a call, have used them in the past (long time ago) and they were good to deal with. Just ask for the repair section as they have split into two companies, a repair section and a parts store.

https://bebco.com.au/

These guys used to repair, but not sure anymore:

https://automotivesuperstore.com.au/afi

[ozrunner]

You should also consider that due to covid all forms of international parcel transport are in a stalled state with thousands of parcels in limbo and it maybe many many months before you goods even get to the UK let alone returned, if at all.

If it was me I would be searching within Oz for a fix even if it costs a tad more.

[hawke]

You need to confirm with the UK Border Force, that the goods are being returned to the UK for repair. If I remember correctly, you need to complete a “Outward Processing Relief” form, that will allow the goods to be imported free of VAT and Excise.

As far as carriers go, I’m using DHL twice monthly from the UK to Oz, and from the UK to US and Canada. It’s working well. I use an agent the the UK - Transglobal who have very good rates. Perhaps they can give you some help in exporting to the UK.

Otherwise, I’ve found that the Premium Services from Australia Post working well for export from OZ.

[arm79]

Originally Posted by ozrunner

You should also consider that due to covid all forms of international parcel transport are in a stalled state with thousands of parcels in limbo and it maybe many many months before you goods even get to the UK let alone returned, if at all.

That said I received a small toy in the mail from the UK, via Royal Mail, the other day that arrived quicker than most Express Post parcels between Queensland and Vic. Go figure.

[Citroënbender]

Transglobal is looking like a decent strategy, £40-something one way but quick (2-3 days) and all boxes ticked. Had forgotten they didn’t just quote ex-UK, was using them a lot ten years ago for bumpers and other large car parts.

The NZ option responded promptly, said they would be working from first principles and therefore probably not the best bet (they agreed with my frivolous suggestion of arson, and failing that a flash cloning). This is similar to most of the Australian repair places, it’s going to be a long way from their bread-and-butter.

[foxtrot3]

Hi. Another player on the market for your ECU repair is cooldrive. https://ishop.cooldrive.com.au/vehic...-repair-centre . Might be wort a phone call. You can always call injectronics in Hallam and see if they can help, They do have a repair your module service but you still pay for it at repco but send parts direct to Hallam. Cheers MD