I want to buy a Skid plate but i'm in the UK...

[Helmuth]

Same here... hahaha ... seems he has a lot of business with our board.
Afterwards I was reading on another place "fits US models only"

Details of E53 GRILLE BUMPER & HOOD PROTECTION: BMW X5 Decorative Front Skid Plate Gadget Products

Hoping to get something that I can put on her ....

All the best

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by Helmuth

Same here... hahaha ... seems he has a lot of business with our board.
Afterwards I was reading on another place "fits US models only"

Details of E53 GRILLE BUMPER & HOOD PROTECTION: BMW X5 Decorative Front Skid Plate Gadget Products

Hoping to get something that I can put on her ....

All the best

It should fit our cars - alot of UK owners have installed them in the past with no mention of any problems...

[Kev]

...not looking good. I asked them to declare the value at $99. Anything less would look suspicious for a new BMW part (its an obvious brown box with BMW label at the end). Anyway this is still below the £136 limit so we'll see what happens.
USPS
Customs Clearance, Jul-13-11, 15:35 PM
Customs Clearance, Jul-13-11, 15:34 PM
Processed Through Sort Facility, Jul-13-11, 13:42 PM
Processed Through Sort Facility, Jul-10-11, 22:01 PM, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Arrived at Sort Facility, Jul-10-11, 16:05 PM, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Electronic Shipping Info Received, Jul-06-11, 00:00 AM

...How's yours doing? Any sign of it yet?

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by Kev

...not looking good. I asked them to declare the value at $99. Anything less would look suspicious for a new BMW part (its an obvious brown box with BMW label at the end). Anyway this is still below the £136 limit so we'll see what happens.
USPS
Customs Clearance, Jul-13-11, 15:35 PM
Customs Clearance, Jul-13-11, 15:34 PM
Processed Through Sort Facility, Jul-13-11, 13:42 PM
Processed Through Sort Facility, Jul-10-11, 22:01 PM, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Arrived at Sort Facility, Jul-10-11, 16:05 PM, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Electronic Shipping Info Received, Jul-06-11, 00:00 AM

...How's yours doing? Any sign of it yet?

Mine is still at the 'Electronic Shipping Info Received' stage, and has been since 12 July. I emailed the seller to ask if it has actually been dispatched and he said USPS update the status late...

Kev, why do you its not looking good? At least its in the UK

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by Kev

...not looking good. I asked them to declare the value at $99. Anything less would look suspicious for a new BMW part (its an obvious brown box with BMW label at the end). Anyway this is still below the £136 limit so we'll see what happens.
USPS
Customs Clearance, Jul-13-11, 15:35 PM
Customs Clearance, Jul-13-11, 15:34 PM
Processed Through Sort Facility, Jul-13-11, 13:42 PM
Processed Through Sort Facility, Jul-10-11, 22:01 PM, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Arrived at Sort Facility, Jul-10-11, 16:05 PM, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
Electronic Shipping Info Received, Jul-06-11, 00:00 AM

...How's yours doing? Any sign of it yet?

Kev - any news yet? Mine has only just had the first "processed through sort facility" scan on 16 July.

[Kev]

I got the tracking number from ebay CJ....US and put it into the parcelforce tracker, it translated it into English EC41...GB and showed the same info, that its in customs from 13-19 July.

Then today checked again and it shows 'Charges to Pay'.

I'm still waiting for a card or some notice with a Customs reference xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx, so that I can pay the charges online. So far no card was delivered.

I put the value at $99 as I didn't think I could get away with £40. Duty should be calculated as follows.

Custom Duty rates for specific products

Customs Duty is charged as a percentage of the total value of the goods - that is the sterling equivalent of the price paid abroad.
To work out the percentage, each type of product is given a 'commodity code'. This tells you what the Customs Duty rate percentage is for that particular product, based on whether it's being imported or exported.
There are around 14,000 different classifications. The duty rate percentage for each may vary according to the country the goods come from. The average percentage is between 5 and 9 per cent, but it can be as low as 0 per cent or as high as 85 per cent.
To find out the Customs Duty rate for a product you can contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) VAT, Customs and Excise Helpline. See the later section 'Getting more help and advice' below.

Added to the cost of the item and the shipping there is the 20% VAT. All in all, I worked out that I should have about £25 to pay, but I'll let you know.

Kev

[Helmuth]

Hi Kev,

mine was sent yesterday - seems I need to wait some more days.
Will keep you posted.

Regards, Helmuth

[crasshh]

Does anybody have an idea of the model number for a 2006 X5 4.4i skid plate? Also, any ideas on what type of paint to use, I was thinking of using primer and engine enamel paint due to heat.

[mobilejo]

Originally Posted by crasshh

Does anybody have an idea of the model number for a 2006 X5 4.4i skid plate? Also, any ideas on what type of paint to use, I was thinking of using primer and engine enamel paint due to heat.

If its an e53, then there is only one skid plate for pre- and post-facelift. Its the same part number as advertised on the ebay seller's page.

If its an e70, then its a different part.

As for paint - you just paint it like any exterior part with your car's paint code (or in silver if you prefer) - no high temperature paint required because where it is is not that hot. It goes over the black plastic lower portion of your front bumper, so it can't be that hot down there or the plastic on the bumper would be affected.

[mobilejo]

Mine is also in the UK now and the parcelforce track & trace says awaiting customs clearance.

Kev, I once had a parcel at the position yours is at but they never sent a customs charge letter - I rang them with my tracking number and they told mo on the phone how much it was and I paid it there and then. They then released it for delivery to me.