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#31
The Lounge / Re: The Cost of Ownership
Last post by MiniDave - March 04, 2026, 09:28:59 AMDidn't congress strike down his stupid tariffs?
My last shipment from MiniSport either had them built into the price I paid or somehow escaped them as I haven't been charged anything supplemental.
When I disputed the $66 charge on the $155 master cylinder I bought from Spares with DHL, they (DHL) refunded the entire amount.....eventually.
I bought a welder from an Ebay seller and wasn't charged any tariff, but maybe that's because it was already in the states?
My last shipment from MiniSport either had them built into the price I paid or somehow escaped them as I haven't been charged anything supplemental.
When I disputed the $66 charge on the $155 master cylinder I bought from Spares with DHL, they (DHL) refunded the entire amount.....eventually.
I bought a welder from an Ebay seller and wasn't charged any tariff, but maybe that's because it was already in the states?
#32
The Lounge / Re: The Cost of Ownership
Last post by scalpel_ninja - March 04, 2026, 07:20:10 AMQuote from: BruceK on March 03, 2026, 07:36:29 PMWas the 30% something that was directly referenced by DHL or was that just a calculation you made based upon what they were charging you?
I'm asking because I'm wondering whether DHL did what UPS was doing and adding in brokerage fees, service charges, and who knows what else to pad what they were charging the recipient.
DHL charges a flat $17 admin fee. The rest was what I calculated against the total sale price.
The DHL invoice made no sense. Each item with its HTS code had "2.5%" as the rate and its corresponding tariff amount on the same row. Nowhere did it give a total or how they came up with an amount way over the sum of the rows. Prior DHL shipment tariffs from Mini Spares landed somewhere between 7-10%. When I looked at the HTS tables for car parts from the UK, this seemed to be about right when using "column 1" for rates on merchandise from "normal trade relation" countries. If "column 2" is used, then rates jump to 25-30%, but only a limited list of countries fall under that category of sanctions, such as North Korea, Russia, etc.
The invoice did say it was computer generated, so I'm guessing it might have been a glitch. But I tried calling DHL to clarify, with absolutely no response and no one to answer the phone. All I could do was pay the amount to release the shipment, then dispute the charge.
#33
The Lounge / Re: The Cost of Ownership
Last post by BruceK - March 03, 2026, 07:36:29 PMQuote from: scalpel_ninja on March 03, 2026, 05:49:14 PMI filed a dispute with DHL a few months ago and my CC company replied today stating DHL pushed back on the dispute twice, insisting the 30% tariff was correct. So in essence, I lost the dispute, but the CC company took care of the discrepancy and credited me the amount I was disputing.
Was the 30% something that was directly referenced by DHL or was that just a calculation you made based upon what they were charging you?
I'm asking because I'm wondering whether DHL did what UPS was doing and adding in brokerage fees, service charges, and who knows what else to pad what they were charging the recipient.
#34
The Lounge / Re: The Cost of Ownership
Last post by scalpel_ninja - March 03, 2026, 05:49:14 PMI filed a dispute with DHL a few months ago and my CC company replied today stating DHL pushed back on the dispute twice, insisting the 30% tariff was correct. So in essence, I lost the dispute, but the CC company took care of the discrepancy and credited me the amount I was disputing.
#35
Daves Garage / Re: 2018 Audi Allroad
Last post by MiniDave - March 03, 2026, 12:49:58 PMSo, the last part I need to finish fixing the Audi - this time 
- is a park distance sensor, I've been trying to find one that's already painted to match (it would probably have to be used) as the can of touch up spray paint for this color runs between $60-80. The ones I mentioned above are a different part number and probably work just fine but knowing Audi it will turn out not to be compatible with this issue of software or some dumb thing.
The search goes on. I found one that is the right number, looks brandy new and includes the pig tail wire - which would be perfect - but it's metallic dark grey.
I can also find the pigtail sold separately for $16 plus shipping.
No matter which way I go it will be cheaper than buying just the unpainted sensor from the dealership - they wanted over $300 for it!
Modern car problems - damn squirrels! (or was it chipmunks? who knows?)
- is a park distance sensor, I've been trying to find one that's already painted to match (it would probably have to be used) as the can of touch up spray paint for this color runs between $60-80. The ones I mentioned above are a different part number and probably work just fine but knowing Audi it will turn out not to be compatible with this issue of software or some dumb thing.The search goes on. I found one that is the right number, looks brandy new and includes the pig tail wire - which would be perfect - but it's metallic dark grey.
I can also find the pigtail sold separately for $16 plus shipping.
No matter which way I go it will be cheaper than buying just the unpainted sensor from the dealership - they wanted over $300 for it!
Modern car problems - damn squirrels! (or was it chipmunks? who knows?)
#36
The Lounge / Re: Mini Mania forum crushed b...
Last post by BruceK - March 02, 2026, 06:18:40 PMThis might be a lot of fun to try.
#37
The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...
Last post by MiniDave - March 02, 2026, 08:55:04 AMyuck! I'm glad you had your cat like reflexes with you that day! 
#38
The Lounge / Re: A new game... Post pics fr...
Last post by 94touring - March 02, 2026, 07:24:18 AMCity sewer backed up into my shop yesterday. Luckily I was there and caught it before it got too out of hand. My cat like reflexes and quick thinking had me run outside and undo the top to the closeout, which then flooded my yard instead of the whole shop. Most of the solids were captured in the shower with minimal flooding on the floor. Which I get to clean today. We had a big rain storm come through while I was out there, I'm guessing related to that and a clog at the street.
#39
Restorations / Re: Adventures with a 68 Mini
Last post by MiniDave - March 01, 2026, 07:50:54 PMBoy howdy do I relate to the analysis paralysis....
#40
Restorations / Re: Adventures with a 68 Mini
Last post by blaked - March 01, 2026, 02:30:32 PMHappy new year everyone. Did not manage to get new metal in before years end. Instead, I needed more demo, decided to make a jig (Don't mind the 12t jack) and spent several hours overthinking the sequence of repair. Major analysis paralysis with the heel board and floor but think i'm there.
Boot floor including seat pan is now completely out. Decided on a half the heel board repair over the whole panel - hope I dont regret it. During passenger outer sill replacement I throughly inspected the heel board captive nuts and they appeared to be in serviceable shape. Ill tack in the repair panel then fit the subby. The half heel board is prepped up and ready for install - including some extra weld on the captive nuts.
Decided to cut out some rot in the rear quarter panel and fabricated a repair section. Will put that in, then go after the heel board, then get to the rear floor section.
Boot floor including seat pan is now completely out. Decided on a half the heel board repair over the whole panel - hope I dont regret it. During passenger outer sill replacement I throughly inspected the heel board captive nuts and they appeared to be in serviceable shape. Ill tack in the repair panel then fit the subby. The half heel board is prepped up and ready for install - including some extra weld on the captive nuts.
Decided to cut out some rot in the rear quarter panel and fabricated a repair section. Will put that in, then go after the heel board, then get to the rear floor section.