mfsw with paddles from o/seas

[philsan]

I had ordered a mfsw with paddles for my Tig 2010tdi with dsg approx 2 weeks ago from Bricarauto in Portugal.
I was expecting the wheel to arrive any time soon and today I again checked their website for up date on dispatch to me.
Lo and behold I discovered that my order had been cancelled by Bricarauto and my money refunded??
Their explanation was as folllows."Problem with sending airbag to country outside EUROPEAN UNION.
If either AUSSIETIG OR RYAN R can advise how they managed to get their wheels into AUSTRALIA without a problem I wud very keen to find out.I think that having a airbag installed in the wheel it becomes a dangerous goods item for air travel and obviously Bricarauto were not interested in finding a way around the shipping if the item in a safe state.
Any advice will be welcomed
Phil.

[gecko2k]

I would be carefull with buying OEM parts especially from Portugal. I mate of mine in europe told me a while ago, that there was a massive crackdown europe wide targeting distributors of stolen goods from the VW factories. It even went that far that people received big fines for purchasing stolen goods and were forced to return the parts aswell, even though they were bought through eGay

I can try to find the article for you if you are interested....

[philsan]

G'day gecko2k
Yep that wud be an interesting read if you can dig it out without going to much trouble.Tks.
Phil

[Ryan_R]

Purchased from UK:
VW Golf 5 & 6 GTi/Scirocco DSG multi-function Steering wheel

Airbag can be sent via boat but not plane, so delivery takes a while.

[gecko2k]

G'day gecko2k
Yep that wud be an interesting read if you can dig it out without going to much trouble.Tks.
Phil

No problem. i asked my mate to send me the article again, as I am a lazy ****.

It's in German, but google says this:

3-2-1 and the car was already steering his. Thomas F. (35) was pleased to have won the multifunction steering wheel of his Skoda Octavia on eBay. But then he was sentenced for this purchase as a fence to a fine of 1,200 € and it has a criminal record.
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An incredible story that can happen to any of the 16 million eBay customers throughout Germany.

The technician from Fischbach (Bavaria) wanted to upgrade his car and use his radio to a new steering wheel. On eBay, he found them: the multifunction steering wheel in original packaging for 306 €. A bargain. The original price the dealer: 1044 €. Doubt he did not come.

Exactly one year later, Thomas F. Post gets from the local police inspection. Content: The steering wheel has been stolen in a VW plant in Portugal. It is therefore stolen goods. Thomas F.: "How would I know. I thought I should expand it and return again. "

But it was much worse. The prosecutor initiated a criminal investigation for receiving stolen goods against the technician. Meanwhile received a penal Thomas F. € 1,200. "That's almost two months salary. Where should I take the money from? "

His legal expenses insurance can not accept Thomas F. accountable. No payment is made in respect of offenses which are punishable. "Now I can not even file opposition to the penalty. I can not pay the court costs. "

This is also a criminal record nor Thomas F..

Attorney Thomas explains Jörg from Berlin: "Who gives a stolen thing, shall be punished as accomplices. Here the law is very strict. Criminally liable to a buyer, who considers the circumstances even possible that the goods are stolen, and bought it anyway and reserves. "

For eBay, this is a totally exceptional case. However, the Internet auction site does not check the ownership of the offered items on eBay's marketplace.

Maike Fuest spokeswoman: "If there is suspicion of receiving stolen property, we recommend that you immediately inform the police about this. Users of the eBay marketplace can be especially protected by the fact that it offers in whose "price is too good to be true ', ask the provider, as this price is established. If the seller can not give a convincing explanation, it is advisable to be prudent and appropriate, to purchase from a distance. "

Hope it helps.

[aussietig]

If either AUSSIETIG OR RYAN R can advise how they managed to get their wheels into AUSTRALIA without a problem I wud very keen to find out.I think that having a airbag installed in the wheel it becomes a dangerous goods item for air travel and obviously Bricarauto were not interested in finding a way around the shipping if the item in a safe state.
Any advice will be welcomed
Phil.

Very simple ... in my case, my supplier was from Eastern Europe (Romania to be exact).
So stereotypically a bit more relaxed about safety!

However it did take almost 2 months to get here and by air.
Cause apparently, there's only less than a handful of planes servicing that entire country.

In more ways than one, I did take a big gamble with that purchase.

But luckily it did eventually get here!


Worse case, you can just buy the Mk6 Golf airbag itself from Orientparts.com.
They seem to be able to source genuine/OEM parts used by VW China.


I assume you know already, but just in case, further details of my mod is available in my signature below.

[philsan]

Thanks one and all for your replies and advice.I will attempt to import the wheel into the country again albeit with certain changes.
Regards
Phil.

[mutare 23]

Unless I am mistaken, the activating agent for an airbag is either HMX or RDX explosive. Notwithstanding that the units are fully self contained, I thought there were VERY strict laws relating to the importation of such items.

Cheers