Importing a vehicle diff?

[xrapidx]

Bit of an odd question for a audio forum   But I'm getting desperate.

As was posted in another thread, the diff on my S2000 went three days before it was sold... I've been trying to get it sorted, and was just quoted between R38,000 and R53,000 (new parts from honda, or complete new diff). So I'm looking at alternatives.

I can't find any used ones locally, or from accident damaged vehicles.

Then I found two in the US, one for $500 on eBay (+$425 shipping) - and then one for $600 (+$1000 shipping) from a more reliable source in the S2000 community, so I estimated R10,000 or R15,000 landed in SA.

I thought this could work - but have now been told you need an import permit to import a used diff?

According to http://www.itac.org.za/import_guidelines_page.asp

(e) Used differentials

Import permits for the importation of used differentials for passenger vehicles and LDVs are issued to bona-fide re-conditioners only. All imported differentials must be reconditioned prior to resale or use, by the importer on his own premises and with his own reconditioning equipment. Duly completed application forms IE230 (for first time importers) and form IE461 must be submitted for companies intending to import the above-mentioned differentials. (Note that a SARS VAT registration certificate is required on completion of form IE230.)

[mahleu]

Find someone with an import permit. A friend at a car shop is first prize as they'll know all the ins and outs with car bits.

[xrapidx]

Find someone with an import permit. A friend at a car shop is first prize as they'll know all the ins and outs with car bits.

You need to apply for a permit per part, its apparently the reason most of the companies have stopped bringing in used parts like these.

[Rodney_gold]

Call Ralph Kumbier at Motown , he imports parts from the states weekly and also gets flea-bay items for customers - I have used him many times for both new and 2nd hand e-bay parts
Generally runs to about 14x $ price , he airfreights and uses a consolidator
no is
021 949 3793

[xrapidx]

Thanks Rodney - I'll give him a call ...  just want this thing fixed so I can move onto my next vehicle.

Been stuck using one vehicle for almost three months now - causing a bit of tension at home :p

[Rodney_gold]

Well , I have a nice Camaro Z28 standing pretty idle , it could be yours for little money.....
Its a beast if driven hard , stops and handles well , but gets respectable economy if you drive nicely (10km/l on open road , round 15l/100 if driven in extreme anger in town) , V8 rumble/bellow and lumina/beemer robot to robot killer , but nowhere near as nimble on the bendz as the s2000  which is essentially a track car in street guise.
If you give me enough money , you could buy one of my vettes!!!

[xrapidx]

Well , I have a nice Camaro Z28 standing pretty idle , it could be yours for little money.....
Its a beast if driven hard , stops and handles well , but gets respectable economy if you drive nicely (10km/l on open road , round 15l/100 if driven in extreme anger in town) , V8 rumble/bellow and lumina/beemer robot to robot killer , but nowhere near as nimble on the bendz as the s2000  which is essentially a track car in street guise.
If you give me enough money , you could buy one of my vettes!!!

If I had money :p Need to sell this thing first before even looking at another vehicle.

I loved the S2000 around the track... looks like it was heavier than your V8 - I got an average of 6-7km/l.

[Dennis]

Ouch.

[xrapidx]

That looks like a Puddysomething.or.other diff :p

[Rodney_gold]

Well, I recon if you had to put the Camaro or a vette on the track , you would be using 20l/100 or worse...thats real punishment for a car. I don't think it would beat the s2000 tho.

[xrapidx]

Well, I recon if you had to put the Camaro or a vette on the track , you would be using 20l/100 or worse...thats real punishment for a car. I don't think it would beat the s2000 tho.

Yeah - the track eats through tyres and brakes - and I was using road tyres.

I never once took the S2000 to one of those drag days as I know the S2000's diff is its weakest point - and I didn't want to put extra strain on it - and then this happens 

[Cirr]

Try Grandmark International.They have a website.

[xrapidx]

Looks like you're going to be a life saver Rodney...

Spoke the Ralph - he can get one landed in SA for R7,500 - 90,000 miles, which is a bit high - just checking the other one I can gets milleage, and will then put Ralph in contact with him.

[Rodney_gold]

What actually went in your diff? Did it physically break or is it perhaps clutches etc.. Not locally repairable at all...
PS just took my wifes 1,5 vtec CVT Jazz in for a service , pads on a 40 000km 3 yr old car were R1300!!! Ouch...
Worse than that , they phoned me to tell me that the engine/gearbox mounting is broken and it will cost R4500 to replace...
They INSISTED , albeit I called em 4x , they the car come in in November - it does little mileage and the last service was Nov 2010 - bI'm not keen on a year between service intervals
What they didnt tell me was the 3 yr 60 000 km warrantee was up on 29 Oct. I protested vigorously ... 12 days outa warrantee and 40 000km driven by a woman that travels at an average of 35km/h...its a CVT too , she NEVER takes it out of auto - so not like there are gear slamming shifts..evidently according to intyernet , its not an uncommon problem and is a factory fault.
 Finally they did it under warrantee.. Total car has cost over 3 yrs is R1300 which is not too bad.

[xrapidx]

Its at Cape Transmission - apparently damaged beyond repair, including the housing.

I was on the way home after swapping out the exhaust, and now with the stock of exhaust I heard a clattering, thought it was the clutch (6puc racing) - so just accelerated hard - and bang.

I stopped taking my S2000 to Honda - taking it to a guy privately, I generally arrange the parts I need before hand, and take everything to him.