Sorted! Motor factors in France - near Lyon?

[lesapandre]

Worth testing the theory. 

Popped into DHL's offices here. The rates below - it will fit I assume in the smallest box - a Number 2.

They reckon 1-2 days. Will need the invoice for the customs declaration I'm told.

I'd only use a courier that has a base in Lyon - and I'd personally consign it at a courier's UK depot to check that everything is in order - and collect the other end too. Saves adding time for pick-up and drop.

Costs are set out - but I'd see that as a minimum and budget for at least two days to get it in your hand. 

[warninglight]

Thank you! I booked a next day FedEx with @juularand @MrsJuularsupporting, then ut turned out the Glasgow van centre didn't have the stock they had said on their system.

All stops being pulled out and all being well juular is grabbing a used one and getting it collected. FedEx say aiming for Friday delivery, I've marked it as a Gift and on the notes said "to repair broken UK van stuck in France" which I'm hoping may help. It's all rather down to hope at the moment. Somehow the 'German' stock will take 5 days no matter who I speak to, with no way of getting a similar overnight job.

I have the old cables off, done some surgery to the point where I'm confident I'm next to the corrosion, and I'm gravity feeding penetrating oil in whilst sipping a local wine.

There's a lawnmower repair shop next door which may have some useful cable repairing ideas, more than the Dacia dealer I'm parked next to.

I'm also going to look for a Speedy Cables type place near Lyon, as a possibility.

[juular]

Here's hoping UPS hold up their end of the deal now!

[Talbot]

13 hours ago, warninglight said:

I'm gravity feeding penetrating oil in whilst sipping a local wine.

Don't get those mixed up...

[juular]

2 hours ago, Talbot said:

Don't get those mixed up...

Local oil and penetrating wine? Sounds like a good night in.

[warninglight]

We are back in action after a fraught couple of days, with thanks entirely to @juular and @MrsJuular who between them have more capabilities to get parts around Europe quickly than the entire VW dealer network.

As I went to bed last night the tracker was saying "held by customs" and I couldn't do anything til 9am.

Meantime I had failed to free off the old cable, and had handed it to the Dacia garage next door, who also couldn't free it off. Whilst the service manager and I were trying to converse with my broken French and his broken English, I settled for "Il est mort" as my technical French doesn't extend to "it's fucked".

By 6am this morning however, the tracking told me that the cable was at the UPS depot 1 hour north, and for just* €30 in import fees I had it in my hand at 11am, and fitted by 12. 

Whoever it was that said this place isn't what it used to be. Shut up. 😅

[warninglight]

When I rang my European breakdown cover (through Nationwide FlexPlus - recommended!) they said they'd get us a hire car, and if we needed, hotels. The chap insisted he would get me an SUV as we have the dog, and obviously quite a lot of stuff with us.

It's a bit cynical that putting a JEEP badge on a Fiat Panda floorpan makes it an SUV, but my 'big Jeep' has been a very handy little thing for the last few days.

This has been our home since Tuesday. Can't say we will miss it!

[juular]

In a surprising turn of events, courier delivers on time! Especially impressive given the first line of the address was "VW Van", in another country!

Also thanks to @captain_70s for his last minute printing of a courier label to allow this to go ahead.

[Spottedlaurel]

13 minutes ago, warninglight said:

When I rang my European breakdown cover (through Nationwide FlexPlus - recommended!).............

Obviously sorry to know that you've been having to go through this but fantastic to know all has been resolved, well done to all concerned!

Also really good to hear of a positive endorsement for the breakdown cover through your Nationwide account. I've relied on it for some years now, luckily never having had to use it, but have always wondered how good it would be especially in Europe. Great to know they'll assist you with a flexible approach to sorting it out, not just recovery home. If something went wrong with my Lexus in France I doubt it would be a simple fix and may require some ingenuity as has been necessary for you.

[wuvvum]

Fantastic effort all round.

[junkyarddog]

Great collaboration from all.

Where else on the net would you find such camaraderie?

 

[warninglight]

2 hours ago, juular said:

In a surprising turn of events, courier delivers on time! Especially impressive given the first line of the address was "VW Van", in another country!

Also thanks to @captain_70s for his last minute printing of a courier label to allow this to go ahead.

Yes of course, thanks to Anthony Seventies for the last minute label!

Thanks also to everyone who chipped in with advice, links, suggestions etc., all very much appreciated. Have now had a shower and heading for the Pyrenees, then home next weekend.

 

 

 

[CaptainBoom]

Awesome work, it’s often been a fear of mine having an FTP in foreign lands. If it comes up in the future, and parts are in the South East, hit me up as I send couriers (both UPS/FedEx style and man in a boxvan type) to the EU all the time and can get parts to most of Europe overnight.