I've been on the endless hunt for Watanabe rims in Australia and IF a wrecker or importer has a set they are looking for close to $800 if they are in reasonable condition. So I as started looking for rims in Japan with Yahoo Auctions and come across some interesting info, that I thought I would share.

Below is the link ot the Yahoo wheels page:
Yahoo Auctions wheels search

As you will see it is sorted by rim size on the left,

to make searching easier I have a couple of tips,

Watanabe = ワタナベ

Black Racing = ブラックレーシング

also searching for 114 from our stud pattern helps

now that's all good but how do we get our rims to Australia?

http://www.slidewizeimports.com/

I have NOT used Slidewizeimports services!!! But they are recomended by SAU.com.au. They have a price calculator that you can down load to help work out your price.

My previous job was in freight forwarding and I have checked the figures used in the price calculator and they don't leave much so I consider the freight and clearance prices to be around the current market price.

Anyway enjoy see how you go.

hehe your gonna hate me.

I just got offered a set of watanabe 8spokes in 13x7 from a member on this forum... But their all mine!!!

Shhh to the member im talking about

You can buy em new still but very costly, www.rs-watanabe.co.jp

Yeah new is a silly price,

Yeah that's nice for you , but I'm after a set of 14x6 wat or br's.

cheers

14x6 are one of the most common sizes, and can be had pretty cheaply depending on how patient you are

theres an importer in adelaide that regularly has watanabes of varying types ...
cant think of the website for them tho ??

one of the adelaide boys will surely know ??

have you tried the corolla and sprinter forums ??

Yeah been checking on the corolla and sprinter forums, checked with Banzai in QLD, he spells them as watanabi just to be different.

I'd be interested in the adl importers details

dont forget to add the so called takumi tax if going to a sprinter forum or wrecker...

if you can get someone in japan or even slidwayz (have heard good reprots about them) it may still work out cheaper then ones here already.

That's what I'm looking into, a set of Wats are around $100 - $200 AUD + frieght $300, so you are looking at a set for around the $500 mark which is quite reasonable.

Quote:

I dont know if agents commissions are included in your pricing but in my experience the fees, commissions, internal freight and external freight all add up real fast.

The Japanese have a different way of doing business, all costs are passed on to the buyer, you will be paying the sellers Yahoo listing fees and Yahoo commission.

When I first got into contact with my Japanese agent, he said "I can get you whatever you want but even if you only want something that costs a dollar, all up it will cost you $100 in your hands."

The reality wasnt quite that bad but he wasnt too far off the mark.