I have recently bought the Corolla 2015 Gli Automatic in Gun Metallic color in Karachi. I have a thing for OEM accessories and don't like modifications to the car, in my travels abroad i noticed that the Alloy Rims that Toyota offers in the Middle East and the U.S. are very classy are nothing like the stock rims that IM has been treating all of us for the past several years.
I checked with the Agency and was told that the rims will be costing at 2000 AED/piece (~PKR 2 Lacs for the set) for a brand new set which goes over the budget that i have had for the rims. I started searching for options in Dubai and around where i might be able to buy slightly used Alloys which i would ship back to Karachi by sea and they would reach before i return back. I came across this website of Wheel Nation ( WheelNation.net ??? The Middle East???s preferred wheel / Tyre specialist ) who have certain stock and do ship to Karachi as well. They quoted me a rate of 2250 AED for the set of 4 and 850 AED for sending them to Karachi with Emirates Sky Cargo which seemed very lucrative to me as the total would be around 85K, i asked if i could see the set first upon which they arranged for me to see at a garage. The Rims were not as slick as they had claimed on their website and had a lot of scratches on them.
Long story short, the search for an almost new set of Alloys took me to BMW road in Sharjah where there are shops of used OEM and imported Rims. After visiting multiple shops i finally settled for the best pair that i could get my hands on at the shop on an Iranian Tire dealer. The final price was 2000 AED for the set ( ~ PKR 52000) and to my surprise they weigh a mere 8 KG per piece which comes into my baggage allowance. I have put down the idea of shipping them by cargo and would rather bring them in my luggage.
As a law abiding citizen, i know that i have to pay a certain duty to the custom officials and i always go prepared with the directives of Pakistan Customs so that they don't charge me over the bar. I have come across Customs VR No. 7112015 ( Customs Valuation Director Abdul Rashid fixes value of old, used auto parts through VR No 711/2015 | Customs Today Newspaper ) which states that the duty on a used alloy rim is USD 7/piece which translated my custom duty to USD 28 (PKR ~3000) for the set.
I am expected to fly back next week and would post the updated pics when i put these beauties on the car.
Update on 9th June 2015 :
I landed in Pakistan on the 5th of June 2015, paid 28$ in duty on the airport. A few busy days kept me away from getting the rims loaded on my ride. I brought the Lug-Nuts ( Thanks to Pakwheels because i would have totally missed them if not for a post on the Forum) and Emblem from Toyota Genuine Parts shop in Dubai as well. I opted for Michelin Energy+ 205/60/R16 for the wheels and it costed me an additional 32000 R.S. after trading my stock wheels at a wheels shop on Stadium Road in Karachi (In-front of Liaquat National Hospital).
P.S. All the effort really paid up as i am really happy with how it all turned out.
