Quote:
Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob
I'm in Spain - we don't have the VAT forms unfortunately (actually the tax is called IVA here, but it translates the same). My oil change was at the dealer, so they used the BMW/Castrol 5W30. It cost almost 30 Euros/liter + 18% IVA! Labor was only 13 Euros, but 6.5 Liters of oil at these prices is insane.
I probably should get my gas off base, but I don't know very much about the quality of the gas here to know if it's worth the inconvenience and expense to go off base. We have special gas cards where we can buy Cepsa gas at cost (instead of at retail prices), so it's actually not too bad.
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Ohh... Don't you guy's in Spain use gas coupons? In most EU countries where the US forces are... they either use paper coupons or an electronic card. This allows you to buy gas on the economy at US military discounted prices.
Here in Germany, we have an electronic Esso card. We pay about $0.95 per liter USd. (the price changes every week) It does not matter IF we go to an Esso, off post (any Esso in Germany) or pump gas on base. The electornic card tracks how much we can purchase. We are limited to 400 liters per month per car. But we still have to pay for that gas - but it is at US Military prices - NOT EUROS!
So when I fill my tank at the Esso... say 48 liters... the German price is 1.55 euros per liter. That would normally cost 75 euros. But I use the Esso card to pay and it charges me roughly $46 for that sale.
We use to have paper coupons but there was too much of a black market going on with them. Germany was teh first to switch over to a electronic card. I think Netherlands also uses a card. Italy still uses paper coupns.
Btw... the OE oil at the BMW Zentrum/dealers over here is about 23 euros per liter. Yea... they charge you for seven liters. Your labor rate is darn cheap. I was charges 60 euros just for that same oil change labor! The BMW dealers over here get 110 euros per hour.
I think I would buy the oil in the states and have it sent to someone there. Then have a friend mail it over here to your APO.
Dackel