Acquiring Arteb Brazil GMT400 headlight reflectors

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

AuroraGirl

I'm Awesome
Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Messages
1,033
Reaction score
1,178
Location
Northern Wisconsin
Update Jul15, 2022: Arteb headlights are available

The Arteb headlights are available, soon. We're buying another 12pr.

Here's why:
- The exchange rate is favorable
- We've been given better pricing from the jobber
- Shipping costs have remained unchanged [note 1]

Cost, per pair delivered to a US address, will be $296/pr. This is bit less than earlier this year for the reasons above.

Too, this time I converted ALL of the costs in Brazil, i.e., product and shipping, up-front, in advance, so they're are locked-in [note 2]. There's no risk of the exchange rate moving under our feet.

Those of you who expressed interest earlier, I will contact you via PM soon. Otherwise, feel free to contact me via PM.


NOTES:

[1] There's always the chance that shipping costs will increase (we ship using Correios in Brazil https://www.correios.com.br/). However, we have the option to offset an increase, if it happens, by using a different class of service from Correios.

[2] Earlier this year I didn't convert enough to cover the shipping and, as the exchange rate declined, the cost of shipping went up and I had to ask more $$ for each pair to cover it. That won't happen this time.
This random ass company in brazil is probably not sure why so many americans want their product but are more than happy to have the business lol
 

1998_K1500_Sub

Nitro Junkie
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
2,146
Reaction score
3,244
Location
Rural Illinois
Update Jul19, 2022:

Carlos placed an order with the jobber late last week Jul15 and he's waiting for them to provide shipment details. Prior shipments have taken ~2wks, as the headlights are sent via common carrier from Maringa, Paraná (Brazil) to Jacobina, Bahia.

For the record, each of the headlights is individually boxed by Arteb. The jobber wraps-up a bunch of the boxes, together, for shipment as one large parcel. When Carlos receives them, he re-packages them for shipment to the US as one-pair-per-box, which decreases the shipment cost (vs. leaving them individually boxed). The resulting package is 3.3kg and is 24 x 38 x 26cm. A picture of the box, as shipped, is attached.

Carlos will start shipping them to the US a few business days after they're received. However, the shipments will be spread out over a number of days, intentionally, for reasons to do with Brazil's export controls.

FYI
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20220315_143922_606_hdr.jpg
    IMG_20220315_143922_606_hdr.jpg
    185.9 KB · Views: 4
  • IMG_20220315_135201_976_hdr.jpg
    IMG_20220315_135201_976_hdr.jpg
    200.5 KB · Views: 3
Last edited:

1998_K1500_Sub

Nitro Junkie
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
2,146
Reaction score
3,244
Location
Rural Illinois
Update July 21, 2022:

The shipment is nearing Carlos' city of Jacobina. It arrived at Feira de Santana today at 07:33h. It left Maringa on Jul15 at 10:02h

The map shows the route it's taken since July 15th to Feira de Santana, and it's destination, Jacobina.

With the weekend near, the shipment may stall at its present location until Monday.

You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

1998_K1500_Sub

Nitro Junkie
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
2,146
Reaction score
3,244
Location
Rural Illinois
Update July 25, 2022:

The shipment’s tracking indicates it has left Feira de Santana for delivery in Jacobina to Carlos… but it’s not like these two towns are next to each other.

My guess is the shipment’s on a truck that’s “making the weekly rounds” of the cities served out of the Feira de Santana depot and, when the truck finally gets to Jacobina, the shipment will be delivered.

Ever heard of "FedEx Custom Critical" service? This is like "FedEx Custom Leisure"...

"When it absolutely, positively has to get there someday."

Not to complain, as slow shipping means lower cost, and that's good.


You must be registered for see images attach




You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

1998_K1500_Sub

Nitro Junkie
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
2,146
Reaction score
3,244
Location
Rural Illinois
Update July 26, 2022:

OK, the shipment arrived!

We actually special ordered a pair of Arteb taillights for another GMT400 member, AND I ordered 12pr of Arteb headlights. We ordered them at about the same time from the same jobber, only a couple days apart.

The shipment that's been tracked turned out to be for the taillights, only. They arrived today.

Where are the headlights... :blah:

I guess it's time to chase down the other tracking number from the jobber. They may not have even shipped yet(!).
 

Attachments

  • Taillights boxed.jpg
    Taillights boxed.jpg
    183.4 KB · Views: 28
  • Taillights pictured.jpg
    Taillights pictured.jpg
    289.6 KB · Views: 28
  • Taillight.jpg
    Taillight.jpg
    118 KB · Views: 28
Last edited:

1998_K1500_Sub

Nitro Junkie
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
2,146
Reaction score
3,244
Location
Rural Illinois
Those are pretty unique, how much? Lol

The taillights are a bit tricky.

First, if someone wants a pair, they can be purchased. But they aren't a plug-n-play deal like the Arteb headlights. Read on...

There's a separate thread on the taillights, below. The pricing mentioned there isn't current; right now a pair would be ~$285/pr shipped to a US address but w/o circuit boards. The price just quoted varies with the exchange rate and jobber pricing, blah blah blah.

The "circuit boards" for the Arteb taillights are different than the ones in the US, and Arteb, who at one time mfg'd them, no longer offers them.

Too, unlike here, in Brazil there's no third-party producing them.

Net-net: The taillights can be bought new from Arteb, but the circuit boards are a scavenger hunt.

Carlos and I have managed to find used circuit boards but they're hard to locate and they sell for about US$60/ea (give or take... the left side are easier to find and lower cost, the right side harder to find and higher cost). So far we've amassed three pairs, which are all accounted-for.

I "special ordered" a set of taillights for another GMT400 member b/c we happened to have a set of circuit boards in our back pocket to offer him. I already have a pair of taillights myself, as does a third GMT400 member.

The wiring needs to be tweaked to make them operate correctly, which is something we have figured-out but have not done, yet. The solution borrows from the ImpalaSS guys' work, who created their own wiring solution so they could use the GM "export" taillights.

Finally, instead of the circuit boards we've investigated the use of generic sockets, e.g., Standard Motor Products S-49. This is low-cost solution but there are no guarantees that the bulbs will be mounted in their optimal position (i.e., depth and orientation / focal length and clocking of the filament). Water ingress may be a problem. The taillight housing may crack if the strain is excessive at any socket. "Use at your own risk."

 

Attachments

  • Three sockets in housing.jpg
    Three sockets in housing.jpg
    198.9 KB · Views: 2
  • Sockets in housing - close up.jpg
    Sockets in housing - close up.jpg
    170.9 KB · Views: 2
  • Socket - detail.jpg
    Socket - detail.jpg
    185.2 KB · Views: 2
Last edited:

1998_K1500_Sub

Nitro Junkie
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2019
Messages
2,146
Reaction score
3,244
Location
Rural Illinois
Update Aug 1, 2022:

I've been away since Jul 28. I'm back.

The update is: There is no update.

The jobber is holding on the headlight order and hasn't produced a tracking number.

They're usually quite responsive. Carlos will call them tomorrow.

More as it happens...
 
Last edited:
Top