Getting Land Rover Parts, Mexico

It can be a challenge, especially for our NAS-D90. The last 5 years in Mexico have been adventurous and a little hard on the Rover so we’re starting this revamp with a few necessary odds and ends and some basic maintenance.

We broke 2 of our directionals while photographing in Michoacán, Mexico for Jeff Aronson of Rovers Magazine, so we’re swapping-in smaller directionals and changing the headlamp finishers for a slightly more updated look.

Many of our Rover-specific parts have come from Rovers North. The best way to receive foreign parts in Mexico is to send them to Laredo, TX and have a currier service drive them down. Otherwise, you risk having the parts languish in customs. There is no avoiding the 17% import duty unless you bring the parts over the border personally but you can reduce customs delays. I once had a transfer case travel 10 days from London to Laredo only to disappear into Mexican customs for 54 days because I didn’t have someone there to walk it through. Lesson learned.

Also in this delivery from Rovers North: door studs, rear directionals, sway bar, tie rod ends, locking lug nuts, air vent grills, and a folding step ladder for the passenger side.

The locking lug nuts are a welcome addition. We’ll also be installing kill switches before driving through Central America. With an open vehicle, security always has to be a little tighter. Security will also mean choosing our route carefully and avoiding dangerous stretches at night. Our main concern will be hassle from local authorities or theft.

Stay tuned for our next projects: some ironwork for the front grill (à la Mexican hardware store) and new injectors!