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Anyone interested in helping me translate some German?


Gil

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I am trying to negotiate the purchase of some engine parts out of a Fiat from a seller on ebay Germany. Am struggling using babelfish. The seller does not understand English.

I desperately want to make this work out as I need this part for a 66 Abarth and the parts I need (cam and distributor) are NLA and impossible to find used.

TIA,

Gil

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That's way better than babelfish. Still some things that don't quite make sense. It also depends on how correct the German spelling is too or if there are typos.

I think the seller tried to use the word "carton" but tried to use his interpretation of it and it came out as "kartoon".

I am kinda worried he thinks I want the whole engine or maybe the friggin' vehicle!

Yup, good 'ol cashola always works. I actually offered him almost as much for the parts as he wanted for the whole vehicle (it's actually a van). I sure got a reply PDQ. And he doesn't know I'd possibly pay several times that for the parts.

Gil

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Luckily, you are talking about Fiat Abarth parts.

Kartoon is probably not too far off.

At least in person you would be able to use hand gestures and such. Not so with the internet. Unless you go to a video.

Best of luck.

Steve J

72 tii / 83 320is / 88 M3 / 08 MCS R55 / 12 MC R56

& too many bikes

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Might try contacting the Foreign Language Dept. at a local college and see if you can contact the German professor(s). I used that method to communicate with the woman who became, and continues to be for the past 33 yrs., my wife. I returned to Eugene, OR from a trip to Mexico where I'd met her.

She didn't speak any English and I spoke no español, so, I contacted the Foreign Language Dept at the University of Oregon and got a teacher who came over to my house several times and translated over the phone for me. He eventually joined me when I drove back down to Mexico and was instrumental is facilitating our early conversations.

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Bob Napier

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I am trying to negotiate the purchase of some engine parts out of a Fiat from a seller on ebay Germany. Am struggling using babelfish. The seller does not understand English.

I desperately want to make this work out as I need this part for a 66 Abarth and the parts I need (cam and distributor) are NLA and impossible to find used.

TIA,

Gil

Gil, send me an email, I can help.

Dieter

Current:

- 1970 Colorado 2002, 1982 323i, 1972 Porsche 914, 1956 Porsche 356A Coupe replica, 2003 Mini Cooper S

Past:

- 1980 320is Turbo, 1972 Malaga 2002tii, 1973 Polaris 2002tii, 1973 Sahara 2002, 1981 Alpina C1 2.3, 1989 M3, 1984 Hardy & Beck 327S

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Hi Eric,

Thanks for the offer. Dieter has graciously stepped forward and has been helping me out since yesterday. He has been terrific in making this work for me. I am truly grateful rthe help and what this forum can do for folks.

Gil

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