Proper genuine parts don't tend to have issues in my experience, bought tones of parts from US, never had a problem, either brand new or fairly used. So, to me, warranty was never a problem with stuff bought abroad, by the contrary, had problems with stuff purchased from traders here.
Buying from traders on this forum or in fact any trader in UK, shouldn't be "taking a chance", as they should all offer warranty as the law requires:
http://ec.europa.eu/...07_EN_final.pdf
http://www.thisismon...nty-EU-law.html
http://www.youandyou....co.uk/news/218
"A two-year guarantee applies for the sale of all consumer goods everywhere in the EU. In some countries, this may be more, and some manufacturers also choose to offer a longer warranty period."