Should I bring some popcorn in here?

 

Have any of you guys every actually worked on one of these cars before? How are you guessing it would only take 4 hours to do the work? Balls to the wall, doing he rear brakes will take at least 30 minutes per side of actual work. 3 hours to do the radiator? Srsly? I bet that some techs somewhere could do the job in 3 hours, but that would be way faster then the average IMO. (I used to own an independent VW/Audi shop, and have been working on euro cars for almost 15 years)

To the OP, doesn't sound like a bad deal at all to me. Dare any of you to call the dealer and get a quote on the same work. Wouldn't be surprised to hear 1800-2200 for the same job.

 

Since I'm involved on replacing the brakes on my wife's MB, the prices you mentioned are a bit on the high side and could probably be purchased cheaper.

$67 per hour labor is definitely NOT a dealer rate. The indy shops I've dealt with charge $85 per hour and I agree 4 hours is a good time for an experienced mechanic to complete the job.

The OP is certainly not getting any kind of a deal.

 

You bring the popcorn and I'll get the sodas

 

it sounds normal to me. you cant expect the mechanic to work for $10/hour. call a dealer and get a quote to change a radiator and brakes.

 

Called up a buddy that works for a big independent shop in town. Labor for just the rad and associated work is 4 hours. Add an hour for the brakes and you get 5.

As for parts, it's unrealistic to compare prices to what you might get them for online to what you will pay at a shop. If you decide today that you need a new radiator tomorrow, you aren't going to be getting any parts from realoem.com or any other online parts place. Not to mention, if you get a part from those guys and it is defective, have fun getting a new one and being back on the road in a timely manner.

I get not wanting to spend money you don't think you have to spend, but you are getting way more from your money when you purchase parts from a local supplier or let the shop doing the work get the parts. Trust me on this... Nothing I hated more than a customer walking in with his own parts that ended up being the wrong parts after we had already torn the car apart... well, that and maybe people trying to get me to match online prices and still give the the level of support they expected to receive from a shop like ours.

If you guys think shops are constantly trying to rip you off, then go buy 20K worth of tools, rent a building and work on your own cars for "free".

Even at the dealer, you get what you pay for, each dollar you more you spend can usually be tied into some other perk you won't get at a less expensive shop.

 

Lets not fight cmon now..i paid 360 for labor costs at $90/hr..parts total $775.00 let me break it down

1 rear pads $99.00
2 break rotors $105/piece $210
1 brake pad sensor $21
1 radiator $413
coolant antifreeze $16x2 $32
labor $90.00/hr 4hrs = $360
parts total $775

sub total $1135
parts tax 7.0% $54.25

TOTAL $1189.25

 

I dont feel as i have been ripped off..the car is running alot smoother and im happy with this

 

WTF?? Then why are you even posting this??
Geez,
Will

 

You having a bad day there? go kick a cat