I truly do not mean this as one of those 'tisk, tisk ...' type posts, but another good way to reduce your maintenance costs is to do preventative maintenance on your car. For example, BMW water pumps, and I believe all makes actually, are famous for breaking down at approximately 100k miles. Instead of waiting for that to happen, and then have it potentially damage other, more expensive parts of your car because of the sudden disruption, I replace mine around 90k. It's not worth the chance, and that way *I* was in control of when it was fixed and by whom. I went online, found the best price, and took it to my dependable, honest Indy shop (last car, E39).

I have been doing this for years, and I know others do to. It's the same for belts, hoses, radiator parts, etc. If one is on a tight budget, it helps to spread out the costs as well too, again, at their timeline, not the car's.

Folks really would be better off keeping care of their cars this way. I have never once, not anything that I can think of since my first car, ever had something 'break.' It also helps to sell your car privately when the time comes because you have proof that you have taken care of it as best as you can. Again, I have gotten top dollar every time (and have never sold any of my cars to a car dealer).

I'll step down now ...

 

^^ Good advice, I feel the same.

 

i dont get it tho.. not everyone drives 100k in the same time frame, u might have 100k where as someone else might only have 40k, so if i own four cars and only drive 2500k mi each a year i will almost never have to change a part? good in theory, but doesn't pertain to every sitch.

 

But 100K is 100K - mechanical parts have a life cycle and in such the same advice does apply. If you have 100 cars or 1 cars when you get close to the point of it reaching 100K you are at the end of the parts lifecycle.

Some things such as rubber gaskets, etc have a time life cycle unless the car and the parts have been maintained, conditioned etc. but as you know the longer you let something sit the more you have to worry about.

 

I will do it for 3/4 that.

 

+1

 

Just to add to that, I feel better knowing that the new water pump is not belt driven. This has a few advantages, you won't shear your belt off when the bearing jams. Also, less chance of bearing failure because one less moving part. I am sure it has some kind of pump though. I guess time will tell if its a superior or an inferior design.
Regards.
Raj

 

thats how much my front brakes and rotor cost me

 

You are very lucky.

I remember several years ago I was driving down a road in SE GA late at night in the middle of NOWHERE with no cellular coverage when the voltage meter on the dasboard suddenly dropped. I knew it was the alternator. Luckily I made it home (the car died as I pulled in the parking space. The next morning I opened the hood to look at the alt and found a bug lodged in its windings. The little critter fried himself, shorted out the alt, and damn near left me stranded. Talk about luck? Go figure......

 

Jesus Christ man you got fucking ROBBED.