I have a tuner shop doing mine on Monday for $80/hr and they they are estimating 2 1/2 hrs - so about $200 labor only (no alignment). If I had bought the springs through them it would have been $70/hr and they would have matched the best price I could find on the springs (but I already had them).

 

For others in Southern California who want to get springs installed and alignment.

The Wheel Supply, ask for Sander...

http://www.thewheelsupply.com/index.jsp

Great Shop, Sander is a good guy.

To install the springs is 175-200 and alignment is 70-100.

 

Yeah, that's what most are saying...3-4 hours. If the average shop charges $90 - $100 an hour for labor, that's close to $400. The shop I called today has a computer program that gives him hourly times for every model car. For the E60 545, he told me something like 4.0 units for the front and 3.5 units for the rear. He said that seemed high and could do it in less time than that, but said the trickiest part is working on the strut. He told me that can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes per wheel.

I'll pay $400 if the place is top notch. And considering that VT paid close to $1000 makes me feel even better.

 

I don't think anyone should be paying more than $400 for install and alignment. Going through the dealer is pointless because the install is very simple. Just find a local tuning shop and they can do it. Even though it's an easy install, I'm not entirely confident in the quality Firestone offers.

 

I was told 3.5 hours for my two fronts and programming to lower the rear.

$100/hour total=$350.

My springs are on order!

 

So what's the update with Dinan?

 

Yeah, thats what this place told me just for the fronts too, but he's cutting me a deal.

 

Still waiting to get the call from engineering/Steve Dinan to bring my car down.

I call every 2 weeks about to let them know I'm still interested, but it doesn't amount to much because they've got a lot of projects.

Just gotta be patient....

 

So looks to me $400-500 sounds like a fair or good price for springs w/ lowering. Do you guys suggest to let the springs settle for maybe a week before haveing an alignment done?

 

That's what I'm planning to do.