"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
04/07/2014 at 13:33 • Filed to: None
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"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
04/07/2014 at 13:33 • Filed to: None | 1
| 15 |
Hi Oppo,
As some of you may know I have a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT wagon. It's been overheating in traffic lately so I took it to a mechanic (moved recently, so first time at this place - great reviews on yelp, keeps a nice clean shop, and seems like a nice non-sleazy guy). I have a quote I want to run by your ears -
Verdict - Radiator needs to be replaced - car is on its original radiator and even I had noticed that it was leaking along the top and probably not holding pressure. While he's at it he's going to replace all the hoses as well and the thermostat, and of course fill it up with Subaru unicorn tears radiator fluid. He looked in to prices, ordered the parts and is quoting me $700 total for the job - parts, labour, everything.
Does this sound about right for the going rate for a radiator replacement? I've actually never had to do this on one of my cars before.
Of course I googled prices for the parts and they seem much cheaper online...I feel like this is typical though?
CalzoneGolem
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 13:38 |
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This doesn't seem unreasonable to me.
You can certainly get cheaper parts online. I think part stores charge mechanics extra. You could probably do it yourself. I'm not sure about your car but it usually is not all that complicated of a job.
ddavidn
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 13:41 |
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That isn't terrible. I replaced the radiator on a 1998 Impreza Outback and it was a really easy job. And I'm definitely not a mechanic. YMMV.
DailyTurismo
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 13:42 |
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Rockauto.com has a Legacy GT radiator for $66 to $120 depending on which brand you select. Add another $100 for hoses, t-stat + 4 hours ("book") labor (@$100/hr), + tax/tip and you get to $700. Do it yourself to save the $400. It is really easy and could be done in a driveway without a lift.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> DailyTurismo
04/07/2014 at 13:47 |
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Yeah, that's what I figured. Probably takes more like 2 hours based on what I've read up, but parts probably cost a bit more than online rockauto (for my E30 I usually buy parts there or elsewhere online - it's always cheaper than my BMW mechanic's source, and I've been a long time customer and I trust him).
Problem is I don't have the time to do it myself nor do I have the driveway space since I live in an apt complex...and I have family visiting next week and need the car running - so unfortunately I can't save the labour costs by doing it myself.
I thought the price sounded about right - not a deal by any means, but about what I'd expect. Just want to make sure I'm not getting ripped off.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> CalzoneGolem
04/07/2014 at 13:48 |
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Yup, what I figured. Sadly don't have the time, space, or tools to do it myself - so it is what it is I guess.
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 13:55 |
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Seems reasonable. Not a *deal* deal, but reasonable-ish.
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DailyTurismo
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 13:55 |
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Yeah, sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and just pay the guy. I did the radiator in my STi a few years back when the plastic end tanks failed. If you are planning to keep the car for a long time I'd recommend a full metal aftermarket radiator.
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CalzoneGolem
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 13:57 |
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You can always get a second opinion or ask this guy to see if he can get cheaper parts.
deekster_caddy
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 13:59 |
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That doesn't sound bad at all for a multi-hour job with a multi-hundred dollar part. Yes, you can do it yourself for cheaper (if you don't bill yourself the labor hours). Yes, you can get the parts for cheaper. But he'll do it in less time than you will, and will probably break fewer parts than you, and you won't get your hands dirty or learn anything about your car in the process. For that, $700 does not sound bad.
Don't insult him by saying "I can get the radiator for $xxx" - he already knows that, he's probably getting it for the same price. Hopefully he deals with a quality parts house and is getting a decent quality part. Most pros do.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> DailyTurismo
04/07/2014 at 14:03 |
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Honestly I'm probably going to sell it within the next year. It's a great car, but just too big for my needs. Barely gets driven anymore either - just so happens my parents are visiting next week and I want them to be able to use the car while I'm at work and stuff.
Otherwise I would've just sourced the parts online slowly and taken it to my old guy and saved a couple of hundred...but in cases like this it's good to have a fair mechanic who does good work, can't ask for much more than that.
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> deekster_caddy
04/07/2014 at 14:10 |
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Exactly. I don't have the luxury of a garage with tools or much actual hands-on repair knowledge - so his labour and price mark up is what I pay for having him do it for me.
For a mechanic I have a rapport with (like the guy I've been taking my E30 to for 7 years) I'll shoot the shit with him and try to talk savings on parts - or just find it myself online and take it to him for random "upgrades" I want that aren't critical - he makes some money off labour, no hard feelings.
In instances like this the mechanic is trying to make a living too (he runs a really neat shop, is very courteous and explained everything to me, and is there from 8am-630pm 6 days a week) - it's an unexpected expense and I could use the money for other things right now, but such is life - as long as I'm not getting ripped off I'm cool with paying him what he's due.
I need to have my wheel bearings replaced at some point soon too, and his shop is a 5 minute walk from my apartment - I don't want to offend him in any way - I'd much rather give him business, have a good experience, and know each other for work to come in the future where maybe he'll watch out for me when he can.
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deekster_caddy
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 14:17 |
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Ask him in advance before you bring him a part and ask him to install it. Unless it's something custom or 'special', he may balk at any parts he doesn't source, or he may charge you an additional fee. It's expensive to get a car in your shop only to find out the part you have doesn't fit. That's happened to me more than once (and I don't even do it for a living) and it's a very frustrating way to eat time. If it's his own sourced parts, it's at least his own issue.
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deekster_caddy
> CalzoneGolem
04/07/2014 at 14:23 |
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Personally I can't stand it when I have to redo a job because the part sucked. Not that I like to name names, but that's why I stopped shopping at that cheap chain auto parts store
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ZHP Sparky, the 5th
> deekster_caddy
04/07/2014 at 14:25 |
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Yup, I waitied 5+ years with my BMW mechanic to start having parts shipped to him...basically til we were just talking cars together and stuff I'd like to have done to my car and his response was "damn that sounds great, but I don't think I can source those parts too easily/cheap....if you can find it I'll get it installed for you".
Even my girlfriend's response to these costs was "$95/hour?! I should've become a mechanic!"...uhm, sure, but it costs a LOT to run an auto shop - and working hard 11 hours a day, 6 days a week doing a highly specialized job - makes sense to me.
Philbert/Phartnagle
> ZHP Sparky, the 5th
04/07/2014 at 23:13 |
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Mechanics make a good portion of their money from marking up parts, therefore they may or may not want to install any parts that you buy and bring to them. I had a very good friend (he passed away a few years ago now) who was a professional mechanic for his entire life and I worked with him on various projects of his own throughout the years, so I got to learn how it works in the auto repair business.
You CAN buy parts cheaper, usually a good bit cheaper than mechanics can, BUT if you cannot install them, then you're not going to benefit from that UNLESS, you know of a friend or "shade tree" mechanic that you can trust.
To me that price sounds outrageously high, but then, I also buy and install most of my own parts and always have.
If you were in MO and you bought all the parts, I would do that install for $250 or probably even less depending on how long it took.