Reasonable price for ssk install? Other questions

[Neon01]

Had a quality local german (mostly BMW) shop quote me $300 to install a SSK if I brought it to them (2010 135i). They said that's if the kit has "the connecting rod" since they would have to remove a significant part of the exhaust. Though, when I asked them how much it would be if the kit didn't include the rod, they said roughly the same... They were trying to sell me on the Active Autowerks or UUC kit, but I'd be too worried about voiding trans warranty with an aftermarket SSK.

Their labor rate is $95/hour, so this looks like about 3 hours labor.

1. Is that reasonable?
2. Does the BMW Performance kit come with the connecting rod?
3. My neighbor is a very good mechanic, but doesn't usually do too much with BMWs. He charges me $60/hour for labor, and I was going to have him do some other work for me anyway. Is an SSK install the kind of job you would trust a good non-BMW specialist mechanic to be able to do? I'd love to save the coin if so.

[Zeros and ones]

Originally Posted by Neon01

Had a quality local german (mostly BMW) shop quote me $300 to install a SSK if I brought it to them (2010 135i). They said that's if the kit has "the connecting rod" since they would have to remove a significant part of the exhaust. Though, when I asked them how much it would be if the kit didn't include the rod, they said roughly the same... They were trying to sell me on the Active Autowerks or UUC kit, but I'd be too worried about voiding trans warranty with an aftermarket SSK.

Their labor rate is $95/hour, so this looks like about 3 hours labor.

1. Is that reasonable?
2. Does the BMW Performance kit come with the connecting rod?
3. My neighbor is a very good mechanic, but doesn't usually do too much with BMWs. He charges me $60/hour for labor, and I was going to have him do some other work for me anyway. Is an SSK install the kind of job you would trust a good non-BMW specialist mechanic to be able to do? I'd love to save the coin if so.

95 bucks is cheap. but the install should be no more then 1.5 to 2 hours as per the BMW installation instructions.

I paid a bit more to get mine installed per hour but I got it done at a dealer.

[B-Dawg]

The BMW ssk does not include the gear selector rod. I had the Uuc ssk with the dssr installed at the dealer for a bit more than what you are being quoted, and they told me e same thing that you are being told. In the end I was tired of staring at the box and wanted it in the car.

Btw, I'm real happy with it. Nice tight action with much shorter throws.

[Neon01]

Originally Posted by B-Dawg

The BMW ssk does not include the gear selector rod. I had the Uuc ssk with the dssr installed at the dealer for a bit more than what you are being quoted, and they told me e same thing that you are being told. In the end I was tired of staring at the box and wanted it in the car.

Btw, I'm real happy with it. Nice tight action with much shorter throws.

So the dealer didn't feel that the UUC would cause problems for your warranty? It's always my biggest fear that a $300 part is going to invalidate a warranty claim on a $5000 part that's having issues.

BTW, is the gear selector rod necessary? I'm curious why BMW doesn't include it if it is.

[B-Dawg]

I have a hard time believing that a ssk will void a transmission warranty. The dealer installed it without any concern.

Several ssk's do not change the selector rod. Is it necessary? Probably not. Is it better? I'd say so. Particularly as the car's mileage increases the selector rod does get a bit sloppy. And I consider it added insurance against the money shift.

[Dackelone]

OP - you should have your dealer look up the "book time" in the TIS (BMW sw) for how much BMW says should be charged to install THEIR ssk kit.

My German dealer said its easy and an one hour job. That is what they charged me. The tech did have some problems and ended up dropping the mid pipes to gain better access to the shift linkage. Still they only charged me 1 hour's labor, plus I agreed to pay for new mid pipe gaskets which was like $20 extra.

I attached BMW's pdf on the install instructions. I really love my Performance SSK. It really makes the car complete! You might want to go to an indi for a better price on the install.

BMW Performance shifter SSK install.pdf