quick question about install costs

[MightyMouseTech]

They are quoting you for full subframe bushing replacement, not the inserts.

Should be 0.5 for just inserts.

Other than that, looks to be in the ballpark.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

They are quoting you for full subframe bushing replacement, not the inserts.

Should be 0.5 for just inserts.

Other than that, looks to be in the ballpark.

I don't have inserts. I have the 2-piece Whiteline bushings, which I bought because they were supposed to be a lot easier to put in vs. the M3 bushings.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by duder13

I don't have inserts. I have the 2-piece Whiteline bushings, which I bought because they were supposed to be a lot easier to put in vs. the M3 bushings.

Much of the time is dropping the subframe enough to get the old bushings out, but, nearly 8 hours? And the alignment is more than anything I've had done or seen quoted on this forum.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by gjm120

Much of the time is dropping the subframe enough to get the old bushings out, but, nearly 8 hours? And the alignment is more than anything I've had done or seen quoted on this forum.

Well, I just got a quote from the local BMW club's recommended shop, which is a little more of a drive to get to...and they're saying $3100, or $2600 if doing it all at once, so pretty consistent compared to my first quote. Man, this is pricier than I was expecting.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by duder13

Well, I just got a quote from the local BMW club's recommended shop, which is a little more of a drive to get to...and they're saying $3100, or $2600 if doing it all at once, so pretty consistent compared to my first quote. Man, this is pricier than I was expecting.

I guess it is what it is. I would say you must be in a high cost area but the $115/hr you were quoted is pretty low.

Some of this work is easy to diy if you're able and so inclined. I'd say the front arb/endlinks, rear shocks/springs are the easiest. Next are the front control arms. Struts can be challenging especially messing with spring compressors. I haven't done subframe bushing work yet so can't comment.

There is a lot of good advice on this and other forums.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by gjm120

I guess it is what it is. I would say you must be in a high cost area but the $115/hr you were quoted is pretty low.

Some of this work is easy to diy if you're able and so inclined. I'd say the front arb/endlinks, rear shocks/springs are the easiest. Next are the front control arms. Struts can be challenging especially messing with spring compressors. I haven't done subframe bushing work yet so can't comment.

There is a lot of good advice on this and other forums.

I wish. I live in the city and don’t have a good place to do the work without renting a space.

[asbrr]

I'm no mechanic, but the way the quote is done it seems everything is "additive", as in priced as if the work would be done completely separately. For example, installing swaybar endlinks would be done at the same time as strut replacement, the "incremental" cost is much less in that case than doing the end links separately.

Overall it does seem high - I had much of the same work done on my car (you have more work but just wanted to give an idea):

Whiteline 2 piece bushings
Steel braided brake lines and fluid flush
B12 kit install
4 wheel alignment.

This in total for me was 8 hours of labour....dropped car off at 8am, had it back by 5pm.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by asbrr

I'm no mechanic, but the way the quote is done it seems everything is "additive", as in priced as if the work would be done completely separately. For example, installing swaybar endlinks would be done at the same time as strut replacement, the "incremental" cost is much less in that case than doing the end links separately.

Overall it does seem high - I had much of the same work done on my car (you have more work but just wanted to give an idea):

Whiteline 2 piece bushings
Steel braided brake lines and fluid flush
B12 kit install
4 wheel alignment.

This in total for me was 8 hours of labour....dropped car off at 8am, had it back by 5pm.

Very good point above in red font. Maybe 8 hrs is extremely quick, but, the 20 or so quoted seems too much

[duder13]

Originally Posted by duder13

Hi. I took my car to my local Indy with the following suspension parts to install, and they quoted me $2500, which surprised me a little. Being someone who's unaware of the time it takes to do this kind of work, I'm not sure what this should cost. Does it seem in line? Thanks!

- Bilstein B12 (and all the new auxiliary parts that go with it, like shock mounts)
- M3 front control arms
- M3 front sway
- rear toe arms
- rear subframe bushings (two-piece Whiteline)
- Dinan camber plates
- brake fluid flush
- alignment

Just to add an update, my local shop agreed to do it for $2k, so I went ahead and pulled the trigger. I’ve only had the mods one day, but the difference sure seems dramatic.