cost question

[Jim Spence]

How much can I expect my local European car mechanic to charge me to replace my front and rear control arm bushings?

I realize that this is an ambiguous question, but I'd love a ball park figure from some of the experts here. I got my new tires installed today and I wanted the shop to do a front end alignment, but they told me the bushings were bad.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

[MrAbbs325is]

Its not a hard job to do if your half way mechanically inclined. I dont know what it would cost, but its kind of time consuming so my guess is a lot. Depending on what they charge an hour, it would probably take a few hours (3-5). So I guess do the math with what they charge an hour. I might be wrong so dont rely on it.

[E36 Phantom]

Ask your pinstripes. :AF330i:

[bimmerblack]

I am curious about this two, as this is coming up soon. Mine look like they've seen better days....

[MrAbbs325is]

Ask your pinstripes. :AF330i:

LOL, Well dont ya know they know everything, including on how to give your Bimmer another 20-30 HP. Sh*t add a sticker or 2 and you will smoke an M6

[mksu19]

...I got my new tires installed today and I wanted the shop to do a front end alignment, but they told me the bushings were bad.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Tyre shops usually tells you that you need something-a-rather (and it's annoying! :mad:) just to up the labour cost and for them to make mucho bucks from you. I suggest getting an opinion from a qualified Bimmer tech first before you jump the gun and start buying stuff you don't need (yet).

[E36 Phantom]

something-a-rather

What the hell is that supposed to be?


Do you mean "something or other"???

[mksu19]

What the hell is that supposed to be?


Do you mean "something or other"???

No, I meant something-a-rather! :D An old Canuck saying! You wouldn't understand, you're from the land of fogs/fags! ;)

[E36 Phantom]

No, I meant something-a-rather! :D An old Canuck saying! You wouldn't understand, you're from the land of fogs/fags! ;)

:confused:

What the hell does it mean, then?

And what's wrong with that, anyway?

[MrAbbs325is]

Fogs and fags? When I went to through Windsor and Montreal it was filled with crazy ass canucks (that literally threw themselves on the ground in the street) and a ton of fags. They are f'in crazy over there. I got a ton of canucks here in Michigan, they are cool but also quite weird and like America more. Sh*t Minnesota might as well be Canada because they all act the same way.

[mksu19]

:confused:

What the hell does it mean, then?

And what's wrong with that, anyway?

:p It means whatever it means!

Fogs I don't like, Fags I know a lot! Most of my bestfriends are flaming fags!

[mksu19]

...they are cool but also quite weird and like America more. Sh*t Minnesota might as well be Canada because they all act the same way.

Quite honestly, I don't know why my hubby chose to move back here. He wishes we were back in LA whenever it gets extremely cold! :dunno:

[MrAbbs325is]

Did he live in Canada or did you? Because if you originally lived in Canuck then HE MOVED BACK THERE FOR YOU!!! Women always get their way. We are always wrong and its never the lady's fault.


Sorry for the Hijack. Needed to get that out all day. I was about to walk down the stairs this morning at the Lady's place and wasnt paying attention and she sat her Backpack as well as 3 pairs of shoes on the second step, I stepped on them and fell down the stairs and twisted my damn knee. She blamed it on me because I didnt pick the stuff up and take it down the stairs, continued to bitch at me about not taking out the trash (Im still laying on the stairs in pain by the way)

[MrAbbs325is]

What are Fog's????

[E36 Phantom]

Fogs I don't like

What the hell is wrong with you?!?!?!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/1273929104_6e0d47fe21.jpg?v=0

http://c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000BYeWL.8iILQ/s/550

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2002/10/09/fogbridge-8oct02_frl.jpg

http://www.danheller.com/images/California/Marin/Fog/skyline-drive-fog-pano-big.jpg

http://www.pcimagenetwork.com/light1/p7.jpg

http://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog_images/111307_sf_beneath_fog_520c.jpg

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2002/10/05/fogbridge-towerlight2002_frl.jpg




Damn I miss San Francisco........ :cry:

:bawling:

[MrAbbs325is]

I thought it had some Canuck urban dictionary meaning... Fog on the mighty Mackinaw is pretty sweet

[mksu19]

Did he live in Canada or did you? Because if you originally lived in Canuck then HE MOVED BACK THERE FOR YOU!!! Women always get their way. We are always wrong and its never the lady's fault.

Sorry for the Hijack. Needed to get that out all day. I was about to walk down the stairs this morning at the Lady's place and wasnt paying attention and she sat her Backpack as well as 3 pairs of shoes on the second step, I stepped on them and fell down the stairs and twisted my damn knee. She blamed it on me because I didnt pick the stuff up and take it down the stairs, continued to bitch at me about not taking out the trash (Im still laying on the stairs in pain by the way)

He lived in Vancouver before, I have never been here till we moved here. I wanted to move to some tropical paradise but I NEVER GOT MY WAY!!! ;)

What the hell is wrong with you?!?!?!...

...Damn I miss San Francisco........ :cry:

:bawling:

Nothing's wrong, I grew up in Manila/Hawaii. :thumbup: We never had fog in either islands (except for up in the mountain regions) and the weather was (pretty) consistent throughout the year. Hot or slightly hotter! But see, when fog is presented that way (all artsy fartsy and nice), I like it. But when I have to drive through it (which I did a lot of this past winter), I hate it! It creeps me out for some reason. :dunno:

I thought it had some Canuck urban dictionary meaning... Fog on the mighty Mackinaw is pretty sweet

I've never been elsewhere but the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley in BC. I guess people might find fog pretty but like I said, it creeps me out! I guess it's because of the movie "The Fog" or something.

[E36 Phantom]

Nothing's wrong, I grew up in Manila/Hawaii. :thumbup: We never had fog in either islands (except for up in the mountain regions) and the weather was (pretty) consistent throughout the year. Hot or slightly hotter! But see, when fog is presented that way (all artsy fartsy and nice), I like it. But when I have to drive through it (which I did a lot of this past winter), I hate it! It creeps me out for some reason. :dunno:

I grew up there, so I LOVE it. So beautiful. I actually like driving in some fog. It's fun and keeps you alert. From the right places, the fog really does look just like that, those are all areas I'm quite familiar. The one of the mountain top is Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35). Love that road, and a little fog makes it very eerie and exciting!!!

[mksu19]

I grew up there, so I LOVE it...

I love "BALUT" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_(egg)) but I'm sure you won't! :D

Like I said, I love those photos of the fog but it still creeps me out! ;)

[Jim Spence]

I got on line and saw that I had 18 replies to my question, so I figured I had some good ideas.

Why am I not surprised that there were a total of three actual responses to my question, and 15 more that were better served in a chat room. There are always a couple of off topic answers in any thread (that's to be expected), but for an honest question to turn into a discussion on homosexuality and precipitation is more than a little strange.

Thanks to the people that actually did answer.

MKSU, the tire place doesn't do this type of mechanical work, so I don't think he was trying to sponge me for additional dollars. But I appreciate the thought.

I'll find out tomorrow when I take my car to my local European mechanic and he puts it on the lift. Heck, if it's not that expensive I may go ahead and have them changed anyway. I plan on keeping this car for quite awhile, so that'll be one less thing to worry about.

[Jim Spence]

Ask your pinstripes.

And touché, sir. :)

[E36 Phantom]

Why am I not surprised that there were a total of three actual responses to my question, and 15 more that were better served in a chat room. There are always a couple of off topic answers in any thread (that's to be expected), but for an honest question to turn into a discussion on homosexuality and precipitation is more than a little strange.
It's because no one can accurately answer a cost thread. I mean, you have cost of parts, and cost of labor. You can call your local dealer for the parts price, and labor costs vary widely per region and shop. Any of our opinions on what it should cost are pretty much irrelevant. We can give you a rough idea of how long it will take, but most places don't charge by how long it will take, they charge by book time. So there's no real answer to be given since most of us don't have access to that info. I would imagine you've selected a few particular shops that you want to be the only ones to work on your car, so it just seems more logical to call them than to ask a board of people from across our giant country and several more international members. Say we come to a consensus that it should be $1.99/bushing and 15 minutes of labor. If your local shops all charge $150/hr and say it's a 3 hour job, and want $40 the bushings, what we say won't matter if they all say the same thing. In the end, service is a local affair. Just MHO. :dunno:
And touché, sir. :)

:AF330i:

[Jim Spence]

Sure, Chad, it's a given that there are different rates at different dealers. But I was hoping someone could say, "It took three hours labor and $100 worth of parts." I could do the math myself. I knew that pricing would be varied, but I was just wondering if this was going to be a $200 job or a $1,200 job. Based on what I've been told on a couple of other forums, the $200 figure is much closer.

That's all I really needed.

Plus, someone is bound to have had this job done to their car, and I was hoping that this particular person would read my thread and answer. My fault for not making my thread title more specific.

I should have titled the thread:

"Anyone have any idea what it would cost to do a control arm bushing job on my car? Homosexuals and homichlophobiacs need not answer."

(And if you don't believe me, look it up ... "homichlophia" is the fear of fog.)

I apologize if my rant offended anyone, but you have to admit that my question DID bring up a change in topic that was questionable at best and offensive to some at worst.

And I ain't talking about the fog.

But also, IMHO.

Thanks, guy.

[MrAbbs325is]

I at least apologized for the Hijack

[bimmerblack]

Sure, Chad, it's a given that there are different rates at different dealers. But I was hoping someone could say, "It took three hours labor and $100 worth of parts." I could do the math myself. I knew that pricing would be varied, but I was just wondering if this was going to be a $200 job or a $1,200 job. Based on what I've been told on a couple of other forums, the $200 figure is much closer.

That's all I really needed.

Plus, someone is bound to have had this job done to their car, and I was hoping that this particular person would read my thread and answer. My fault for not making my thread title more specific.

I should have titled the thread:

"Anyone have any idea what it would cost to do a control arm bushing job on my car? Homosexuals and homichlophobiacs need not answer."

(And if you don't believe me, look it up ... "homichlophia" is the fear of fog.)

I apologize if my rant offended anyone, but you have to admit that my question DID bring up a change in topic that was questionable at best and offensive to some at worst.

And I ain't talking about the fog.

But also, IMHO.

Thanks, guy.

Thank you for this Jim. Always on point.:thumbup:

[mksu19]

it's because no one can accurately answer a cost thread. I mean, you have cost of parts, and cost of labor. You can call your local dealer for the parts price, and labor costs vary widely per region and shop. Any of our opinions on what it should cost are pretty much irrelevant. We can give you a rough idea of how long it will take, but most places don't charge by how long it will take, they charge by book time. So there's no real answer to be given since most of us don't have access to that info. I would imagine you've selected a few particular shops that you want to be the only ones to work on your car, so it just seems more logical to call them than to ask a board of people from across our giant country and several more international members. Say we come to a consensus that it should be $1.99/bushing and 15 minutes of labor. If your local shops all charge $150/hr and say it's a 3 hour job, and want $40 the bushings, what we say won't matter if they all say the same thing. In the end, service is a local affair. Just mho. :dunno:

:af330i:

+100,000,000,000.99

[E36 Phantom]

Sure, Chad, it's a given that there are different rates at different dealers. But I was hoping someone could say, "It took three hours labor and $100 worth of parts." I could do the math myself. I knew that pricing would be varied, but I was just wondering if this was going to be a $200 job or a $1,200 job. Based on what I've been told on a couple of other forums, the $200 figure is much closer.

That's all I really needed.

Plus, someone is bound to have had this job done to their car, and I was hoping that this particular person would read my thread and answer. My fault for not making my thread title more specific.

I should have titled the thread:

"Anyone have any idea what it would cost to do a control arm bushing job on my car? Homosexuals and homichlophobiacs need not answer."

(And if you don't believe me, look it up ... "homichlophia" is the fear of fog.)

I apologize if my rant offended anyone, but you have to admit that my question DID bring up a change in topic that was questionable at best and offensive to some at worst.

And I ain't talking about the fog.

But also, IMHO.

Thanks, guy.

Point taken. Wasn't trying to offend. Thanks for the new word though. :D Glad you found the answer, sorry we drug this off topic before getting you the info you wanted.


I'm not your guy, pal. :eeps:

:p

[mksu19]

...I'm not your guy, pal. :eeps:

:p

As if...!!! :confused:

[mystic.clown]

It cost me £100.00 a side for the rear bushes.. £235.00 fitted when i got mine done ....not sure about the front's but i guess about the same price???

[BombSquad91]

You're all stupid. I'm the alpha bimmer owner.