How do these prices sound to you?

2000 bmw 323i

PARTS
Fan clutch $300
Water Pump $99
Belt $50

LABOR
2 1/2 HRS $230


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Prices seem high - the mark-up must be enormous, unless they are getting parts from the dealer. The OEM fan clutch and OEM belt are less than half your listed prices on Pelican Parts. And Pelican has two good WPs (Graf or Saleri) for $44 to $55.

The labor rate of $92.00 per hour is about average for a good indy garage. See if they will let you bring your own parts and start shopping around on the sites recommended on this board.

Very high prices. It's standard for a shop to mark up parts by 30% but not by 100%. Every part you have listed you can find for half price online and auto part stores.

And, at least in my area, labor is usually 60 an hour.

Originally Posted by halltristan

Very high prices. It's standard for a shop to mark up parts by 30% but not by 100%. Every part you have listed you can find for half price online and auto part stores.

And, at least in my area, labor is usually 60 an hour.

Wow that's awesome labor charges. Here in cali my good price is $85 an hour. If I didn't know the owner of the shop it would be $115. And at my Masi shop it's $135 an hour.

I knew I smelled a pig , smh. Thanks guys.

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$95 is the going labor rate in so-cal. But it's not so much the rate to me as it is the time quoted. Don't think that job should take 2.5 hrs.

Ohhh that must me the gold plated fan clutch and carbon fiber belt. Very nice peices

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Make sure that the fan clutch they install is OEM. I had mine replaced last year on my 323 with an aftermarket one that was "up to spec" according to the manufacturer of the part and the distributer of the shop that I went to. The clutch allowed for wobble and resulted in flying fan blades that took out my expansion tank, radiator, hood, and obviously obliterated the fan at the cost of about $1k to fix. just a lil heads up.

Ok...now Im nervous about ordering my own parts.

Can someone point me to the correct parts? I see on pelican parts that they have two types of water pumps, one with a metal impeller and another with 'composite' impeller ..what does this mean...and which is the best for my vehicle?

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Order from here, and call Max if you have any questions. He is a site sponsor, has great prices, and offers free shipping on orders over $45. Many here use him.

http://www.oembimmerparts.com/BMW_E4...rts_s/1863.htm

Other than the fan clutch, that quote is on the more reasonable side of BMW quotes. The labor rate is about right, time is correct. The problem I see is that the shop is quoting a water pump and no other cooling system components. Typically with E46 if the water pump has failed, chances are the tank, hoses and t-stat are about toast too. This shop doesn't sound like a BMW specialty shop, and their labor rate backs that assumption.

My advice would be to take it to a good local Bimmer shop and get another diagnosis there. And to comment on something mentioned above, I do not recommend you try to bring your own parts. That's like bringing your own steak to a restaurant. Most shops will be insulted, just so you know.

Originally Posted by jhurless

The problem I see is that the shop is quoting a water pump and no other cooling system components. Typically with E46 if the water pump has failed, chances are the tank, hoses and t-stat are about toast too. This shop doesn't sound like a BMW specialty shop, and their labor rate backs that assumption.

My advice would be to take it to a good local Bimmer shop and get another diagnosis there. And to comment on something mentioned above, I do not recommend you try to bring your own parts. That's like bringing your own steak to a restaurant. Most shops will be insulted, just so you know.

I hate to disagree, but I'm going to. I think most mechanics won't do a complete overhaul due to one part failing, unless the customer specifically asks for it. The "DIY" way of doing things is that we'd might as well just do it while we're there. Most mechanics don't do it this way -- they just fix the part that's broken.

Also, my indy has no problem with BYOP (bring your own parts) so long as they're reputable.

Clutch costs $90 for Sachs which is OEM

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...2@Fan%20Clutch

Pump is $55 OEM Saleri

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...8@Water%20Pump


Belts cost $27 for both

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...20Drive%20Belt


Total is $172 for parts.



Belts and clutch you can DIY with very simple tools.

M k
K

Originally Posted by Coochie_Bandit

M k
K

? huh

There's two belts?

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Originally Posted by dredreson

There's two belts?

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Sorry, that was rude.

You have a longer main accessory belt that runs your water pump, power steering, alternator, etc., and a belt that sits in front of that which powers your A/C compressor.



With an e-50 torx or big hex socket and breaker bar, takes a few seconds to change (once the fan is out of the way).

Lol...I can admit that I don't know **** about cars. I can do your Calculus, Physics and Organic Chemistry homework though.

My mechanic claims that my failed fan clutch caused my belt to break. Is this possible?

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Originally Posted by dredreson

Lol...I can admit that I don't know **** about cars. I can do your Calculus, Physics and Organic Chemistry homework though.

My mechanic claims that my failed fan clutch caused my belt to break. Is this possible?

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It is possible. Where in South Jersey are you? If you are far enough South I may be able to recommend someone.

Originally Posted by Scottji

I hate to disagree, but I'm going to. I think most mechanics won't do a complete overhaul due to one part failing, unless the customer specifically asks for it. The "DIY" way of doing things is that we'd might as well just do it while we're there. Most mechanics don't do it this way -- they just fix the part that's broken.

Also, my indy has no problem with BYOP (bring your own parts) so long as they're reputable.

Which is why I suggested a specialty shop, because they would know that E46 BMWs require a cooling system upgrade around 100k miles consisting of the tank, hoses, water pump and tstat. Otherwise you fix one part and come back two weeks later to fix another.

Cherry Hill area.

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Originally Posted by dredreson

Cherry Hill area.

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Too far for you to travel unfortunately. I am in the Stone Harbor, Avalon area. Unless you want to take a road trip.

Originally Posted by dredreson

Lol...I can admit that I don't know **** about cars. I can do your Calculus, Physics and Organic Chemistry homework though.

My mechanic claims that my failed fan clutch caused my belt to break. Is this possible?

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It is unlikely that it was the fan clutch. If your water pump seized, it would cause the belt to rub against a non-rotating pulley and burn up. If the water pump bearing blew out, it could cause the pulley to throw the belt. While it is possible the fan clutch is bad, that is not the most likely cause of your problem.

Originally Posted by Solidjake

Clutch costs $90 for Sachs which is OEM

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...2@Fan%20Clutch

Pump is $55 OEM Saleri

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...8@Water%20Pump


Belts cost $27 for both

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...20Drive%20Belt


Total is $172 for parts.



Belts and clutch you can DIY with very simple tools.

Parts took forever to come in from autohausAZ.com, I should have had it expedited. Sheesh. I'm taking the parts to my mechanic on Monday, I hope this guy doesn't try to say that the parts are wrong.

2000 BMW 323i, these are definitely the correct parts, right?