It will never happen to me.....It will never happen to me....It will... !
 

Have had my 2000 A6 4.2L for 8 months and have put 21K exciting miles on it. It now has 77K and the timing or idler roller was making noise. My faithful BMW indie who has taken care of me for over 10 years wouldn't touch it and recommended me to an indie who has a decent reputation.

His verbal quote was $1,370.00 for the work. Took the car in prior to the work to go over what he would do, TB, Waterpump, Thermostat, cam seals...

Three days later, went down to see how everything was going. The car was all apart and I was told the wrong parts were ordered. Although he saw the car before he started, he said he was told it was a A4 2.8(?) He said he would reorder the parts and have it done today(Monday).

Surprized to get the call this morning saying the car was ready...more surprized to be told the bill was $2,680.00! No warning or notice of an increase in the estimate, no nothing.

After a few heated discussions and me refusing to pay for his learning curve on the V8, he's down to $2,200. His labor seems fair at $780, but I am having a hard time paying $1,270 for parts when I can get them from ECS for $499.

The parts charge is a little less that the entire estimate when he thought it was an A4. Are the parts that much more for the A6?

Any thoughts?

Greg

from 1400 to 2700?
 

a 2.8 and 4.2 should have an insignificant difference in price

$2200 sounds about right... At least that was ballpark for my 2.7, but yeah
 

no heads-up from the mechanic is pretty ****ty.

What state are you in? CA law : must advise and get permission for extra work

About three fiddy

www.departmentofconsumeraffairs.bureauofautomotive repair.com/switch
 

Check your state's auto repair bureau site. You've got to be entitled to written estimates, notification of overages before proceeding, and return of used parts.

Re: It will never happen to me.....It will never happen to me....It will... !
 

I just had the timing belt service done on my 2000 4.2, and it was nowhere near that much. TO replace the water pump, thermostat, idler pulley, belt tensioner, serpentine belt, tensioner, roller, vac lines and coolant w/labor ran $1351.88 (one day job). Sounds like you are getting ripped off.

The original estimate of 1370 was about right for the 4.2, IMHO.
 

I suggest telling him that's what you'll pay. If it took him more than 8 hours that's his fault, and there's no way the parts should be more than $600-700.

Highway rapery.

agreed, it sounds like they're charging you for the first set of parts too

I agree with the rest. In NJ, IIRC work can only be 10-15% over an estimate.

perhaps its time to hold that shop accountable, have them explain the receipt

Way too high.. oddly enough my dealer was cheaper than the indies
 

came in at about $1450 + tax and they had it back same day.

Which dealer did your work and when?

Would that be the Denver dealer or does "milehigh" refer to afterhours activities?

2nd. That was my indy quote too. ($1250-1300).

Parts only quote from dealer was $944 back in March....
 

Went in to get thermostat replaced under warranty and asked for added cost to do belt, water pump etc.

last week..
 

Barrier Motors - Bellevue, WA

Shouldn't it be about 6 hours labor and 300 to 500 in parts? This sounds crazy.

$1000 Canadian + tax for the parts and labor at my indie for my 2001 4.2
 

They did a great job too. Eurotech on Belvia in Toronto, if anyone is interested.

UPDATE...
 

Thanks for everyones input. The range of pricing on this job is surprisingly wide.

After considerable discussion and bringing Luigi and his boys down from Kansas City, the mechanic came down from $2,680 to $1,900.

Not the best of deals but I ended up paying only $500 over the original estimate. He did the TB, Thermo, Waterpump, all rollers and tensioners, serpintine and all cam seals.

The car is like new with lots of extra pickup off the line. Maybe next time I'll schedule a trip out of town where there is a (choke) dealer.

Thanks again for your help
Greg