ok, i got quoted from audi dealership today for springs/struts/all 8 control arms...
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ok, i got quoted from audi dealership today for springs/struts/all 8 control arms...
ouch. that's all i gotta say...OUCH. ~$840 for labor. that is with an alignment though. last week I got quoted by an independent shop to do the same job, he said about $530, NOT including an alignment, which I'd have to have done at a local suspension place for about $100. So...
Independent shop + alignment...$630
Audi Dealership w/ alignment...$840
what should I do? I am initially leaning towards Audi dealer due to my hesitation to have an independent mechanic working on my car. I've been worried about it and told myself that if it was similar priced to have audi do it, i'd take it to dealer. i personally think $200 is worth the piece of mind, but am I being too picky? The local shop ONLY works on german makes (benz, bmw, audi, vw) but still, are they sufficient? orginal thread from last week...<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/1654399.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/1654399.phtml</a</li></ul>
Independent shop + alignment...$630
Audi Dealership w/ alignment...$840
what should I do? I am initially leaning towards Audi dealer due to my hesitation to have an independent mechanic working on my car. I've been worried about it and told myself that if it was similar priced to have audi do it, i'd take it to dealer. i personally think $200 is worth the piece of mind, but am I being too picky? The local shop ONLY works on german makes (benz, bmw, audi, vw) but still, are they sufficient? orginal thread from last week...<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/1654399.phtml">https://forums.audiworld.com/a4/msgs/1654399.phtml</a</li></ul>
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I've been calling around for control arm quotes:
Seems like most of the independent shops specializing in European cars are all too familiar with the A4 Control arms. Find a shop that keeps the parts in stocks, that would be a good indication that your car won't be the first one they've replaced control arms on.
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i actually purchased a 'kit' from shokan for 465. cheapest i've seen so far...
i'm just going for the labor now. i originally asked the local guy how much for just the aftermarkt springs/struts...and they gave a price. then i told him i wanted the arms installed at the same time he told me the shop doesn't like installing customer's parts because they can't make enough money on labor alone. i told him i had already purchased the arms, and with that said, he conceded that if they were already going to be installing the springs/struts (which is something he couldn't order if he wanted to) he might as well do the arms as well (which i already ordered).
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At the shop I work at
we do european only cars.. and all the mechs know the A4 issue very well.. any place that does audis should know it and know how to do the work pretty well.
also- doing it on jackstands is not all that difficult.. I did one control arm last week, and might do a few more this week, in a very crowded garage with jackstands.. (I am not a mech. at the place I work.. so I haven't bothered to borrow a lift yet...)
also- doing it on jackstands is not all that difficult.. I did one control arm last week, and might do a few more this week, in a very crowded garage with jackstands.. (I am not a mech. at the place I work.. so I haven't bothered to borrow a lift yet...)
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