[geoff2010]

I am calling around, and pretty much everyone is telling me that to get some H&R sport springs installed on my 335i coupe will be between $400 and $600.

Could this right?

[magmd]

Man...that sucks IF that is just for the installation ALONE! Prices vary by region. Here in Cali there is alot of competition. I was able to get my H&R sport springs + installation for $400 out the door! If your quote is for springs AND installation..that could be reasonable for your region.

[geoff2010]

nope... just installation. i already have the springs.

[wj4]

That is really expensive. $200 should be MAX imo. I paid $180 on my old old car before I started installing stuff myself.

[Russellnyc]

I was quoted $350 for springs at Action Tire (terrible place) in NJ in about 2001, and that was the best I could do at the time. Considering inflation and new-car-markup-ness nowadays, closer to $450 is probably what I'd expect to pay around here.

[magmd]

Originally Posted by geoff2010

nope... just installation. i already have the springs.

See here for example of what others have said...but again, some regions just suck with installation prices.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...26R+sport+sale

[geoff2010]

UPDATE... just got one for $680 (install only - no alignment)!!! WTF is wrong with people????
UPDATE... just got one for $800 (install + alignment)!!!

[geoff2010]

UPDATE... just got one for $300 (no alignment) made an appt. guess that isn't too bad??? Seems like the best I am goign to do around here.

[uhaulball]

dont do anything just yet. us east-coasters have higher prices and ive been quoted similar prices. to make thigns worse, my school's area is upstate and is white-trashville. yet i still managed to find a place for 230$ (Midas) Try all the typical chain places, they follow a rigid price quote guide so its universal wherever theyre located. Meinekee quote me 460, Midas quote me 230, Monroe quote me 500. also, you wanna try to negotiate an alignment with the install, i had mine installed with no alignment and it has very slight vibrations above 80mph.

[AJTozzi]

I find it funny that people will spend $40k+ on a car then take their car to the cheapest place they can find to get springs (tires, tint, etc.) installed.

I understand some places are just overpriced but to just pick up the phone and call a bunch of places, get quotes, then trust your car to whomever just happened to be the cheapst is, IMHO, asking for trouble.

Just my two cents....

[HRC]

Originally Posted by AJTozzi

I find it funny that people will spend $40k+ on a car then take their car to the cheapest place they can find to get springs (tires, tint, etc.) installed.

I understand some places are just overpriced but to just pick up the phone and call a bunch of places, get quotes, then trust your car to whomever just happened to be the cheapst is, IMHO, asking for trouble.

Just my two cents....

+1

Danny

[uhaulball]

um... its not like we're asking our neighborhood mechanic to do it, i asked around all the chain places like Midas Meinekee Jiffylube Monroe and found the cheapest ruputable chain... how is that taking it to a cheap place?

[geoff2010]

We are talking about a spring install... this isn't an ECU tune!!! Pretty much any gear head could install the springs. I will have my dealer perform the alignment which is the really important step.

I am NOT about to get ripped off my some idiot who thinks he can charge me $800 for 2-3 hours of labor.

-G

[AJTozzi]

Originally Posted by uhaulball

um... its not like we're asking our neighborhood mechanic to do it, i asked around all the chain places like Midas Meinekee Jiffylube Monroe and found the cheapest ruputable chain... how is that taking it to a cheap place?

Perhaps I am biased from working at high-line shops for years but I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for. Though there is a place for the Midas', Meinekee's, etc. of the world I believe that a tuner product should be installed at a "tuner" shop. I believe that those big chain stores should stick to what they do best -- mufflers, oil changes, wiper blades, etc. That is their bread and butter and what they are trained to do. So be it, they are not equipped and/or trained to do (insert whatever mod you want to do) on high-line European vehicles.

My opinion is simply this....you (we) drive a BMW for one reason or another. If we didn't care about quality we'd all be driving Kia's and bragging about who can mod their's to be able to hit 60MPH in under a minute. If you need dental work you go to a dentist, you need pants hemmed you go to a tailor, you need your vehicle modified you go to a tuning shop.

High-end tuning shops exist for one reason and one reason only -- there is a need. Though I understand that price can (and does) play a factor in who you choose to mod your vehicle with, one thing is certain; NOBODY likes to overpay for anything! The next time you think $120/hr is too much to pay a tech, remember that people have and will continue to pay him/her that rate, hopefully for a reason. Case in point -- look at Johnny Cochran (sp?). I bet OJ Simpson believes that he is worth every penny now, huh? (FYI I heard he was billing OJ out @ approx. $750/hr!)



Again, just my two cents....

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by AJTozzi

I find it funny that people will spend $40k+ on a car then take their car to the cheapest place they can find to get springs (tires, tint, etc.) installed.

I understand some places are just overpriced but to just pick up the phone and call a bunch of places, get quotes, then trust your car to whomever just happened to be the cheapst is, IMHO, asking for trouble.

Just my two cents....

Food for thought... just remember that everytime an astronaut goes up in space, they're strapping their ass to a rocket built by the lowest bidder using parts from the cheapest suppliers.

I know what you're getting at but cheap prices do not necessarily equal cheap services. Shopping around and getting the best price isn't just a good idea, it's smart. It becomes stupid when you cross the line and use a place with the cheapest price and it's a foregone conclusion that you're going to get screwed.

[geoff2010]

I did not bring my car to a meineke or midas... The only place I was calling were "specialty" german car repair shops.. MB, BMW, Audi, Porsche etc. The guys are used to throwing out a ridiculous number and having most of their clients not bat an eye lash. I, on the other hand, was not willing to pay 600-800 to have a set of springs installed. That is absolute crap... in the same sense I wouldn't walk into a restaurant and allow them to charge me $80 for a garden salad.

I eventually found a good shop, that I got a really good vibe from. They are doing it for the reasonable flat rate of $300 (with no alignment). If anyone is looking for a good place in the Atlanta area, check out:

Formula 1 BMW Service and Collision in Smyrna.

[Evan@Creative]

Originally Posted by wj4

That is really expensive. $200 should be MAX imo. I paid $180 on my old old car before I started installing stuff myself.

We charge $175 to install springs. That does not include alignment however.

[hemi to e90]

i got charged $300 for springs/shocks by a reputable installer (which is most important) on my audi

make sure they KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING

[Louie A]

Originally Posted by geoff2010

We are talking about a spring install... this isn't an ECU tune!!! Pretty much any gear head could install the springs. I will have my dealer perform the alignment which is the really important step.

I am NOT about to get ripped off my some idiot who thinks he can charge me $800 for 2-3 hours of labor.

-G

+1
My exact thoughts. Very generic procedure that does not require the expertise of a EuroTuner mechanic. Very little value add that could be done with this install that would warrant paying EuroTuner fees.

Just my humble opinion.

[shragon]

as said, it varies by area. i say $300 max though. i paid $175 w/o alignment.

[HRC]

I have seen simple oil changes go bad...so whoever works on my car doing what I can't, must have my confidence. Generally, I feel better taking my car to higher end shops.

Danny

[NaTuReB0Y]

$350 H&R sport + installation.......