Am I about to get raped by the mechanic?
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From: Ohio
Am I about to get raped by the mechanic?
Hello fellow 350z owners. Early this week i took my car to a mechanic very close to my work. Originally I took it to get bearings replaced because I knew for sure there were issues with at least 1 in the back and also I hit my rim against the curb sliding into it a while back which led to a noise in the front that wheel bearings give off. So I knew I needed at least 2 wheel bearings replaced.
I get a call from the mechanic and he tells me that I do need 1 bearing in the back and that it will be $440. I get kind of thrown off by this because I was expecting it to be around $300. I ask him how much the parts are and how much he charges for labor. He replies with $120 for rear wheel bearing (purchased from dealer) and $84/hour labor (I was surprised by the labor since its only a small 2 man garage). Bearings cost around $90 from what I have seen and even at $120 for it and $84/hour of labor, it would me that he spent 3.8 hours on one rear bearing which is more than it should from what I heard and correct me if I'm wrong.
He also tells me I do in fact need a bearing in the front where I hit my rim and also new Pads and rotors in the front (I needed new brakes in the front for a while now) I ask him how much the parts are and he tells me $250. So I agreed to have it all done.
I get a call the next day and he tells me that he is finished and it all comes to a total of $1040. All I tell him after hearing this is I wasn't expecting it to be so much and let me get some money together and I will get back to you.
My first reaction was that for:
-1 rear bearing
-1 front bearing
-2 front pads and rotors
$1040 was not reasonable at all.
I looked some parts up, checked out how much local shops charge for labor (many ~$60), and used AutoMD to check how many hours it takes for jobs. It still didn't come to anything like that. Also I don't know how accurate autoMD is, so I'm asking you guys. What do you all think about this?
I need to start doing work on my own car like many of you wise men do over here
.
I get a call from the mechanic and he tells me that I do need 1 bearing in the back and that it will be $440. I get kind of thrown off by this because I was expecting it to be around $300. I ask him how much the parts are and how much he charges for labor. He replies with $120 for rear wheel bearing (purchased from dealer) and $84/hour labor (I was surprised by the labor since its only a small 2 man garage). Bearings cost around $90 from what I have seen and even at $120 for it and $84/hour of labor, it would me that he spent 3.8 hours on one rear bearing which is more than it should from what I heard and correct me if I'm wrong.
He also tells me I do in fact need a bearing in the front where I hit my rim and also new Pads and rotors in the front (I needed new brakes in the front for a while now) I ask him how much the parts are and he tells me $250. So I agreed to have it all done.
I get a call the next day and he tells me that he is finished and it all comes to a total of $1040. All I tell him after hearing this is I wasn't expecting it to be so much and let me get some money together and I will get back to you.
My first reaction was that for:
-1 rear bearing
-1 front bearing
-2 front pads and rotors
$1040 was not reasonable at all.
I looked some parts up, checked out how much local shops charge for labor (many ~$60), and used AutoMD to check how many hours it takes for jobs. It still didn't come to anything like that. Also I don't know how accurate autoMD is, so I'm asking you guys. What do you all think about this?
I need to start doing work on my own car like many of you wise men do over here
.
Last edited by Yura; Dec 16, 2012 at 06:48 AM.
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From: Ohio
So I'm guessing I am getting ripped off big time.. is that what you are saying?
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I guess I should ask you a better question. How much do you think this should all have cost?
and yea $84 is absurd.. especially when you have a 2 man shop with no other overhead... absolutely ridiculous.
Last edited by Yura; Dec 16, 2012 at 01:34 AM.
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From: Tampa, FL
Rub elbows with someone who knows how to do it and start learning this stuff to save yourself some coin. A brake pad / rotor replacement is one of the easiest; once you do one, you'll kick yourself for ever having paid someone to do it.
Of course, we all have limits. I know when to farm work out to a pro, and I know what to tackle myself. Furthermore, you'll be a more educated consumer and less subject to getting hustled the more you learn.
One factor a lot of folks don't take into consideration when taking their car to a mechanic is time, not the actual hours to get the job done by the book, but the fact that you want your car fixed by a certain time or date. I'm doing some work on a car for a family member, and it's understood that I'm getting to it here and there, between other stuff. That person knows that if they wanted it done pronto, they'd have to take it to a pro and pay accordingly.
Try some of this out. You'll find it satisfying to drive something you've fixed yourself.
Of course, we all have limits. I know when to farm work out to a pro, and I know what to tackle myself. Furthermore, you'll be a more educated consumer and less subject to getting hustled the more you learn.
One factor a lot of folks don't take into consideration when taking their car to a mechanic is time, not the actual hours to get the job done by the book, but the fact that you want your car fixed by a certain time or date. I'm doing some work on a car for a family member, and it's understood that I'm getting to it here and there, between other stuff. That person knows that if they wanted it done pronto, they'd have to take it to a pro and pay accordingly.
Try some of this out. You'll find it satisfying to drive something you've fixed yourself.
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FEZZZZZZ
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 807
Likes: 4
From: Dallas, TX
I don't know what to tell you man. I buy all my parts on slickdeals and source out my own labor. I get parts from rock auto, advanced auto parts, auto parts warehouse, sewell infiniti, courtesy nissan, OC infiniti and couple other places. I have forum member / mod ACIDJAKE75 help me with any major repairs like clutch and oem engine swap. Minor things like brakes, shocks, belts, springs and crap I can do on my own. For garage type mechanics with no shop I would go with $40-$50 an hour tops. I prefer to bid it by the job and not hours. Plenty of mechanics who are doing work on the side with no overhead. If you are going to a shop than you pony up. I prefer to work on my own car or a forum enthusiast who has worked on all of dfw's 350z/g35.
shop parts on
www.rockauto.com
www.autopartswarehouse.com
www.advancedautoparts.com
http://courtesyparts.com/
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...s-on-sale.html
shop parts on
www.rockauto.com
www.autopartswarehouse.com
www.advancedautoparts.com
http://courtesyparts.com/
https://my350z.com/forum/2003-2009-n...s-on-sale.html
Last edited by faiz23; Dec 16, 2012 at 01:50 AM.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 21
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From: Ohio
Rub elbows with someone who knows how to do it and start learning this stuff to save yourself some coin. A brake pad / rotor replacement is one of the easiest; once you do one, you'll kick yourself for ever having paid someone to do it.
Of course, we all have limits. I know when to farm work out to a pro, and I know what to tackle myself. Furthermore, you'll be a more educated consumer and less subject to getting hustled the more you learn.
One factor a lot of folks don't take into consideration when taking their car to a mechanic is time, not the actual hours to get the job done by the book, but the fact that you want your car fixed by a certain time or date. I'm doing some work on a car for a family member, and it's understood that I'm getting to it here and there, between other stuff. That person knows that if they wanted it done pronto, they'd have to take it to a pro and pay accordingly.
Try some of this out. You'll find it satisfying to drive something you've fixed yourself.
Of course, we all have limits. I know when to farm work out to a pro, and I know what to tackle myself. Furthermore, you'll be a more educated consumer and less subject to getting hustled the more you learn.
One factor a lot of folks don't take into consideration when taking their car to a mechanic is time, not the actual hours to get the job done by the book, but the fact that you want your car fixed by a certain time or date. I'm doing some work on a car for a family member, and it's understood that I'm getting to it here and there, between other stuff. That person knows that if they wanted it done pronto, they'd have to take it to a pro and pay accordingly.
Try some of this out. You'll find it satisfying to drive something you've fixed yourself.
Last edited by Yura; Dec 16, 2012 at 01:54 AM.
definitely overpaying, should be more in the rang of ~$700 with the parts and labor.
+1 with everyone, turn your own wrench. Really all you needed was the wheel bearing, the front brakes are cake.
+1 with everyone, turn your own wrench. Really all you needed was the wheel bearing, the front brakes are cake.
Thread Starter
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From: Ohio
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Ohio
and by the way, I only found out about the total price after everything was done... but it's my fault for not asking for estimate for everything.
Thread Starter
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From: Ohio
If I wasn't in such a bad financial situation that I am at the moment, I wouldn't be as worried about it as I may sound now.
But again, you guys are right, should just do it myself especially if you can't really afford it.
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From: Wisconsin
$84/hr is average around here. We range from $60/hr for a small shop(someone doing out of their garage) to $120/hr for dealers.
and mark up on parts shops purchase ranges from 20-100%(meaning $20
pads could cost $40 from them)
the rear wheel bearings on our cars can be labor intensive(need to pull alot of parts of and requires a press) so the price is about right for that.
was the price for parts up from just $120 for pads/rotors or also a wheel bearing?
like someone said before, you're not getting ripped off, just paying full retail. I would use some barter skills and go talk to the guy nicely, not demanding stuff, and ask him if you can help on the price at all. If you are a better customer of his and in good standing with him, it would be stupid for him not to throw you a bone on all this work.
never hurts to ask for a discount, but don't be a dick yourself, people tend to help people when they're nice about it
and mark up on parts shops purchase ranges from 20-100%(meaning $20
pads could cost $40 from them)
the rear wheel bearings on our cars can be labor intensive(need to pull alot of parts of and requires a press) so the price is about right for that.
was the price for parts up from just $120 for pads/rotors or also a wheel bearing?
like someone said before, you're not getting ripped off, just paying full retail. I would use some barter skills and go talk to the guy nicely, not demanding stuff, and ask him if you can help on the price at all. If you are a better customer of his and in good standing with him, it would be stupid for him not to throw you a bone on all this work.
never hurts to ask for a discount, but don't be a dick yourself, people tend to help people when they're nice about it