sparkplug change 400$ according to average shop I think I paid 50$

belt change 160$ average shop...me 25$

bought new wheels and tires already mounted 80$ for shop to swap me nothing lol

What have you saved?

 

Nice idea for members to chime in on how having the proper tools and a little know how or support car club can save you hundreds on modifying your car! I personally have saved myself and my local club thousands on suspension/intake/exhaust installs!

 

No idea but it's got to be pretty high, I don't trust anyone else. I work on my own cars and never keep track. Only time I pay for labor is when it's required, like CA smog or dyno tunes.

 

Fluids (Oil, Diff, manual trans, brake, clutch) Cumulatively, probably the most savings from all my DIY stuff.

Springs and Shocks: Don't know what a shop would charge for it. -Never asked.

Front A-arms (paid for alignment afterwards though): Don't know.

Sway bars: Don't know

Sound system: ~$300-$500 worth of labor

Integrated radar detector: $150 labor

Spark plugs: Don't know, but hundreds mentioned in OP.

Mount and balance my own tires, multiple times per year. (My autocross club has the needed equipment)

May think of more.

I'm really not that mechanically inclined, but I didn't realize how much stuff I don't even bother getting quotes for.

 

Thousands and thousands..

3 motors
2 tranny
3 lsd's
2 turbo kits
everything else along the way

 

install turbo kit $2500

install oil cooler $200

install big brake kit $850

Install new suspension $600

Install new intake manifold and spacer $250

Install sway bars $180

Install gauges in cubby hole $200

Install methanol injection $300

Install new exhaust $280

Wrap all hot piping with titanium heat wrap $700 have to remove turbo kit

Cover all cold side piping with reflect-a-gold $350

Flare fenders $150

Install SPL toe ares, upper control arms, camber arms, eccentric bolts $1000

Install Cusco Diff $850

Paint inside of headlights $250

install lip $150

install new air compressor, condenser, dryer, expansion valve $1000

$9810 you can imagine the amount of tools that I have to accomplish all of this on my own

Its nice knowing that I own the tools to perform tasks if I ever have to do it again. For instance, if i were to have someone roll/flare the fenders I wouldn't own a fender rolling tool. Its also nice installing things yourself because you know in your mind exactly where wire/bolts are located, so if you ever have to remove it, it will be much easier.

this is the finished product so far.

 

Countless cash, and I save others a lot of money working on cars out of my garage.

 

A lot. Bodykit, bbk, audio system, oil changes and more. Most recent is remote start install in 3 vehicles.

 

The only labor I've paid for in about 15 years is some paint work and a couple sets of tires. I used to do body work, but I'm not equipped for it at home. Now a days I even have access to a tire machine and balancer, so there's pretty much nothing I can't handle myself.
I can't even remember the last time I had a quote for some work.

 

Myself,I've saved ??countless $$ by doing minor stuff/I have the proper tools
to handle.I'll leave the big stuff(if I have )like tranny changes,engines to a shop
that KNOWS how to do and has the racks&tools.Got to say,in the 90 odd vehicles
I've owned,due to proper care(?),I've had only two problems like engines&trannies.
That was many decades ago when I first started driving.I do bodywork,paint,interior
and design myself.The list is too long to write.I figured just the labor would be over 20k.

Anyone note that the comments thus far have been from guys that are Z or
car veterans?Don't see many or any newbees chiming in from the guys that
"don't have time to search",ask lame questions.Pat yourselves on the back.
Not many of you left...

 

I changed all my fluids and changed my brake pads. I know at the dealer they would charge about 115 just for the full synthetic oil change alone (also includes inspection) but I'm not sure how much they would charge to change the differential fluid, transmission oil etc. I'm going to guesstimate I saved about $500 if i went to the dealer maybe $300 if I went to a shop. BTW, I'm not a veteran member. I was intimidated on working on the Z after coming from a 95 Toyota Camry but I started small and did one small thing at a time. Now I do the same to my E92 which I probably saved into the thousands because it's German.

 

Great feedback guys... sometimes I think im in the wrong job... hell if a couple of people could open a small *** garage and do even basics (oil change, tire change, belt change, fluid change) the amount of labor charged alone would be a killing even if you charged 10% less then a competitor you would have a huge clientel...

 

The real money is in the resale of parts, not labor.

 

I change all my fluids, replaced my coolant hoses because one had a slow leak, replaced my thermostat, put my intake, plenum spacer and test pipes on myself, I'm about to replace a knock sensor sub harness in a hour or two.. And I'm not an original member. Just not willing to pay a shop to do something I can do better. No one cares about what isn't theirs.

 

Thousands for me. Just in audio alone probably 1000.00. Before I did my own springs a local shop wanted 600.00 for an install. My BBK would have been over 250.00. Exhaust...125.00. Some carbon fiber wrapping...?? Not sure never got a quote, not cheap I'm sure.