$610 to replace thermostat & water pump, Fair?

[CPUken]

Just wanted to run these numbers past our experts here to see if that price seems reasonable. This is from an Indy shop in my area.
Don't know for sure if that is my problem but I wanted some numbers just in case it was. I asked for estimate on water pump but they said if it has been in the red, they like to replace the thermostat at the same time too.
thanks
Ken

[Eurodavid]

and/or all gaskets? Sounds fair to me, I mean the water pump and thermostat won't cost him more than a $120-$140, you're looking at 2 to 2 1/2 hrs labor replacing them, plus his small premises profit afterwards. As long as it includes every stinking thing (including after-service care if something goes wrong with them in the first year), then I'd say "go for it". Especially in the dead of winter. In the summer, I'd be inclined to tell you that you could easily do them yourself given everyone's help here.

Eurodavid

[CPUken]

Thanks for the reply...
I guess I'll have it towed into their shop today.
As far as me doing the repair, I would mess up the job of changing floor mats! Actually I would assist in the job if someone from this board lived here in Indianapolis and wanted to head up the job but I don't think there is such a person.
thanks again.
Ken

[Bimmer5Michael]

1 year ago my son had an emergency stop in Knoxville and he got a BMW indy to install a metal impeller water pump, IBM coolant, new thermostat for 280.00 out the door! His was a 328i

Water pumps cost between 50.00 and 350.00 depending on where you get it, thermostats are 20.00 to 35.00 plus o ring. It takes about an hr and a half to two hrs to remove and install on the side of the road...I've done it.

Most indies

So lets say a pump is 130.00
o ring and thermostat 35.00
2 hrs of labor at 120.00 each 240.00
Coolant 20.00
Total 425.00

So yeah 600 plus is too much unless you live in some very expensive area. Of course the above prices can vary widely depending on location, parts used, and shop labor. You should be able to do it yourself for under 200.00

Michael
00 540 sport 6 speed Michael - Chattanooga Tennessee
BMWCCA 65795

00 540 Sport / 6 speed, SaharaBeige Metallic / SamanaBeige II Montanna Leather, 35% tint, Xenons, DSP, CD Changer, Auto dimming rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers, fold down rear seat, Style 32 staggard wheels, Hankook Ventus V4 ES 245/45/WR17/95W Fronts and 275/40/WR17/98W Rears. 152,900 Smiles and climbing!

08 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 C Anniversary Edition Number 0064/3200 Copper and Vivid Black (FOR SALE)
16,800 miles

2006 GMC Sierra SLT all options

1988 GMC Safari 400,000 miles plus and still going

Other BMWs hanging around usually needing attention
06 E90 330i sport pkg +all options
98 E36 328i 5 speed Sport/Premium PKG
00 e46 323ia Premium Pkg
04 X3 sport/premium 3.0 six speed (back again)

[Eurodavid]

Michael,

Your numbers are ok, but what you're forgetting (and what took me a long time to understand until others discussed it on here over the years) was that each indie has their premise(s) to factor into the equation. Most indies will be renting the property (especially if it is a good location), unless they have a license to do it at their home location (or they just sort of ignore the law by doing client repairs at their home and not claiming it and/or mentioning it---no names mentioned here on RF, HAHA!).

Anyhow, the point is that most indies are going to charge automatically for a premises fee, which will ratchet up in lockstep as the cost of the repair ratchets up. Essentially, cpuKEN will be paying the guy around +/- $150-$200 to be able to use this indie's premises, which is fairly normal on a +$500 job. I'd bet on a $1000 or more job, the premises fee in the indie's mind would go to $$250-300 or something like that.


That said, I'm still with you completely about the DIY. With all of us here, and the number of writeups with detailed pics, I think Ken underestimates his ability to repair this himself, also missing out on having the satisfaction of doing it as good as anyone not to mention saving 4 or more Ben Franklins in the process.

Eurodavid

[Bimmer5Michael]

to do this very thing. The biggest obsticle was that the waterpump bearing had failed so bad thet the fan wobbled all ofer the place.

Being a huge proponant of being smarter than your tools and being smarter than the job you are working on, I showed (I did not do the work for him)him how to hold the wobbly shaft while getting the right handed viscous clutch nut loose. Then I stood there coaching him the entire way through the removal and installation of all the parts.

Because it was a teaching and learning session it took 3.5 hrs to complete even with the problem and a complete novice doing the work (this guy is a banker)

Total cost including coolant was 175.00, 3.5 hrs of time and someone who now knows how to do this job and effortlessly add coolant with no purging problems.

Some folks figure their importance and their time very high and are willing to pay accordingly.

I rather enjoy working on a car that I dont have to have running at a certain time even though many times I have been under the gun, sometimes on the side of the road which is not particularily fun or relaxing.

Truth is that most of the normal things that go wrong are repairable by most of us with a few simple tools and a little help (advice).

And according to the job mentioned he would be getting a 200.00 premisis fee on top of the 240.00 labor charge. Most mechanics would get approximately 40.00 to 60.00 of that 240.00 labor fee so again. 140.00 more would go to the garage in income, meaning around 340.00 profit for a 200.00 in parts and 1.5 hr labor job. Bet they would like to pack them in all day at that price!!!


They dont do that around here as far as I know because they would all be soon out of business. Michael - Chattanooga Tennessee
BMWCCA 65795

00 540 Sport / 6 speed, SaharaBeige Metallic / SamanaBeige II Montanna Leather, 35% tint, Xenons, DSP, CD Changer, Auto dimming rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers, fold down rear seat, Style 32 staggard wheels, Hankook Ventus V4 ES 245/45/WR17/95W Fronts and 275/40/WR17/98W Rears. 152,900 Smiles and climbing!

08 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 C Anniversary Edition Number 0064/3200 Copper and Vivid Black (FOR SALE)
16,800 miles

2006 GMC Sierra SLT all options

1988 GMC Safari 400,000 miles plus and still going

Other BMWs hanging around usually needing attention
06 E90 330i sport pkg +all options
98 E36 328i 5 speed Sport/Premium PKG
00 e46 323ia Premium Pkg
04 X3 sport/premium 3.0 six speed (back again)

[CPUken]

That sounds great... I'd even try some repair jobs with a knowledgeable person at my side but there are few I'd attempt otherwise. It only takes one step that you Think you understand to mess something up and ruin my day! Things under the hood or body panels, etc. Not me, not without help. Things that are more like a computer... maybe I can try those (FSU... I did that, once I was able to locate the booger).
Ken

[Whorse]

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 (project for life)
00 540is 6spd (daily driver)

[cmbg]

[PeterBivo]

& housing. Thermostat started sticking a bit (temp needle woundn't get to 12 o'clock) , so before it gets to near 0F next week, I was able to get in & get it done:)

[Hitdog40]

anyway so really only parts cost. How many miles and have you done the VP gasket?

'03 540i/6
Sterling Gray/Black
CDV Delete c/o JimLev
BMWCCA Member - Boston Chapter

[540nj]

Got to be some kind of record.

dave
03 540i6

[sktn77a]

That's about the going rate at the dealership. Too high for an indie.

Keith
2001 530i 5sp

[PeterBivo]

thermostat because it was sticking a bit. 191K on radiator & water pump. This is the 2nd thermostat I've had installed. Now it runs perfect and mileage is about 2mpg better w/the new thermo:))

BTW 1998 528i