The automotive "OMG it costs HOW much to fix this?!" thread.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

I'll gladly pay the money so I don't have to get dirty.

[codewize]

Well this isn't quite up there with the numbers you guys are throwing out but. On my 93 Brougham a couple years back I was amazed to hear that replacing the 2 rear brake lines was a $500 - $700 job.

I don't recall exactly now what it costs but it was something in there.

I guess I was also amazed when the transmission in my DTS costs $3000+ to rebuild.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

I'll gladly pay the money so I don't have to get dirty.

Me too, especially without the time or space to do such work myself most of the time. Case in point, that service you detailed for an oil change, inspections, and wash seems WELL worth the cost to me--especially because you can just make an appointment, bing-bang-boom, and you're out with a serviced and cleaned car, with little effort.

[Night Wolf]

Ah well... must be nice to have all the extra money to get work done at the dealer so you stay clean.... Guess I don't mind getting a little dirty now and then on the car... I am a mechanic after all

[Blackout]

The stock halogen head lamps on 1st gen Mark VIII's suck so I wanted to upgraded to the HID's instead. Only problem was the setup costs over a $1000. The rubber molding around the rear window tends to bubble up and look like crap, unforunately you can't just buy the molding. You have to buy a entire rear window setup which also costs over $1000.

[gdwriter]

Originally Posted by Night Wolf

I am a mechanic after all

There's the difference. You do this for a living, so you're very comfortable doing most of the work on your car. My dad was an aircraft mechanic for the Air Force, so he did most of the work on our cars when I was a kid. I'd help him, handing wrenches, tightening or loosening parts, etc. I helped him pull and reinstall two engines he had rebuilt. I did the same with a friend who helped me with Betty when I had her engine rebuilt in 2000. But I inherited none of my Dad's skill or patience. I've learned how to do some repairs on my cars out of necessity (and have gotten very dirty in the process), but it's not something I enjoy doing.

In theory, I could change my oil myself. The biggest hassle is disposing of the old oil. I pay $36.99 for Cruella (high-mileage oil) and $29.99 for Betty at a Valvoline oil change franchise owned by the local True Value Hardware store. That's before my AAA discount, plus a coupon that's printed on the back of the local grocery store receipts. I've jokingly told them pretty soon they'll be paying me for the privilege of changing my oil. For me, it's well worth it.

[Spyder]

Some little electrical piece of crap that rarely goes out on my old 4Runner is in the neighborhood of six hundred bucks. The damn truck isn't worth but two grand...so its pretty irritating that it may be going out soon.

[danbuc]

We had a guy come in the shop the other day who had one of his Airmatic struts blow out on his '01 w220 (it was a 430). Well, he ended up needing both front struts, plus a right lower control arm and an alignment. I think the bill was around $6k if I remember correctly......VERY expensive.

The bill for my water pump housing, and front struts on my STS from two years ago when I had it fixed at the dealer (had no tools at the time and nowhere to do it) was about $2200......that just plain sucked.



These days, unless it's something I can't do in the shop or home (like replace the trans) the labor is free, and since I usually buy my parts from the same suppliers that service most shop, they're cheap too.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Oh that's right Dan, I forgot you worked at a M-B dealer. Looks like I've got someone to go to for help with mine!

[omarg]

550$ for a power door lock actuator for my ls400. 1500$ for the gauge cluster. 600$ for the tachometer needle. 300$ for 1 upper control arm.

I fixed my gauge cluster myself with some soldering. got a door lock actuator from a junk car for 20$ Thankfully my upper control arms and tach needle are good!

I still want a w140 s-class but i cant afford the maintenance. So i definitely cant afford a repair.

a 6k repair bill??? holy crap. Those w220's are crap from what i've heard. Amazing cars but unreliable. Everything breaks and is very expensive. They are damn gorgeous though. Oh the 03-06 models are stunning.

i change the oil in my LS for about $26 in Mobil One oil, 5 for a Toyota brand filter, and about 30 minutes of my time.

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by omarg

Those w220's are crap from what i've heard. Amazing cars but unreliable. Everything breaks and is very expensive.

Not what I would care to call an "amazing car."

[LS1Mike]

Originally Posted by caddycruiser

I have a basic GM one that I called on and kind of expected, but still kind of hit me.

I knew my Fleetwood probably could use new plugs & wires at a minimum, after 12 years and 125k miles (okay, I actually think the plugs have been done, from the looks, but still). Now, being a small block Chevy, it shouldn't be that difficult, but is complicated only enough to make service people not like doing it. One local shop I've gone to that fixed my A/C before, had remarked each time "Yeah, that's the LT1. Great engine, but the $1000+ tune-up because of where the distributer is and such." That was semi shock #1, but still with all new AC Delco parts included, and the labor, wasn't too extreme for a shop quote.

The next later was just the plugs & wires, where both they and the GM dealer gave a very rough quote of $600. Still haven't done it, but know the best way other owners have, so might still attempt it...I tend to let things linger, rather than just get them done, obviously.

Another was when my fuel pump went out, and because the wires were also melted going to it, they had to get a whole new sender...to the tune of $400. That first service when I bought it, just for a transmission fluid change, went from $125 to $1300 in a matter of a few hours...but, it took care of a few things, that'll now be good for as long as I have it, likely.

Still, that's chump change compared to a lot of import bills.

Case in point? They RARELY ever go out (I always wonder why this is a common issue on SO many import vehicles), but MAF sensors for my LT1 are cheap and easy to find. Used and miled up MB's, BMW's, Lexus's, etc., I like, but it's still the repair bill factor that really led me to as basic and easy as I could find, and still enjoy--ala Fleetwood.
------------------------------------

JESDA: Great pic!

Plugs and wires plain suck on any LT1 but, 600 bucks! I never priced it out. I just always did it myself, but it usually took the whole day!(and a few beers)

Man there is some pricey stuff out there!! I do most things myself unless it is transmission related. To hard to mess with and that is why tranny guys can charge that much. It is a hobby for me.

[LS1Mike]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

They (M-B) say the oil is good for 10,000 miles, so even though it is synthetic, that breaks down so it's equal to two GM synthetic oil changes, at $56.99 a piece. But if you look at it though, 7.4 quarts of oil, that would round up to 8... at $7-8 bucks a piece equals $56-64, and then you've got the $28 canister style filter. So you're looking at $84-$92 if you'd want to do it yourself, and then you've gotta find a way to get rid of the oil if you do it at home.

Here's what else comes with the $118 oil change.

Inspect:

Tires
Belts
Hoses
Fluids


Condition of struts/shocks
Front and rear brakes and the e-brake
Exhaust System
Any fluid leaks
Radiator
Battery/Battery Cables
Igntion wires/ spark plugs
Air/Fuel filters
Wiper Blades
All exterior and interior lights
HVAC system
Seatbelts

And a complimentary hand car wash, vaccum and dry. $14.95 value. You'd have to ask at the dealer I work at for a car wash, and it's not a hand wash...we just drive it thru the wash bay.

I'd say it adds up pretty well to $118. The things I have in bold are the things we check at Chevrolet when you come in for your $32.95 oil change. M-B goes much more in depth.

7.4 quarts wow! I know my Big Block has 8 with the oil cooler.
So I would guess that is not unreasonable with all that oil and that filter.

[99esteees]

Originally Posted by MN-STS-LOVER

Within a month of buying the Seville:

$1100 to replace the water pump gasket and a flush and fill
$800 to replace the intake manifold (cracked port for the backfire relief valve)

Still don't see that logic.. $300 more for a gasket (not the pump) vs. the entire intake manifold?

Being dumb enough to buy a "high tech" car.....Priceless!

$1100 for a water pump gasket? Not bad for an hour labor and $5 gasket. Ouch man I'm sorry.

I thought the $259 I paid to get the water pump "locked" in was bad with them having to put it all back together, find the leak, tear it apart, and put it back together again.

[Jesda]

I'd say any MB W210 or later is a heap of trash. So sad. As a kid I always admired the tri-star.