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

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

Alright guys let's hear em, I know we've all had to go into the dealership or other repair facility and have gotten the "oh shit, it costs THAT much to fix it!" feeling. Here's my first one, from today nonetheless.


The Benz got it's first SES light last Saturday, but it drove and acted normally, so I kept driving it, unworried. I made an appointment at the dealer I always work with to go in and get it diagnosed today at noon. Now I went over to Steve's (MN-STS-Lover) house last night to use his codebreaker to find out what code it was throwing. It was something like "lean running condition, bank one" so I figured it was something minor. Nope.

Went in this morning and I showed my advisor what code it was and he told me "Well it's probably a mass airflow sensor or an 02 sensor." I figured, ok, if it's the MAS it's probably gonna be like a couple hundred bucks. Haha, nope! He said it was around $790 for a new one, and that's only with .5 hour to install it....which means the part is like $690!

But he told me, since I work for a dealer (even though it's a competitor) he'd give me a discount....$715 for the job, instead of $790. Now I probably won't have them do it, but damnit that's customer service! And that's why I love the service I get at Feldmann.

So I don't exactly have a "Mercedes" type pocketbook so I had to pass on the repair for now. I paid my $115 for the hour diagnosis and I found a place that'll sell me the MAS for $345 with my employee discount.

So anyways, enough of me, how about you??

[Jesda]

Timing chain guides for the Q45. $2500 at the dealer, but...

I paid $1450 (plus gas to and from Promise City Iowa) by ordering the parts online and taking it to a guy in Iowa who worked on it at home. I even got a free buffalo steak dinner.

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

$2500 for timing chain guides?! Ya gotta be kiddin me! Tell me that's all labor!

Post that picture you made of you sitting by the Q45, hair disheveled, holding a sign that said "need money, car needs timing chain guides" or somthing like that.

[Jesda]

[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!

[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.
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JESDA: Great pic!

[I~LUV~Caddys8792]

I gotta make a pic like that. Except mine would say:

"Broke, need MAS, 4 Michelins, l/f check strap, lower control arm bushings, coolant flush, a brake flush.....and a hug!" Paypal to Chadillac1973@yahoo.com

Oh, and my $118 oil change from the dealer was a nice swift kick in the pocketbook.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

I gotta make a pic like that. Except mine would say:

"Broke, need MAS, 4 Michelins, l/f check strap, lower control arm bushings, coolant flush and a brake flush.....and a hug!" Paypal to Chadillac8705@yahoo.com

Haha...good job. Now we can start advertising your need. Ah, but that Mercedes joy...makes up for the bills, most of the time. Very likely just the usual few things you ALWAYS run into right after a new used car purchase, or we'll hope so. All pretty minor too, just not "Chevy cheap".

[gdwriter]

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

I gotta make a pic like that. Except mine would say:

"Broke, need MAS, 4 Michelins, l/f check strap, lower control arm bushings, coolant flush, a brake flush.....and a hug!" Paypal to Chadillac1973@yahoo.com

Oh, and my $118 oil change from the dealer was a nice swift kick in the pocketbook.

Only a hug? Hell, with the big back seat in the Benz you should at least hold out for a b-job.

Sorry F, beat you to it!

[Stoneage_Caddy]

volvo 105k service ......$1100-1500 (includes timing belt)
volvo o2 sensor is around 300... just for the sensor
volvo software upgrades normally cost around 50 bucks in addition to the diag charge, yes software updates , downloaded from our freinds in goteburg ..

thing is , its VERY typical for a volvo customer to come in and drop thousands on a car , and those customers with almost 10 year old cars from the 850/s70 family can and often do drop 3 grand ...something your typical florida cadillac owner wouldnt do , hell try prying more then 20 bucks for an oil change out of a caddy owners hands ...not to say volvo rips folks off , these cars do indeed need these services , also a big reason why a volvo with 200,000 miles is a very typical sight ...

the record tho for a single job ive seen was a warranty/recall on the 06 XLR-V , engine replacemnt , 41 hours labor per gm , so that at a shop rate of 95 bucks per hour and the cost of a superchagred 4.4 northstar (wonder how much that thing costs )...well it at least 3400 in labor alone to do the job , prolly another 5-8 grand for the engine ...doubt gm paid that ,since it was done under warranty..but a 11 grand job at the least

[RightTurn]

Wow. My $400 door ding seems almost reasonable. Pissed me off anyhow.

[Night Wolf]

Bought the Town Car with a bad heater core (and blend door actuator, and worn driver door hinge) Among other issues....

To replace the heater core, and BDA, and entire hinge, the entire dashboard needs to come out.

To get it done at the dealer, all labor, would have been about $1,800 for all 3!

I replaced the heater core myself (twice) for $100 myself, using OEM Motorcraft, after using a cheapie aftermarket... no problems since

New BDA was $70 from Ford.... that was quick and easy, once the entire dashboard came out

I fixed the hinge using a $7 pin and bushing kit for an F-150 in the HELP section, had to buy a dremel to cut thru the pin, as factory pin is tapered, and non replaceable.... perfect match, and IF I need to, it will be very easy to replace in the future now.

So all 3 repairs I did myself for about $180 vs 10 times that price at the dealer Not even sure how much all the other work I've done would add up to... but those were the only WTF that much? repairs

Still tho, $120 for an oil change is pretty bad tho....

[Stoneage_Caddy]

depends on what is involoved in that 120 dollar oil change ....

there may be adjustments , in depth inspections , who knows .....takes me a half hour to 45 min complete an oil change at volvo ....thats checking almost all componets for function and a 3 mile test drive ...

but still , i think that there is very little justification to go anywhere above 75 bucks for a 3-7k type service

[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.

[Night Wolf]

Mobil 1 synthetic is $5/quart at Advance Auto, 5 x 8 = $40. Your canister style filter (Purolator) is $9 at Advance Auto. Disposing of the oil means bringing your oil drain pan back to Advance Auto and dumping it in their oil collection tank (free of course)

Bascially about $50 for a DIY oil change on your car.... you could get 2.5 home oil changes or 1 dealer oil change.....

As far as I am concerned.... all those "inspect" things don't mean anything to me... no matter where you go. Maybe to someone that dosn't know a tire from a tie-rod, the thought of a tire wear check or fluid level check is a selling point... to me its just extra stuff to make it sound like you are getting a better deal.

Tires, belts, hoses, fluids..... look at them, simple as that. Condition of shocks/struts? Bounce each corner of the car up and down by hand... good? Front and rear brakes... they work. Dosn't M-B have brake wear sensors or something anyway? condition of parking brake... park on a hill, does it hold the car? Exhaust system.... is it loud? overly rusty? fluid leaks.... drips on the ground? If so, from where? Radiator.... is it leaking? Battery/battery cables... does it start the car? Is there an acid mess? are the cables staying together by one piece of wire? plugs/wires... do they actually pull each spark plug out to look at them? air filter... look at it... fuel filter... if its the inline canister style, not sure how you can tell its condition... maybe hook up a pressure gauge at the fuel rail and run the fuel pump? or you can remove it and blow thru it wiper blades.... put the winshield wash on.... do the blades streak, chatter, leave spots or are torn? int/ext lights... turn them on at night and look at the car, for turn signals/brake lights put the hazzards on and make sure they all light up, for the 3rd brake light, usually you can see a reflection of it at night on the car. Interior lights... turn them on. HVAC system... does A/C work? does heat work? If car has a cabin air filter, look at it. seat belts... do they pull out? retract back in? buckle? are they ripped/torn?

The car wash can be done manually at a coin op place for $5, or at home for about 50 cents in materials.

I dunno... I know to someone that can't, or dosn't want to work on cars, then its a great deal... or the typical M-B owner, $120 isn't even something they would think twice about... but I just have a hard time justifying paying that much for not only something that I can do... but such simple, basic things... All those things mentioned I perform on my vehicles on a regular basis, at different times.

My mom came up with Aimee to visit me this weekend, took my parents '98 Park Ave... so I looked it over... washer fluid was empty, so I filled it up, oil was about 2/3 quart low, trans fluid was about 1/2 qt low, all other fluids were fine.... went to Advance got a quart of oil and a quart of ATF... put those in, while there I put the lights on, walked around the car, they all worked, put the hazzards on, all turn signal/brake lights worked. I use windsehild wash often, and the wipers were fine. Air filter is new, tires are new. Car was a mess so I went to the car wash, Monday-Friday the local car wash offers double time, so $5 in got me 25 minutes of wash... washed entire car including tires/wheels, engine, once car was washed I did the protective foam stuff then spray wax (water beads up nice) then spent $2 for 8 minutes of the vaccum and cleaned out the mess of sand/dirt/pebbles/twigs on the floors of the car.

But... maybe its just me :shrug: I just can't justify spending $120 for an oil change, but if you have the money and don't mind paying that, then its all good