Repairs... Arghh

FAT_X5 · #1 10-13-2008, 09:05 PM

Hello,

I took the X5 (2001 4.4i 80k mi) to the shop because of a check engine light intermident, and some anti-freeze on the garage floor - along with a coolant low message.

The water pump was bad. They replaced it, and at the same time said I should do the thermostat while they were in there. I said go ahead and do it. $850 was my total for that...

I also told them to check into a whining noise coming from the engine, it seems that some tubes/hoses were all burnt up (something on the top end of the engine) and they said I had to replace those. They cut me a deal on labor as they were already in there and instead of 3 hours, they charged 1.5. That was another $200 to the bill..

The next issue they found when plugging in the diagnostic was an aux fan for the a/c.. He said that was a $500 part alone and that it'd be another $300 to install. He said that the aux fan helped the a/c condensor cool and perform. As it's near the end of the "cooling" season, I think I will hold off on that...

Anyone else have these troubles? I am baffled about the aux fan being that expensive...

What can I expect next out of this cash cow?

Thanks,
Dominic

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motordavid · #2 10-13-2008, 09:15 PM

$850 for water pump, thermo and some coolant???
You got ripped, imo.
GL,mD

BGM · #3 10-13-2008, 09:18 PM

The dealer is always going to be higher priced than an Indy shop. Did you not try and go there first ? $850 seems kind of high as mentioned. Have you had a lot of other repairs done over the years ? Looks like you will have spent $1K which seems like a lot but if you have no payment then it's a lot easier to swallow.

FAT_X5 · #4 10-13-2008, 09:24 PM

I went to two different Indie shops and priced it out with the dealer, all were priced the same as the dealer... Went with the indie shop in town here.

Big "J" · #5 10-13-2008, 09:37 PM

The auxilary fan switch may be bad. It's a $6 part.

HPIA4v2 · #6 10-14-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAT_X5

I went to two different Indie shops and priced it out with the dealer, all were priced the same as the dealer... Went with the indie shop in town here.

That's have been my experience as well, indy's price very close to dealer

, here in Seattle. Th nice thing dealer usually 3-4 days behind on scheduling while indy can get you in the next day or so.

Maybe we need to start a sticky on good indy shops across the country?

ZsX5o3 · #7 10-14-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motordavid

$850 for water pump, thermo and some coolant???
You got ripped, imo.
GL,mD

I agree!

Bimmer360 · #8 10-14-2008, 11:03 AM

the price is about right, dealer price. I agree that indy shops are lower, but you have consider that dealers has a big place to run, more people to pay, etc so therefore, they are more all the time.

Your X is at 80K, you might want to save and put aside some money for the transmission since that costs arm and leg.

primetime · #9 10-14-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BGM

The dealer is always going to be higher priced than an Indy shop. Did you not try and go there first ? $850 seems kind of high as mentioned. Have you had a lot of other repairs done over the years ? Looks like you will have spent $1K which seems like a lot but if you have no payment then it's a lot easier to swallow.

I agree with my fellow Jayhawk....Sounds steep for what they did...

brian5 · #10 10-14-2008, 11:31 AM

If the Indy shop price is close the dealer's, I always go to the dealer. I have found that BMW will sometimes cover work that it out of warranty but that they wouldn't have done that if I had my car repairs done at non-BMW shop..

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