Is Indy Overcharging?
 

This is a copy of my Invoice from my Indy. Parts list looks a little high I just wanted to get you opinion before I pull the trigger on everything. Looking to get the X into tip top mechanic shape before I start with Mods. If I do everything as a whole he is offering to do it for 10% off which would be 3350.

What is his labor rate an hour? $100?

If so he is charging 3.8 hours to change the air struts which seems like a long time, but then again probably takes into account the calibrations afterwards.

His prices on the Arnotts at $500 apiece are higher than retail, they go for about 370 from Arnott (after 100 per core)

I can't comment on the valve cover gaskets or cooling system overhaul as I haven't got an N62 or done the job myself, does he get all OEM parts? Do valve cover gaskets on N62 really take that long ($650 for labor on that)? M54 VcG's are easy!

I'd see if he can knock it down 15% for you and put it all on a Credit card with cash back haha!

Haha thanks for the input. Thats a cash price! I noticed that on the Arnott Springs which is what raised my suspicions on everything else. Other then the air springs everything else is OEM BMW parts. I was always under the impression that changing the air springs was easy as well but I guess maybe with Calibration in mind it might be correct.

I would nail him down on exact labor hrs for the repairs and shop rate disclosure. Hard to tell if an Indy is using OE/OEM parts even if they claim to. You could talk to the shop about letting you provide OEM parts and shop for best deals on everything. You can get P/Ns off realOEM, and starting point $s for shopping.

IMHO, the only time an Indy should make more then a 1% or 2% profit on parts is when they have them stocked and ready to install.

Most repair jobs are easy, the hard part is finding the time to DIY and avoiding all the incorrect things that can be ham-fisted during a repair.

I'm in stealerfornia and my oil change is $89 at my Indy. BMW oil and filters.

That's a reasonable price seeing that it's almost $70 for materals if a DIYer is not buying in bulk.

I can't comment on the valve cover gaskets job, because I haven't done it on the N62 engine. Nor on the front air springs.
But for the cooling system, the whole lot, INCLUDING a WP (which he didn't include) should run you in parts about 450-500 bux as opposed to 1017.45 he quoted.
Also, the labor for that is quite easy. It should take you around 2 - 2 1/2 Hours tops.
Just by checking the prices on the VCG's and associated, it seems they are about 100% inflated as well.
On my e39 the VCG job was about 1 1/2 Hrs and roughly 65 bux, my labor. But again, on the N62 you have to deal with the Valvetronics, and it's a special procedure to take them out and place them back on.
If your indy doesn't have the GT1 or equivalent, he can screw up your engine. There is a workaround if you don't have that equipment, but again, there is a specific sequence to remove/place back, then once everything is buttoned up, there is another specific way to re-initialize the Valvetronic BEFORE starting the car. Otherwise you will risk damaging/destroying the engine. Just to give you some heads up.

Lots of variables...

Some INDYS charge by time and some charge their *book* time.
Parts pricing can vary, and it's really up to the Indy what he charges. Whether it's his cost, a OEM equivalent and then pricing it at OEM retail, or some just put it at 20% above whatever they pay. It really is all over the map on the cost of parts. There is no universal answer. Some make it back on labor...Some indys put part #'s on their invoice, some don't . Why, I don't know, but it bothers me when they are using *OEM * parts and charging as such but don't list part #'s - just descriptions.

At the end of the day, the way I look at it, it's the sum of all combined. Whether it be the experience, tooling, knowledge, or just time, there is a reason it's at the shop...
And you combine all those factors and decide yourself whether the Indy you choose is the right Indy for you.

I looked up parts and compared them to ECS's website and noticed that its about a 15% mark up but with giving me a 10% I can live with that. The springs I am going to just order myself. It's a pretty reputable shop and I see alot of e53 X5s there mostly 4.6is and 4.8is which is nice. I noticed 3 radiator hoses listed on the parts. Isn't there only two? An upper and a lower?