I'm located in Northern VA, have an '06 G35 Coupe, and have a set of BC Racing coilovers to install. Free time is rare for me, so doing it myself is not easy to plan for.

I got a quote from a shop to install them today, and they gave an estimate for 8 hours at $117 per hour. I'm curious - does this seem reasonable? My buddy said he did his (05 VW GTI) in about 4 hours, and it's not his profession.

Any thoughts/comments welcome...thanks in advance!

 

That is absolutely absurd. It takes me less than an hour from jacking up my car to changing out the rears entirely. The front takes a bit longer with the a-arms but not that much longer. All together you would be able to do it in about 4 hours if you at least had an idea of what you were doing. Shops should be able to do it in much less due to having power tools, lifts, experience, etc. I would shop around more, or search the norcal section or ask there. Lots of great installers in norcal that I would bet would do the install for much less, heck you could get just pay another member to help you out. I don't know if g35papa is still doing his installs but he would be great person to ask.

 

^^ Hes from VA, not CA. But wherever youre from.. thats still crazy

 

Funniest thing I've read all day. NO WAY it takes 8 hours to install coilovers. and $117/hour at that. I wouldve asked if the install came with lube for how much theyre bending you over for.

 

damn, I think that's even more than what a dealership would charge you, just wow!

 

wow that is alot. $936.00 for labor. Should be around $150.00 to $200.00 for install.

 

if you're in northen va, try functioned:tuned. you can actually do a bit of the labor yourself by putting the systems together before hand. the quote is definitely high, but maybe they are accounting for setting the ride height and such.

check with the National G Club sub forum, most of them are from the NOVA area and can probably point you in a direction.

 

Thanks guys for your quick responses - I about laughed at them when they told me how long it would take...I used to do a lot of my own work, but I was in high school, and didn't have money to spend on someone elses labor charge...installed headers, rebuilt a carb or two, brake jobs...but I never did a shock/spring swap, so...I didn't have personal experience to base it on.

Turns out the guy who did his GTI is going to lend a hand at his stepdads place (step has a lift in his garage)...Gonna give it a go...

Thanks!
Matt

 

Read the diy's for spring installs on here and it is essentially the same. The struts you will see in there and are very simple. If you have done the other jobs you listed then this will be a piece of cake.