Hey everyone,

OK, so there's few places I trust here on the BI to take my G to have it worked on....

I am planning on installing the UR pulley and belts, Hotchkis Swaybars and Hotchkis Sport Coils all at once.

I thought about installing the coils myself but it seems too much work. The UR pulley I don't want to fool around with if I don't have the right wrench to remove the pulley bolt. The Sways are easy to install but might as well have it done all at once.

Is ~$250 -$300 a reasonable price to do all of this? I trust this guy since he has worked on Eclipse and Civic mods, superchargers and he is installing a Greddy TT on a 350Z next week for $800 and overall, he is a really nice guy.

Should I shop around more, realizing there are limited places here on the big, big island or just go with that install cost?

thanks,
doc

 

I guess the question is more complexed than if it is just a good price or not. In my opinion...

1) What is the going labor rate times the amount of hours he feels that it would take. For instance if he is charging you 300 for a time of 2 hours..then that would be roughly labor rate of 150.00 per hour...is that fair? Thats up to you.

2) Do you want to do the install yourself and do you have the know-how. If not, then the labor rate might not even matter since supposedly the mechanic shuld know what they are doing versus you. The cost outweights the potential damage that you can do if you did it yourself.

3) We have installed coilovers for lunch for some people over here...but if you have just springs then that is another story as you will need a compressor for that job.

4) Do you have the correct tools and accessories to use and work on the car. If you dont have the tools, then the cost to acquire those tools might offset the cost of the install.

However bottom line, if you feel that he is a nice and KNOWLEDGEABLE guy, then for $300... that might be a fair cost. Most of the time will be for the install of the pulleys and coilovers/springs. More than 2 hours I am sure.

Hope that helps a little in terms of making you feel better about your decision on the install.

 

1. Labor rate...don't know......but would pay for higher labor rate for trusted good install. UR pulley and coils should take the longest, sways are less than an hour.

2. I actually find satisfaction doing my own installs. I did my doubleDIN conversion (complicated), grounding wire kit (easy), Stillen CAB (easy), Z tube (easy), Stillen Exhaust (easy), Valence grills, (easy). I *think* I have the knowhow for the coils and know I could do the sways. The UR pulley I don't want to mess with that bolt or the belt tensions.

3. I always want to find an excuse to buy more tools but that would mean i would have to go get a spring compressor, impact wrench (which I would use very little but love!) and some torque wrenches. *Side note: Spending 2 hours walking around Lowe's in Kona, trying to rationalize buying tools I would only use once or twice is very stress relieving...*

I think it will take longer than a couple hours, maybe 3 hours mostly on the front coils and the crank pulley. So $100/hour? I think the going rate for a mechanic is about $75/hour right? This guy will be pretty fair in cost since I know him personally now. If it takes less than 3 hours, I don't think he'll still charge me 3 bills.

I am probably going to go with him......thanks for the input. Just wanted to compare BI install costs with those in Honolulu where there are more shops in competition that drives done costs to the consumer...

doc

 

=)

I figured that you probably had made a decision already that you were going to have him work on it and just needed a little reasurance in the thought. =)

The labor costs per hour are all about standard...so the costs would fluxuate very much anyhow. For a good install and care in doing the work, the slightly higher costs are worth it. Plus its your friend, perhaps he might or had done something for you already that you dont know about that saved you money or time.