question on a clutch install on a 93 BMW 318i

[Stifko]

I did a favor for a friend and kind of got screwed the other day. I gave him a lift to the airport (JFK) in his bmw 318i. I dropped him off and was going to leave his car in his garage space. On the grand central pkwy, the car stopped pulling when I downshifted to third for the exit ramp for the LIE. I coasted to the shoulder and put the blinkers on and flaged down a cop. An hour later a tow truck arrived. The tow guy charged me $65 for a tow to the nearest gas station that happens to service bmws. I was able to call my bud on his cell and tell him what happened. He asked me to email him a quote for the work that these guys came up with.

they want $1375 for the clutch installtion. The flywheel has to be replaced too. Is this freaking highway robbery or what?

 

[PsychoAndy]

well, its a BMW. practically all repairs are highway robbery.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

It seems a bit high even for a beamer. Have you gotten quotes from other places too?

 

[The Stigenator]

BMWs are expensive to fix.. the last time our BMW's gaskets went bust.. it was like 2000..

good thing is that "Pacific BMW" was nice when the leak showed up 6000 miles later.. turns out one of the guys didnt tighten somethign right.. so they fixed it for free so I got a whole new gaskets fixed.

 

[goodoptics]

That didn't surprise me at all. That's what one's get for owning a BMW.

 

[Stifko]

I didn't get any other quotes. I don't even know if what he said about the flywheel needing to be replaced as well is even true. They got me over a barrel and know it. I don't wanna have to tow that car again, and where would I tow it to? UGH, should've driven him in my 'rocco, but I had a good spot.

 

[d33pt]

call up other shops and get a quote over the phone.. it might be cheaper to tow it somewhere else to work on (some places even have free tow for major repairs). This place knows that you can't drive it so i'm sure they're charging you an arm and a leg.. that sounds pretty damn pricey even for a bmw..

 

[toant103]

Only lux car i'll go with is Lexus. Is that how you spell Lexus?

 

[brtspears2]

I heard that you need to remove the transmission in an older BMW in order to replace the clutch. Perhaps its the labor cost thats going to run it up..

Remember the flywheel is big huge thing bolted to crankshaft, and alone, I think that part would cost ~$500.

 

[hominid skull]

You could get that sorted for a lot less than that. They are taking you for a ride saying that the flywheel needs replacing too, you will never know if it needs replacing until you take the gearbox off and have a look. The only thing you NEED replacing is the clutch center plate, all other thing like the flywheel and the pressure plate don't need to be replaced.

There ripping you off, but because you have a BMW then they think you have the money..

 

[Stifko]

Thanks for the replies, I am gonna shop around