YACT: Do you think this is worth it?

[Doggiedog]

Just took my 95 325i into the shop to figure out why its overheating. Found out there are a bunch of problems with it that will require fixing totalling about $2000.

The radiator is cracked and needs to be replaced $1000. The ball joints are bad and need to be replaced $500. Lots of little problems like the thermostat, hoses, alignment, etc.

Do you think its worth it to pay $2,000 to fix a $6,000 car with 94K miles on it? I wonder if I should just dump it. I've already poured lots of money into it already.

 

[zimu]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Just took my 95 325i into the shop to figure out why its overheating. Found out there are a bunch of problems with it that will require fixing totalling about $2000.

The radiator is cracked and needs to be replaced $1000. The ball joints are bad and need to be replaced $500. Lots of little problems like the thermostat, hoses, alignment, etc.

Do you think its worth it to pay $2,000 to fix a $6,000 car with 94K miles on it? I wonder if I should just dump it. I've already poured lots of money into it already.

... and you'll continue pouring in money. best bet, sell it and at least get your $6000, rather than putting in 2000 and still getting 6000 or less a year down the line

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Just took my 95 325i into the shop to figure out why its overheating. Found out there are a bunch of problems with it that will require fixing totalling about $2000.

The radiator is cracked and needs to be replaced $1000. The ball joints are bad and need to be replaced $500. Lots of little problems like the thermostat, hoses, alignment, etc.

Do you think its worth it to pay $2,000 to fix a $6,000 car with 94K miles on it? I wonder if I should just dump it. I've already poured lots of money into it already.

$1000 for a radiator?

http://www.overnightradiator.com/bmw-325i-radiator.html

There is one for $190. I sincerely doubt that the radiator includes that much labor. I would just do it myself, personally. The thermostats, hoses, and such are all simple fixes that i'm sure you are capable of. Tops, you come out spending $750, IMHO, including a professional alignment.

 

[Doggiedog]

I went to Firestone for the estimate.

Here is the exact breakdown.

Radiator $578
Hoses $58
Coolant flush $100
Thermostat $157
Ball joints $375
Brake fluid flush $75
Alignment $70

That comes out to around $1,500 but he says there are other things that aren't critical that will eventually need to be looked at too since most of the parts in the car are original.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I went to Firestone for the estimate.

Here is the exact breakdown.

Radiator $578 - a little high.
Hoses $58 - not bad
Coolant flush $100 - Not needed, they are changing the coolant with the radiator
Thermostat $157 - They should give you a break on the labor since they are changing the hoses.
Ball joints $375 - not bad
Brake fluid flush $75 - wait until your next brake service
Alignment $70 - I doubt they could do it right.

That comes out to around $1,500 but he says there are other things that aren't critical that will eventually need to be looked at too since most of the parts in the car are original.

I added my comments to your post.

 

[Doggiedog]

Thanks for the help Quixfire.

I'm going to shop around but I'm still torn between fixing the car or getting rid of it. Its alot to pay for something that might last 1 or 2 more years.

 

[StageLeft]

Of course fix it. If fixing it is less than KBB on a repaired vehicle, that's your answer. You can always sell it.

My take is that if you keep an old car totally up to spec on repairs you're often going to spend more money than if you wait for things to break. I say that on limited experience, but other than the obvious things like oil changes and the ocassional coolant flush or what not, you can seriously spend a lot of money on things that "may eventually go bad", but probably never will.

 

[Compton]

I would shop around a bit more. I think you can find better prices than that.

I would keep it.

 

[Doggiedog]

I'm just a bit worried I'll be plowing more money into it.

I spent about $2500 2 years ago getting alot of other things on it fixed too.

 

[Asharus]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
I went to Firestone for the estimate.

Here is the exact breakdown.

Radiator $578
Hoses $58
Coolant flush $100
Thermostat $157
Ball joints $375
Brake fluid flush $75
Alignment $70

That comes out to around $1,500 but he says there are other things that aren't critical that will eventually need to be looked at too since most of the parts in the car are original.

You are getting TAKEN, my friend. My 92 525i (same engine) had it's radiator replaced for around $200 parts & labor, by a BMW Tech. Oh, and why would they charge you $100 for a coolant flush, that should be included w/ the radiator replacement, and should only charge you for the cost of the coolant.

Find a respectable mechanic you can trust (ex BMW Dealership Tech is a plus, let me know if you live in Long Island, NY for my Tech's info). Good luck!

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

pick up your skirt, grab your pair and do it yourself!!!




j/k. well, not the part about doing it yourtself. Radiator, I dunno, but thermo, hoses and ball joints can be done at home. Consider it a learning experience if anything. Just dont be afraid to screw something up. Usually, the worst that will happen is you have to have it towed into the shop like you would do anyway.

 

[CPA]

$157 for a thermostat! :Q

 

[Doggiedog]

If my car would make it LI that sounds like a deal. Unfortunately, it overheats in about 5 mins.

I wish I had time to learn how to fix these things and do it but its absolutely impossible for me. Case in point, I've got 2 dead PCs sitting here in my den that I need but haven't had time to fix.

 

[Asharus]

Sounds like there's air in your cooling system. Did they bleed the coolant properly? Is there enough coolant?

 

[Doggiedog]

Its not air. The radiator is cracked. I saw it myself.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog
That comes out to around $1,500 but he says there are other things that aren't critical that will eventually need to be looked at too since most of the parts in the car are original.

So what if the parts are original? At only 9 years old, original parts should _not_ be failing.

And what on earth are you doing taking a BMW to Firestone? Find a local mechanic (non-dealer) who specialises in BMW's.

ZV

 

[Vette73]

OK NEVER go to a firestone, precision tune, etc.... MOST national chains are big rip offs. Like other have said, $100 for a cooling flush is way over priced AND the coolant will be changed when you have the radiator replaced.

Find a good and honest local independent shop and have them do ALL your work. After a while they will know your car and help ypu keep it up and save you money.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

hoses for $58???? wat kinda hoses are these?

 

[Doggiedog]

There really isn't a convenient place for me to take the car. It starts overheating very quickly and there aren't too many places I can take it.

I used to take it to a specialty BMW place but the shop has been going downhill and I've heard they do a lot of unethical things (not surprisingly). I know a BMW mechanic who moonlights on the side who helped me with the car before. I'll probably go to him but since he only works at night and he is about 45 mins away. I need to have someone there to drive me back.

Lots of reasons for my doing things the way I did. Just too long to explain. And one other thing, I need to get in the office really early. Much earlier than some of these places open which makes taking my car to certain places difficult.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
hoses for $58???? wat kinda hoses are these?

That is not to far off, if not for the fact the rad. was being replaced.


Upper and lower hoses are about $15 each and the Them. is $20. So for prices that is not to bad, BUT being that the Rad. is coming out it should not be that much.

Again NEVER go to a national chain shop.

 

[Doggiedog]

Thanks for the advice.

I have a better gauge of how much I should be spending. Still hurts though.

 

[Asharus]

Be careful w/ the overheating, you may warp your head or blow a gasket.

 

[Black88GTA]

As pretty much everyone else on here has said, those prices you were quoted are ridiculous. You'd be getting hosed if you paid that much.

Radiator $578: Generally an easy job, the rad. itself you could probably pick up for $200ish or less.

Hoses $58: Um, no. Assuming only upper+lower radiator hoses are quoted here, those should be somewhere between $10 and 20 each and are a very easy job (4 clamps), esp. if the radiator is out already.

Coolant flush $100: Some benefit to having this done, as it cleans out the coolant passages in the motor. However, you seem to have determined that the cause of the overheating is due to the broken radiator, so this probably is unnecessary. Just put in all new coolant when you change the rad. Total cost: $5.

Thermostat $157: No. A thermostat is usually between $5-10, and the gasket is about $1-2. It's a very good idea to replace it when you're doing the radiator, since the cooling system is drained anyways and the part is cheap. This is also an easy job - usually a thermostat housing is like 2 bolts.

Ball joints $375: Not too sure on labor (I've never had to do them) but the parts are probably less than $100.

Brake fluid flush $75: Probably not necessary.

Alignment $70: Does the car seem to pull to one side? Vibrate at high speeds? If so, this should be done, but $70 is high for that. I just got an alignment done on my car and it cost me $35 with a $10 off coupon.


At least you're doing the right thing by asking on here. My parents recently took my brother's 94 Mustang in to the dealer for repairs without asking me about it first.

They ended up paying $420 for 6 spark plugs and a set of wires :|. That fvcking dealership had the audacity to charge them $8 apiece for regular spark plugs, PLUS 3 hours labor, and way too much for the wires (don't remember the exact amount.) I could have done the plugs and wires for probably @60 + my time spent on it (nowhere near 3 hours, I can tell you that much).

And people wonder why automotive service facilities are universally hated.

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

Alignment $70: Does the car seem to pull to one side? Vibrate at high speeds? If so, this should be done, but $70 is high for that. I just got an alignment done on my car and it cost me $35 with a $10 off coupon.
.

Unfortunately, the alignment is necessary. As soon as the ball joints are done, you need an alignment. Chances of getting that job done and not throwing the alignment out of whack are slim to none.