Are these estimates high? (valve/gasket replacements)

[ColonelForbin]

My 95 740i is at the indy. I took it in to have some front suspension work done, as well as the valve cover gaskets replaced, as recommended by my dealer.

The mechanic tells me that I need to have the upper timing
cover gaskets and the estimate says it will take 9 hours to do this.

I also apparently need to replace the crankcase valve and gaskets, which is 8 hours additional labor.

I have no idea if those times are accurate or not. I do know that they're pretty centrally located and that those types of things require a lot of labor. But 8 and 9 hours? I know that BMW has estimates for any given labor amount, but I'm wondering if maybe they'd be able to save some disassembly time when when working on one vs. another part. Does my question make sense? i.e. in this case does 8 + 9 really equal 17?

[greene08]

I was quoted $350 for my upper crank case gasket on my '01 740 a while back (which still isn't done)... so divide $350/8 hours and you get $43.75/hr for the labor. Now I know that my old indy charges $90/hr so I would say 8 hours is 2x overkill.

[plik]

My 95 740i is at the indy. I took it in to have some front suspension work done, as well as the valve cover gaskets replaced, as recommended by my dealer.

The mechanic tells me that I need to have the upper timing
cover gaskets and the estimate says it will take 9 hours to do this.

I also apparently need to replace the crankcase valve and gaskets, which is 8 hours additional labor.

I have no idea if those times are accurate or not. I do know that they're pretty centrally located and that those types of things require a lot of labor. But 8 and 9 hours? I know that BMW has estimates for any given labor amount, but I'm wondering if maybe they'd be able to save some disassembly time when when working on one vs. another part. Does my question make sense? i.e. in this case does 8 + 9 really equal 17?

That is easily twice as much as you should be charged for that work.

Here is a link that lists other BMW mechanics in your area, http://www.bimmershops.com/bmwshops/virginia/

If you are going to have the timing chain cover gasket replaced, then you might as well do the water pump, manifold rear cover plate, valley pan, intake gaskets, and throttle gasket. That sounds like a lot of parts, but the gaskets aren't too expensive. If you get a new water pump and rear cover plate and valley pan, then you're looking at maybe $300 in parts, but the beauty of it is the mechanic shouldn't charge you more than an hour more labor than he already was because he already has the manifold up and out.

Anyway, call around and get at least three quotes. Good Luck!

[Ecko]

Yeah that estimate is overkill.
Get a couple local estimates as stated by Plik

[ColonelForbin]

Hmmm. This is not good news. Unfortunately, the only other local option is the dealer, but even at $110 per hour at the dealer I'd be saving money if these estimates really are that high.

As I look at the parts list in the estimate, I see Cover ($55), Intake Gasket (4X17.80), and Intake Man. ($6.55), so it seems like they're doing some of it.

I was stuck in Boston when I got the estimate and OK'd it by phone late yesterday since I really need my car in good running condition by next week. But I will be going in for a visit on Monday to see why the hours estimate is so much higher than what my friends have seen when similar work was done, and hopefully not all of the work will have been completed.

I'll also ask about the water pump, etc.


That is easily twice as much as you should be charged for that work.

Here is a link that lists other BMW mechanics in your area,

If you are going to have the timing chain cover gasket replaced, then you might as well do the water pump, manifold rear cover plate, valley pan, intake gaskets, and throttle gasket. That sounds like a lot of parts, but the gaskets aren't too expensive. If you get a new water pump and rear cover plate and valley pan, then you're looking at maybe $300 in parts, but the beauty of it is the mechanic shouldn't charge you more than an hour more labor than he already was because he already has the manifold up and out.

Anyway, call around and get at least three quotes. Good Luck!

[ColonelForbin]

I have one other thought - the client who originally pointed out that these seem high also told me that at 92,000 miles, the timing chain should be replaced. Should I be concerned that it wasn't recommended by the mechanic? Especially since the upper timing gasket was being replaced anyway?

[Ecko]

Whats the mileage on your 95?

[plik]

I have one other thought - the client who originally pointed out that these seem high also told me that at 92,000 miles, the timing chain should be replaced. Should I be concerned that it wasn't recommended by the mechanic? Especially since the upper timing gasket was being replaced anyway?

I highly doubt you need your timing chain replaced. In fact, unless you see leaking, I wouldn't replace any of the timing chain cover gaskets.

Unlike a water pump, there's no benefit in changing out a timing chain cover gasket early. Now the valve cover gaskets are different because when they leak they mess with the spark plugs. If a water pump goes then you have the risk of over-heating. But if the timing chain cover gasket starts to leak, then the worst that will happen is you'll see a few drops of oil on your garage floor (which may not even happen for another 100,000 miles).

[ColonelForbin]

92,700


Whats the mileage on your 95?

[ColonelForbin]

The valve cover gaskets were definitely leaking. I don't know if the timing chain cover gaskets are leaking, but it sounds like that if even they are leaking, that presents no imminent threat like the valve cover gaskets did.

This is one of those days when I wish I had access to the book that BMW service depts use to determine how much time a specific repair should take.


I highly doubt you need your timing chain replaced. In fact, unless you see leaking, I wouldn't replace any of the timing chain cover gaskets.

Unlike a water pump, there's no benefit in changing out a timing chain cover gasket early. Now the valve cover gaskets are different because when they leak they mess with the spark plugs. If a water pump goes then you have the risk of over-heating. But if the timing chain cover gasket starts to leak, then the worst that will happen is you'll see a few drops of oil on your garage floor (which may not even happen for another 100,000 miles).

[plik]

All of those things aren't hard to do yourself. It could easily be done in one saturday with maybe some help from a friend.

I mean, if you're that frustrated with mechanics, then skip them altogether.

[Ecko]

All of those things aren't hard to do yourself. It could easily be done in one saturday with maybe some help from a friend.

I mean, if you're that frustrated with mechanics, then skip them altogether.

I can't stop agreeing with you brotha http://www.x5world.com/images/smilies/LemansX5/tgif.gif

[ColonelForbin]

I agree that most of these things are not hard for those who are mechanically inclined to do. The only thing that my friends and I could do on a Saturday is do irreparable harm to my car :)

I am not frustrated with this mechanic specifically or mechanics overall - it's just that these folks are new to me (BMWs, as this is my first, are also new to me). Just want to make sure I don't spend $$$ unnecessarilly.


All of those things aren't hard to do yourself. It could easily be done in one saturday with maybe some help from a friend.

I mean, if you're that frustrated with mechanics, then skip them altogether.