Dave Howerdel

Just got word from my shop that my s4 is almost done . The following sums up what was has been done since the car went in last thurs. (originally for a tb retension and alignment)
1) TB retensioned on Friday - no problems but received a call stating that the upper ball joints were shot .Called 928intl and had a set of control arms shipped.
2) Monday- Received a call stating that the control arms arrived but now the car won't start. They removed and cleaned the plugs. I suggest the ign relay and fp relay as possible sources. They say they swapped them out with good ones to no avail. The Oh sh$t light goes on when they tell me about the odd injector behavior that occurs when the ign switch is turned on. Again a call 928intl for a rebuilt brain.
3) Tues - received a call staing that they received and installed the brain and car now runs fine but they were having trouble installing the control arms and that the car should be ready by wed afternoon.
4) Wed 4:30pm received a call staing that they replaced the control arms and tie rod ends. Car is on the alignment rack and tech is working on it - will be ready by thurs. afternoon.
5) Thurs - called shop at 3:30pm. They stated they were finishing up the alignment and the car will be ready in about an hour. I ask about the total cost and am told that they have to create the invoice but joke that it'll be less than $10000.00.

As I await another call from the shop I thought it would be interesting to see what you guys would expect to pay for the work done. I'll post the amount afeter I pick up the car.
FWIW a tb replacement in march cost me $2200 at this shop @ $80. per hr

Chris

Did the battery run flat when it was at the shop ? Did they jump it ? Real co-incidence the LH failed there but I guess its possible

Unless you know the owner or something I would have thought it might have been a good idea to set a limit or ask for a quote on the work to be done.

Sure hope it drives well after all this attention !

Chris

hinchcliffe

Wehn I had Upper Control arm Bushings replaced it was 9hrs labor. PITA to get them out. So figure that plus the 1hr or so for the TB tension and then the brain. Wow. I'm guessing at $1500 or so. But how much did you spend in parts?

Good luck. I hope you get it today.

Big Dave

My guess:

somewhere between $Ouch and $You'vegottobekiddingmenoway!

Jim R.

Since you supplied all the parts, it is $80 per hour. A retension should take an hour or so, the R&R of the LH unit takes less than an hour, I think the front end work should take less than 8 on a lift with air tools, and an alignment should be less than $150. I don't know how much time for troubleshooting, but I think two hours would be fair. I would not want to be charged for much more labor than that.

$2200 for a TB? Glad I turn my own wrenches whenever possible.

Jim R.

Dave Howerdel

My cost on parts from 928intl.
Rebuilt brain - $1000 shipping included
2 used control arms - $850 shipping included

This has been a rough year with the sharks !

Dave Howerdel

I usually turn my own wrenches too but I've been laid up for weeks due to botched lasik surgery and wouldn't have been able to do it since I'm trying to catch up on the work I missed. I would have had to pick the car up do the work and return it for the alignment. While it was there I just gave them the go ahead to do it.

Update - The car is ready but the invoice isn't. I guess I'll find out when I get there. Conclusion coming shortly.

bigs

I checked with my mechanic here in Utah. He stated that $2200 for tb replacement is kinda steep unless your shop used all new and original Porsche parts (assuming water pump, rollers, tensioners, etc. were also replaced). Using good quality rebuilt parts where possible should have dropped your total cost to around $1200-$1400.

mpesik

Have you got a GUN!

Dave Howerdel

Well here it is. Not as bad as I was thought but still not great.

Ispeed

But the end result..... Priceless!!!
Carl.

perrys4

That is an average bill I face almost everytime I take my car in. Mine needs motor mounts and Greg will only install OEM mounts. Probably a grand or so with labor. Just dont trust anyone else but not liking having to pay for the Porsche mounts. Big decision. I think you got off okay. It is kind of odd the brain died in their posession though.

BC

I would like to know about the botched eye surgey please.

Jim R.

Dave,
How many miles has the car gone since the TB job at this shop in March? If it is not too many, I would be concerned about the condition of the other components with the belt described as "VERY loose" by the tech. There have been a few TB system component failures that led to expensive repairs. You may want to dig a little deeper on that one with the shop if you can't look at it yourself yet. YMMV.

Jim R.

Old & New

IMHO, you should find another shop. Their prices are high and too much "unexplained" stuff happens in their possesion or as a result of their work.