Shop refuses to install my parts

[firstE30]

I called a couple different shops around me to price out getting my brake master cylinder and driveshaft bearing installed. They told me that insurance wont let them install customer supplied parts. I'm not about to pay their prices but i dont have the skill or tools to do it myself. what can i do?

[ST1G]

I called a couple different shops around me to price out getting my brake master cylinder and driveshaft bearing installed. They told me that insurance wont let them install customer supplied parts. I'm not about to pay their prices but i dont have the skill or tools to do it myself. what can i do?

Do it yourself.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Do it yourself.

Or sack up and pay their prices, it isn't their duty to install your parts. Or, find a shop, like most that will do it but with no implied nor expressed warranty on labor.

Note: You are paying their prices for their tools and experience that you claim to have neither.

[jalopi]

95% of shops won't use customer supplied parts, exceptions being tires or oil (or very specific fluids). Lots of markup on parts, that's where a lot of the profit comes from.

Also, I can understand your apprehensions about doing the CSB, but the master cylinder is a pretty easy job. As long as you've got a basic set of tools, a friend to pump the brake pedal for you and a constant internet connection to google it should be relatively pain free. Figure most shops'll charge $2-300 for doing the master alone, go and spend that money on tools.

[firstE30]

exactly. I am willing to pay someone for their labor but im not going to buy a new #300 MC when i have a perfectly good used one i bought on here for $150.

[UNHCLL]

exactly. I am willing to pay someone for their labor but im not going to buy a new #300 MC when i have a perfectly good used one i bought on here for $150.

Therein lies your problem - it's not even a factor of bringing them your own discount-shopped NEW parts, you want them to install USED parts.

Insurance for repair shops, if they are a legitimate organization who carries proper insurance (most don't believe it or not...) is serious when it comes to stuff like this.

Let's theorize they install your used, unknown brake master cylinder. You drive through a school zone and a mother and her 2 pre-schoolers walk out from behind a blind spot and you run them over because your "perfectly good" USED master cylinder fails... Who is to blame... you for buying used parts, or the professional shop who installed your used parts? (Pro Tip: In the courts, the Shop gets screwed because they are the "Professional" group).

Sorry - if you want to install used parts, either get the know how and tools to do it yourself, or seek out friends who can teach you.

[McGyver]

exactly. I am willing to pay someone for their labor but im not going to buy a new #300 MC when i have a perfectly good used one i bought on here for $150.

This is exactly why shops hate to install customer supplied parts:
-How do you know it is good?
-how long do you expect that cylinder to last?
-if they install it for you and it doesn't work, do you get your money back? do they re-do the job for free? re-do it for cheaper?
-if they install it and it dies in a week, whose fault is it?
-would you be comfortable with them installing a part, charging $300, then not guaranteeing that they installed it correctly?

you get into a big pile of legal issues that isn't worth the time or $30 an hour they may make off in labor (after overhead). sure they charge 1.5-2 times what they pay for parts, but that's how they make money. and if they fuck up, they eat the cost and fix it.

so either pay the shop to do it correctly with their parts, take your cheap ass to a place that will install your used and unknown parts, or buy the tools and learn how to do it yourself and half-ass you're e30 into the grave.

[Roysneon]

Everything works off of liability, as in "what is the likelihood of shit going sideways, and will I get screwed around if it does". If the chances of either/both are pretty high, a shop won't touch it, and rightly so.

As far as markup on parts goes, there is a pretty decent markup on aftermarket stuff, but if they have to source dealer only parts, most dealers at least where I'm from only allow a 10-15% discount for shops.

[NoM54me]

E30 = DIY. Neither of these parts are particularly difficult to replace, just time-consuming. Both can be replaced with only a small tool set and an afternoon. By the way, I hope you have a NEW driveshaft support bearing.

[firstE30]

I do have a new bearing. As much as i appreciate all the free legal advice, ii happen to be a law student myself so i can appreciate liability and insurance. however, I would have thought i could at least sign a waiver or something so i could get my parts put on.

Generally i have found this community helpful and respectful so i would appreciate if you could keep the discussion that way and understand that not everyone on here has a garage full of tools or an unlimited budget.

[markt51]

You could install both of those parts with a decent tool set. Shouldn't take long to do either. Master will be easy. The bearing is relatively easy, but a little tedious bc of what else you have to remove to get to it. Definitely have a friend to pump the brakes, and put car in and out of gear to allow the drive shaft to turn when you want to go to the next bolt to undo.

[Farbin Kaiber]

It's not free legal advise, it's explaining how you are wrong, and how the world actually works from people experienced and well versed in these things. I've spent my entire career running automotive repair facilities, and customers like you are a reason why shops won't install used or customer supplied parts. Nobody is trying to be disrespectful, it's just that if you didn't catch a clue from the shop, we already know that and will tell you like it is.

You don't need an unlimited budget, nor a garage full of tools, what you are trying to do can be done in an apartment parking lot with a $69.99 set of tools from a local Big Box home improvement warehouse.

[FredK]

An MC replacement can be done with 3 tools.

7mm and 13mm combo wrench, and 11mm flare nut wrench. Add in a piece of PVC tube to bleed the brakes and you're good to go.

[Roysneon]

I do have a new bearing. As much as i appreciate all the free legal advice, ii happen to be a law student myself so i can appreciate liability and insurance. however, I would have thought i could at least sign a waiver or something so i could get my parts put on.

People think lots of things, doesn't mean that's how it is.

Generally i have found this community helpful and respectful so i would appreciate if you could keep the discussion that way and understand that not everyone on here has a garage full of tools or an unlimited budget.

Now this is truly lul worthy. Fist thinking that R3v was the PBS of forums and secondly this thread being what changed your mind.

[JGood]

An MC replacement can be done with 3 tools.

7mm and 13mm combo wrench, and 11mm flare nut wrench. Add in a piece of PVC tube to bleed the brakes and you're good to go.

I disagree. Only a vice-grips is required for this project.