Shop Maintenance cost?

[xjdefx]

Hi guys! As you know I am extremely new to the world of BMWs and don't want to get screwed just doing some necessary maintenance stuff. I did a search and really didn't find what I was looking for so I figured I would ask.

What's the going rate for a valve adjustment at a shop? I know it varies from shop to shop but I just need a ballpark estimate so I know if their charging too much.

The other day I was quoted $300 dollars to fix a sloppy shifter, does this sound appropriate? (Strictly German, Braselton, Georgia)

The shifter maybe I could do myself, the valves I won't even attempt, I had an old VW bug and tried adjusting the valves on it once...whew.

Thanks for any replies, I just want to give this car the maintenance someone has badly failed to give it.

[z31maniac]

$300 for the shifter?

Are they buying you a steak dinner and giving you a reach around? I hope so for that price.

I think most on here will tell you to buy a Bentley Manual and learn to work on the car yourself, or you will spend a ton. Most shops see BMW and the prices go through the roof.

[xjdefx]

Oh, there will be plenty of things I will fix myself, but having matured in age some, I now judge jobs by their pain in the ass quotient. To repair/ replace shifter bushings and whatever seems like a pain in the ass from all the write- ups. (Am I wrong?) I guess I need to find some local Bimmer buddies in Georgia, I always feel better when I have a friendly person to help.

Oh and thanks for your suprise at the 300 dollar price, I felt the same way too, and this coming from a shop that seems highly exalted by BMW owners in the area.

[z31maniac]

Try to find some guys in your area. Then bribe them with food and beer.

[einstein57]

Does the $300 include a Z3 short shitfter and new selector seal? I would say it could be a 2-3 hour job depending on if they need to drop the driveshaft and whether or not your car is all rusty and how much work they are doing. @ $85-100 per hr i'd say that's about right to R & R your complete exhaust system and driveshaft. Since I had my car on the lift i decided to make it easy on myself and replace everything that was around it so i would not need to do it later (guibo, center bearing, tranny mounts, seals, shift ball cover, exhaust hangers, short shifter, custom solid copper wire reverse cable so it won't drag on my driveshaft ever again.) Everything took me about 4 1/2 hrs. So lets say 6 if you do it on the ground.

[WillisE30]

Valve adjusts pay somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.8 if my memory serves me(that's probably high but who knows). Should be no more than $200 including parts.

Either way make sure you take your car to a shop that is repuatable and specializes in European cars. Otherwise you're running the risk of having people who don't really know what they're doing work on your car.

Or you can do it yourself, which has plenty of pros and cons.

[z31maniac]

The problem here is our "Import" shop is a bunch of dipshits.

I wouldn't let them air up the tire on a bicycle.

[scabzzzz]

Im pretty sure you could look up a list of shop rate hours online if you search in google. 1.8 sounds about right. Takes nearly 25 minutes but i guess thats assuming they will have to touch every single valve and adjust accordingly.

[wagonizzle]

I would probably pay someone to R&R my shifter before I paid them to do a valve adjustment. VERY easy on an M20; one of the first things I did when I got the car (with fairly limited mechanical experience). For under $60, you could have a new valve cover gasket, valve feeler gauge, and a Bentley manual. To make the job even easier, pull the wire off the coil and bump the starter to rotate the cam. You can adjust any valve eccentric whose rocker is not being pressed by the cam. Just make sure to mark them once they are adjusted so you won't lose track; I put a piece of painter's tape on top of the rockers that I've already done. Even the first time, it will only take a couple hours start to finish, and you will know more about your car.

Oh, and whether you do this or pay someone, they will still be noisy. It's how it is. Even if you get them perfect, and they are pretty quiet, your injectors will tick. Deal with it. Good luck!

[StereoInstaller1]

What's the going rate for a valve adjustment at a shop? I know it varies from shop to shop but I just need a ballpark estimate so I know if their charging too much.

I think the 1.8 sounds about right.

The other day I was quoted $300 dollars to fix a sloppy shifter, does this sound appropriate? (Strictly German, Braselton, Georgia)

depends on what is meant by "fix". If they did the cheeseball crap I did on my car, hell no. If they actually replace ALL of the bushings, seals, linkage AND replace the lever...yeah, $300 is a good price.

I swapped in a Z3 shifter and new ball bushings in about 20 minutes and said screw it on the rest until I pull the motor..."welded on" exhausts suck.

The shifter maybe I could do myself, the valves I won't even attempt, I had an old VW bug and tried adjusting the valves on it once...whew.

Horseshit. If you can change a lightbulb in an oven, you can adjust valves on an M20. These cars are meant to be worked on. You can actually SEE every part you are dealing with, and it all makes sense. Paying the 1.8 hours isn't too bad, but doing it yourself is "priceless".

Welcome to the world of E30 ownership. Go buy some hand cleaner, you are gonna need it!

Luke

[e30 Luv]

Welcome to the world of E30 ownership. Go buy some hand cleaner, you are gonna need it!

:p they are called dirty e30 for a reason. You are way better off learning to do this stuff in your own garage. The amount of money you'll need to spend to pay other people to tune-up and maintain these cars isn't worth it. 20+ year old cars need a lot of tlc to get into shape. First of all, most places you take it to wouldn't know if it was a 4 or 6 cylinder. Second, they will automatically charge more for the bmw badge. If the "pain" of fixing up this car is something you'd rather buy out of, then I hope money is really no objection. I think you'll find out its really not that bad once you get in there.

[Addiction2E30s]

Where is hell is Maysville?
I'm in Sharpsburg, and can possibly help you out.

[E30 Cabrio]

The problem here is our "Import" shop is a bunch of dipshits.

I wouldn't let them air up the tire on a bicycle.

Most of them are ricers nowadays.

Take a look at the cars they have up on the lifts and the cars parked outside will tell you a lot about what goes on inside.

[eric (^__^)]

Try to find some guys in your area. Then bribe them with food and beer.

Important: give them the beer AFTERWARDS

[flawdaboi407]

Diy