OMG! I brought the new conversion home last night!

[FredK]

If the shop labor rate is $100/hr, there is no way that they would charge for 30 hours of labor to swap the engine, install the suspension, and install a body kit. I bet a brunt of the cost came from all of the parts that went into the swap, that were billed at retail prices... i.e. control arms for $150 each, etc.

[blunttech]

I said I would do the swap and accompanying labor on his car that TSA performed for $3k or less. The end result would look 10x better and work at least as well.

Terry clearly screwed him hard without any lube on the bill, but that is what they do best. How exactly the OP feels he's been done right is testimate to TSA's salesman abilities.

go try to operate a full blown shop with real employees and overhead and insurance and then come back and tell me how youll do all that for 3k. just shut your hole now as youre making yourself sound even dumber than you already have. ask someone who actually runs a shop. now go back to your 1 stall unheated garage and dream about a new 3 drawer craftsman toolbox

[E30FTW]

then youre a fucking idiot. Less than 3k to do all that work? Im not defending tsa because i dont know shit about them except that terrys a nice personable guy. But a shop cannot detail shit out like you can when youre sitting in your garage with tons of time. If you want a pristine clean swap do it yourself. If youre cutting a check expect to clean up some details yourself. I would have went obd1 though. Looks good and with a little elbow grease youll have a really nice car

I said I would do the swap and accompanying labor on his car that TSA performed for $3k or less. The end result would look 10x better and work at least as well.

Terry clearly screwed him hard without any lube on the bill, but that is what they do best. How exactly the OP feels he's been done right is testimate to TSA's salesman abilities.

[Funkmasta]

Sarcasm... Labor costs money, if the installer did these every day he could do it quick and cheap, but while on a national basis this is a common swap on an individual mechanic basis it is super rare, so not only does said mechanic need to do the work, he/she must also do the research to find what parts to use, and will likely use more new parts than a scrounge like me who is always looking for parts, and when I get enough I build something I do, the price isn't cheap, but including other work done it is in the right ballpark, if the other option is a new 135i at $40,000 then it isn't so bad, e36/e46 just don't have the fits like a glove feel of the e30, but if you can deal with an ugly body the Z3 is sweet from the inside

My brain hurts from attempting to read all of that. Can you rephrase it with a little punctuation?

[blunttech]

holy half assed over priced swap batman. $14k seriously? I would have done everything there for less than $3k, done it better, and it would have looked like it should, not how it does.

then youre a fucking idiot. Less than 3k to do all that work? Im not defending tsa because i dont know shit about them except that terrys a nice personable guy. But a shop cannot detail shit out like you can when youre sitting in your garage with tons of time. If you want a pristine clean swap do it yourself. If youre cutting a check expect to clean up some details yourself. I would have went obd1 though. Looks good and with a little elbow grease youll have a really nice car

[TrentW]

Gotta agree with the majority here--I think I'd take it back and make them detail the engine bay and align the M Tech panels at least. For the money they (over)charged you, it doesn't say much for TSA's pride in their work.

However, get some nice rims and tires mounted, install some sport seats, and it'll really improve the overall look of your car.

I am jealous though, as I'm still saving and scrounging for parts for my S52 swap and am looking forward to the day I get to take that first drive...

[napabavarian]

I am not comprehending your analogy.

Sarcasm... Labor costs money, if the installer did these every day he could do it quick and cheap, but while on a national basis this is a common swap on an individual mechanic basis it is super rare, so not only does said mechanic need to do the work, he/she must also do the research to find what parts to use, and will likely use more new parts than a scrounge like me who is always looking for parts, and when I get enough I build something I do, the price isn't cheap, but including other work done it is in the right ballpark, if the other option is a new 135i at $40,000 then it isn't so bad, e36/e46 just don't have the fits like a glove feel of the e30, but if you can deal with an ugly body the Z3 is sweet from the inside

[e30damen]

Wow. Way overpriced. Im sorry for your wallet.

[Unearth078]

beautiful car, overpriced only By a margin

i am not comprehending your analogy.

+1

[Funkmasta]

I could do it for 3k...because I already have an M3, it is free if it was paid for 5 years ago, right?

I am not comprehending your analogy.

[napabavarian]

yeah man! you coulda got a $475 M50 NV from the junkyard, and with some shoestring, zip ties and a whole lot of luck, you'd have a sleeper! and then like $100 in bolt ons you'll have 200whp no problem!

:giggle:

I could do it for 3k...because I already have an M3, it is free if it was paid for 5 years ago, right?

[e30s52]

Wow thats alot of cash. Nice car though.

[nando]

Holy half assed over priced swap batman. $14k seriously? I would have done everything there for less than $3k, done it better, and it would have looked like it should, not how it does.

yeah man! you coulda got a $475 M50 NV from the junkyard, and with some shoestring, zip ties and a whole lot of luck, you'd have a sleeper! and then like $100 in bolt ons you'll have 200whp no problem!

:giggle:

[SamE30e]

Needs wheels and tires.

[E30FTW]

Holy half assed over priced swap batman. $14k seriously? I would have done everything there for less than $3k, done it better, and it would have looked like it should, not how it does.