[VegasG42]

So I got a set of eibach pro kit lowering springs. Just the springs, front and rear. The first shop I called today for a quote told me $1,300, pretty laughable. Then the second shop quoted me $825.

Am I missing something here?

This is what, a two to three hour job at most?

[VegasG42]

Beyond a set of spring compressors, and the open socket to take off the strut tower, and loosen the hex, is there any other special tools I would need to do the job?

[Red_sir]

Originally Posted by VegasG42

Beyond a set of spring compressors, and the open socket to take off the strut tower, and loosen the hex, is there any other special tools I would need to do the job?

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1710631

There's a list of tools needed for a spring install in that thread.

[Wasp_Factory]

Had my Eibach Pro lowering springs fitted at Motech in the UK. I sat and waited. Took them little over an hour. £520 for the springs supplied AND fitted.

[VegasG42]

Wow, that is a great deal. The springs by themselves are about $300

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by VegasG42

So I got a set of eibach pro kit lowering springs. Just the springs, front and rear. The first shop I called today for a quote told me $1,300, pretty laughable. Then the second shop quoted me $825.

Am I missing something here?

This is what, a two to three hour job at most?

Not related to the cost, but just lowering springs brings up the issue of having shocks and springs mis-matched. The stock shocks might not be able to dampen the lowering (and stiffer) springs sufficiently and could suffer a shortened service life too boot.

Addressing the cost...

The job might be complicated some by the fact the car is AWD.

Did either quote include a post lowering spring install alignment?

Which brings up: Does the car's suspension hardware have enough adjustment to bring the car back into alignment after the spring install? I ask because if it doesn't then you may need to install aftermarket suspension hardware which offers more adjustment range. Best to install this at the same time the springs are installed.

Lowering springs is a modification of the car. Not a scheduled service or even a maintenance job. The shop might charge more for a modification just because it is being asked to do a modification. IOWs, taking advantage of your desire to customize/modify your car. And a late model BMW.

A shop can make good money selling people what they need. But a shop can make even better money selling people what they want.

[VegasG42]

The Eibachs only drops the car 3/4 of an inch, so the extra wear and tear on the stock components is very little.

And yes, the prices include an alignment after the install. The alignment cost is cheap compared to the install labor cost.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by VegasG42

The Eibachs only drops the car 3/4 of an inch, so the extra wear and tear on the stock components is very little.

And yes, the prices include an alignment after the install. The alignment cost is cheap compared to the install labor cost.

$825 then for spring installation and post install alignment doesn't look all that bad.

Also, while the job might be just a few (3?) hours what is the shop's hourly rate?

[VegasG42]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

$825 then for spring installation and post install alignment doesn't look all that bad.

Also, while the job might be just a few (3?) hours what is the shop's hourly rate?

Not sure what the shop rate is. I guess they're just charging me a flat rate. But I guess if you break it down it's close to $300 an hour apparently lol

[Wasp_Factory]

The ride and handling on the Eibachs is excellent. Appreciate that there will be an argument about warranty cover if a damper bursts, but I'll swap back to the OEM springs and give it a punt if so. My view is that (in the UK at least) if you have damper problems after a year/10k miles, the dealer would say it is a wear and tear failure rather than something that would be covered by warranty. Given the state of our roads, they'd probably be right.

The £520 I paid for supply and fit of the Eibachs excluded alignment, but the point was, it took less than an hour to fit them.

I had Hunter laser alignment and adjustment undertaken separately. Cost me another £105. All up - £625, which is about 800 of your US dollars.

[VegasG42]

$800 including the springs, install, and alignment is not bad at all. Including the springs for me, install, and an alignment, I'm looking at close to $1,000

[BG42]

A lot of shops in the US now go by book time not actual time. You would have to find a shop that would do it for actual time to get a good deal.

[VegasG42]

Very good point. Even if the shop takes 3 hours, and let's say they only charge $150 to $200 per hour, then that's a way better deal