90000 service and complete brakes on back and front.
 

$3k from indie garage. Reasonable charge? Brakes include front and back pads and rotors sensors, etc. pDs are akebonos. Also reset airbag light and a few other minor r and r's.

Thanks, Larry

Curious where are you getting the work done? I am in NOVA

I did my own brakes in about 30mins front and back - I couldn't believe how SIMPLE it was to do it. I still cant believe how much dealer or other shops charge for something so simple to do.

$3k?? really depends on what is being done. Does that include a clutch?
otherwise that sound pretty high for just a general service

Brakes are a really easy DIY. ~$200- $500+ depending on pads and rotors
Buy a Motive power bleeder ($75) and bleeding is super easy

oil change - super easy DIY ~$60-150 depending on what oil you use
At 90k it may include a transmission fluid change, but that should not be more than a few $100 tops

to reset an airbag light you need a Durametric ($300) or a PWIS (big bucks)
A durametric would be useful for lot of other things as well, its a good thing to have, or buy it to reset the light and then you can sell it for $200 easy

Yeah,

Work being done at European motors in Catonsville Maryland. Maybe do the brakes myself next time but don't have time or inclination now. So original question stands. Reasonable price from a garage?

If it's only the brakes + rotors job, no it's not reasonable.
But I assume it includes other stuffs as well: spark plugs, filters, oil change...?

If it only includes brake pads + rotors on all 4 corners, it is not reasonable. Even here in Canada where we get it up our _ss, it is not reasonable. For $3,000 US, there most be more work done, no?

Without knowing what work is being done, no one can answer your question.

Agree. Unless the 90k service / etc. is a lot of work that amount sounds high. I had pads and rotors all around for about $1600 this year I think. Rotors are brembo I believe not sure on pads but I know the shop uses quality stuff. This is for a 2003 s too so brakes are a bit bigger than non s.

Still un-reasonable
Maybe including all above + Water Pump, AOS, Low temp thermostat, Brake and Coolant flush

A DIYer could buy all above and still do the clutch for $3k

We need the facts - What all was done for $3k???

Agree, all filters run for less than $100 :D

Ok,

Thought everyone would be familiar with the 90k service but guess I was wrong. So here's a more detailed list of the work

Change all filters
Flush and replace coolant
Change spark plugs
Change oil
Inspect a litany of things and fluids top off as needed
Brakes included akebono pads on all wheels
Oem rotors
Oem sensors

The r and r items included reset airbag light, replace a cpl of fuses, so let me ask my question a different way. Does anyone have experience with this work being done by an indie garage and, if so, how did your costs compare?

Also transmission service and standard fluid replacement

Also flush and replace brake fluid

Of course we all know what a standard 90k service entails, but that does not mean that was what you were having done (by the book).

That price is ridiculous, which is why most were wondering if something more major were included, like a clutch job, but I thought that would have been obvious by the responses.

That's a lot of stuff, and if it is OEM Porsche parts then the parts cost alone would be a lot, especially counting all new brakes/rotors/pads.

One way to estimate cost and hours would be to go to 101 Projects Website and look at the various projects that cover the work listed above. Each project has a time range, complexity, and a list of necessary parts. You could add them up and see if the labor/parts cost matches up with your $3000 estimate. (I am not sure of your year but if 2002 or less then you would probably want to do spark plug tubes/O-rings as part of the spark plug service)

I have done all of the items on your list over the last 2 years myself as DIY projects. The tools needed (jack, jack stands, UView airlift for coolant flush, motive bleeder for brakes, specialized wrenches and so forth) plus all the parts came to way less than $3000. But I had a lot of sweating, grunting, and trips to the chiropractor too when it was all said and done. :) But I learned a lot and had fun doing it. It is a hobby :) And I am not an experienced car person, this is actually the first car I have ever worked on.

That seems a little high, but then I have not recently priced out all the parts either. Or added up the labor. Sorry that I don't have a definitive yes/no but the info above may help you decide.

Good luck!

Steve

Are you getting at least a reach around for that service @ $3000?
That list for $3k means you are getting screwed

even at factory pricing, that list should be well under $1500

That`s top dollar for that work. Must been a ton of labour charges, disposal fees and tax.

I added up what the individual costs of those services would be at my shop and it came to a little under $2,000.
My weekender Boxster came with a book of receipts including the 90,000 mile service from the dealership which was around $2,400.

Ok,

So I got one response that said 2400 for a 90k service (I assume that included brakes) and one response that said 1600 for brakes(which is in line with my experience). Most everyone else told me to do the work myself for a lot less money. So thanks for the input guys. Based on what I can glean from those responses I think my garage is in line with others which is what I was trying to get to. As I said in my messages, I had a few other items that probably added a cpl of hours labor and a few dollars in parts.

Steve , thanks for your response and also trying to help.

As a 64 yr old coming off double knee replacement and with arthritis in both hands, doing the work myself was never in the cards. Doesn't make me stupid, lazy or gullible, just realistic.

Thanks, Larry

Once you get back on the road upload some pics of your car :)

Particle,

I know you are a frequent contributor on this forum and I respect your viewpoint but was wondering if your statement that my costs were ridiculous was from a DIY perspective or actual experience from a garage? Now that you have seen my full list of work, do you still think the price is ridiculous?

Thanks, Larry

You are being realistic and I hear your situation. I'm 56 and fortunately, right now, I can still get under the car and work on it (It's taking more time to get back out from under then I remember). I came into this car, like many here (I suspect) that I need to do my own work or it just wasn't going to happen. So many of us come at your original post by looking up or knowing the cost of parts, because as DIYers that's the process and seeing what $3k would buy.

You have the invoice, you could look up parts costs and do the math and see if you were charge fairly. If you are satisfied, then you have your shop and a place to go if something breaks. If my car goes belly up in the near future, I have no clue where I would go. Right now I would have to have the tow truck drop it off at my house and just push into garage

Quite honestly I have never even looked to see what a 90k service would include.
Why - because by the time I reach 90k miles (I'm at 81k now so 90k maybe a 1+ years and the car will be 15+ years old) I hope to have replaced most of the notorious wear parts

Enjoy the ride.

I have only used a shop once and that was a long time ago. I worked as a mechanic 15+ years ago, though. I do all of my own work.

My breakdown:

Cabin filter - $20
Engine air filter - $30
Coolant, 3 gallons - $150
Spark plugs - $30-$60
Oil - $50
Oil filter - $10
Brake pads - $150-$300
Rotors - $200-$600
(Full pad and rotor set for under $300, non-OEM)
Transmission fluid, filter, gasket - $200
Brake fluid, 2 quarts - $50

Going with the high end, $1470 in parts, $1530 labor. I really don't see more than 5 hours of labor, so about $300/hour labor based on your quote.

On the low end, $890, $2110 labor.

Particle/Kelly,

Thanks for responses. You may be amused to hear that my, ummmm, curiosity was raised by a $4.50 charge for a 30 amp fuse. Even I knew that was obscene. The final breakdown was 1250 labor, 1800 parts.

I'm going to do some more research on parts, looking at pelican I know the parts were on the high end, but it's unlikely a garage is going to order parts online. My curiosity is whether and how much the shop adds to their actual cost for parts.

My guess is the garage used the standard dealer shop manual allowance for labor charges. Doesn't matter how much actual time it took, but what the manual allows.

They did do a few more things than just the 90 k service and brakes but I think that 1200 for labor was a bit high. Bottom line is that I love my box, gonna install my Skybreaker next week (thanks again Fred), and maybe have a chat with the owner of the shop. Might also look around for an alternative although they are good, just pricey.

Larry

Most shops do use the book labor hours regardless of how long it takes and generally they are faster than book. One thing to look out for is labor for things that are combined. For instance if you have the clutch and IMSB done at the same time and they charge for the time to remove and reinstall the tranny for each.

On parts, a legitimate Indy should have a relationship with the local porsche dealer and get a 30-40% discount on parts. They also get a similar discount from other non internet parts suppliers and just charge you full retail. Some of the Internet suppliers sell to the public at near wholesale prices.

If you are really lucky you will find an Indy that will let you supply the parts and just charge labor only. That is the. Best of both worlds as you get some DIY savings without you doing the labor.

Wheni I have my Indy do my clutch later this year, it will be around $800 labor and the clutch kit is around $500 so I am looking at only $1300 for a full clutch replacement