Front brake pads at 58k miles: $756!

[kavlono]

A light came on my ’07 Boxster saying that the brake pad detector was activated and I neeed to get my brakes checked. So I took it to the dealer today who looked at it and said I needed two front brake pads. Two hours later I got the car back with new brake pads in front and a bill for $756. I would estimate that this is no less than 8 times more expensive than comparable repairs in a normal American car. But then again it is not.

[Bladecutter]

Originally Posted by kavlono

A light came on my ’07 Boxster saying that the brake pad detector was activated and I neeed to get my brakes checked. So I took it to the dealer today who looked at it and said I needed two front brake pads. Two hours later I got the car back with new brake pads in front and a bill for $756. I would estimate that this is no less than 8 times more expensive than comparable repairs in a normal American car. But then again it is not.

No, that is just your dealer overcharging you because you allowed them to do so.
I don't think it cost me half of that to buy all 4 rotors, brake pads, and new stainless steel brake lines for the car.

It takes only 1 hour of labor to change the front brake pads on this car.
The pads themselves cost around, if not under, $100 per axle.
The brake wear sensor is typically a $20 part.

You should have asked for an estimate before authorizing them to do the work.
I would protest if I were you, and get them to discount that obscene price.

BC.

[ekam]

Well you did went to the dealer... they have nice lattes there and I'm sure the receptionist, in all likeliness, is very cute.

Suncoast
http://www.****************************************************.com/

Sunset
http://www.****************************************************.com/parts/

Pelican Parts
www.pelicanparts.com

Guide on how to change pads:
http://www.bombaydigital.com/boxster/projects/brakes/change_pads/

[ChrisZang]

Dude,

i really don't want to add insult to injury but when you buy a Porsche you have basically these options:

a) If you always want to go to the dealer for everything, better be prepared (and financially able) to pay big buck$ every time you even drive there and honk the horn
b) Find a good independent shop (ideally one who doesn't mind if you source your own spare parts) and see your bills shrink significantly. Fortunately our car is as exotic as a Civic in CA, so there are MANY good independent shops around.
c) If you know how to handle a tool then go over all the DIY pages and maybe show up at a DIY day or make friends with other owner at an autocross and they can show you how to do basic things like changing the brakes

Now about the $750 brake job. Beats me.
If you go with original Porsche spare parts, then the pads should be maybe around $250, the replacement sensors $40, so we are looking at maybe $300 in parts. That would leave us with $450 for labor. At a rate of $150 / hour that would be 3 (!!!) hours. Man, I can do the job in 30 minutes in my own garage and I am not a mechanic (I am a computer guy).

That's not right, they seriously ripped you off dude.

[Cloudsurfer]

$750 would be high, but not out of the question for a dealer front brake job INCLUDING rotors, but for just pads, you got SERIOUSLY screwed. I'd go back and talk to the service manager and demand a partial refund. There's at least $500 in labor there, for what I can do in 30 min.

[kavlono]

It is more than just pads. Here is the breakdown:

Brake linings $160
2 cable wear indicators 80
2 mounting kits 135
4 damping panels 54
labor 2 hrs @140 280

Considering I went 56k miles on these pads the cost does not seem that bad to me.