Need advice on spark plugs

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by EvenSteven

If you can ever reach them. I think the phone girl eats the messages you leave.

yea she is not the best to say the least

PM me if you want their personal contact info, that's how I get in touch with them. even then, its still a challenge for sure

[tdott]

You seem like the kind of guy that should pay the $800, that way you have your peace of mind that it is done right.

Other members perfer not to have someone possibly violate their car on a 'test' drive or while in the shop.

I trust myself to do a simple plug change properly more than anyone else. That gives me peace of mind.

[rev9k]

they must've seen you coming for that price. Did you mention "distributor cap" to them?? That prob raised the price as well; there is no distributor.

[dparm]

I'd ask for a breakdown of the cost. Even if they charge you two hours of labor at $150/hr, there's no way that the plugs are $500 ($60/plug).

[osteome]

Must be a Texas thing...the San Antonio dealer quoted me "about $800.00". I bought the coil puller tool and will DIY in the near future.

[thekurgan]

Easy DIY aside from cyl 8, you don't need any tool, which may snap the top of the coils if they are aged, just use your fingers lol.

[M3/4 life]

Originally Posted by rev9k

they must've seen you coming for that price. Did you mention "distributor cap" to them?? That prob raised the price as well; there is no distributor.

No, I actually called my SA on the phone & asked for a quote to get my plugs changed & she informed me that it would be $843.00

[M3/4 life]

Originally Posted by dparm

I'd ask for a breakdown of the cost. Even if they charge you two hours of labor at $150/hr, there's no way that the plugs are $500 ($60/plug).

I think I'm just going to wait until the spring to get it done I'm only at 22,800 miles, that way I can call around & see if I can get a better quote.

[M3/4 life]

Originally Posted by KennyPowers

yea she is not the best to say the least

PM me if you want their personal contact info, that's how I get in touch with them. even then, its still a challenge for sure

Appreciate the input, however if I can’t even get in touch with them & they don't have enough sense to hire a receptionist that will answer the phone so they don't lose business, I don't won't them to touch my car!

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by M3/4 life

Appreciate the input, however if I can’t even get in touch with them & they don't have enough sense to hire a receptionist that will answer the phone so they don't lose business, I don't won't them to touch my car!

fair enough. its not impossible, they are just busy.

personally, I am more interested in the quality of the work of a shop, not the quality of the receptionist but JMO. Drivers source also restores and sells classic cars, so the shop is not their sole business.

I have seen the work they have done in person, and the work they have done for me, and it is very good and fairly priced. their attention to detail is appreciated.

compared to the dealership, their work quality stands well above.

[quadpipes]

Buy OEM plugs and go here;

http://www.bimrs.org/

to find a shop in Houston certified to work on BMWs.

Good luck.

[SenorFunkyPants]

At a dealer it should be $450. I'd ring another dealer and ask the service dept for a quote...if its more than $450 I'd go ahhh OK no problem I'll leave it...when they inevitably ask why you say, its ok you can get it done for around $450 at a different dealer and wait to see if they offer to price match..

[EvenSteven]

Originally Posted by M3/4 life

Appreciate the input, however if I can’t even get in touch with them & they don't have enough sense to hire a receptionist that will answer the phone so they don't lose business, I don't won't them to touch my car!

That's the conclusion I reached. They won't get my business.

[tony093]

$800 for plugs is just ridiculous

[vAnt826]

Originally Posted by osteome

Must be a Texas thing...the San Antonio dealer quoted me "about $800.00". I bought the coil puller tool and will DIY in the near future.

Where did you buy the coil puller?

[SWOT1]

I've got an '09 with only 26k miles and just had the oil changed at the dealership (Central FL) and they said it was time to have the plugs replaced... $593! REALLY??

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by SWOT1

I've got an '09 with only 26k miles and just had the oil changed at the dealership (Central FL) and they said it was time to have the plugs replaced... $593! REALLY??

That's better than $800, but if you add the price of the dealer plugs, plus the PITA labor, this isn't bad if you're not going to DIY.

[eocrm3]

I just called dealership (Texas), and was quoted $485 for spark plug change.
Called an indie shop in town and they quoted $380.

My car is just out of warranty (52K miles), and the last spark plug change on it was at 31,600 miles ( June 2012). I purchased car earlier this year at around 40k miles.

Dealer SA said they recommend spark plug change at every 3rd oil change....which would for me would be my next oil change at around 56k miles. Wanted to know if you guys are in fact changing out spark plugs at every third oil change or on a mileage basis? I'm doing oil changes on the car at every 5k miles.

[dparm]

Even $380 is ridiculous. You can buy the plugs on Amazon for about $11 each. From what I've seen on here, if you have basic handtools you can change them yourself.

The BMW change interval is 37k and then 60k. It wouldn't hurt to change them now, but you could certainly leave them in.

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by dparm

Even $380 is ridiculous. You can buy the plugs on Amazon for about $11 each. From what I've seen on here, if you have basic handtools you can change them yourself.

The BMW change interval is 37k and then 60k. It wouldn't hurt to change them now, but you could certainly leave them in.

this guy knows whats up

these prices are absurd

[M3/4 life]

So I called my SA at the dealership back today & tell her to cancel my appointment because there's no way I'm paying $843 to get my spark plugs changed. I inform her I can buy the ngk plugs online for $112 dollars & labor should only be about an hour two tops. She then informs me that she thinks she made a mistake & tells me she'll call me back. She calls back & said she made an error somewhere & it'll be $530 dollars $320 if I bring my own plugs!

So my question now is who sells the oem ngk plugs & there's 8 of them correct?

[SenorFunkyPants]

As the plugs play a key role in the ionic current sensing anti knock system, better an early change than a late one.