Ohlins R&T labor cost

[E90325M]

I have a quote from a shop which install the Ohlins R&T coilover with labor cost around $1700 (10 hours job) which included installation and alignment. Not included the camber plate adjustment.

Basically I have all the necessary tools in my garage and just not so confident to install it by myself alone. Currently my car has Bilstein B8 Sport Shock Kit & swift sport springs & GC camber plate.

I was thinking to install it by myself and bring the car to the shop for alignment and camber plate adjustment.

Any thoughts or ideas or tips? Pls inspirit me to do that

Those Ohlins R&T kit has been sit in my garage for a while.

[Idfkman]

I paid a bit over $500 bucks w/ alignment for my coilover install. Did not include corner balancing.

Highest quote I received was about $1200 from a very reputable shop locally.

Was going to attempt to DIY it until I got the $500 quote from 2 shops less than 10 mins away who are very familiar with this chassis.

In retrospect, I wish I would have tried to DIY it. Would have made it easier (or maybe just more familiar) to troubleshoot and adjust down the road.

10 hours of labor seems a bit high though. Has the shop installed coilovers on this chassis before?

[nrubenstein]

It's really easy. DIY it.

[GeorgeA]

Definitely not a 10 hour job for any experienced mechanic. I did mine with a friend in 5 hours without a lift and we are not mechanics. I’d say 500 with alignment is fair.

[Johal E32]

10 hours? They must be including lunch break.. and nap time.

Grab a friend and DIY on a weekend.

[tom @ eas]

The 10 hour quote is book time, this is one of those cases where book time doesn't line up with actual time.

We always quote actual time. Typically 4 hours for installation, including assembly and height adjustment.

[neilum]

My sense is they aren't all that familiar with this chassis, or just not the friendliest shop, and are just quoting book time as mentioned.

I would definitely get another quote, or tackle it if you have the time. If I didnt have little kids and had a weekend where no one would bother me every 5 minutes I would have done it myself, and I am no mechanic.

Local shop here charged 4 hours IIRC, plus $150 for alignment.

Ohlins to this day was my best mod fwiw if you need motivation : )

[slcook54]

My shop charges $600 flat for ohlins install and alignment.

[WagonR]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

The 10 hour quote is book time, this is one of those cases where book time doesn't line up with actual time.

We always quote actual time. Typically 4 hours for installation, including assembly and height adjustment.

E90325M, not trying to sidetrack the thread, but did want to ask EAS something on the subject.

Tom, how much stuff do you replace when you do the install? Obviously he already had camber plates, so top hats covered, but BMW would basically recommend that every aluminum bolt/nut is one time use, and that any reused cups/mounts/rubber bushings be replenished. Is the general thought 1) replace what you can, 2) replace nothing, it's fine, or 3) replace these _____ key items?

E90325M, to be more useful, if you want to tackle it yourself, let me know. I'd be willing to help. I've done an E92 instillation as well as about a dozen other random suspension installs at this point. Have all the tools, and we're reasonably close to my understanding.

[BayE30]

i just installed a set last weekend with a friend. took us about 6hours without a lift. I have background as a mechanic in the past, and have installed coilovers on 5 e9x m3 over the last couple years. i think average DIY guy can get it done in a day no problem.

[E90325M]

Originally Posted by WagonR

E90325M, to be more useful, if you want to tackle it yourself, let me know. I'd be willing to help. I've done an E92 instillation as well as about a dozen other random suspension installs at this point. Have all the tools, and we're reasonably close to my understanding.

Thank you, that would be great!
will give you a PM tomorrow and start to prepare the installation.

Jacky

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by WagonR

E90325M, not trying to sidetrack the thread, but did want to ask EAS something on the subject.

Tom, how much stuff do you replace when you do the install? Obviously he already had camber plates, so top hats covered, but BMW would basically recommend that every aluminum bolt/nut is one time use, and that any reused cups/mounts/rubber bushings be replenished. Is the general thought 1) replace what you can, 2) replace nothing, it's fine, or 3) replace these _____ key items?

E90325M, to be more useful, if you want to tackle it yourself, let me know. I'd be willing to help. I've done an E92 instillation as well as about a dozen other random suspension installs at this point. Have all the tools, and we're reasonably close to my understanding.

Bolts are reused. Pinch bolts or hardware for strut mounts are not aluminum, but appear that due to the coating (dacromet?) used.

You can definitely tell an aluminum bolt by holding it - it's ultra light.

[E90325M]

Originally Posted by Idfkman

I paid a bit over $500 bucks w/ alignment for my coilover install. Did not include corner balancing.

Highest quote I received was about $1200 from a very reputable shop locally.

Was going to attempt to DIY it until I got the $500 quote from 2 shops less than 10 mins away who are very familiar with this chassis.

In retrospect, I wish I would have tried to DIY it. Would have made it easier (or maybe just more familiar) to troubleshoot and adjust down the road.

10 hours of labor seems a bit high though. Has the shop installed coilovers on this chassis before?

The shop is very reputable one near my house and when they gave me the quote, I am also suprised if they have done this chassis before. We are a small city of E9x m3 owner.

[E90325M]

DIY finished Ohlins R&T with the great help of WagonR So glad to do it myself and learnt a lot of things. Dampening set up is: Front 5 clicks and Rear 10 clicks.
Balance and camber plate adjustment scheduled on end of this month.

[amrazM]

That price was insane,


Im glad you DIY'd. Nothing better than turning your own wrenches.

[Wally1552]

Originally Posted by amrazM

That price was insane,


Im glad you DIY'd. Nothing better than turning your own wrenches.

Feeling of accomplishing yourself does feel great right? Plus I like to look at it from the perspective that instead of paying labor for someone else to do it, I can buy my own tools to keep forever and still save some.

That said, the most difficult part for me was the rear trailing arm bolt. It took me about about an hour and half to align the arm and spindle to get the bolt through.

[tdott]

You can buy a quickjack and some tools to diy and it would pay for them in 1 job at that rate.

Would be a good investment also. Make all future projects easier.

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by Wally1552

Feeling of accomplishing yourself does feel great right? Plus I like to look at it from the perspective that instead of paying labor for someone else to do it, I can buy my own tools to keep forever and still save some.

That said, the most difficult part for me was the rear trailing arm bolt. It took me about about an hour and half to align the arm and spindle to get the bolt through.

everyone has a hard time lining that up to get the bolt through, in my experience ive found it easier to get the spindle and the trailing arm ride height or higher.

[E90325M]

Originally Posted by Wally1552

Feeling of accomplishing yourself does feel great right? Plus I like to look at it from the perspective that instead of paying labor for someone else to do it, I can buy my own tools to keep forever and still save some.

That said, the most difficult part for me was the rear trailing arm bolt. It took me about about an hour and half to align the arm and spindle to get the bolt through.

Yes, that is a hard part.
I use a floor jack to lift the Big braker kit a little (not too much) and then you hold the that BBK, pull outside and down side direction and align the hole, I'm able to do it by myself, if you have a friend to help, that would be more easy.

[E90325M]

Originally Posted by tdott

You can buy a quickjack and some tools to diy and it would pay for them in 1 job at that rate.

Would be a good investment also. Make all future projects easier.

Yes, totally agree.

[Mimmer]

Originally Posted by E90325M

Yes, totally agree.

any issues? any tips? im thinking of tackling this but up in the air..

did you use any parts from OEM? i read something about shaving off the rubber of oem... did you do that too?

[TboneS54]

Good job tackling it yourself!

I too have B8s with swifts. I too plan on getting Ohlins some day. I'm fairly happy with the B8s/swifts, but I think there's room for improvement. Would you say you were disatisfied with the b8s/swift and now there's been a major improvement or were you already fairly satisfied with the b8s/swifts and now the Ohlins are a bit better or considerably better to you?