Looking for feedback on a fair price to replace a set of valve cover gaskets on my STR. Total price for both parts and labor.

Thanks!

 

Dang too bad you arent closer to me I'd do it for you cheap. Could make another video.

 

...still waiting for your to make a video on changing the Spark Plugs on the STR ,

 

I haven't gotten around to even pulling mine. Will probably be doing it at tax time though. I'm at 70000 miles now. I do have a front and rear brake video and a video on how to make the air filter box go on easier just havent had time to edit them with all I got going on. I am currently getting out of the Marine Corps and they make it harder to get out then anything else you ever do. Tomorrow is my last day so once I get back from visiting family in MI for Thanksgiving will have about 2 weeks I can sit down and edit them and film a tool layout so I can upload them. I'll work on a spark plug one soon.

 

So how much are we talking? $400+?

 

I found the gaskets on one of the sites I purchase parts from for $68 plus shipping. As for labor I havent got a clue. I do all my own work on my car. I never take it too a shop so I have no idea what labor rates and time would be on that. If you want to know where to get them from let me know and I'll get you a link to them. Hell if I had a tire machine and a balancer I would be set. Thats pretty much the only thing I take it somewhere for.

 

Pushing Tin, you shouldn't have to pay over $150 labor for changing valve cover gaskets.

 

Hmm, well I only have one quote so far and it was $725!

 

I would figure 4-6 hours of labor + parts = $450 - $500 IMHO would be good price.. But hey, I’m know mechanic.. That’s just a swag..

 

$250 max.

 

I'd say you could probably skip the dealer for this one and find a good indie shop and save some cash. If it's more than $250....roll up your sleeves.

 

WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS, ALLDATA SAYS 3.5. I CHARGE 4HRS CAUSE I CLEAN THEM, AND THE PART LOAD BREATHER, I ALSO INSPECT THE UPPER TENSIONERS CLOSELY CAUSE YOURE HALF WAY THERE ON THAT JOB ALSO. SO YOUDE BETTER TAKE IT TO SOMEONE THAT KNOWS WHAT A GOOD TENSIONER AND BAD TENSIONER LOOKS LIKE.
SO MULTIPLY 4 TIMES THE LABOR RATE. GEEZ FOR $250 YOUDE HAVE TO BE IN A MECHANICS HOME DRIVEWAY

 

around 4 hours and i think parts from the dealership cost around 200$.

 

Roll up your sleeves! I'd never pay anyone $400 to replace my valve cover gaskets. I'd bet my $65/hr Jag mechanic would do em for $200 max, even if it took 3.5+ clock hours for labor.

 

too each his own, i wasnt gonna pay a realtor $3600 to write a earnest money contract i can download from trec. Or take it to a title company and negotiate with the seller either on the 5.5 acre property i just bought either. We all pay for differant services in life or you muddle through them yourself. Im a huge diy'er and will be doing the general contract work on my next house to build. Ive already built 3 houses with habitat. Just cause you can find a deal doesnt meen everyone can and differant areas of the country have vastly differant labor rates. Houston is a $90/hr avg for non dealers. Dealers avg $120-130/hr. Most shops ive seen over the years that help everyone out and do "favors" for people by not charging a fair price for both parties are no longer in business. $120-130/hr wouldnt even get you looked at by in indie in many areas of california

 

The extent of my mechanical ability ends at air filter and oil changes. I do not have the tools, expertise or time to take on a job like that. I really wish I did!

 

Just bought the fixin's for this at my dealer, ~$160 for the gaskets and the donuts. My friend did the same on his Lincoln for $114, so there's a bit of fluff in there, so it goes.

I've only just begun approaching disassembly, but there is a fair bit of components/brackets/wireharness that must make way to get the valve covers pulled, so it is no in-out kind of deal. As mentioned previously, also a good time to take a look around for other bits/issues. I'm fortunate that I can take my time, as the car is not a necessity for me.

So, $160 in parts plus the 3.5-4 in labor @ $100-$120, puts a guy in the $500-$650 neighborhood at the dealer.

Nice thing, in going to a dealer, is when your wireharness isn't routed proper - and you know because the bracket/brackets are bolted to nothing - they will likely be returned to their proper location. Or, as you pull out your valve cover fasteners, you wonder why two of them do not have gaskets or compression limiters attached - your dealer will surely remedy the issue. Not to mention, I would doubt any Jag dealer would reinstall the coils with non-flanged hex head screws, instead deciding to sink simple hexes into the brass bushings of two coils.....but hey, do what you need to do - just know who you are dealing with and what you are getting for your $$$$.

my $.02

 

Brutal, the dealer is my choice for servicing my Jag, CP or warranty..

FWI. As a Texas Real Estate Broker the buyer never pays the agent a dime. The seller sucks up all the commision at closing.
Buyer will pay some closing fees(unless seller agrees to pay them)NON of which goes to any Realtor
How is your wall of license plates coming along?

 

I know, but the only way I could get the seller down to my offer was to do all the contracts, and pay closing except the title insurance and certain docs.
She wanted $87k and I wanted it at $60k. I showed her other properties for sale in the area and comps, and agreed to pay all closing to get her to accept $60k. If I had brought a realtor to the table, and tried to get her to pay closing cost or a large portion I never would have gotten close to what I wanted. But otherwise Ive always used a realtor on the past 3 houses Ive bought. On Land Ive just done myself, theyre less to do and much more straight forward, (to me)
And lender, and title companies dont seem to have as much issue with it either. But it still was alot of work researching what I needed.
The wall is done and I took pics of that and the outdoor kitchen but my youngest daughter downloaded the pics to their PC and I just havent gotten them off there yet to post

 

Brutal didn't ya say you know how to build? I'm obtaining a permit to have a 2000 sq. ft 5 bedroom 3 bath addition to be built this spring. I'll throw it to ya if ya need to git out under that terrible Texas heat?