2007 Audi A4 (B7) 2.0L M/T
I took my car into a shop for an oil chang (I have recipet/pictures/invoice etc) and they did the oil change for a fair cost. Side-note, I have more than average knowledge about cars, repairs, and pricing. Anyway, I don't feel like changing my own oil this time around, so I take it to this garage that I find. They've got alot of reviews, and they make themselves out to be pretty good. I called them and they charged me $25.00 labor; I brought my own oil and filter.
While they did the oil change, they also looked at the car and took pictures of parts or things that had some concern. Pretty standard stuff (apart from actually taking photos, but okay). So they come back to me and tell me that my engine mounts are bad, and so is my lower front left control arm. And my serpantine belt is about to come off too. All crazy crucial stuff.
I know my belt has about 15,000 miles left on it. Its not frayed or worn out, if anything its slightly discolored, but I was planning to change it in an oil change or two anyway.
The engine mount, that I know is bad, is the snub mount on the front of the car. Its a $6.00 part, $20 from the local AutoZone. And its very easy to change, sub 30min swap.
I didn't know about my control arm, but my car was driving fine to me.
So they came back, with the photos. They told me my engine mounts were in terrible shape and how bad it was to drive, and they showed me a picture of the snub mount, not the engine mounts (lol). Obviously trying to scare me, and scam me. They quoted $1800 to replace both motor mounts...and get this, that didn't include the snub mount(WHICH IS THE PROBLEM).
They then quoted me $1200 for the front left lower control arm... again wayyyy overpriced. I mean this is highway robbery at its finest.
So anyway, I tell them no thanks. And have a nice day. I get back to my place. Jack the car up to see this lower control arm. And guess what I find. Grease on the rubber part. No cuts, perfect condition. They had placed a dollop of grease on the rubber to make it look like it was cut in the photo. Can you believe that??? and my engine mounts are perfectly fine, no bending, grease, or crumbling of any sort. Only the snub mount is bad.
So all in all, these guys wanted to charge me $3000 plus for repairs that didnt exist!!!! Mind you my car is worth probably $5,000 at fair market value.
Is that a scam or what? And I feel bad for everyone going there. This place has 4.7 stars and 500+ reviews on google.
they showed me a picture of the snub mount, not the engine mounts (lol).
semantics. Mechanics use lay language. Nobody knows what a snub mount is, but engine mount gives people a mental image right away. And it does keep the engine from moving.
They then quoted me $1200 for the front left lower control arm... again wayyyy overpriced. I mean this is highway robbery at its finest.
This is Audi
And guess what I find. Grease on the rubber part. No cuts, perfect condition
you didn't check for play
my engine mounts are perfectly fine, no bending, grease, or crumbling of any sort.
you didn't check for play
Another armchair mechanic calling scam.
{black}:idontknow:
While I do appreciate your information, I don't appreciate your name calling. First, if I was to sit here and give you every single detail about a general issue like this, then I'd be typing for hours, and I don't have the time for that, nor do I care to spend my day doing that.
If I was to tell you that All Data shows me the exact time and steps it takes to change these parts, then you'd know it shouldn't be that expensive. (I'll let you assume why I have All Data, since you're good at assuming)
Second, as I'm sure you know, since you're a genius, that local parts stores, and dealerships charge less for parts on commercial accounts vs consumers. So if I pay for a shop to order the parts for me, you know the chances of them upcharging it is even more.
The response that it is an Audi or Bmw or a car name immediatly implies that it should be expensive is part of the problem, and lack of information on the actual cost of parts and labor. Well sure if you take it to a dealership, you should expect to pay dealership prices and that includes their parts. But a car thats well over a decade old isn't going to a dealship anytime soon, and nor should you be expected to pay dealship pricing for simple mechanical parts.
Tell me its an electronic issue, and I understand why it'll cost more. Tell me its a mechancial part on a V-8 cramped into a small engine bay, where you have to remove almost everything to get to it, once again I understand. Tell me its sitting out in the open, where there's easy access, then no, it definitly should not cost more because of the name. Do GMs and Chevys have control arms? Sure, and I gurantee you the newer makes and models cost more to replace than my Audi's because the part is more expensive and there are more electronic parts and sensors to worry about. But thats okay, you make your assumptions.
Now you come at me for saying I didn't check for play. What you could have said, was did you check for play, because visual inspection doesn't always mean its okay. Instead you assumed that I didn't. And you'd be wrong, I did. I put the car on a hoist to check them myself. And low and behold, no play. And that control arm was in perfectly good condition. Snub mount, sure that required repairing, I don't disagree.
But once again, I thank you for your opinion, I hope you have a wonderful day.
so do it yourself if you're an expert. Or go to another shop if you don't like their quote. This is not post-worthy. My $0.02
You have an Audi that, by your own estimation, is worth about $5k in the current market. It is 21 years old, working on 22, and you have a shop telling you it needs $3k in repairs.
If you know what issues your car has, and you know you can do them cheaper yourself, then why take it to a shop? Why not do your own oil change? They used your parts, charged you $25 for labor, and brought some items to your attention that they felt were an issue...some of what you knew were issues already. Did you ever think maybe they were trying to grease the bushing to keep it from making noise for you?
I'm with Joe on this one...I don't think it is post worthy. And I work on modern Audis all the time....they are a massive headache and if you know a place that supplies OEM Audi parts for the same price as OEM GM parts, I would greatly appreciate the info. Parts on all older cars are cheaper than modern ones. That's just how it goes. And parts for Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Porsche, etc. are greatly higher than their domestic counterparts. That's an undeniable fact, at least here in the States.
