[MrDan]

Just took the car in for 75k service and a few other issues. Here's what they came back with. I'm wondering how much of this I can reasonable expect to have done cheaper elsewhere (or do myself).

Service - $365
Rear Wheel Bearings - $863
Upper Engine Mount - $300
Radiator (leaking) - $1,000
Control Arm Bushings - $840
Rear Pads - $300
Front Pads - $250
Total - $3,918

Looking on the IPD site, It looks like I can save $350 by changing the brake pads myself. Then it gets tricky - especially since I can't seem to find instructions on their site.

How hard is it to install a radiator? Ipd has it for $352.

Am I correct to assume if I can take the rotor off, installing the rear wheel bearing hub (@ $180) should be rather simple?

Control Arm Bushings - no idea ...

Upper Engine Mount - not sure if it's just the bushing or the mount. It sounds like the bushing is easy, the mount is harder but still doable.

Thoughts? And does anyone know a good mechanice in the NoVA area?

 

[FastR]

Re: List of issues (MrDan)

I know that the engine mount and the brakes should be easy to do yourself. Not sure on the radiator or the bearing.

 

[MrDan]

Re: List of issues (FastR)

Control Arm Bushing? Not even sure what that is hahaha

 

[xman03]

Re: List of issues (MrDan)

$300 for upper engine mount???

 

[MrDan]

Re: List of issues (xman03)

This was at Don Byer Dulles btw. BJ wasn't there so I'm dealing with Josh.

 

[MagoonR]

Re: List of issues (MrDan)

Quote, originally posted by MrDan »

Just took the car in for 75k service and a few other issues.

Repeat after me...........never ask for a xxx mileage service. You are inviting a screw job. Either ask what the service includes beforehand or spell out what you want done.

Quote, originally posted by MrDan »

Here's what they came back with. I'm wondering how much of this I can reasonable expect to have done cheaper elsewhere (or do myself). Service - $365 Rear Wheel Bearings - $863 Upper Engine Mount - $300 Radiator (leaking) - $1,000 Control Arm Bushings - $840 Rear Pads - $300 Front Pads - $250 Total - $3,918

Definitely can do the engine mount for much less. Probably the brakes and wheel bearings too. I would seek a second opinion.

 

[chinaonnitrous1]

Upper engine mount is cake....

Lower control arm bushings an indy can do like its drinking wter.

Pads are so easy if you wheels were 20" you woulnd't have to take the wheels off the car to change pads.

Best thing to do. Order parts, and bring to independent mechanic.

 

[MrDan]

Re: List of issues (MagoonR)

I knew what it entailed (hasn't been serviced since 60k) and I had a whole list of things for him to check out. The only thing on the list that surprises me is the radiator .. thought that explains why I go through coolant like crazy.

Any recommendations for where to get another opinion? Only mechanics I trust are over an hour away

 

[phuz]

It's so surprising that your dealer is trying to bend you over.

-Brakes can be done for a fraction of that cost. $30 front set/$40 rear set (OE replacement)
-Upper engine mount is VERY easy to change and again, fraction of the cost.
-Radiator can be purchased for $182 and is very easy to change out
-You can get all 4 front control arms with bushings already pressed in for $450. I am not sure of the ease of removal/installation. I don't think its that bad.
-Not sure about rear wheel bearings, but you will need a puller and press

 

[MrDan]

Re: (phuz)

Quote, originally posted by phuz »

It's so surprising that your dealer is trying to bend you over. -Brakes can be done for a fraction of that cost. $30 front set/$40 rear set (OE replacement) -Upper engine mount is VERY easy to change and again, fraction of the cost. -Radiator can be purchased for $182 and is very easy to change out -You can get all 4 front control arms with bushings already pressed in for $450. I am not sure of the ease of removal/installation. I don't think its that bad. -Not sure about rear wheel bearings, but you will need a puller and press

For the radiator - is that something that would be easy for a non-mechanic type? Especially without a lift? I'd be very happy if I could do it all haha.

For the rear wheel bearings, if I replaced the hub (as I think one thread said to do), would that just be a bolt job?

 

[phuz]

Re: (MrDan)

Quote, originally posted by MrDan »

For the radiator - is that something that would be easy for a non-mechanic type? Especially without a lift? I'd be very happy if I could do it all haha. For the rear wheel bearings, if I replaced the hub (as I think one thread said to do), would that just be a bolt job?

You should have some DIY experience, but I couldn't put a number on it. You don't need a lift, but the car will need to be raised in the front. There are some 10mm bolts holding the radiator/IC/AC assembly together which need to be removed. There are 2 x 12mm bolts which hold the radiator to the frame from the underside, and of course the coolant lines drained and disconnected. I've never done it, but it doesn't look like too much of a chore.

 

[AthruC]

Re: (phuz)

Look up volvokids60r - not exactly sure where you two relate to each other in VA, but he'd be more than willing to do the work I'm sure.

 

[mrapczynski]

Re: List of issues (MrDan)

$350 for the upper engine mount is a massive rip off. Do it yourself.

 

[PhilUp]

Re: List of issues (mrapczynski)

Upper engine mount (whole assembly) is $60 at IPD.

 

[MrDan]

Re: (AthruC)

Quote, originally posted by AthruC »

Look up volvokids60r - not exactly sure where you two relate to each other in VA, but he'd be more than willing to do the work I'm sure.

I completely forgot about him - met him last summer. Thanks for the reminder.

Called the dealer back and told them not to do any of it for now.

 

[Needsdecaf]

Re: List of issues (xman03)

Quote, originally posted by xman03 »

$300 for upper engine mount???

Yeah, that's insane.

Buy the $25 replacement bushing from IPD and be done with it. It's easy peasy...Will, George or I could help you out. Same goes with the brakes.

Will might be able to help you with the radiator as well, but you might have to give him beer.

Oh, and the "service" is a rip-off, especially since it's not much more than a bunch of checks on top of the oil change. And since they'd be doing all that other stuff anyway....

There should be a thread in here on changing the rear hubs, IIRC.

Control arm bushings I'd leave to the pros. That's the book charge that they charged Volvo for doing mine last month or so.

 

[JoeLvo]

Re: (phuz)

Quote, originally posted by phuz »

-Not sure about rear wheel bearings, but you will need a puller and press

Not true, Mr. Phuz

No puller or press required. On the rear hubs, when you struggle for 30 minutes trying to pull the unbolted rotor off, go inside the car and release the handbrake, lol.

I did this job myself (passenger rear wheel hub), in the garage, with nothing but a couple jack-stands and hand tools. The first one took several hours, but I could probably do the second one (because they all fail, more often than should be acceptable) in an hour and a half. There will be one bolt (one of the 4 that actually secure the hub to the knuckle) that looks like you won't have room to remove, but you do. Also, I found that I had to unbolt the track bar from the knuckle to access that same bolt. This will require an alignment when you're all done, but I really don't think it's possible without unbolting the track arm from the knuckle.

 

[MrDan]

Re: (JoeLvo)

Just for the record, I love being part of an active forum where I can actually get advice and answers in time to save myself tons of money. So thanks everyone.

 

[jstro]

Re: List of issues (xman03)

Quote, originally posted by xman03 »

$300 for upper engine mount???

OMG, that might be the biggest raping ever, takes at most 30 min for a complete novice to replace and the part is maybe 30 bucks?

 

[MrDan]

Re: List of issues (jstro)

Is it still 30 minutes if the mount is cracked? Not sure what exactly needs to be replaced.

I guess I now know what caused the loud churchbell like ringing when I hit a pothole a few months ago ...