[shivaswrath]

I dropped off my F30 for a well deserved suspension "upgrade", and labor costs were:
LABOR FOR REPLACING FRONT STRUTS/SPRINGS,
FRONT SWAY BAR PLUS REAR SHOCKS, SPRINGS
AND REAR SWAY BAR (REQUESTING LABOR
PRICING)
$2,754.06
PARTS: $1400.

Apparently, the suspension on the F30 is rather intricate and intimately tied together...20-21 hours to upgrade everything.

So $4000 (including parts) is a bit...too rich for my tastes. I guess I'll just install front and rear sway bards/strut tower braces to tighten things up and replace shocks/struts when I need them in 100k miles.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Haha absurd.

[shivaswrath]

I'm still going to price out labor hours at "other" shops, I just get the feeling people aren't comfortable with the F30 body yet and won't know what to do/over quote until we get there...

I'm stock suspension isn't as razor sharp as I'd like, but I'm not dropping $4k for that.

I can get rims/tires, which will admittedley give me MORE returns (and better looks?), for a $2k.

[scott@bmwhn]

yeah...I would shop around. It sounds like they totaled up labor time on each individual job not accounting for serious amounts of overlap. 10 hours should be ample amount of labor time.

[Number]

Originally Posted by scott@bmwhn

yeah...I would shop around. It sounds like they totaled up labor time on each individual job not accounting for serious amounts of overlap. 10 hours should be ample amount of labor time.

Not only that... They charge hourly for the pre-calculated "estimated time" that BMW determined is necessary for the labor... which is REALLY generous to the service dept. I swear the estimated time is modeled after a mechanic who's never touched a power tool in his life and has to lift the car up with his own back. Basically, what you're paying for is the facility and all the BMW approved diagnostic tools. Oh and warrantied work.

The estimated time for install of my H&R springs was 7 hours at the dealer. With power tools, you can do it in less than 1 hour easy.

[shivaswrath]

UPDATE: 9 hours labor.

So NOW, all in, $2700. MUCH more reasonable.

[s1k0ne]

If i were you, I'd buy the power tools and replace it yourself for that price. that's just absurd. Doing it on my own on my previous car took me 6 hours with power tools and a breaker bar and that was my first time doing it. It's quite easy to install if you have a friend or someone who has a general idea regarding suspension.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by s1k0ne

If i were you, I'd buy the power tools and replace it yourself for that price. that's just absurd. Doing it on my own on my previous car took me 6 hours with power tools and a breaker bar and that was my first time doing it. It's quite easy to install if you have a friend or someone who has a general idea regarding suspension.

in my 20's...that was what I would've done.

in my early 30's, I neither have the time, tools, or desire to do so...If I did, I would spend it with my wife, or finishing up an extra class for my part-time MBA.

With that said, i agree, it's f'ing HORRIBLY $$.
Price to pay when going german...

[Number]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

UPDATE: 9 hours labor.

So NOW, all in, $2700. MUCH more reasonable.

That's more reasonable. If I were you, I'd do it. The warrantied work is worth it. If you did the install yourself, you'd save some $$. But good luck if you have any issues with your suspension. BMW will act like they don't know you.

[s1k0ne]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

in my 20's...that was what I would've done.

in my early 30's, I neither have the time, tools, or desire to do so...If I did, I would spend it with my wife, or finishing up an extra class for my part-time MBA.

With that said, i agree, it's f'ing HORRIBLY $$.
Price to pay when going german...

i'm in the same boat as you with the MBAs and i'm in my high 20s. getting the bmw after being with someone after 5 years. guess i have the luxury of not spending time with someone?

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by Tremolo

That's more reasonable. If I were you, I'd do it. The warrantied work is worth it. If you did the install yourself, you'd save some $$. But good luck if you have any issues with your suspension. BMW will act like they don't know you.

yup, just pulled it....trigger that is

[bmrm396]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

yup, just pulled it....trigger that is

sweet! there have been rumors that the set does not include springs and u need to purchase seperately? is that tru?

give us an update once theyre on!

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by bmrm396

sweet! there have been rumors that the set does not include springs and u need to purchase seperately? is that tru?

give us an update once theyre on!

rumor should be false, esp what I paid for - it's a complete assembly, strut/spring + M perf Anti Roll bars (front and rear are required)...

[nano10]

OP, you went with M sport suspension not M performance correct? I am waiting to order m performance but few vendors have said springs not available yet for this kit.

[bmrm396]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

rumor should be false, esp what I paid for - it's a complete assembly, strut/spring + M perf Anti Roll bars (front and rear are required)...

im assuming he is getting the M perf susp based on the price. Maybe he mis-titled the thread because he didnt have the msport package so he therefore needs the new, stiffer sways in the rear that are required if u dont have sport/msport

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by bmrm396

im assuming he is getting the M perf susp based on the price. Maybe he mis-titled the thread because he didnt have the msport package so he therefore needs the new, stiffer sways in the rear that are required if u dont have sport/msport

Exactly.

I purchased a base 335i since I didn't want/need all the M sport stuff. I like the sleeper look (WTF just blew by me?!?!)

The M Perf Suspension is available in the United States, which is what I purchased, but the M SPORT ARB's (from the M Sport version of 335i's) is not available in the US, and has to come from Germany....and you apparently are required to have these beefier ARB's since the suspension dynamics/geometry are shifting. It was only $200 for them both, so no big deal, and no addition of labor since it's all being taken apart.

I'll post before and after pics in a few weeks...the wait is KILLING ME.

[nano10]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Exactly.

I purchased a base 335i since I didn't want/need all the M sport stuff. I like the sleeper look (WTF just blew by me?!?!)

The M Perf Suspension is available in the United States, which is what I purchased, but the M SPORT ARB's (from the M Sport version of 335i's) is not available in the US, and has to come from Germany....and you apparently are required to have these beefier ARB's since the suspension dynamics/geometry are shifting. It was only $200 for them both, so no big deal, and no addition of labor since it's all being taken apart.

I'll post before and after pics in a few weeks...the wait is KILLING ME.

So did they install the "M Performance" springs as well, can you get a part number for them? Thanks.

[shivaswrath]

Spring Strut: 33502320981
OEM Sway bars: 33556853474 & 31356792125

[bananachipz]

I should be getting my kit tomorrow!.. Have to call my dealer about install $.. I'll keep you posted.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by bananachipz

I should be getting my kit tomorrow!.. Have to call my dealer about install $.. I'll keep you posted.

Me too! WTH? Are we on the same shipping crate from Germany, lol?

Hope to be in shop by Thursday/Friday.

[justinnum1]

do they just have perforamnce sway bars(like one that would go over the engine?)

how much?

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

do they just have perforamnce sway bars(like one that would go over the engine?)

how much?

Not yet.

I'm waiting on the M Perf Suspension (spring/strut) and M Sport Front and Rear Anti roll bars (which are en route from Germany).

Such a lengthy process....