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radiator replaced... how much did i get suckered?
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:49 pm
by theflystyle
im hoping that the price isnt too bad.
had a radiator leak, took it to someplace that does good work that i know. but only had taken my car there once before. here is the breakdown.
1. coolant leak check 21.75
2. shop materials 19.95
3. replaced radiator 121.80
4. peal coolant 15.98
5. distilled water 1.99
6. metric clamp 4.90
7. radtiator 198.50
$87/hr labor it seems, but the best part is that i dropped it off at 6pm Friday and I can pick it up 2pm today (saturday)
thoughts?
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:24 pm
by Kelly
Well. I think that looks about average.
Not to sure about the distilled aqua charge though. I mean, you dont really have to use distilled, but I suppose it really wouldn't hurt, and maybe its kinda nice attention to detail.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:57 pm
by joeWM
probly would of been alot cheaper if u did it urself
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:51 pm
by theflystyle
no access to a garage and yea its not a hard job. he showed me the old radiator, never noticed the ends are plastic. the new one is all metal.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:26 pm
by evolutionmovement
You don't need a garage, but those prices seem fair. Seems like they charged you almost an hour and a half for labor? Can't tell, but it lists 121.80 to replace. That's high IMO unless they're counting old coolant disposal. I've swapped the radiator in half an hour on the street even fighting rusted screws on the fans. Had to get a new plastic container to drain the coolant and that was it.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:31 pm
by Buffman
The plastic end units have about the same life expectancy as all metal units. Sometimes quality is a hit or miss. $200 isn't bad for the radiator. I hope it has a decent warranty on it. If it's a turbo model I recall those Rads costing more than $200 so that would be a good deal.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:41 pm
by Kelly
It really probablly takes about a hour and a half hour to do it, and make sure its done right. Drain, R&R, refill, burp, heatcycle, testdrive, and check for leaks.
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:05 am
by joeWM
Buffman wrote:The plastic end units have about the same life expectancy as all metal units. Sometimes quality is a hit or miss. $200 isn't bad for the radiator. I hope it has a decent warranty on it. If it's a turbo model I recall those Rads costing more than $200 so that would be a good deal.
i just had to buy a new one for my SS only $187
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:02 am
by theflystyle
yeah they did make sure all the air was out, that seemed to take a while but is a non turbo and it was about 1.6 hrs on the bill
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:41 am
by xoomer
I bought my turbo radiator for $130 If that helps?
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:24 pm
by Richard
Bought my radiator from the dealer for ~$320.
Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:24 pm
by James614
Holy crap! You can get an aluminum racing rad for like $100 less than that
