Lowering Spring + Spacer Installation: Am I being overcharged?

[brianx42]

Hey everyone,

I recently received an estimate from an auto shop for some work on my 2023 BMW M3, and I’m concerned that I might be getting overcharged. Here’s the breakdown from the estimate:

Services and Parts Charged:

• Labor: 8.8 hours @ $140/hour = $1,232
• This includes installing Eibach Lowering Springs and a Spacer Kit.
• Parts:
• Eibach PRO-KIT: $350
• Bimmerworld 12mm/15mm Wheel Spacer & Bolt Kits: $300
• 4-Wheel Alignment: $225

The subtotal came to $2,107.00, and with an 8.25% tax, the total is $2,160.63.

My Concern:

The shop mentioned in an email that they “rolled the wheel spacer and bolt kits into the labor cost for the spring install,” which makes me think the labor cost for installing the wheel spacer was already included in the $1,232 charge. However, they also charged me an additional $300 for the Bimmerworld Spacer & Bolt Kits, which I understand is the part cost.

Am I potentially being double-charged for labor here? Shouldn’t the $1,232 cover both the spring and spacer installation, and the $300 just be for the part itself? It feels like I’m paying twice for the labor involved with installing the spacers.

Would really appreciate some feedback. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Am I overthinking this, or should I push back on the shop for clarification? Thanks!

[BlkGS]

If you can't do the work yourself, then you're not being overcharged for anything.

I wouldn't pay that much for a set of springs and some spacers, but I can do work myself. I'm not sure your concern. The $1200 labor is to install springs, spacers, and the bolt kit. Then you've got part costs. Theyre not gonna give you a discount on the parts so this sounds about right.

2 hours per corner for a spring install seems a bit long to me, but it's not totally out of the question for a car that's got so much crap packed in so tightly like an M3. Also, $140 an hour is pretty cheap, so I'd be a little leery of that.

[Drewbkm4]

That definitely doesn’t take 8.8hrs to do, you got robbed bro.

[Spaxe]

Originally Posted by Drewbkm4

That definitely doesn’t take 8.8hrs to do, you got robbed bro.

Agreed, I paid around 400 for the springs and spacers... parts were mine