Cost estimate please

[The Boss]

Gents.

on the w124 cabrio.. i need to get both rear window motors replaced and the front passenger motors replaced.

putting aside the parts, how many hours labour is required to take of the trim, replace the motors with alignment for the window etc, and then to refit the trim?

does 2 hours per window seem reasonable? should it be more, less?

and what would a good indies hourly rate be?

just some rough guidance on this matter would be appreciated

cheers

 

[d w124]

Two hours per motor is to much

 

[Ade B]

speaking from experience, the front can be done in less than half an hour although it can be a pain to get the door card back on.

no idea about the rears as there is more involved.

I found out to my cost that pattern parts didn't fit either.

Ade

 

[The Boss]

speaking from experience, the front can be done in less than half an hour although it can be a pain to get the door card back on.

no idea about the rears as there is more involved.

I found out to my cost that pattern parts didn't fit either.

Ade

I have been quoted 4 hours for each of the rear windows and 2 hours for the front.

anyone else think this is ridiculous?

oh and this is from an indie, not main dealer.

 

[Ade B]

perhaps it takes 1.5 hours to put the plastic vapour check on (mine fell off so I threw it away )

If the quote is just for the motors and not the regulator it looks a bit steep.

There's a how to for the front on here somewhere and I went through a protracted process of mucking about with mine which is also documented on here..


Ade

 

[grober]

Here's a "how to" to give you an idea what's involved. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/howt...124-front-window-regulator-saloon-estate.html

I believe that some Coupes and maybe Cabriolets have their winder assemblies pop riveted on to the inner door panel rather than bolted-- this would increase the labour time involved considerably. I don't think the windows have to be re-aligned as they are not involved but maybe cabriolets are different. With operations involving trim and window glass-- care and protection [masking off] of surrounding components will also take time. Access to the small arc type rear windows may be limited and take more time?

 

[The Boss]

perhaps it takes 1.5 hours to put the plastic vapour check on (mine fell off so I threw it away )

If the quote is just for the motors and not the regulator it looks a bit steep.

There's a how to for the front on here somewhere and I went through a protracted process of mucking about with mine which is also documented on here..


Ade

i might get her sent up to milton keynes, as when i enquired some time ago, they came back with something more reasonable..

parts is separate, just talking labour hours.. and this guys quote is £70/hr..

do you or does anyone know what is involved with the removing the rear window motors etc?

is there an online how to guide for this?

im not sure it should be a diy jobby, but just incase it is

 

[bpsorrel]

I know it's a long way, but I can totally vouch for Olly at PCS. As it happens I'm seeing him in early march - if you weren't in a hurry, you could pop down with me and have a chat with him....

 

[The Boss]

I know it's a long way, but I can totally vouch for Olly at PCS. As it happens I'm seeing him in early march - if you weren't in a hurry, you could pop down with me and have a chat with him....

fancy a tow hook on your e-estate

 

[Ade B]

Here's a "how to" to give you an idea what's involved. http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/howt...124-front-window-regulator-saloon-estate.html

I believe that some Coupes and maybe Cabriolets have their winder assemblies pop riveted on to the inner door panel rather than bolted-- this would increase the labour time involved considerably. I don't think the windows have to be re-aligned as they are not involved but maybe cabriolets are different. With operations involving trim and window glass-- care and protection [masking off] of surrounding components will also take time. Access to the small arc type rear windows may be limited and take more time?

IIRC the regulators were rivetted and I could see how that would be a pain. The motors on mine had 3 bolts and span off in no time. The most fiddly bit was getting the circlip back on the electric seat switch - or finding it after it had pinged off across the car interior.

Boss, I appreciate no one likes to feel short changed but for £70-£140 you're going to get it trailered to Milton Keynes?


Ade

 

[The Boss]

Quote i had previously from Milton Keynes as they offer discounted rates on older cars

Hi, just asked for a labour time guide for you, if you allow about 2 hours for a window regulator and or motor @ £63.60 this will give you a guide/estimate per window. We would need to look at them to be sure what they would need though.

Thanks

Suzanne Goldsmith

Mercedes-Benz and Smart of Milton Keynes
Service Dept Bookings
01908 512500

i just can not comprehend 4 hours.. sorry!

 

[trapperjohn]

Perhaps that depends on the level of care the Indie is going to give your car Boss. Nice big open well light workshop required, plenty of room to open the doors on that big ole cabrio to work on the motors - making sure the doors do not touch the walls of the workshop or other cars in the workshop. You have a nice leather interior too Boss, no guy worth his salt will want to scratch any of that by rushing to get panels off and then back on again. They will probably work with the roof down too.
Any Indie reading your posts on here will know the level of care you demand on your cars so will price the job to make sure he has time not to rush any job he is doing for you. Car will need a valet after too, to make sure it is presented back to you as it came in. That is probably factored in to one or two of the hours quoted.
You cannot have a perfect job on a motor like yours - cheap.
Non intended by the way, just the way I see it.

 

[The Boss]

IIRC the regulators were rivetted and I could see how that would be a pain. The motors on mine had 3 bolts and span off in no time. The most fiddly bit was getting the circlip back on the electric seat switch - or finding it after it had pinged off across the car interior.

Boss, I appreciate no one likes to feel short changed but for £70-£140 you're going to get it trailered to Milton Keynes?


Ade

its actually more like £380 difference, and i have access to a load trailer

£380 is alot of money!

 

[Sp!ke]

I dont think the times are too far off having done the job myself. You dont want anyone rushing the job now do you?

Aligning the front windows correctly (if that actually needs doing) is a right pain and could well take more than two hours alone so if your price is *fixed* rather than an estimated price then I believe it is reasonable.

 

[The Boss]

Perhaps that depends on the level of care the Indie is going to give your car Boss. Nice big open well light workshop required, plenty of room to open the doors on that big ole cabrio to work on the motors - making sure the doors do not touch the walls of the workshop or other cars in the workshop. You have a nice leather interior too Boss, no guy worth his salt will want to scratch any of that by rushing to get panels off and then back on again. They will probably work with the roof down too.
Any Indie reading your posts on here will know the level of care you demand on your cars so will price the job to make sure he has time not to rush any job he is doing for you. Car will need a valet after too, to make sure it is presented back to you as it came in. That is probably factored in to one or two of the hours quoted.
You cannot have a perfect job on a motor like yours - cheap.
Non intended by the way, just the way I see it.

i agree.. their workshop is brand new, and it is very large and open.

my car is there tonight as we speak.

im just trying to suss out where their numbers are coming from, thats all

 

[Sp!ke]

I should add that you shouldnt need to remove the regulator or align the windows at all if you are simply changing the motors.

On mine I stripped and cleaned the motors before repacking the bearings with grease and refitting and they were fine for a further 5 years after. (they're probably still going strong somewhere).

 

[The Boss]

I should add that you shouldnt need to remove the regulator or align the windows at al if you are simply changing the motors.

On mine I stripped and cleaned the motors before repacking the bearings with grease and refitting and they were fine for a further 5 years after. (there probably still going strong somewhere).

this is good to know!

 

[MOCAŠ]

im just trying to suss out where their numbers are coming from, thats all

Silly question perhaps, but can you not just ask them to talk you through the process in detail? You can them compare how they describe what they will do against the procedure(s) that other people you're considering would follow.

 

[d w124]

Don`t see why you worry about,just put the price it for 36 next time

 

[Ade B]

Quote i had previously from Milton Keynes as they offer discounted rates on older cars

Hi, just asked for a labour time guide for you, if you allow about 2 hours for a window regulator and or motor @ £63.60 this will give you a guide/estimate per window.

Is that 2 hours per window @ £63.60 per hour?