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Is $100 an hour a good mechanic rate near you?


Dottleshead

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9 minutes ago, Dottles said:

What’s do you typically pay an hour for auto labor? Yes yes I know many of you do it on your own.

For the things I don't do myself $100 is a really good rate. 

For the motorhome that rate is $190 per hour 

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$100/ hr that sounds expensive for my area. 

$80/hr is closer.   Not sure... most bills now don't list hours,  just labor cost.   I just figure parts will be about %50 of the bill and labor will be the rest. 

I use a local shop for most repairs/maintenance.  

That said...  I did replace a rear wheel stud about 1 month ago on the Subaru.  They fubar'd the stud, and then 'fixed' it.  :angry:  To replace the stud they wanted $200.  I did it for $9 and that includes the price of a new lug nut too. 

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1 hour ago, Bikeguy said:

$100/ hr that sounds expensive for my area. 

$80/hr is closer.   Not sure... most bills now don't list hours,  just labor cost.   I just figure parts will be about %50 of the bill and labor will be the rest. 

I use a local shop for most repairs/maintenance.  

That said...  I did replace a rear wheel stud about 1 month ago on the Subaru.  They fubar'd the stud, and then 'fixed' it.  :angry:  To replace the stud they wanted $200.  I did it for $9 and that includes the price of a new lug nut too. 

How many curses was that job?  Sounds like a few at least. /;($@!

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IMO $100 hr is outrageous.  But my mechanic charges by the job so I don't really know his hourly rate.  He is significantly less than the dealership however and does good work.  The dealership is trying to jack up service charges to make up for not having cars to sell.

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46 minutes ago, maddmaxx said:

IMO $100 hr is outrageous.  But my mechanic charges by the job so I don't really know his hourly rate.  He is significantly less than the dealership however and does good work.  The dealership is trying to jack up service charges to make up for not having cars to sell.

This guy charges $25 plus cost of oil for an oil change.  He recently troubleshooted an electrical problem and rewired my high beams (in an old car).  He charged me $100 and it took him about an hour.  I was there watching go through the whole process and know he worked about an hour.  I liked it because he has a professional shop in his garage and I can be there while he's working on it and get to see what he does.  I know electrical auto problems can get really expensive.  The other thing I like about him is I know him and can get into his shop like within 24 hours while the bigger guys put us out two weeks before they can get to it.  And they charge more.  But...  I want to know what the rest of you think. I remember a private shop I went to years ago (about 10) charged $90/hr.

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11 hours ago, Ralphie said:

How many curses was that job?  

Only a few.... 

I got the stud and lug nut at AutoZone.    Got home took everything apart and removed the old stud.   No problems.

I put the new stud in place.  It just slipped 100% of the way into the flange.  :angry:   Yeah... the diameter was too small .  :angry::angry:   Yeah.. I cussed like a sailor.

I take the old stud and the new one and go back to AutoZone.  Ultimately they measured the diameter... about 15 minutes later.  Nope we don't have one.  :angry::angry::angry:

Then I go to Napa (shoud have gone there first) and they have the stud.   I was just glad I had my Prius to drive.   I didn't want to put it all back together.  WoBG was gone in her car.  

I go home and install it.   No problems. 

Time working on the car... maybe 45 minuities and I was slow.   Just as much time was spent going out and getting the correct stud.

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13 hours ago, ChrisL said:

I believe labor at the dealerships is $150- 175 an hour.  I tend to bring my cars to dealerships for service as although I pay more it’s done right the first time.

Yeah, I think the dealers are definitely near that locally.  Independent shops are lower, and my buddy who does work on the side is even less.  But $100 seems low for a shop or dealer.

You do have to ask why someone would be charging significantly LESS than the going rate.  I'm lucky that my friend is a Honda pro with 30+ yrs experience with Hondas and other foreign cars. I'd pay his shop rate if I needed a fix ASAP.

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21 hours ago, Dottles said:

What do you typically pay an hour for auto labor in your home town? Yes yes I know many of you do it on your own. But if so, you must know how much you are saving. Maybe.

For things like replacing the front brake pads and rotors I got a total bill up front.  It had the costs broken down but I don't think labor time was listed so I don't know the rate.

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Guy I go to charges a flat rate. If goes smoothly he makes out, if it goes poorly he loses a bit.

He was replacing a rear wheel bearing in my Honda Element, when I walked in to pick it up, it was up on the lift and three sweaty guys were gathered around it, sledge hammer in hand. He told me it would be a little while. A couple hours later when I was paying him, I asked if it wouldn't be more since it had been so fubar, he said nope that's the price, it all evens out...

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While I normally install a trailer hitch myself, it is usually a lift to frame and perhaps fish a bolt through, but video showed fender, trim and light removal to bare bumper and frame. Also preferred the look of OEM with new custom trim piece in bumper rather than 3rd party “hidden” with opening dropping below bumper. Enquired at dealer service department…labor $175/hr and 3 hours. Looks like when GM Rewards on the purchase hits, will pay for half of the hitch cost and I will learn a new skill.

Another dealer across town I haven’t spoken with yet, online indicated $160 for hitch (price everywhere for part) and install for $160. I may go with that. However the two other parts - trim piece and electrical connector - were not offered as a 3 piece package, but individual, each with a $160 install price. Hope that is not additive as the electrical is a straight plug-in 8” pigtail to an existing plug. I need to talk to them.

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