I have my '02 at the shop for a coolant leak.They tell me it has two leaks, one at the throttle plate, and one of the head gaskets. They quoted me 14 hours labor $78/hr, $1092. Parts were $1000.00 and the rest was getting the heads resurfaced and a valve job. Oh and this was at an independent Rover shop. The only extras were a new serpentine belt and an oil change. Labor sounds fine. But he's high on the parts cost. Isn't he?

My local Land Rover dealer quoted me $2200 for the same work.

Am I out of line thinking the independent shop is trying to full pop me? Any reason not to use the dealer?

 

I would use the dealer for that price.
His price for parts sounds high to me too. Head gasket kit is only $150 from www.AtlanticBritish.com.
The throttle body heater plate gasket is $3, a whole new heater plate and gasket is $25.
A serp belt $30 and a oil change is what? $35?
So yeah, his price on parts is high, the dealer is so much because of a higher labor rate.

 

i'd ask the indy mechanic if you can supply your own parts

 

Labor is fair, but the parts quote seems twice what it needs to be unless they're installing a supercharger... Ask for the parts list that price covers, then go to atlantic british and add it up. How many miles on this beast?

 

75000 miles on the truck. Never been run hot. I added up the parts on Atlantic British. They're around $500.00 if I did all the hoses. I figure another $75 for fluids etc.

 

I'd do the thermostat and water pump as well at that mileage. I'd also do the fan clutch. Not saying it will happen to you - as mine is a disco 1, but at about 78,000 miles my fan clutch siezed and turned into a grenade. It was not cool!

 

Good advice from both of you guys. I'm going to call the independent and see if he's OK with me supplying my own parts. Even if I with the water pump and fan clutch, I'm only $800.00 on hard parts.

 

Wow that is why I'm doing it myself.

 

For some reason I love it every time 98roverguy posts!!!

Do you really need a valve job? Machining and a valve job should only be done if necessary not to drive up the cost.

Did the dealership price include the valve job or just gaskets? If it included the valve job I'd go with the dealership.

 

Shop rate is 10.0 to 11.5 hours, not 14 and parts are in the area of $350 if you include a new set of Magnacor wires.
Time to get serious with these guys and get them down to the $1400 to $1500 range plus wires or find another shop.