I took my 2001 Disco II(78,400 miles) to a local shop today and had the heat shield welded back into place. They told me that my valve covers are leaking and quoted me $631.26 total for the job. Parts were $155.35 and I found them on Atlantic British for $57.85. Labor was quoted at $463.24 for 5-hours. I want to maintain my Disco but I don't want to get screwed on pricing. Since they quoted me over double on parts that I easily could find, I'm skeptical that it will take the amount of time they told me, as well as uncertain their labor rate isn't through the roof. Can anyone tell me whether or not their time and labor estimates are reasonable?

 

Typical markup on parts at a shop is 50-100%, ask him what is labor rate per hour is, if he wont tell you then move on to another shop.
If you can find a shop that will let you buy parts that is the best way to go.
If all it is is a leaking valve cover and it isint leaking to bad you can let it go for now.
But yes, that price seems through the roof.
And just a FYI, DII's are typically more labor intensive when it comes to engine work.

 

try to tighten your valve cover bolts (8mm 12 point socket I believe) Mine was leaking around the bolts even after I tighten them so I put some RTV on the bolts and it's stopped now. Yeah I know this is a rigged fix, but I'm not ready to do the valve cover gasket just yet..still working on the front driveshaft.

 

I have another oil change scheduled for next Friday at a different shop; for now I'm monitoring it to see if I can tell whether it's leaking or not. I hadn't noticed it using any, or oil spots on the garage floor. I'm not going to mention the leak to this shop and see if they come up with the same thing.

 

After you get the trk back take it to a DIY carwash and degrease the engine, then when you check the oil once a week look for leaks.
You need to start with a clean slate.

 

Will do - thanks for the advice.