M3 E46 Front wishbone and FCAB replacement labour?

[AngryApples]

Hi all,

I've purchased a new front wishbone and Front Control Arm bush (as one unit) for my E46 M3

The labour rate I've had quoted for fitting this seems a tad on the high side

I was of the impression this replacement should take no more than 30 minutes for a competent mechanic, as it appears to be a simple unbolt old unit, bolt in new process to me (so the 30 minutes would seem to allow a healthy margin for "buggeration factor")

The rate I've had quoted in Exeter seems more like 2 hours labour + amount for wheel alignment? (in this I'm allowing £60+VAT for wheel alignment)

Thanks for any help

AA

[helix402]

The job takes longer than 30 mins, but should be done in less than 2 hours.

[martin mrt]

1 front wishbone?

If so don't bother unless the other one has recently been replaced, these usually fail within mints of each other, in my case it was days.

I highly recommend replacing these in pairs.

[AngryApples]

Thanks Martin

Oh pants.

[Schermerhorn]

All suspension and steering are best off replaced in pairs.

[rash_decision]

Schermerhorn said:

All suspension and steering are best off replaced in pairs.

In an ideal, and affluent world, yes. But ordinarily, nope!!

[martin mrt]

Even in an ordinary world, it's best done in pairs, especially on these cars,

I'd be mighty pissed off if I had replaced my failed lower arm and bush, then had a geometry set up for the other side to fail a short time later.

As it was they were replaced as a pair with one geometry set up carried out, that to me is more cost effective.