Yikes -vw convertible lift parts replacement

[edwardh1]

a friend said a part failed on his vw, a 3/8 inch diameter 5 inch long bolt like part that lifted part of the top. he said the dealer charged $800+ to replace it.
what in the world causes a simple sounding part to cost so much?

 

[Mr Nice]

German engineering ?

 

[Astro14]

How much was the part, and how much was labor?

A rear main seal for my truck is about $8. But the labor is over a thousand....

 

[CBR.worm]

It's probably part of an assembly and includes a couple hours labor.

 

[Olas]

It won't just be the one part, it'll be a whole mech. with regulators and such that they want to sell him, plus labour.

Its easier to google/eBay the particular part number which can be found on ETKA or ETOS and buy the individual part, budget one set of torx drivers, some fasteners and an afternoon.

I've even known some people buy entire convertible roofs with frames, and folding roofs with motors and glass, cut off scrap cars and shipped out on pallets. But I berate everyone who goes to a dealership the same way; if you're dumb enough to go to the robbers, you're going to get robbed.

 

[NHGUY]

Where else would you buy it? Its called Monopoly.

 

[bdcardinal]

We don't even work on convertible tops at my work. They all get sublet to a local trim shop.

 

[Olas]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Where else would you buy it? Its called Monopoly.


I'd google the part no. and buy it from the cheapest vendor. I guess if I thought the dealer had monopolised sale of parts i wouldn't use eBay and motor factors (you call them ''part stores")

 

[Nick1994]

Sounds like VW lol

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Sounds like VW lol


I'm pretty certain any other imported convertible will have similar costs for assemblies.

 

[expat]

It would seem likely that the Bolt thing could be made.
(perhaps stronger than the original) for muc, much less.

Some people seem to like to boast about how they get 'Taken'