Just had $700 worth of work done...
 

Unfortunatly it was not in mods.. :cry Here is what had to be replaced:

Alternator
Drive Belt To Alternator
Drive Side Electric Window Rod (a plastic piece broke in the fall)
Hood Hydraulic Lift


Luckily since I've gone to the guy before he only charged me labor on the alternator and window. The others he just charged me for the parts...

Got my dad to split the bill with me, but $350 was all I had in the bank... so I'm broke again... :lol

Well anyways everything is good to go and now I cant wait for my b-day this weekend... :cheers :cheers

happy birthday this weekend. Sorry to hear that you had damage. Glad your dad could chip in. I wouldn't imagine an alternator being too difficult to replace. but I've been wrong before. I know the hood lift is easy, and I don't blame you on the window. I just ripped apart my door today to replace a speaker. Perhaps I should take some pics....

^^ Yep, a friend and I changed my alternator a few months ago. It is 3 bolts. As long as you have a nice sized breaker bar, you're set. :thumbup

Sorry to hear about that, but sounds like you came out okay. :)

How many miles are on your car? And is it a manual?

The reason I'm asking...is my friend just bought an e36 1997 318is, and I'm wondering if got a good deal for it.

Thanks, and hopefully those tune-ups will last. :thumbup

Its a bitter sweet feeling replacing parts. You are always upset that you spent so much on your car and didn't actually mod it at all, but you are happy that everything works the way it is supposed to. Thats how it is for me at least.

Happy early B-day by the way!!!

Should have called me. I could have replaced your alternator for free, in about 25 minutes. I have my own tools; all you would have had to pay for would have been the airfare ;). Komodo, I did it twice in the span of a week, and didn't even need a breaker bar.

You had to of gotten rocked in labor because all those parts should only cost you 350$. But Im guessing you want to a dealer so you would of gotten rocked no matter what.

Better done right, than at some Jiffy Lube down the street. :nod

I'm just saying, but what he got done, could, well should have been able to be installed by any mechanic.

depending on where you are at in Jersey. In the Allentown/Bethlehem (PA) area off route 78 there is a great mechanic. Worth the drive. He did my stuff and gave me a good deal. Let me know if you want the info.

I'd like the name and location of that mechanic! Is he cheap?

JCL Automotive, Chris Limantour, 610-749-2079. He's better than cheap, he does great work for a good price. His shop is in Hellertown. PM me if you want his email address. I would post it but you know how spam spreads ;) .

yea didnt go to a dealer, but a guy who workes at a local dealer... moonlights as a BMW mech on the side... the window took a while to fix he told me because he had to soder some part back together bc he believes it broke when i was pulling on the window to get it back up so i wouldnt freeze...

also jms could you email me the guys address? i have family in the area of allentown and its only about an 1.25 hrs from me...

Hmm, not sure, but you prabably could just re-wound the alternator for real cheap, and thats all that there is to it. If you are buying new, I would recommend Bosch for the lifetime warranty. Okay, good weather calls, out on my bike.

Well.....all I know is....

We get pissed when the customers who let us do it for awhile and then decide to let somebody down the street do it because it's cheaper. AND, the customer ends up bringing it BACK to us so that we can solve their problems regarding oil/filter changes. When they should have brought it to us all along.

They ALWAYS come back.....whether it is the customer or the "other guys" trying to fix a problem and don't know how. :uhoh
I've seen it all....Circuit City, Best Buy, other German auto shops....come to us to solve their problems. :doh