[tl_boy]

do u guys think i can go to any tuner shop (i.e. honda, etc) to get springs installed?

the bmw tuners are charging too much. i had a deal at $270 for install, which was the best deal, now they are backing out. :mad:

Very unprofessional to quote me then back out i think (lawell motorsports, houston) :mad: . So my other choices are for $400 now (just install, no alignment included).

Would it be okay to go to a non-bmw tuner shop you think?

[HRC]

Originally Posted by tl_boy

do u guys think i can go to any tuner shop (i.e. honda, etc) to get springs installed?

the bmw tuners are charging too much. i had a deal at $270 for install, which was the best deal, now they are backing out. :mad:

Very unprofessional to quote me then back out i think (lawell motorsports, houston) :mad: . So my other choices are for $400 now (just install, no alignment included).

Would it be okay to go to a non-bmw tuner shop you think?

I prefer Euro Tuner shops for obvious reasons. I had the same problem in terms of expensive installs. I searched for the best deal withen the euro community, over 50 miles away, but worth it though. I got a pretty good deal for the Norhern California area, $350 to install springs/shocks and alignment. I wouldn't trust a non-euro shop to work on my car.


Danny

[NaTuReB0Y]

man.....i'm so glad i live in southern calif......

[HRC]

Originally Posted by NaTuReB0Y

man.....i'm so glad i live in southern calif......

The places around the northbay where I live all wanted around $400 for the springs/shocks, no alignment. Another one wanted $400 just for the install of springs, another $50 for the shocks. Others wouldn't even work on it because I had my parts own already. So I had to drive to the southbay!

Danny

[tl_boy]

i hear you. Lawell is known for German (porsches, bmw, mercedes). I had shortlisted my tuners to ONLY Euro tuners as well. But now that they want to raise the prices.

maybe its hard from me, coming from honda tuning to now euro tuning to bite the cost... i know they're bemers, but again it is a spring install, not a engine swap we're talking about.

Your deal for $350 is very good. I wouldn't think Houston would be more expensive than Cali... you guys make more there.. lol.

So, more responses would be welcomed:

1) trust a good quality non euro tuner? yes or no?
2) Would i definitely want an alignment after lowering (i know most people say so, but i know Hunter on here was suggested he doesn't need it, by a reputable bmw tuner in Houston.

Originally Posted by HRC

I prefer Euro Tuner shops for obvious reasons. I had the same problem in terms of expensive installs. I searched for the best deal withen the euro community, over 50 miles away, but worth it though. I got a pretty good deal for the Norhern California area, $350 to install springs/shocks and alignment. I wouldn't trust a non-euro shop to work on my car.


Danny

[tl_boy]

i ran into this problem with one shop here in Houston. He wanted $200 for install and $270 for h&r sport springs. Then, when i told him i'm bringing my own springs, he said "sorry, can't do it."

edit: another thing, in Houston at least, a lot of Independent BMW repair facilities DON'T want to do lowering springs. I call them and tell them, "i have an e90, and would like to install some hartge springs, how much do you charge for installing them." They usually tell me right off the bat, "not interested" or "we don't do performance modifications" they don't even entertain the idea. 1 shop i talked to did, but they wanted $1,000 to do the install..... rotflmao.

Originally Posted by HRC

Others wouldn't even work on it because I had my parts own already.

[strykr]

I think any decent shop could do the front with no probs, but the rears are a little bit trickier than the average honda.

[ase2dais]

I dont know what the big deal is about springs, springs are springs, alignment are alignment, its not brain science that they need any specialized bmw machine.
I got my good fren quote me $200 w/ alignment, he own a gas station with experienced mechanics.
If only I have time and patience like I did before, I would do it myself and just bring it in for a 70$ alignment job.
Is ther something I dont know about these nuts and bolts BMWs

Originally Posted by tl_boy

do u guys think i can go to any tuner shop (i.e. honda, etc) to get springs installed?

the bmw tuners are charging too much. i had a deal at $270 for install, which was the best deal, now they are backing out. :mad:

Very unprofessional to quote me then back out i think (lawell motorsports, houston) :mad: . So my other choices are for $400 now (just install, no alignment included).

Would it be okay to go to a non-bmw tuner shop you think?

[tl_boy]

basically, this is my thinking as well. is the premium really justified? i mean yeah its a bemer, and of course we would feel more comfortable working with a specialized tuner, but for a spring job, really.... is the 200% cost worth it?

Originally Posted by ase2dais

I dont know what the big deal is about springs, springs are springs, alignment are alignment, its not brain science that they need any specialized bmw machine.
I got my good fren quote me $200 w/ alignment, he own a gas station with experienced mechanics.
If only I have time and patience like I did before, I would do it myself and just bring it in for a 70$ alignment job.
Is ther something I dont know about these nuts and bolts BMWs

[Hunter399]

Drew, dont cheap out, go with BHS, they have the best rep in the southern US


They are worth their price

[Kalin]

The rears are easier than Hondas. Germans over-engineered the fronts a little, though since the top piece sits at an angle against the spring and is offset a little bit. Plus they use quite a few more wear items. But putting it in a pro spring compressor or using the ghetto ones you can rent is really no different than a Honda. But I would trust someone who deals with German cars on a regular basis more than a Honda shop.

[tl_boy]

Hunter,

Lawell backed out. Stupid MOFOS. Yeah, they are quoting me close to $400, you know if it comes down to less than $50, i'm going to BHS and a big :finger: to Lawell Motorsports.

Ive been waiting too damn long, like over 2 months since my AR1's are sitting in the fcking garage. i'm so mad, i wanted to get it done this weekend. maybe next weekend now.

Originally Posted by hunter399

Drew, dont cheap out, go with BHS, they have the best rep in the southern US


They are worth their price

[Hunter399]

Glad to hear your going to BHS


Give Joel a call then call me when you got it all set up!


Your going to love the Ar1s

Lawell sounded sketchy from the get go, BHS cant be beat

[tl_boy]

no, i'm not sure i'm going to BHS. But between Lawell and BHS, yeah i'm going to BHS.

I'm thinking of finding a quality non European tuner. It's springs, so conceptually it should be the same i think (between BMW and Honda lets say).

When I get time i'm going to talk to them and see. Engine stuff yeah i will be going to BHS. I wish they made a supercharger for our cars.

Originally Posted by hunter399

Glad to hear your going to BHS


Give Joel a call then call me when you got it all set up!


Your going to love the Ar1s

Lawell sounded sketchy from the get go, BHS cant be beat

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by tl_boy

basically, this is my thinking as well. is the premium really justified? i mean yeah its a bemer, and of course we would feel more comfortable working with a specialized tuner, but for a spring job, really.... is the 200% cost worth it?

I dont think so! if you have trusted facilities that have done job for you before, bring it to them.

I've seen Tuner Shop man by young guys who just calls themselves tuner specialist, bcoz they love cars.

They are no better than some of the more avid handy folks we have here on this message board.

Is there a certification process to work on a Tuner Shop ?

Hey if that premium labor is peace of mind to you, its your call.

Because thats all it is, buying piece of mind.


fyi, I order a set of H&R Sway this week, Im installing the front ones. And you know who i will get the rears put on?

you guessed it, my frens gas station alignment guy nearby.
I'll just help him out with torque values.

[HRC]

Originally Posted by ase2dais

I dont think so! if you have trusted facilities that have done job for you before, bring it to them.

I've seen Tuner Shop man by young guys who just calls themselves tuner specialist, bcoz they love cars.

They are no better than some of the more avid handy folks we have here on this message board.

Is there a certification process to work on a Tuner Shop ?

Hey if that premium labor is peace of mind to you, its your call.

Because thats all it is, buying piece of mind

Agreed. Danny

[ase2dais]

Originally Posted by HRC

Agreed. Danny

thks menh! I thought there for awhile, I get clobbered here in this thread
for my beliefs

[tl_boy]

HRC, so you think its safe? You give it your seal of approval to go with a trusted non bmw tuner?

i know u know a lot about suspensions, i've read your posts.

thanks.

Originally Posted by HRC

Agreed. Danny

[HRC]

Originally Posted by tl_boy

HRC, so you think its safe? You give it your seal of approval to go with a trusted non bmw tuner?

i know u know a lot about suspensions, i've read your posts.

thanks.

The shop I ended up going to was not Euro-only. They service a mix of cars, Japanese and Euro. They have done alot of BMW's in the past, and if you look at my thread entitled "dropped", you'll see a nice M3 getting work done the same day I was there. This is huge for me, to know they work on BMW's. But even if they didn't, if I really trusted them, I would let them do the install. You know, maybe they dont really work on BMW's, but they work on REAL nice Japanese imports, and not just civics. So, if you trust the guys to do quality work, go for it!

In the end, if they do quality work and run into a problem, they will tell you. Worse case, no install, no charge. Plus more often then not, quality people work at good shops so if you do have a problem later, they will take care of you.

Good Luck!
Danny

[cm3rc]

Maan so expensive bro. just DIY it http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ghlight=spring.
i was able to do it with a couple buddies of mine nd we had no idea what to expect. And so after, i got my alignment right away. $150 life time warrenty for alignment nd check ups.

[ase2dais]

same point I was making, it doesnt matter where you get it done, its a matter of having trusted mechanics. I seen bum-mechanics at dealership when i had my MB. My favorite Shell gas station near by is owned by a car fanatic that drives a Porsche and MB SL, he is so popular that I see mostly cool cars in his garage too, ie. M5s, TL, Accords, e320s getting $2000 clutch jobs and brake jobs.
//ase

Originally Posted by HRC

The shop I ended up going to was not Euro-only. They service a mix of cars, Japanese and Euro. They have done alot of BMW's in the past, and if you look at my thread entitled "dropped", you'll see a nice M3 getting work done the same day I was there. This is huge for me, to know they work on BMW's. But even if they didn't, if I really trusted them, I would let them do the install. You know, maybe they dont really work on BMW's, but they work on REAL nice Japanese imports, and not just civics. So, if you trust the guys to do quality work, go for it!

In the end, if they do quality work and run into a problem, they will tell you. Worse case, no install, no charge. Plus more often then not, quality people work at good shops so if you do have a problem later, they will take care of you.

Good Luck!
Danny

[tl_boy]

i think i found a shop. they specialize in european esp. bmw. Good deal too. i'm going friday. i'll keep you guys posted.

package price includes an alignment, so may as well get it done.