Book rates: the saga continues
This is a continuation of this thread:
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=16530
I was really curious about their "book rates", so I decided to call around, just for fun. I called seven different BMW dealerships in the Toronto area, and asked for a labor quote to:
1. Install a windshield wiper drive rod
2. Install two front turn signal lenses
3. Install a new brake light switch
The quotes below reflect ONLY labor. I provided my own parts. Remember, all these dealers are within 30km of each other.
BMW Autohaus
Wiper rod: 2.5 hours
Turn signal lenses: 2.0 hours
Brake switch: 1.0 hours
Budds' BMW
Wiper rod: 3.0 hours
Turn signal lenses: 1.0 hours
Brake switch: 2.0 hours
Town + Country BMW
Wiper rod: 4.0 hours
Turn signal lenses: 0.5 hours
Brake switch: 1.5 hours
BMW of Mississauga
Wiper rod: 0.8 hours
Turn signal lenses: 0.5 hours
Brake switch: 0.5 hours
Maranello BMW
Wiper rod: What the **** is that?
Turn signal lenses: 1.0 hours
Brake switch: 0.6 hours
Parkview BMW
Spoke to a guy who said he'd call back in five. Never did.
BMW Toronto (flagship store)
Spoke to a guy who said he'd call back in five. Never did.
At $107/hr, these differences are substantial. $450 seperates the highest quote from the lowest.
This all started when I got IRATE when one dealership told me they were going to charge me 6 hours' labor for 90 minutes' work, because they go "by the book rate". How, then, can five different BMW dealerships within a half-hour drive of one another give five differing quotes (nevermind the two dealerships who couldn't be bothered returning a customer's call)?
Does anyone have an explanation for what's going on here, besides fraud? I wonder if the press would be interested in my story. No doubt these discrepancies bilk BMW customers out of many thousands of dollars every day.
What the **** is going on here, where is this so-called 'book', and why does it seem like no two dealers use the same one?
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