Just got this quote from NRMA for a shitload of work on my 2005 Magna ES.

Looks like it's going to cost nearly $5k just to get it through rego - and maybe another $1000 for the other maintainance they recommend.

This is my first car, which I bought secondhand 5 years ago, so I've not been through the situation, of deciding when to stick with a car, when to give up on it. Anyone got some good advice? Not sure if some of the repair prices are rip-off or not. If the repairs are going to be higher than the value of the car, what's my best option? Help!

-Safety check $85.00 (In process)

-Pink slip inspection $37.40
-Replace L/H/F tyre (Worn) $139.00 *Suggested to replace last time*
-Replace rocker cover gasket (Leaking) $880.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out engine bay degrease to affected area (Determine leaks) $55.00 *Suggested last time*
-Airbag light on dash requires driver and passenger side airbags
*Drivers side airbag $800.00
*Passenger side airbag $1’950.00
-Misc $15.00

Outstanding repairs not registration fails

-Replace rear pads and discs (Low) $540.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out brake fluid flush and bleed $79.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out power steering flush $95.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out transmission service $255.00 *Suggested last time*
-Front discs noisy (Report) *Suggested last time*
-Misc $15.00

Vehicle towed in for the following issue –

-Vehicle towed in and requested to inspect for possible alternator issue.
Confirmed vehicle to have faulty alternator and battery.
*Alternator $400.00
*Battery $205.00
*Labour $390.00
*Misc $15.00
**$1’010.00 approx cost for alternator repair cost.

is all this work required just to register the car in NSW? If you dont do it and sell it, do you still have to issue a roadworthy? Not sure how it works in NSW, but sounds like you may have no choice but to repair. The Air Bags may be a fuse issue, I dont think straight up you'd have to replace 2 air bags for near $2k. I am sure our experts/mechanics here can advise on best solution for you. Best of luck with it.

Holy crap dude....

Easy to say your being ripped blind...some of that stuff you can do yourself...I mean rocker cover gaskets replaced at a cost of 880...man the gaskets are only 60, I think you can get the picture

Yea those prices are pretty out there..

I mean, $1000 for an alternator and battery, when the parts only would probably be just over $400 and only take an hour to put on.

Whats wrong with the airbags? I have a pair here that you can have for $50.

As Ricbec said, the gaskets only cost $60 and take a couple of hours to do for an experienced person.


With the help of a mechanically minded friend you can get all this stuff done for really cheap. Otherwise you're probably going to pay a fair bit wherever you go.

Just got this quote from NRMA for a shitload of work on my 2005 Magna ES.

Looks like it's going to cost nearly $5k just to get it through rego - and maybe another $1000 for the other maintainance they recommend.

This is my first car, which I bought secondhand 5 years ago, so I've not been through the situation, of deciding when to stick with a car, when to give up on it. Anyone got some good advice? Not sure if some of the repair prices are rip-off or not. If the repairs are going to be higher than the value of the car, what's my best option? Help!

-Safety check $85.00 (In process)

-Pink slip inspection $37.40
-Replace L/H/F tyre (Worn) $139.00 *Suggested to replace last time*I bought 4 new tyres for $350.00
-Replace rocker cover gasket (Leaking) $880.00 *Suggested last time* $16.00 From Rockauto
-Carry out engine bay degrease to affected area (Determine leaks) $55.00 *Suggested last time*
-Airbag light on dash requires driver and passenger side airbags
*Drivers side airbag $800.00
*Passenger side airbag $1’950.00
-Misc $15.00

Outstanding repairs not registration fails

-Replace rear pads and discs (Low) $540.00 *Suggested last time*Bought all 4 pads and front dics for less than $200 off ebay.
-Carry out brake fluid flush and bleed $79.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out power steering flush $95.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out transmission service $255.00 *Suggested last time*
-Front discs noisy (Report) *Suggested last time*
-Misc $15.00

Vehicle towed in for the following issue –

-Vehicle towed in and requested to inspect for possible alternator issue.
Confirmed vehicle to have faulty alternator and battery.
*Alternator $400.00
*Battery $205.00
*Labour $390.00
*Misc $15.00
**$1’010.00 approx cost for alternator repair cost.

I'd have to agree about you being ripped off.

Just got this quote from NRMA for a shitload of work on my 2005 Magna ES.

Looks like it's going to cost nearly $5k just to get it through rego - and maybe another $1000 for the other maintainance they recommend.

This is my first car, which I bought secondhand 5 years ago, so I've not been through the situation, of deciding when to stick with a car, when to give up on it. Anyone got some good advice? Not sure if some of the repair prices are rip-off or not. If the repairs are going to be higher than the value of the car, what's my best option? Help!

-Safety check $85.00 (In process)

-Pink slip inspection $37.40
-Replace L/H/F tyre (Worn) $139.00 *Suggested to replace last time*
-Replace rocker cover gasket (Leaking) $880.00 *Suggested last time* These come as a kit with tube seals for $40 a bank. Install is a DIY or local mechanic.
-Carry out engine bay degrease to affected area (Determine leaks) $55.00 *Suggested last time*
-Airbag light on dash requires driver and passenger side airbags This is because of a seat in the TL cars. The plug under the seat gets hit with something and the light comes on. It can be reset at the dealer for free.
*Drivers side airbag $800.00
*Passenger side airbag $1’950.00
-Misc $15.00

Outstanding repairs not registration fails

-Replace rear pads and discs (Low) $540.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out brake fluid flush and bleed $79.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out power steering flush $95.00 *Suggested last time*
-Carry out transmission service $255.00 *Suggested last time*
-Front discs noisy (Report) *Suggested last time*
-Misc $15.00

Vehicle towed in for the following issue –

-Vehicle towed in and requested to inspect for possible alternator issue.
Confirmed vehicle to have faulty alternator and battery.
*Alternator $400.00 I have purchased 3 second hand alternators (3 different cars) for $50 each recently. All have been perfect. PM me for info on the seller. Happy to help
*Battery $205.00
*Labour $390.00 Installation of an alternator is nearly 1 hour work standing up.
*Misc $15.00
**$1’010.00 approx cost for alternator repair cost.

Refer my notes. I've just saved you potentially $3500

There are also guides on this forum about how to do the work.

Mike

Over a $1000 for a new alternator and battery is absurd; I would expect to pay somewhere around $500-$600.

4 months ago I priced a new Bosch alternator (BXM1348) for my KF Verada at Burson's and they were worth about $279. This would be the same alternator your would need for a TW.
A quick look on Supercheap's website shows a Century battery would cost about $150.
In terms of labour costs; it shouldn't really take much more than an hour to install an alternator and battery.

If it was me, I wouldn't have them do any work on the car. I would either get the car towed to another mechanic or negotiate a reasonable price on the alternator/battery so that I could at least drive it to another mechanic.

Perhaps another forum member from NSW might be able to recommend a decent mechanic in your area?

Thanks for the advice everyone. From what you are all saying, sounds like prices are heavily inflated - and it's going to be worth double checking what's behind some of the issues.

If anyone forum members in NSW can recommend a decent mechanic in Sydney, ideally inner west, that would be brilliant.

"Looks like it's going to cost nearly $5k just to get it through rego - and maybe another $1000 for the other maintainance they recommend"

6 grand! you can buy a bloody good car for that thesedays, and with change left in your pocket.
And what are all the Misc for?

That mechanic sounds like some sort of pirate. How much he's doing the alternator AND the battery anyway? Normally the issue is one or the other.

Even if it was both, you could just take a new battery down there, install it, dry start the car, get it back home or drive it straight to another mechanic.

Are these guys serious or are they just taking the piss, $880 for a rocker cover gasket, while I would never use rockauto ones the gaskets for good quality ones are around the $40 each bank plus fitting

Brakes, again I would never fit to my car a set of brakes that only cost me $200, this is my life and the life of my family we are talking about but then again the price quoted for just rears is out of this world.

You could drive the car down here, get quite of bit of that done and drive home again for near the cost they quoted for the rocker cover gasket.

Air bags, why replace, do they even know what the issue is and are they sure is not just the snib under the seat.

The prices are not just inflated, they are out of this world, I would suggest to name and shame these clowns so no one else here has a risk of going to this place.

I assume that mechanic has a Gold tooth - oh and a Rolls Royce.....

Find a mitsubishi specialist - still going to cost a bit - but then you should have a good reliable car.

Ok, so I went back with questions to NRMA and they said:

The scanner codes indicate both airbags need replacement

To replace the rocker gaskets, parts = 230 and labour is 650, a 5 hour job including removing the manifold

They are allowing 3 hours to fit the alternator, so 390 for labour there

Still seems really excessive.

Madmagna - wish I could get the car down to you. Do you know any good mechanics in Sydney I could go to?

Ok, so I went back with questions to NRMA and they said:

The scanner codes indicate both airbags need replacement

To replace the rocker gaskets, parts = 230 and labour is 650, a 5 hour job including removing the manifold

They are allowing 3 hours to fit the alternator, so 390 for labour there

Still seems really excessive.

Madmagna - wish I could get the car down to you. Do you know any good mechanics in Sydney I could go to?

Dude, you need to do everything in your power to get your car out of their workshop. Like, yesterday!

Those prices are way overboard. Good luck on your mission, sounds like anywhere is going to be cheaper than those rip offs.

5 hours to do the gaskets!?! Wow! It took me maybe 3 the very first time I did it, with zero experience, considerable trepidation and studying the manual every step of the way. Plenum chamber comes off with about 15 bolts, gaskets are a pretty basic change over if you know what you are doing. I would think maybe an hour would be fairly reasonable for an experienced professional mechanic to do this job... 5 hours is bloody ridiculous. I agree with everyone else, not sure what your options are but those prices are way out there.

The original quote tells me two things:

(1) Your car has been neglected for a long time, and is need of some work. At least you now have a list of what needs doing.

(2) The person quoting for the work doesn't want to do it, the prices quoted are clearly saying "go away with your stupid Magna!" Or maybe it is a case of "You had the car towed in, you are desperate, you know nothing about cars, we will take your money. Lots of it."?

Anyhow, shop around for a mechanic who can double check that list & show some interest in actually doing the work by quoting sane prices.

(If you are handy with a spanner, most of that list can be done as DIY jobs.A dealer should be able to sort uot the airbag problem. I wonder what scanner they used, and what code popped up on it that means "the airbags need replacing"?)

Seriously - get your car out of there and go to a mechanic who is not trying to rip you off big time.

I smell a rip off...a bad one. Same thing happened to a mate of mine who went to have his TL sedan serviced at (Insert relevant letter here) Mart Auto. They quoted him three grand to do a list of basic mechanical repairs! I told him to look for a Magna expert like MadMagna. Anyway...turns out that his new neighbour is a mechanic working for a Mits dealer! Did the all the jobs for a grand total of $800 ! And he said he was still making money on the transaction. If you get a car towed to one of these big chains who are working to maintain a budget you can bet your bottom dollar they will go looking for YOUR bottom dollar...as in the last one in your wallet!

The original quote tells me two things:

Or maybe it is a case of "You had the car towed in, you are desperate, you know nothing about cars, we will take your money. Lots of it."?

It's this, it's always gonna be this.

Thanks again for the advice. Based on that, I'm going to get the car back. If you know any good mechanics in Sydney, I'd love to hear your recommendations.

ANYWHERE but there !
Are they going to charge storage for keeping it there at these prices ??
I would borrow a battery and get it out asap

My TW 2005 series 2 magna on gas cost me $5000 one year ago. Its done 200,000 km and needs new timing belt etc. Had to replace 2 front tyres.
5 G for repair seems high but any car needs to be maintained. I will spend probably 1000 getting it up to scrtatch in the next few months. This will include a clear coat repair on the roof.
Hope this helps.

Ok, so I went back with questions to NRMA and they said:

The scanner codes indicate both airbags need replacement

To replace the rocker gaskets, parts = 230 and labour is 650, a 5 hour job including removing the manifold

They are allowing 3 hours to fit the alternator, so 390 for labour there

Still seems really excessive.

Madmagna - wish I could get the car down to you. Do you know any good mechanics in Sydney I could go to?

This job can be done in your backyard in under an hour with hand tools... Drop these clowns and get a second opinion. As for parts cost, full blown retail on OEM genuine 6 tube seals and 2 rocker cover gaskets is around $170... I highly doubt they'd order them either, they'd likely get the $25/bank bursons kit, overtorque it, and it'd be back in a month leaking again.

Usually when somebody is charging such a high cost, it is because they do not want to do it.

Rip off is a massive understatement. If I was handed a quote like that, i'd go in there and raise all hell. Infact, it's such an insulting amount that they should be liable for psychological damages. Get your car out of there, for FREE (as I said, i'd be raising all hell), then name and shame. Probably a good idea to keep a copy of your quote and show it to everyone you know to ensure none of them ever go there. Heck, put it up on the internet. As far as i'm concerned, anyone who has the audacity to try charging someone that much for relatively minor work is either hopeless incompetent and takes all day to change a gasket, or a complete and utter rip-off artist wanker. In either scenario they should not be in business

Threads like this reminds me as to why I do my own stuffs on the car. A lot less of a hastle, not to mention the money aspect. Just saying.

This job can be done in your backyard in under an hour with hand tools...

A slight exaggeration, maybe?

A slight exaggeration, maybe?

Not at all... May help that I've done it 30+ times though :P Note: was referring to the rocker covers only there, alternator add an extra hour, can be awkward to wiggle out.

Rip off is a massive understatement. If I was handed a quote like that, i'd go in there and raise all hell. Infact, it's such an insulting amount that they should be liable for psychological damages. Get your car out of there, for FREE (as I said, i'd be raising all hell), then name and shame. Probably a good idea to keep a copy of your quote and show it to everyone you know to ensure none of them ever go there. Heck, put it up on the internet. As far as i'm concerned, anyone who has the audacity to try charging someone that much for relatively minor work is either hopeless incompetent and takes all day to change a gasket, or a complete and utter rip-off artist wanker. In either scenario they should not be in business

Little extreme perhaps, if you get a quote that high, just politely thank them for their time and walk away, "raising hell" will do absolutely nothing at all to get the quote down and will just leave them talking about the "hot headed wanker" which just walked out the door with an attitude. Dont give them the pleasure, if you are polite and leave they have nothing to say about you at all.

I agree this quote was way over the top BUT the OP does NOT have to accept it. Yes they are over charging BUT then again their business, they have the right to charge what ever they want to and YOU have the right to politely decline said quote.

I also agree to keep the quote and warn others you know that you have received a quote way over what would be normally expected for these jobs, may be simply they did not want the work for what ever reason and yes they should simply have said so but they didn't.

Ridiculous pricing

What area of Sydney are you in?

To replace the rocker gaskets, parts = 230 and labour is 650, a 5 hour job including removing the manifold

NRMA are bending you over sideways ... and they're not even giving your pants back afterwards.

For $620 labour cost, I had the rocker cover gaskets replaced and the labour for the following done as well:

Timing belt
Hydraulic tensioner
Tensioner pulley
Idler pulley
Crank shaft seal
Camshaft seals x 2
Water pump
Power steering belt
Alternator and air con belt
Spark plugs x 6
Rocker cover gaskets x 2
Change power steering fluid
Change engine oil (Mobil 1 5w30) + oil filter
Change air filter
Change automatic transmission fluid (genuine SP3) and filter
Change fuel filter
Change coolant
Change wiper blades

Take your business somewhere else.