Official by the book time to replace clutch?

[wisco.rob]

Went to the mechanic today, quoted 13 hours of work. Sounds like a hefty amount of hours. Is this correct?

Oh and he has done this type of car/clutch combo before and still wants to charge me for full time.

[rtl5009]

Do it yourself then.

Wrench or pay up. Welcome to a 10 year old $45k sticker car.

[wisco.rob]

Do it yourself then.

Wrench or pay up. Welcome to a 10 year old $45k sticker car.

Read it twice. Just to make sure....Your post has nothing to with the question.

[s4930]

when i first got the car and i was quoted crazy amounts i invested in my own tools and i couldnt be happier. and yea 13 hours sounds a little much i was quoted 10 hours.

[somebody5788]

I get 13.5 hours from the Mitchel Service guide, 9.5 from Chiltons, and 9.8 from Motor.

In all reality I wouldn't be able to quote less then 10 hours because there are always unforeseen issues that will need to be sorted one way or another. And it will probably be on the exhaust haha.

[rtl5009]

Book (alldata) is 13 hours man. Your mechanic quoted you by the book! You answered you own question.

[zillarob]

Dont forget to factor in hourly rate. If he only charges 50/hr, hell of a deal. 100/hr, not so much. I would guess 6-800 labor is fair.

Book time is just an average and not a terrible guide to use. Not 100% accurate though, you win some and you lose some.

[bigern45]

Went to the mechanic today, quoted 13 hours of work. Sounds like a hefty amount of hours. Is this correct?

Oh and he has done this type of car/clutch combo before and still wants to charge me for full time.

this is how "us" technicians make money.....

just saying...

[AWDLAUNCH]

I get 13.5 for Clutch job. Normal time.

[Jsmooth65]

people still bring this car to mechanics? wow.

[zillarob]

people still bring this car to mechanics? wow.

Lol, no way I would own one if I didnt work on them. These things are a hobby, not transportation.

[tambat]

not sure what part of wisconsin you are in but you should try getting help from someone on the forums or from a freelance mechanic/someone who does work on the side. there are some pretty knowledgeable guys in the Chicagoland area that will do the job for 800ish dollars and have done it many times. definitely better than the 3k that some shops charge for clutch replacement.

[Jsmooth65]

This should be the B5 S4 motto. Truer words have not been spoken.

These things are a hobby, not transportation.

[somebody5788]

not sure what part of wisconsin you are in but you should try getting help from someone on the forums or from a freelance mechanic/someone who does work on the side. there are some pretty knowledgeable guys in the Chicagoland area that will do the job for 800ish dollars and have done it many times. definitely better than the 3k that some shops charge for clutch replacement.

Hell for $800, I'll drive up there to pick up the car, drive back, do the job, and then deliver the car.

Except doing a clutch on these is a royal PITA that I really don't want to do haha.

[AudiA4_20T]

people still bring this car to mechanics? wow.

I used to think like this until I got a job where I'm exhausted when I come home every day and look at my car in disgust if I have to work on it.

[Fourplay]

I used to think like this until I got a job where I'm exhausted when I come home every day and look at my car in disgust if I have to work on it.

True story here. Working 14 hours 5 days a week and coming back to a broken car(s) is the worst.

[DiscoPotato]

These things are a hobby, not transportation.

Words of wisdom right here.

[Jsmooth65]

I used to think like this until I got a job where I'm exhausted when I come home every day and look at my car in disgust if I have to work on it.

Thats why you get more cars. I have 4 for my wife and I, and I always make sure at least 2 are working. Right now, 3 are driveable. 1 is not.

[zillarob]

Thats why you get more cars. I have 4 for my wife and I, and I always make sure at least 2 are working. Right now, 3 are driveable. 1 is not.

Lol, I have a few vw's for back up. The old idi nonturbo diesels are like mini panzers, slow as hell and you absolutely can not kill them.

[Dr. Funk]

clutch? i got quoted for 8-10 hours.. 85/hr approx..

[034Motorsport]

We typically charge 8-10 hours depending on what else is going on.

[FLIPFLOPS4]

Yeah, definitely worth getting a dd when owning this car lol.... Which reminds me I should get me a dd cause as of right now this is my only mode of transportation, however it does run strong and no issues (knock on wood), but I am taking care of the usual maintanence issues

[Timtheguru]

Lol, no way I would own one if I didnt work on them. These things are a hobby, not transportation.

Exactly how I feel about it.

Friends/Family/Coworkers ask if I work on cars other than Audi's (I have a few I work on) and I tell them no. Not because they are harder to work on, I just don't want to waste my time on them. Audi's are supposedly one of the hardest cars to work on (according to some mechanic friends) so I feel accomplished when I finish a job. Wonder if the friends/family/coworkers think I am not smart enough to work on other brands... haha :)

[Tec_Nine]

i hate taking these transmissions out, rebuilding em is a bitch too. Damn u audi

[ElliottG]

I lold when I read 13 hours...then I realized I have an A4 which is almost the same...ffffuuuuuuuuuu

[rclaus]

Bought an '01 in 2012 that just had a clutch done, invoice said 1200. I'm having the clutch replaced next week by a different shop and they quoted me at 8 hours. We'll see how it goes but I wish I had the time and space to do it myself. Best benefit for anyone out there who has a clutch done by a shop is they usually warranty their work. If you screw up your own install then you're SOL.

[jballou]

Most B5 S4's that come through my garage that have had clutch jobs done, they are incorrectly done. Most of the time, the bell housing bolts are in the wrong locations, shit is missing, or just laziness. I usually charge $1K for doing a clutch job only because I do not hurry, everything is done correctly, and I usually pull the motor to do all of this. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

[JVD]

Most B5 S4's that come through my garage that have had clutch jobs done, they are incorrectly done. Most of the time, the bell housing bolts are in the wrong locations, shit is missing, or just laziness. I usually charge $1K for doing a clutch job only because I do not hurry, everything is done correctly, and I usually pull the motor to do all of this. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

Pull the motor to discover all the other things wrong with the car. Lol.

$1k seems reasonable to me.

[christianb5s4]

Most B5 S4's that come through my garage that have had clutch jobs done, they are incorrectly done. Most of the time, the bell housing bolts are in the wrong locations, shit is missing, or just laziness. I usually charge $1K for doing a clutch job only because I do not hurry, everything is done correctly, and I usually pull the motor to do all of this. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

This is what I think happened with the clutch that's in mine right now, and why I would take my car to you. That and you own an Imola, so that means I'm practically obligated.

[jballou]

Yeah, usually I end up fixing other crap at the same time. I have done clutch jobs both ways. I like pulling the motor to do the job as it makes it easier to torque everything and make sure everything is correct.