I’m being quoted locally $700 to install lowering springs, and then over $700 each for a front and rear sway bar. This is labor cost only. One mechanic told me “the whole rear end has to come off of the car”, whatever that means.

Anybody have any experience with this? I’m happy to pay what something legitimately should cost, but these numbers seem crazy compared to work I’ve had done on other BMWs.

This is a 2023 JCW hatch.

 

A few years back I put Bilstein struts and an NM RSB on Gollum - Labor was 1,018.

Last year I reverted to the OEM RSB - Labor was 797.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

I am a shade tree mechanic, and it took me maybe ~2 hours to install lowering spring on my friends F56. It’s not that difficult. Installing a rear sway bar can be done without removing the rear subframe, but you do have to get it most of the way loose since the sway bar mounts on top between the body. I did my R55 rear sway bar in about 1.5 hours. Could probably do an F56 in about the same. These mechanics are changing a lot for those tasks.

If you were closer I would offer to do it for half that mechanic cost…

 

Sway bars first, the front one is the hard one, the lower subframe needs to come out. My dealer pre-covid charged me 2 hours, That was around $350.00

The rear sway bar, I did myself, and 4 bolts of the subframe come out and the subframe kinda swings down. Plus lower shock bolts and sway bar bolts.
Which segues to the rear springs, while doing the sway bar, the rear springs "fall" out when removing the lower shock bolt.
So find a tech that will combine the two.
The front springs are struts, its a little more work, but when doing the front sway bar, its 1/2 the job too.

I would pay 6 labor hours to do all of it.

 

I was quoted about $1,000+ labor back in 2018 just for the coilovers, a bit more work than lowering springs, i.e. adjusting height etc. So I purchased a spring compressor and did them myself, took me 5 hours front & rear.
Then a month later I had the sway bars bars installed, cost me about $1000 labor. Wasn't going to tackle the front so I had the dealer do front & rear.

Maybe some of the folks here can comment on lowering springs, I never had luck back in the 80's-90's with any lowering springs. Come to find out that the shocks didn't like operating "compressed". That's what made me go with coilovers, understanding they cost much more.

 

Basic 1" or less like H&R and NM so just fine.
Technology has improved!!

 

Just do the rear sway bar yourself. I did mine a few weekends back, about 2-3hr job. NM has great instructions and the rear subframe just needs to be loosened, not dropped completely. Borrow a torque wrench from local auto parts store.

 

Here you go. DIY

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tallation.html