When we ordered our 2013 CMS A4 (BMW offered to replace our 2012 that had major electrical system issues), we specified dealer installed boot stripes.

The msrp on the configurator on the website for this is $87. It was agreed that we would pay the difference in the MSRP between the old car and the new car, but when we went to pick up the new car the dealer charged us an additional $65 to install the stripes. The sales manager claimed that the $87 was merely for the stripes themselves and did not include installation.

Did we get ripped off?

 

Yes, no, and pay attention. Stripes are listed in the accessories section of the build. Before you get to the listings there's a big warning screen (that you have to agree to) that tells you retail prices are estimates and installation is extra. So no, you did not get ripped off. On the other hand, $168 for two strips of plastic stuck on your boot is BMW pricey. So yes, you did get ripped off.

 

Thanks. I see the warning now. Wonder how much they charge to install floor mats

 

The thing is - few if any dealerships actually do that work themselves but contract with another company to install stripes and graphics. Often you can get a better price if you skip the dealer and deal with the installer...

Or better yet, go with somebody who specializes in MINI graphics - several of them do a MUCH better job than the dealer's guy... The exception to that would be the guy who does the work for Baron in Kansas City...

 

All I got for mine in terms of accessories were floor mats and the shorter antenna. The sales guy at my Mini mentioned the antenna could cost more because of labor. I asked him to let me know how much and when he got back to me he said that all you do is pop the shorter antenna on so they wouldn't charge me labor for a 30 second job. I'm assuming the same for the floor mats.

When you factor in labor a lot of those cheap little accessories add up fast. Kind of a bummer.

 

I'm just stunned that the salesguy came to you with a straight face to tell you that they might charge labor for the antenna... Seriously - you unscrew the old one and screw in the new one - no tools needed. I would have told them to just hand me the box and done it in the dealer's driveway...

 

I was charged a half hour labor for the rubber mats and the wheels locks. Good thing I told them to just throw the roof rack in the boot instead of installing it, that would probably be a full hour to figure out at that pace.
This is the same dealer that was going to charge me the labor portion of the temp sensor recall because I have an aftermarket CAI and heat shield.

 

Sorry...I was trying to be humorous when I asked for the labor on floor mats. No doubt there are dealers out there who would charge a fee if they thought they had a customer willing to pay it.

 

You'd be surprised!

Some people have absolutely no mechanical skills, and wouldn't even be able to imagine how to install an antenna.

And there are others who are so financially well-off, that they wouldn't want to be bothered to install something themselves.

 

When we bought Bindi we had only been in town for 3 months. We knew no one and had no one to ask for "go to" tint people. This is a HUGE area, with a ton of traffic--and the dealer is on the other side of town from where we live. Long story longer, we had the dealer do tint and install an armrest. Sure it probably cost a few dollars more, but my husband didn't have to take any extra days off and we didn't have to risk going with the phone book for advice.

So, imho, it balanced out, cost, time, and stress-wise. Plus the dealer offered lifetime on the tint. Whose life he meant is up in the air, lol.

Don't beat yourself up over a few extra bucks. It's done, can't be undone. It will balance itself out with bonus cash somewhere else in your life. (at least that's what helps me sleep at night. )

 

For the front and rear stripes, I think they charge $100 per hour. Same thing for the driving lamps. So in total, it was $200 for installation. I like to think it took a full 2 hours for those 2 items. No installation cost for tint, it was prolly built into the price

 

I used to work with vinyl in a signmaking shop, and it would stun me if they spend more than a few minutes applying the stripes. You just moisten the sticky side of the vinyl and the car's surface with soapy water, position the stripe where you want it, and squeegee the water/bubbles out.

The most time-consuming part would be washing the car.

 

No, the most time consuming part would be ensuring that it was just right. OCD people like me have no business working with vinyl. Plus, my hands shake now! I notice any deviation off perfect and it drives me nuts! Better leave it to the professionals. I'd rather blame them...

 

BINGO exactly what I am doing this weekend for my wife's clubbie (easily 50% less in parts and labor vs dealership rates )

 

Yeah, I've never been any good at getting them on straight and getting all the bubbles out... That's why I have a guy - who also knows how to re-move and re-attach every badge and even the washer nozzles instead of trimming the vinyl around...

I know many of my shortcomings and applying vinyl to a car (or to my kindle for that matter ) happens to be one of them...

 

My car is due for service so I just called the local dealer to make an appointment and told them I wanted bonnet stripes while they had her. My dad just got stripes added to his at the same dealer for $100.

Except they want $398 from me. Looks like I'm driving down to VA from now on for service.

 

Way back when I was working up to ordering Zaftig and there were not a lot of CMs around, I really wanted a pitchfork on the hood and stipes on the boot to match. I visited every dealer from NJ to Richmond and they all had a story - depends on port installed, dealer installed, factory installed, contractor installed, etc., etc,. They gave me prices everywher from a couple of hundred up to over 1K. I finally said screw it and went with standard stripes. It's nice to see that the foolishness is still going on.

 

That's nothing! My dealer was quoting me almost 300 bucks for Bonnest stripes and install!

They wanted well over that for the racing stripes on front and back!

 

things like striping, floormats, mudflaps and other accessories make great haggling options at buyout when you're still hemmin' and hawin' with your MA.

 

I emailed my dealer the PDF of a build I wanted and apparently, they charge a WHOPPING $395 to get the boot stripes installed. What.

 

How about buying the stripes at the dealers parts department and having any good local body shop install them?

 

I was quoted $415 + tax for boot and bonnet stripes. Um, no. I see the stripes are around $100 and was told 3-1/2 hours to install. So, yeah, almost $100/hr for labor. I'm in the wrong business.

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Couldn't any good body shop install them in an hour or less?

 

The shops that specialize in this are definitely a better value.

They can reproduce the OEM patterns if you like, or they can create exactly what you want.

We had a local shop put on some matte black viper stripes on the wife's CM a few months ago, and they did a fantastic job. It's worth shopping around for.

(Note that i also tried to order an eBay kit and install myself. Huge fail once i hit the hump in the center of the hood. haha)

 

No kidding! A military base near me was offering to teach mil members how to install tinting. That would have been a useful class!