Hey guys, looking to have some work done to my 06 MCS. Does $350 sound reasonable to do the following or should I look elsewhere?

One Ball Mod (~$50)
4 wheel Alignment (~$120)
15% pulley, new belt, new tensioner install (~$180)

**The $350 is what the shop was thinking "as long as we don't run into problems with the pulley". The ~ costs are what I am thinking their breakdown is based on what I've seen others on here pay.

I bought the tools to do the pulley job myself but am not sure that will happen. I've just been really busy (and sick...with a 10 month old I guess that's to be expected haha) with other things and am not sure when I can make that happen. I figure I can resell the pulley tool and not lose much and just keep the belt tool encase it's needed in the future.

If you have had these things done and it was more or less, let me know. Thanks!

 

I think so.

 

The one ball and alignment look right on. Pulley install might be slightly high, but not enough to throw a fit.

 

Yeah that is what I thought as well. Initially he was saying 2-300 for just the pulley if it threw them a fit coming off. So that's when I suggested having all 3 things done and could they do it for about $320? And they said they thought within $350 if the pulley job didnt cause problems. This often frustrates me because I don't want the surprise of "o well it took longer on that pulley than we thought so the total is $430..."

At that point I paid $260 to have something done I could have done myself if I had more time. But I'm not sure I really have a lot of options given the limited number of places I can take the car (travel too far and I might as well have done the job myself).

 

Yea, if it does indeed come out to $350, it's a decent enough price that you'll forget about it 5 min into your drive home with that new pulley.

 

Id say so, typical alignments are $100 to get on the rack anyways.

 

I wouldn't pay more than $100 for a 4-wheel alignment. The best and most reputable alignment shop in Phoenix (Network Alignment) charges $50 for the front wheels, which are the only ones I ever care to align on my college budget, lol.

 

That is really cheap for a pulley install. It sounds like they haven't done it before if the say as long as "we don't run into anything".
Over the years I've seen many a botched pulley jobs from small issues like mangled frame rails all the way up to damaged superchargers. So I would spend more and find someone confident and experienced in doing pulleys.

 

Use this link to see is there another shop in your area. Way makes a good point about the pulley install.
http://www.minirepairshops.com/

 

If the shop has done a pulley before then they should know how to do it and the amount of time with the proper tools----since they use the clause "we don't run into anything" tells me as Way says that they may not know what they are doing.I would steer away from that shop.

 

My local Mini shop in San Luis Obispo, CA quoted me $325 for a pulley job. British Motor Works, and they really know what they're doing. They only work on Minis, Land Rovers and Jags. There's a lot involved. I'd say $180 sounds too good to be true.

 

Appreciate all the input. I'm just going to wait and do it myself when I get the time. Given what you've all said I'm a bit nervous to use that shop and there aren't any other close options. So if I'm going to spend the day running the car over an hour away and back I can just take the time and save the money.

Thanks everyone!