As I've mentioned in other threads, I'm shopping for a clutch replacement for my Clubman. I've got a question when it comes to independent shops and customer supplied parts.

Here in Las Vegas, we basically have our dealership (Desert MINI of Las Vegas), and two independent shops that work consistently on MINI's and come recommended by our local MINI club.

One of those independent shops is only slightly less expensive than the dealer and told me they will not install a clutch/flywheel I supply.

The other independent shop told me they WILL install parts I supply, but will not warranty the labour if the parts have problems. In other words, if anything goes wrong, I'm paying for labour again.

OK...I understand the reasoning behind this. But, I was hoping to save some $$ by ordering the parts from one of the vendors here in NAM ($600-700 difference vs this shop's price, since I can get the OEM clutch kit for less, as well as the Sachs flywheel for less than the OEM flywheel).

Is it unreasonable to ask this independent shop to perhaps order the parts for me from the vendor (maybe charge me a fair markup?) and then stand behind parts and labour, since they know the parts are still being sourced new?? Or, am I just always at the mercy of a shop's price and availability on parts if I want to use a given shop and have them stand behind the whole job??

Unfortunately, I'm not up to trying a clutch replacement on my own, but I'd still like to source the best prices on parts AND labour. However, I'm not sure a $600 gamble is worth the savings if any problems do come up with the parts.

What do you all suggest?

 

I would let them order it. It is kind of painful, especially when you know you could be paying less, but it's not reasonable to expect them to lose a bunch of money on parts they have no control over. (And that's what labor is--if they have to do the work over, that's costing them quite a bit of money.)

They also make a profit on the parts they get, but that is usually "baked-in" to their labor rates and everything else. They have to pay their bills, after all.

I prefer to have a good relationship with the shop that is doing the work on my cars. I stay with one shop, and make sure the mechanic or boss and I talk about what is going on with the car. I have, after spending quite a lot of money at the full price, asked if I could provide a couple of specific parts for them to do the work. (And it was part of a much larger and more expensive project.) The one shop agreed, so I did.

If you know that you are going to get quality parts (OEM or better), the risk of having it go bad is less. Up to you, though.