My 2010 Mini has 120K miles, and the front struts and sway bar links need replaced.

One quote was $950 for the front struts and $600 for the sway bar links.

I found a complete strut assembly by Unity Automotive for $200 per pair.

I simply do not have the money right now to pay $1K for struts.

Anyone have experience with Unity Automotive parts?

Have suggestions for getting this job done economically?

 

Did you visit any of the vendors listed here on NAM, ECS, Way for example? The link below isn't shown but they have good prices too.
http://www.motoringwerks.com/c-26-mini-cooper.aspx
Pick the year and model and check it out.
Never heard of Unity.

 

$950 for front struts is half way to a set of performance coilovers + springs. $600 for front swaybar links is just obscene.

Visit one of the NAM forum vendors for pricing on the parts - ECS Tuning, Pelican Parts, Way Motorworks, Outmotoring, etc. Struts are a straightforward DIY if you know how to turn a wrench and borrow/rent a spring compressor from your local autoparts store. If you want to have a shop do it for you, it should be about 1/2 hour labor per side. Sway bar endlinks are no incremental labor if you're replacing the shocks.

You'll have to get an alignment when it's all done, of course.

 

Swaybar ends links should cost about $50 each or less. Rock Auto might have them for less. This is something that you can do yourself with a few metric wrenches in a parking lot in less than 30’minutes.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...d_Links_Front/

For the front struts look for a used set from someone that has switched to coilovers. This is also a DIY job.

 

If you're still reading the input to your thread, a suggestion: Make it well know among those you know to avoid like the plague whoever it is that tried to charge you $1550.00 for those two easy jobs. If they'll do that to you they'll do that and worse to others.

 

Do yourself a favor and purchase the Bilstein B4 Replacement struts here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/..._pg1.htm#item4. They're a direct OEM replacement part that also gives you improved performance- all while saving you money. You can have a shop install them or you can do it yourself with our DIY here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm.

Next, the Lemforder End links here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...pg6.htm#item23 are a sufficient replacement and will also keep money in your wallet. DIY here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm.

All of the above will save you hundreds from what you're being quoted. Let me know if you have any questions as I am here to help.

 

Thanks for the responses! I was not receiving notifications so I thought no one had replied!


Pelican parts, sold! Your prices seem great and I will buy my struts from you in the coming week. I had the links done at a shop that agreed to install my parts, I found moog brand links and the mechanic approved, said they are good. Total cost with parts and labor was $150 for the link replacement.

Thanks to everyone for your help!