Just got a quote from the local dealership to fix a few critical items on my 2010 Cooper and they seem way too high so I’d like some perspective from the wise men and women here. This is the breakdown:

• alternator drive belt: $265
• water pump friction wheel: $663
• thermostat: $798

Looking at my service manual it appears that I could do the first two myself. The thermostat replacement involves draining the cooling system which freaks me out a bit. What say you folks?

I’m in San Jose, CA so if there’s a great independent shop anyone could recommend I’d be so very thankful.

Cheers!
... Jsn

 

Prices are high. Make sure you actually need the work done. I had my local MINI dealership quote some unnecessary work, one item was the thermostat and leaking hose. Neither item needed to be done. The other items you list are a lot higher than even my local dealer wanted. I used an Indy.

 

You are spot on about crazy expensive.
Don't know anything about San Jose but the interweb found these. Input from MINI club members on any of these in the area would be helpful folks.

https://www.minirepairshops.com/sear...20jose%2C%20CA

 

You could do all three jobs (if they are necessary) with a socket set, some spanners, a pair of pliers and a screw driver, oh and a shallow plastic receptical for the fluids. How to do are all over Youtube or grab a workshop manual. Parts would be under $150

 

I agree. The thermostat was the first job I ever tried on my mini. You can practically do all 3 with a 10mm socket. Read up a bit first on here and I am sure you will find what you need. You will save yourself a lot of money plus learn about your car as you go.

 

Hop on ECS Tuning or Way Motor Works for the parts. They are all pretty inexpensive. I paid about $100 for the Thermostat Housing, the belt is like $8, and the Friction wheel is $48.

However.... those prices are inflated pretty well, even for a Mini Dealer.
Mini of Pittsburgh charges about $160 for the drivebelt and installation, and last time I had them do mine, they cut me a deal for $100 flat.

If you are comfortable at all with wrenching on cars, and have a decent collection of hand tools, all 3 could be done on a weekend day in between beers (or in my case, rootbeers. lol).

Mini.the.moocher is dead right though, make sure that stuff actually NEEDS done. If you aren't overheating, and you aren't losing coolant, don't do the thermostat.
The friction wheel tends to screetch or rattle when bad. If its quiet and turning your waterpump efficiently, don't replace it.

But the drivebelt?.... its never a bad idea to replace the drivebelt in my opinion, unless its pretty damn new.

 

I agree with the last poster, don't replace thermostat unless you are getting a code or there's a coolant leak. I just replaced my serpentine belt again because it was quite cracked. I also had a squeaky noise that I thought might be the friction wheel and/or the water pump but the new belt eliminated the squeak. My car has 65,000 miles on it and this is its 3rd belt so they need periodic replacement, more often than other cars I have owned. You should be able to find a non-dealer shop to replace the belt for $100-150. It is a bit more complicated to get to than other cars but a garage that works on MINIS can get this done in less than an hour for you.

 

I live in San Jose as well. Stevens Creek Mini is terrible. It's probably cheaper to buy a new car there than to service it. I did the friction wheel myself without dropping/lifting the engine last time and it's no fun and would not recommend that unless you are familiar with working in very tight spaces and have proper tools. The shop probably puts it in service mode, and that is somewhat labor intensive. Labor costs are high around here.

 

For $1,700 I could fly to CA, fix the car, stay overnight then fly back to Texas and still make $500. Look for an independent shop instead of the stealership.