PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

Hey guys,

It has recently come to my attention that there are a few areas of my Bonneville that need to be fixed. After getting my UIM replaced earlier this year by another garage ($700), my mechanic told me that my LIM was leaking oil and also needs to be replaced at the tune of $900.

Now, I understand that the LIM requires a lot of labor to replace, but is $900 ripping me off?

I also need a little bit of body work done on the hood and the drivers side rear wheel well to remove the hood herpes and a bit of rust, anybody here from MA recommend a good body shop that isn't going to break my bank?

Thank you in advance,

Christian

The lim should be solid aluminum and is not known to leak oil. Usually the valve cover gaskets go and leak oil in similar areas. If the uim is off, it is just another round of bolts to get the lim off (10 i believe). If it needed to be done, your mechanic should have told you when the uim was already off, not when it is all back together. $900 would sound about right for the lim gasket job if he is also providing a replacement uim and all other parts. If the lim is cracked, which is rare, if not unheard of, a used unit would be my first choice

At a shop 900 including ALL parts and a coolant flush sounds about right for upper AND lower. However good mechanics is to replace both the upper and lower at the same time, really kind of silly not to. You can buy the parts yourself online to save some cash and not pay the garages markup. Personally I was sick of paying dealership and garage prices for jobs I didn't have the knowledge and or equipment to handle myself. I poked around my local craigslist for mechanics who work in their off time. Found a really great guy who is a ASE certified mechanic by day and has a private garage at this house that rivals any professional shop. He works on the weekends and the difference is hes about 40-50% cheaper then to take it to a normal garage. Granted I lucked out, and found a really knowledgeable honest/trustworthy straight shooter but I'm sure with some luck you can to.

Unfortunately when my UIM blew it was on Black Friday and I needed the car fixed that day, so I took it to a less reputable shop (the only one open in the area) who didn't inform me I should be replacing both UIM and LIM at the same time. I'm paying for this mistake now haha I'm hoping my mechanic can use the existing UIM, considering it was replaced in late November. Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it!

It's too high. The parts for the LIM gasket job, if you're not replacing the UIM are less than $200. And unless he charges $200/hr, $700 in labor is too much. You can DIY it.

Unless he is planning on replacing the lim for some reason...

He's not. I just hate all this. These shops mark up their parts so insanely. When my aunt was looking to have the LIM replaced on here 01 at the time, and the ticket marked $55 for the coolant elbows. $55?!?! They cost $7 at the parts store... She then found a friend's son who did it for $475, when the original quote was over $1200. Insanity.

Maybe its a job they dont really want to do so they raised it up a "tad". Must be nice not to need work.

$55? Wow. Even a pair of aluminum elbows are only $10.95 at Intense...

He's not. I just hate all this. These shops mark up their parts so insanely. When my aunt was looking to have the LIM replaced on here 01 at the time, and the ticket marked $55 for the coolant elbows. $55?!?! They cost $7 at the parts store... She then found a friend's son who did it for $475, when the original quote was over $1200. Insanity.