I have a friend in Las Vegas with a 1997 XK8. She had an accident several months ago and her car has been in an independent shop called All European since then. They did a lot of suspension work on the car but now they are asking for an additional $1057 for a new starter motor and a System Reprogram. This sounds very high for a starter motor and I've never heard of a system reprogram. They also want an additional $1128, for work which they have already completed but was not included on the original estimate or authorized by my friend. This additional work was for the front rotors (I assuming the disk break rotors) and for 2 engine mounts. I am concerned that this shop is trying to rip her off. This is a 1997 XK8 but only had 28k miles on it when she bought it about 10 months ago. She has put less than a 1000 miles on it since she's had it. What does the great Jag Collective think?


Mark

 

considering you can get a rebuilt starter through partsgeek for under $100 and not sure why they would need a reprogram, it sounds a little fishy to me. As for the work done without approval - since she did not approve - any way she can contest the charges - where's an attorney when you need one

 

I agree on the high pricing. A new Denso starter is about $250 and the remanufactured units are no more than $130.

Not sure what a system reprogram is or why anything "system" related would be needed with starter and suspension work. Plus, why have they had it so long?

Sounds like time to cut her losses and find another repair place.

 

This is exactly what I thought. I'm going to see if she will let me speak to this shop for her but I plan on recommending that she pay the remainder of the original estimate, not pay for the unauthorized additional work, and take her car some place else. If they give her a hard time, she can threaten to file a complaint with the DA.


Mark

 

if this was accident related - is insurance involved as anything beyond initial cost estimate requires the insurance company to approve as well