Maintenance

So I called my local dealer, for some quotes... -$454 for spark plugs (labor and parts r&i) -$150 brake flush -$375 coolant flush. -Can I afford the jobs at the stealer, of course, can I do them for 50% of the quote, yes if not less... Holy moly, looks I'll be doing the spark plugs myself, never replaced brake fluid and the coolant, I hear is hard to burp/get all the air out...any diy's/suggestions? I've looked at some on renntech and such, but all the diy's are old. Basically hoping someone has found an easier way than filling with water and driving 3x to flush the coolant out completely. Thanks

Start here - https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...ssues-etc.html Given even limited DIY skills these tasks are not that hard to accomplish. Good luck!

What Joe said. No short cuts for brake fluid and spark plugs but there is for coolant flush https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...pump-tips.html

Plugs and coils can be a bear. You may consider removing the mufflers for access...and since you'll have them off anyway, ship them off to FD to be Fisterized.

If someone can't afford a dealer's rates there are always indies. And if someone actually enjoys working on cars, that's fine. But I think it is a little cheesy to describe dealers as "stealers." In addition to the labor cost they pay their employees they also pay for the building they are in, their phone bills and electric bills and staff and computers and furniture and state, city, federal taxes and various insurance costs plus a profit so they can stay in business. Of course you will save money doing the work yourself. And if you make a mistake or your workmanship isn't flawless and you have problems later, you can't ask the "stealer" to redo the work at no cost. You will also save money if you do your own oil and filter change. But if you don't have a lift in your garage that does make draining the fluids a little more difficult. And I'm curioius how your are going to dispose of the hazardous liquids...how you will transport them to a waste facility? I prefer to pay others to work on my car...never enjoyed breathing brake pad dust...and I'd rather do something else with my time. So I don't begrudge the people who work on my car their daily bread. Back in the early ninties an indie Alfa Romeo wrench charged $25 to $35 an hour, and the Bevery Hills Ferrari shop charged $75. Postage stamps were a lot cheaper too. Today a Los Angeles VW dealer charges $250 an hour and milk, gasoline, and postage stamps are also much more expensive. And of course you are not a "stealer" when you accept money for your own work.

Do the brake fluid yourself. Buy a Motive power bleeder, around $75. Get the black one, it is worth the extra few $. A brake flush is one of the easiest things you can do

I have muffler bypass pipes, plenty of access. John, like I said I can afford the dealer rates, but for simple jobs, I think it is not enough value to have them do it. The indy's by me (1 guy is the Pres. of the local PCA chatpter and a great guy, I've had many good convos with him-30+ years around Porsche's) still charge $100 an hour, v. $125-$150/ hour at the dealerships.