Hannahbtw Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 ....for a garage to fit my spark plugs Nissan have quoted £276.00 including vat and suppling the plugs. I asked for a quote without the plugs (as I want to get the ones from Will) and they said £147.00. Am I just being a cheapskate, or does anyone else think this is excessive? Heard that its a 1.4 hour job on Nissan's thingymabob job-pricing list...I just don't think I can justify a huge spend like that when the car is running perfectly and doesn't seem to have any issues at the mo. None of the independent garages I've rung can quote me immediately, and have all said they'd ring back with a quote, that was yesterday, and still nothing...rung 4 or 5 local ones (non Nissan specialists) Do I even need the bleedin' things changed? Its a nov' 2007 HR engine....done 54500 miles...I know Nissan recommend them being changed at 54k...but how would I know if they actually do need to be changed? Couldn't I leave it til the next service, next year? Sorry for all the newbie questions...its just I'm a tight git, and hate spending/wasting money! Hannah x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Fine provided they wear a mask and pull your pants up after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Get them changed, definitely. Get a spark plug tool and do them yourself, very basic job that anyone can do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 for prices of plugs, he supplies, he will also know the labour time to change plugs, from memory they're nothing like £147.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC350Z Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 £147 did they ask you to bent over as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Isn't that what Ricey said £147 did they ask you to bent over as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 plugs cost about £6.50 each full set of NGK's for about £46 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-350Z-3 ... 1e6d8a16f5 take the car to a good performance specialist and they'll charge you about £30-£50 an hour and it would be about 1 hours labour may be billed as 2 depending on how competant the fitter is and how well they know the car. Those ones above just an example, not sure if they are the right ones for the HR's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KC350Z Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Isn't that what Ricey said :blush:i need to read more before posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 We all do that sometimes did laugh out loud though Isn't that what Ricey said :blush:i need to read more before posting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannahbtw Posted June 12, 2012 Author Share Posted June 12, 2012 Get them changed, definitely. Get a spark plug tool and do them yourself, very basic job that anyone can do Ummm...that would be a "No" to the above...I'm a girl, I have no mechanical knowledge whatsoever!! I want the car to actually work after it's had its bits seen to Plugs will cost me £80.00 or thereabouts for the HR....I was thinking like £50.00 for the fitting...ohhh how wrong was I!?? Local independents seem to be a bit shy on the quotations....no-ones got back to me...and my "performance specialist" place, ripped me off on the FTO last time I went, so won't be giving them any more business. As for being bent over...wonder if I'd get a discount if I did... (although I'd expect not...so shan't be testing that theory Hannah x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 £80 for plugs what are they gold plated? i think i paid £60 for 8 sparks for my car last year; ebay is a good source for plugs, and i usually use NGK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 It's perfectly reasonable that you don't want to them yourself - there is a bit more to them to changing them on a Morris Minor - there are individual coil packs to remove and some of them are awkward to get at. My plugs were last changed by Abbey Motorsport as part of a P3 service. Abbey are highly regarded as an independent specialist. The time quoted was 1.3 hours plus VAT - so the cost for the labour should be 1.3 X labour rate for the garage which will vary enormously depending on who they are and where they are. Yes you can get cheap plugs - but it is not unusual to be paying £60-70 for the recommended plugs to be supplied by the fitting garage. What you may be able to do is get the right plugs from someone like Zmanalex for a cheaper price and then get the right garage to fit them if they are happy to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 ....for a garage to fit my spark plugs Nissan have quoted £276.00 including vat and suppling the plugs. I asked for a quote without the plugs (as I want to get the ones from Will) and they said £147.00. Am I just being a cheapskate, or does anyone else think this is excessive? Heard that its a 1.4 hour job on Nissan's thingymabob job-pricing list...I just don't think I can justify a huge spend like that when the car is running perfectly and doesn't seem to have any issues at the mo. None of the independent garages I've rung can quote me immediately, and have all said they'd ring back with a quote, that was yesterday, and still nothing...rung 4 or 5 local ones (non Nissan specialists) Do I even need the bleedin' things changed? Its a nov' 2007 HR engine....done 54500 miles...I know Nissan recommend them being changed at 54k...but how would I know if they actually do need to be changed? Couldn't I leave it til the next service, next year? Sorry for all the newbie questions...its just I'm a tight git, and hate spending/wasting money! Hannah x I would personally leave them till the next service is due, you could always buy the plugs now and then get them fitted at the service therefore spreading the cost (I should be a financial advisor) If the car is running fine then why change them just for the sake of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldel Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Price is just wrong, too high. Get some standard plugs off someone off here then drive to a few indys and get them to take a look. Can be done yourself easily enough but with sparks its very easy to make a mistake ie drop them, break them etc. So if not confident or have someone local to help try some local garages. It doesnt take an hour and a half to change them btw... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watshot Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Just to give you a bench mark and clarify the guessing on plug prices; both Zman and Horsham sell the 'correct' HR plugs for £100 a set of six. DE are considerably cheaper. Whether anyone would want to put 'cheap' plugs in is their own business. The plugs the op is getting from a forum member are correct and a saving at £80. As for where to have them fitted, you need to keep trying the indys, or for piece of mind, travel to somewhere like Abbey. At the end of the day it may be worth paying more for piece of mind, i.e Abbey, not Nissan. At 54k and five years old you are right to change them now. They are a service item, you don't wait for them to go wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Whoops. Didn't read original note properly. Mine is a DE not an HR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrh Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Is a fiddly job that takes a couple of hours: http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=34166 Would get the plugs and I'm sure a friendly local member would fit them for their petrol money. Would myself but I'm a good 70 miles away! Come on guys, the art of chivalry dead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Get them changed, definitely. Get a spark plug tool and do them yourself, very basic job that anyone can do Ummm...that would be a "No" to the above...I'm a girl, I have no mechanical knowledge whatsoever!! I want the car to actually work after it's had its bits seen to Not being funny, but what has your sex got to do with it? Women are just as capable as men in sorting cars, and much like changing a wheel or doing on oil change this is a bit of knowledge that I believe every car owner should have and be able to do. . Best way to do it is to buy the plugs and tool yourself, and then arrange a meet where a few of you can all muck in and do it together. Summer's allegedly coming, would make a nice change rather than just hooning around the countryside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Id say Definitely get them changed as its the right time. Dave has a good point though, if you have a service or mot coming up id buy them upfront from a trader here and get them fitted by the garage at reasonable rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nzr350z Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Did the plugs on my DE last week,took me about 1 1/2 hours.Probably halve that time if did them again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynamic Turtle Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Just had mine changed (DE engine though) during a P3 last month. Abbey charged £40 labour (40 mins) and £67 for the sparks. Might cost more if requested as a single job on its own though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Builder49 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Hannah, I can't change your plugs, but then I wont charge if you bend over either (thought I'd throw this in the mix before one of the regulars implies I would anyway!!!!) Sorry Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p40ulw Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 when i bought my 07 ZED 2 and abit months ago i changed and serviced EVERYTHING! and all in it cost me about £500 i got all my own oils from opie oils as i live near them, i got my plugs, my filters, crush washer and cosworth air filters all from zmanalex and then had 2 mates (that run there own garage) do it with my helping hand. give it a go honestly there are more than enough guides on here to show you how to do it and you will be fine!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 £80 for plugs what are they gold plated? Mine are Iridium plated, more expensive than gold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KyleR Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Is a fiddly job that takes a couple of hours: http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=34166 Would get the plugs and I'm sure a friendly local member would fit them for their petrol money. Would myself but I'm a good 70 miles away! Come on guys, the art of chivalry dead? Sure that's only 140 mile round trip, about 5 gallons, £35 should cover it. I'm sure Hannah would be more than willing to steal the keys of her landlords R8 for you to have a spin in as payment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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