Three Popular DIY Auto Jobs

Take, for example, a full fluid replacement (excluding coolant) for a 2016 BMW X5. The total cost of fluids for oil, transmission, and rear differential, along with some miscellaneous bolts and washers, comes to roughly $450 after tax. Your local mechanic could charge you upwards of $1500 for the same job, including labor and parts, and a dealership might set you back over $2000. To the average person, these savings might sound appealing. However, replacing your fluids is as straightforward as draining them and refilling them. The easiest way to do this is with a lift and some guidance, which you can get by renting a full day at DIY Auto Labs for just $180 (I'm using pricing available for Oct, 2023, which might be slightly different at present, check here). Add in the necessary fluids and parts, and you're looking at a total cost of $630, making it three times cheaper than your local mechanic or $1370 less than a dealership. Now, those are some incredible savings!

Another great way to save money on a DIY project is by tackling your own brake job. In today's world, especially with modern cars equipped with electrical emergency brakes, replacing something as seemingly simple as brake pads can be surprisingly expensive. Luxury brands like Infiniti, Audi, and Mercedes often charge upwards of $800 per axle just to replace the pads. If you want to replace both pads and rotors, you could be staring at a bill of over $1250, and since your car has two axles, that amount doubles.

Consider a 2020 Mercedes Benz C300. The parts for the pads alone will set you back around $100 to $150 per axle. If you shop around, you can find kits priced at around $500, which include all the necessary hardware. The job requires about 8 hours to replace all four corners, so by booking a full day appointment, your total expense comes out to $650. Given that brakes are a vital safety component of your vehicle, it's crucial to ensure that all parts are installed correctly.

Yet another fantastic way to achieve substantial savings is by replacing suspension parts. Since suspension is critical for safety, many shops and dealerships tend to charge a premium for replacing even the simplest parts, like your link ends and shocks. For example, the cost to replace the end links on a 2004 Dodge Viper can reach up to $800, with the parts accounting for only an eighth of the cost and requiring just half an hour of labor. By booking a half-day appointment for $95, adding in $200 for parts, and guess what – the rest becomes your savings.