I understand why auto repair shops might not want to do this. They lose out on the parts markup. Or the customer fouls up and gets the wrong part, and makes it the shop’s problem. Or whatever else.
Still … my understanding is that some independent shops will , indeed, install a part that a customer brings in. Might have to call around. Might have to have a connection. Maybe it’s considered a big favor, and not normal operations. But supposedly, such a shop can normally be found in most areas.
Has anyone here had any luck doing this kind of thing?
I bought an aftermarket back-up camera that I was going to install myself. Upon reading the instructions I decided that I really didn’t want to mess with it.
I called a local independent garage and the mechanic seemed to hesitate at first but then agreed to install it for me.
This was maybe three years ago and I haven’t had any issues with the installation. I think he charged $120.
We used to know a local-ish shop that would do this (they practically insisted on it, not wanting to track down parts themselves) but it was a group of Mexican dudes working out of an industrial park. The work was fine and no complaints, just hard to tell you how to find a similar situation.
If you’re in the states, might want to ask on NextDoor? Someone local to you might know or you might get an offer from a mechanic to bring it in. Obviously you won’t get the same offers from national chain shops. Conversely, you’ll want to specify that you’re looking for a shop and not some wandering weekend mechanic looking to make $100 (unless you’re cool with that).
I think it’s going to depend a bit on the details. Are you talking about buying your own brake pads from NAPA and then wanting somebody to install them on your 2015 Camry? Most shops are going to be pretty hesitant to do that, and if they do, they won’t warranty any of it.
On the other hand, if it’s some hard to acquire part for an old or rare car, then you’re much more likely to find that a mechanic who will actually work on that car is willing to use a part that you went through the trouble of acquiring. For example, if you have some part you sourced from France for you 1988 Peugeot 505, then a mechanic will probably install it, because the other choice is for them to go through the trouble of getting the part from France.
Source: Mechanics I watch on Youtube, such as this recent video which directly addresses this point.
Automobile AC compressor kit (incl clutch, dryer, condenser, O-rings, etc.) for a 2017 Ford Escape. On my vehicle, the car has to be on a lift to access the AC compressor from underneath. The serpentine belt runs the AC compressor, so that belt would have to be loosened and retightened. The refrigerant also has to be captured (unsure if it can be reused).
The number of labor hours seems to run from three to eight hours, per Googling. And that time estimate is not specific to my vehicle – it’s just a collection of ballpark figures.
Just get an estimate based on the part already purchased. If they tell you it’s the wrong part then take it back and get another one. You should be ready to pay for another part if it turns out to be the wrong one after the installation is started. If you bought the part from a local auto parts supplier and leave the receipt and he could just take care of a replacement or faulty part directly with them. If you obtained this part in some other way and there’s a problem with it that will all be on you, including any done on your car before the problem is discovered.
Did this a couple of years ago for a window mechanism replacement. It was clear the regulator (the metal construction that holds the window as it goes up and down) was broken. I got the part from a local parts store where I get the same price a shop would. Considered doing it myself but decided to go to a good auto glass shop because they would have tons of experience replacing window mechanisms, asked them for a quote based on the part already in the trunk of the car. They gave me a very reasonable price. I got a ride home and another ride back down later in the day to pick up the car. Everything worked perfectly. I’ve done it a number of times over the years.
Most recently I had a shop install a new wheel on my truck. However, I didn’t just show up with the new-to-me part and expect them to put it on. When we ascertained a new wheel was required we discussed how to obtain said part and I threw that out as an option, that I would get the part for them to install. They said OK.
Another time when I needed to have extensive work done on my car again options were discussed. In that case the shop did not want to warranty/guarantee the part the way they would if they supplied the required part, which I thought was fair as all of these discussions/negotiations were occurring prior to any work actually being done or anything being ordered. We agreed on a plan and then followed it.
In any case, I’d inquire about bringing a part in before I actually brought the vehicle and part in, or at least between finding out the need for repairs and bringing in a part. If the shop refuses to work with anything other than what they supply well, that’s their choice. I can definitely understand where they have concerns about what items people might be bringing in and demanding they work with. Keep it low key and friendly and a shop is more likely to work with you.
If you’re trying to save money by doing that, you probably won’t save much, if anything. Yes, auto mechanics mark up the price of parts, but they’re buying them at a discount and charging you the full retail price. If you go and buy the part yourself at AutoZone or wherever you’re not going to get the mechanic’s discount, and you’re you’re still going to pay the full retail price.
Rock Auto or some other online places can often be half or less of the price than retail for the same part, so I can understand the urge to buy on your own.
For example, the window regulator mentioned upthread reminds me of my truck, were a new one was $150 from Autozone or from a mechanic (plus install), but was $50 online. All for brand new genuine GM parts. (Fortunately for me, they’re easy enough to replace on my truck, so I didn’t have to find a mechanic to do it.)
I’ve never encountered that and wouldn’t go to a shop like that. Retail prices are easy to determine and would be listed in an estimate.
However, not all parts purchased at a discount are high quality or even fit on your car. If the make of you car starts with a V you may be stuck getting parts from a dealer, and those prices can be very high. You may find parts from a junkyard also, which may be perfectly good but you’ll have no warranty on them.
So you bring in your own part, and tell us to install it. And then you will expect us to warranty our work?
No. Do it yourself.
We will do the job with our own parts, and warranty our work. It is that simple. An auto shop that lets you bring in your own parts, is an auto shop that you do not want working on your car. Every hot rod shop that I deal with buys its own parts. You can even just tell them which specific brand, and which specifc part you want, but they will do the purchasing.
Shade Tree mechanic? Your brother-in-law can do it cheaper, go for it. You can buy the part cheaper? Go for it.
Funny, that - since I’ve been in charge of maintenance on my vehicles (prior to his death my spouse used to do that) I’ve always been able to get detailed breakdowns of everything I’m being charged for, including how much I’m being charged for parts. Yes, there can be a small markup but not what I’d describe as “well above” and sometimes they list parts for less than I could buy them at a retail outlet. They’re making their money off labor costs.
There can also be an issue with simply going for the lowest price. There are unscrupulous companies out there selling sub-standard goods or committing fraud to one degree or another. Please, do your research. And be careful about doing your research. When I was last getting my car’s suspension worked on I saw quite a few YouTube channels stating you didn’t need to use OEM parts, you could substitute this other thing and “make it work”. Also found a lot of YouTube videos from other people who had done that and wound up causing damage to their car. Yeah, it sucks that for my particular make and model of car there are no third party suppliers of some items, you have to order from the original maker, but if I’m doing a major repair that’s going to cost me hundreds of dollars or even over a thousand I damn well want it done right the first time.
^ This. The shop you employ is not going to warranty work on parts you give them, especially not ones you get from a junkyard. Sometimes that’s OK. Sometimes it’s not. A lot depends on the part and whether or not you the owner can determine if that part is OK or not. I’m getting comfortable with some of this, but I’m still bringing along a more knowledgeable friend for a second opinion, but also respecting the expertise of the people I’m paying to fix my car.
Heck, one time the mechanic, spotting a box of car bits in my back seat, offered to swap out the windshield wipers and taillights for me (one was burned out and I was going to do both on the principal that, both being the same age, the other was probably going to go soon, too). Parts obviously supplied by me, but I said thanks no thanks - that I can do myself. Nice of them to offer. Pretty sure that’s not the sort of parts you were referencing.
But for major replacements? Absolutely let the mechanics source the parts.
Mechanics who care about their work are somewhat anal-retentive about the manufacturer & source of the parts. They have learned - the hard way - on what happens when questionable parts are used, and they don’t want angry customers calling them back on premature failures.
Independent garages/operators are usually the go-to for this type of work. It’s the norm for heavy-duty work on vintage cars. For specific recommendations, go find a group of people who are interested in the make/model of your car or into the type of modifications you want made to your car. They won’t likely steer you wrong, and they will probably welcome you to their forum with open arms. Just don’t try to be cheap when looking for someone to do the work. We all have to make a living.
Call around first before you buy it, but also consider:
I had to have a compressor replaced once. The shop installed the new one that they sourced, which promptly disintegrated and shot compressor vane fragments through the entire system, which then ALL had to be replaced. Because they sourced the part, I didn’t have to pay for any of that. If you buy a compressor, and find someone who agrees to install it for you, and this happens, you’d then be on the hook for the whole shebang.
IMHO there are too many people out there who think they’re expert mechanics but aren’t, and who will always go for the very cheapest version of the item they’re buying. I know this, because they are always spontaneously telling me I’m a fool for not doing X, Y, or Z myself, “wasting” money on a mechanic, or not buying the very cheapest version of a part.
I usually get the last laugh, though - they’re always having car troubles. Meanwhile, I have two reliable vehicles over 20 years old with all the lights working but not with the check engine light illuminated. Sure, sometimes one is in the shop, but that’s why they’re reliable - I keep up with the maintenance. And I go to actual mechanics rather than “some guy I know” who will “fix that for a fraction of that price because he knows how to make this work”.
The father of a high school friend of one of my kids had a little shop. I’d go over there to set up an install. He’d then call me when he had some slack time and I took the car and parts over and that was that.
This was absolutely great. Then he retired. And the greatness was gone. I’ve never been able to find such a replacement small garage deal since.
It seems that some sort of special magic is required to find such a shop.