
Anyhow, as I mentioned in another thread, my main dealer (Sheehy Motors, Naas, Ireland) tell me that the car needs four new shocks.
The car is certainly pretty harsh and 'crashy' on poor surfaces, and it failed the NCT (National Car Test, our MOT) yesterday for 'Suspension Imbalance' on both axles, with the offside rear shock being particularly bad, so I'm not inclined to doubt the diagnosis.
Before everyone shouts "PSS9" (which I'm strongly considering), I want to run this past the collective wisdom:
My dealer tells me that they'll replace the shocks and get me back on the road for (EUR)€2200 + VAT, including labour. That's approx. (ST)£1700.
I've seen posters here quoting figures of (ST)£2500-3000 for this job, so I'm wondering if they were getting ripped off or if my dealer is leaving something out?
Before I go back to them to clarify their quotation, can anyone tell me what's usually involved in this job, besides the shocks themselves and labour?
I see mention of valves of some sort getting replaced and sometimes suspension top mounts too; do these always need replacement, or are they done on an individual case basis?
Is there anything else I'm missing out here?
I've read Rich_C's excellent suspension install thread, and I'd have no qualms about installing the Bilstein kit myself, so has anyone any thought on where might be the best place to source one, as I want to get a quote or two for that to compare with replacing the OEM setup?
As all this will be happening out of my own pocket, I want to do the job once, and permanently.
So, at that price (and assuming it's for the complete job), should I replace the OEM, or go aftermarket?