Can someone tell me why the Audi dealer charges $250.00 to replace six platinum spark plugs on my A6, 2.8, year 2000?

My independent Audi repair shopsurprisingly quoted a higher price of$280.00. They said it takes two hours and is a pain in the you know what.

Dealer price on platinum plugs was $10.90 each x 6 = $65.40 Labor $184.60 + tax
Independent Audi repair shop was $17.00 each x 6 = $102.00 Labor $178.00 + tax

Why doesit take two hours to change out six spark plugs?

 

open your hood & take a look. It's a lot of labor to change out the plugs.
2hrs, is pushing it, but you pay book time.

Now $17 a plug, I would pass! how can the independent be almost 2X the cost of the dealer on plugs?

 

Why dont you just change them yourself ?

 

You got screwed my friend, i paid $4 each for 6 Bosch platnum 2 plugs and installed them myslef in about half an hour, i have a 2.8 12v though but your engine isnt that different, it is a bit tricky because of the wierd angle the plugs are put in at but it is completly doable well within an hour.

 

yeah I think the hardest part is getting the plug wires out. Just invest in a SP Socket and 10" extension and you should be able to do it yourself. And yeah, pass on the $17 a plug, they are like 3 dollars at your localauto supplies store

 

Asuper high performance plug will run around $11 ea. If you dont know how or are not willing to do the labor yourself and are at the mercy of an auto garage you are going to pay a premium for those four rings on your grill

 

i got a 98 a6 2.8l its very easy and quick to do, took me about 20 mins. just do it your self and check the spark plug gaps

 

if you live in michiagn ill do it for $50 plus the plugs

 

Yeah, and on a 2.8L V6 there's no justification for $11 plugs. As everyone else said, get the plugs for $3 each at the parts store and DIY. There's absolutely nothing difficult about changing plugs on that engine unless you don't have opposable thumbs. You'll have to take out the three mount screws for the coolant reservoir and tip it out of the way, and may have to unclip a couple lines on the passenger side and move them a couple inches. Even with all that, you're looking at 20 minutes' work. It wouldn't take two hours to do it if you tried using your toes.

 

If you don't like it. Do it yourself.

But as far as labor..... The tech doesn't choose the time, Audi does. I'd do it in under 10 minutes, but thats how we make our money