staples

I got an exact quote from my mechanic for:
Wheels:
18x9.5 inch , 5x4.75 inch 56mm
Black Face with Machined Lip Wheels (I found these online starting at $650 but some sites sell them for up to $1,200 a set)

Tires:
Falken Azenis ST115 265/35ZR-18 - $167 per tire

Nuts: Not quite sure but I know they are more than they should be haha.
Installation/Mounting: Again, I'm not sure what he is charging me for labor.

However his total was $2,367. I was expecting around $2,000 total. When I added all the average prices(with shipping/handling) for the products I found online I ended up with less than $1,400. Factoring in $90/h labor which he probably charges I suppose it would take at max 4 hours to complete this even though I am told it takes much much much less time but I just gave them the 4 hours for granted. That still leaves me with a $1,760 bill - $607 cheaper.

Where is this extra $607 coming from? My only guess was his wheel distributor charges the $1,200 for the set of 4 wheels. Am I missing maybe some other hidden extra cost? Speedometer adjustment, alignment, re-torquing?

3pnt4maro

iTrader: (2)

hmm why dont you get him to give you a run down on the prices and then go from there

snake charmer

iTrader: (118)

that is why they are in business , to make money .

Black_Bird

iTrader: (6)

You can mount, balance, and put all 4 new wheels/tires on the car in less then an hour. That's some outrageous pricing dude. Order the wheels/tires yourself, take them and get them mounted/balanced, and just put them on yourself or get a friend to help if you need it and you're saving loads of money from the looks of it.

Spink

iTrader: (1)

What wheels are you getting?

My guess is you're getting genuine GM rims, maybe the z06's? and the prices you're looking at online are for the replicas. Some of those replica wheels aren't very good quality wheels compared to GM. .

Just a guess though. If thats not the case I have no explanation other than you should negotiate a better price or go to somebody else.

FreByrd

iTrader: (1)

and get 275's not 265's.

staples

snake charmer - I entirely agree with you on that one.
Spink - yea I believe my mechanic is getting genuine GM wheels. That's where I suspected the price gap to lie.
I was originally looking at 275's but 265's should do fine - might still get 275's though. I know tradition states I should get 275's.
As for doing it all myself, I can do everything but mount the tire; however, isn't the larger tire going to knock off my speedometer? I thought that was something the shop should know to adjust? Will ask him about the price again.

FreByrd

iTrader: (1)

the larger tire wont knock off your speedometer. I had 18x9.5 C5 Y2k rims with 275/35/18 tires on all fours and side by side with a stock 16x8 rim/tire both were the same height just more rim with the 18". Even if it was off, the amount of difference was very, very small. Definitely not enough to lose sleep over, so dont worry about that at all