Price comparison: authorized car service vs outdoor garage

A common assumption is that neighborhood garages provide cheaper parts and labor, but this is not always the case.

BHPian 2000 rpm recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi guys,

I was recently faced with a dilemma as to whether to put my vehicle in for repair at FNG or OEM. I think we would all think of the same thing when we think of a major repair.

I’m running this thread so that we can share any information we have such as official prices for spare parts (compared to prices quoted by FNG), overall repair / service costs, etc., which may help people trying to make this decision.

Publication format:

• Vehicle model –
• Type of repair –
• OEM price (in INR) –
• FNG price (in INR) –

I think as this thread fills up we can help people make this decision better.

Warning: Readers should be aware that the prices members will share will be a one-time price and may change base revisions.

Let me start:

Vehicle model -Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Highline Petrol 2011

Repair type – Replacement of the instrument cluster

• OEM price (in INR) – Instrument cluster – 8870; Associated codification – 1250
• FNG price (in INR) – Instrument cluster – 12,500; Associated codification – 4500 (without negotiation)

As you can see, I was surprised to see that the prices quoted by VW were very reasonable compared to FNG. I think since these jobs are very skilled, people in the open market charge a premium for the same.

Here is what GTO had to say about it:

There is a major difference mainly with European cars. Japanese cars you can always send to the authorized workshop (I sent my Civic even in its 8th year to Solitaire Honda). But with high-end Germans, that’s a big no-no. Just to give an example = the engine mounts on my C220 wore out prematurely at 40,000 km. The Mercedes dealer wanted 30,000 to change them. I got the OEM parts from the outside for 10-12k (installed). It’s 1/3 the price!

My 5 series ABS unit gave up due to low voltage (Low voltage situations and weak batteries | The bane of German cars). The official price was 2.5 lakhs, I got a used one in a salvage car for $ 60,000.

Ditto with my Civic. His ABS unit had also failed and Honda rated the part at 50 – 60k. No way I’m spending that on an old Civic with a 3 lakhs resale value. I got a used one at chor bazaar for 12k.

Here is what BHPian Sahil had to say about it:

FNG = Friendly Neighborhood Garage.

I clearly don’t have a formatted case to share on top of my head now. However, I have learned that “FNGs” have a greater advantage in German luxury cars and the like, as the service center’s margins on parts as well as labor are significant. For japs, I have often found that the price advantage is not as important.

Overall, the biggest advantage of FNG is that the dealer refuses to repair and only replaces it with luxury cars, which is usually the norm.

More so, I guess because the dealers have very low margins on sales cars in the cutthroat rebate market, service is where they demand it.

A Mercedes dealership once told me: I can’t match the price the other dealership offered for your purchase because I’m at a loss, buy it from them but send it to me for repair, if please.

Here is what BHPian abhishek46 had to say about it:

Thank you for such an excellent thread!

I’d like to share another take on FNG, which can tip the scales in some cases.

Two examples:

1. My old polo shirt’s fuel inlet hose had developed a hole and gasoline was spraying everywhere like a garden fountain.

• Cost if fixed at AUC: ~ Rs1000 & 2 days of lost time.
• Cost if fixed at the FNG: Rs200 & 15 minutes.

In my case, the FNG (The Very Reliable Raam Cool Cars) simply removed the hose, inspected it thoroughly, and concluded that it was a localized rat bite.

Since the cut had occurred at the very end of the pipe, the mechanic simply cut the end of the pipe 2 cm. And I glued it back.

2. The driver’s side door handle bracket on my Polo had cracked in half from an external impact.

This bracket sits inside the door frame and holds the door handle in place.

• Cost if set at AUC: ~ Rs12000 + Labor & 2-3 days of lost time.
• Cost if fixed at the FNG: Rs250 & 2 Hours.

In the above case, the FNG suggested using “Araldite” and gluing the backing, taking into account the “princely” sum of Rs 12,000 for a small 15cm piece of plastic.

The Araldite worked wonderfully and the Bracket was put into service with absolutely zero problems.

Here is what Ninjatalli BHP had to say about it:

This is a dated but still relevant update, so please share

Vehicle model -Volkswagen Vento 1.6 Highline Diesel 2011

Repair type – Injector replacement (X 4)

• OEM price (in INR) – Injectors – at least 1L +; labor charges – additional (dealer declined to share details)
• FNG price (in INR) – Injectors – ~ 0.9L (22.5k per injector); labor charges – included (no negotiations carried out)

Reference article with details

Vehicle model -Volkswagen Vento 1.6 Highline Diesel 2011

Repair type – Revision of suspensions

• OEM price (in INR) – pieces – 0.6 – 0.7 L; labor charges – additional (no details shared)
• FNG price (in INR) – only required parts – ~ 0.3 L; labor charges – included (no negotiations carried out)

Reference article with details

Check out BHPian’s reviews for more ideas and information.