Wondering if there are some opinions on what this service should cost? I’ve asked around at the usual places here in the PNW and quotes have ranged quite a bit. Also, how long did they keep your car?
Wondering if there are some opinions on what this service should cost? I’ve asked around at the usual places here in the PNW and quotes have ranged quite a bit. Also, how long did they keep your car?
For the basic job, these days figure on $3k-$4k. Parts alone are over $1,000 at this point. Acura book time for the job is something like 12 hours. A NSX specialist shop can probably get it done much shorter than that. Plan on having the car down for at least a week. I also recommend getting all the parts in first before delivering your car- these days there are often delays on parts from Japan and the car will sit for weeks or even months while the shop waits for parts.
In the SF Bay Area, it cost me $4700 (parts and labor) at Trackspec 3 years ago: timing belt, water pump, LMA, VTEC seals, camshaft seals, crankshaft pulley, Cedar Ridge pulley shield, crankshaft seal, valve adjustment.
I think I had to wait ~3 months for parts, the job took about a week.
I just paid $3088 +tax to replace timing belt, water pump, both drive belts, and valve cover gaskets, plus coolant, from a very well known and trusted NSX mechanic.
Thanks to everyone for the very helpful input and taking the time to post. I especially appreciate the summaries. They encapsulated all of the things on my mind to do with the car.
It certainly depends on where in the PNW, but keep in mind that we've had record-high inflation. $4700 in 2020 would be $5500 today, assuming shops have raised their rates to match (my locals certainly have). The only question is whether you live in a Bay-Area-equivalent metro in terms of prices. Seattle? Yeah, $5500 might be reasonable. Bend, OR? Probably not.
Especially after what just happened with Mita, I do have some strategies about long-term ownership of the car, including potentially overpaying or over-maintaining to keep healthy relationships with specialists.
It certainly depends on where in the PNW, but keep in mind that we've had record-high inflation. $4700 in 2020 would be $5500 today, assuming shops have raised their rates to match (my locals certainly have). The only question is whether you live in a Bay-Area-equivalent metro in terms of prices. Seattle? Yeah, $5500 might be reasonable. Bend, OR? Probably not.
Especially after what just happened with Mita, I do have some strategies about long-term ownership of the car, including potentially overpaying or over-maintaining to keep healthy relationships with specialists.
Are these estimates include dropping the motor? I am curious if it is better to drop the motor? I am a bit worry something get broken in the process or even scratch the paint.
I went to Carter acura in Lynnwood and with my avants discount it was probably around $5k. I had some other things done which made it closer to $6500. One local "well known" indie shop was going to charge me $7k just for the timing belt. Carter Acura also said they install SOS parts if I ever bought them. They have 1 NSX mechanic
Are these estimates include dropping the motor? I am curious if it is better to drop the motor? I am a bit worry something get broken in the process or even scratch the paint.
Every NSX specialist I know (including me ) drops the engine. There are so many places to screw up on this job that having easy access to everything makes an enormous difference and minimizes the chance of making a critical mistake.
There is no reason for a shop to save you money if it increases their risk.
Getting a TB tension wrong or greatly out of time is a $20K-$30k failure. Much less risk with a $2k insurance policy of dropping the engine. Also valve cover seal is hard to do with engine in place.
I just performed a TB change on my car with the engine in place. You bet I spent several hours verifying everything and then verifying the verification. And then did a bit more inspection and verification.
I used at least 3x mirrors, bright lights, and lots of obtuse viewing.
On the positive side one can get the TB off a tooth and it will still run ok. Ive even noticed a bit of slop in the tension on a previous install that had no issues.
I went to Carter acura in Lynnwood and with my avants discount it was probably around $5k. I had some other things done which made it closer to $6500. One local "well known" indie shop was going to charge me $7k just for the timing belt. Carter Acura also said they install SOS parts if I ever bought them. They have 1 NSX mechanic
OH if I could only go in my wayback machine.
I bought my '96 in September of 2003 and joined on here in August of 2005.
So now it is August of 2006. I read on here all about John Vasos at Acura Of Brookfield. I live in St. Louis. I called Mungenast Acura here and told them what I wanted done. Their price-$5,500.
I call John and he says about $2,500. Jumped on my appointment, drove up, stayed at a NO TELL MOTEL a mile down the street, he tossed me the keys to a new TL, every morning they had a spread of food that looked like Old Country Buffet, I could go back anytime I wanted to and look at my car and talk to my assigned mechanic Steve. There must have been 5-7 other NSX's on the lot for various work to be done. Another was on the rack next to mine too.
Here is what I had done-
Every fluid drained and replaced
Comptech headers installed- I supplied
Clutch installed- I supplied
TB/WP (old ones looked like new)
Valve adjustment- they were way off
New exhaust installed- I supplied
New "milk bottle"
1 new oxygen sensor
Water temp sending unit
Cam plugs
Valve cover gaskets
Wiper blades
Try to fix slow tire leak. No go, so I bought new wheels and tires later
A few other minor things thrown in
$2,532.
3 days, IN, OUT
I was so impressed and ecstatic that I went back in October 2015.
John was not there much unfortunately.
Again, Steve was my mechanic
I went to Kohler and goofed around this time instead of the NO TELL MOTEL.
This time I had-
TB/WP
Replaced HVAC head unit-THANKS to Brian K.
Replaced 2 CV boots and bands
Replaced drive belt
$2,354.
2 days IN, OUT
I was not impressed with rather large price for such a short list of fixes this time around.
Now with John being gone from there and I have no idea how his health is, I really have no idea what I am going to do now.
I do know that I would never let any Acura dealer (we have 2) here touch it.
For the basic job, these days figure on $3k-$4k. Parts alone are over $1,000 at this point. Acura book time for the job is something like 12 hours. A NSX specialist shop can probably get it done much shorter than that. Plan on having the car down for at least a week. I also recommend getting all the parts in first before delivering your car- these days there are often delays on parts from Japan and the car will sit for weeks or even months while the shop waits for parts.
This. I never drop the car off before I have the parts in hand. I've twice had good luck up here with getting parts from the US vs Japan, so always post here and check the known dealers domestically before jumping on that Ebay listing, or you could be waiting 4 to 6 weeks for a part.
That's nice but I have had both dealer and indie shops tell me they will not install my parts. One of the best known NSX shops locally (the one that quoted me $7k just to do the job) won't install parts i provide.
That's nice but I have had both dealer and indie shops tell me they will not install my parts. One of the best known NSX shops locally (the one that quoted me $7k just to do the job) won't install parts i provide.
My poor mechanic was happy to let me deal with seeking out parts as it was taking him a lot of time to hunt things down, and they were taking forever to ship. Thanks to this place I've twice now found a part from a member in the US used in perfect working order for less $$ than I could get it from Japan. Love this place!
That's nice but I have had both dealer and indie shops tell me they will not install my parts. One of the best known NSX shops locally (the one that quoted me $7k just to do the job) won't install parts i provide.
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) drops the engine. There are so many places to screw up on this job that having easy access to everything makes an enormous difference and minimizes the chance of making a critical mistake.
