I just got an estimate from Volvo to replace my rear O2 sensor: $465. Is this reasonable? Why is it so expensive?

They're thieves. The cost is so high because you're supporting the dealer's family as well as the mechanic's that's actually working on your car. There's a ton of overhead associated with a dealership. Buy the part online and install it yourself. Or just erase the DTC codes and see if they come back. The codes are read from the DTC boxes located behind the rightside headlight area. On '95 Turbo models you can also read the codes from the OBDII data port under the coin holder using a Actron 9135 scanner (or similiar scanner...).

(Erasing Codes)

1) Codes can be erased only after all DTCs have been
displayed and first DTC has been repeated at least once. To erase DTC,
turn ignition on. Press test button on Volvo diagnostic unit and hold
for more than 5 seconds. Wait for LED response.

2) Press button again and hold for more than 5 seconds. Turn
ignition off and on. Start engine. All DTCs will be erased and all
adaptive values reset.



Those that skimp and try and use a generic O2 sensor usually end up with more DTC codes when they're done.


Order the right part from FCPGroton.com and be done with it.







Mike
'95 850T

Go to FCPGroton.com where like I did, you can buy the harness and sensor for about $175 to your door. I bought the tool to remove it at a local tool store for another $12. It takes all of 15 minutes to replace the front one and 3 minutes to replace the rear.

Is is worth your time to let a dealer do it for $465? Maybe if you make enough money to burn and the thought of crawling under your car doesn't turn your crank,...then yes, pay the exceedingly excessive sum to the dealer.

For the almost $275 that you save doing it yourself, think of what other things you could spend that money on instead?

As for the code, it will clear itself when the computer has enough information.

Hmm, is it reasonable? Depends on whether you think garages should make $200 and hour.

The part is $150-200 (see http://fcpgroton.com/volvo850oxygensensors.htm). Add an O2 sensor socket removal tool, $25 (http://ipdusa.com/ProductsCat.aspx?CategoryID=507&NodeID=4613&RootID=629), no more than an hour of your time, and you get the job done yourself for under $250.

Search the archives, some have re-wired generic O2 sensors, available for under $100. The only difference tends to be the wiring harness.

Reasonable, that depends upon what your time is worth to you.
List price on that sensor is 225.00, the additional cable harness that you are required to install with it is an additional $25.00. At that point you are at $250.00 in parts alone, the dealership will charge you 1 hour labor to check the codes, clear the codes, and diagnose your problem. That is a reasonable charge, and then they will probably charge you an additional 1 hour to replace the sensor, road test it, and recheck for any codes. Is that excessive? It might be a little heavy handed on the sensor replace time, i'd like to see something more like.3-.5 but that just is not realistic in a dealership environment. So, are they making $200.00 an hour? No, they are probably more in line with $100.00 per hour. Do you want it done now, done right, and carry a nation wide one year guarantee on parts and labor? That is going to cost you $465.00. Do you not mind waiting, buying tools to do the job, hoping you get the correct part from your online vendor, having to provide your own "nation wide" guarantee, not getting the coffee, carwash, and shuttle service that comes with the dealer price tag? Well if you don't mind then you can save the $200.00 and do it yourself. In the end the sensor will be replaced and so long as that is the problem then you are good to go.
You mention they want $465.00, how did you come by this estimate? Have you gone in, had it diagnosed, and paid for that as well? If you have and you decide to do it yourself you can tack that diagnostic charge right onto the cost of doing it yourself and now you have saved only $100.00. Having worked multiple sides of this equation I can tell you that it is not as straight forward as they want $200.00 more to do what I can do at home. They really are offering you more but it is up to each individual to decide whether or not the "more" they are offering is worth what they are asking or if it even has value to the customer at all.

Mark

Gosh, having it "done now, done right..." is a simple as having a dealer do it huh??? You must reside on a different planet than most of us : )

I learned my lesson on dealer ripoffs when I did the front end on my 740. Bought a upgrade set of strut rod polyurethane bushings from Groton for about $25. for all four plus hardware except washers. Happened to be by my Mr. Do- It - Right dealer and inquired about bushing prices. They didn't have the upgrade poly bushings but the plain old rubber ones were $51. ea X 4 = $204. Groton got 50 cents each X 4 = $2.00 for urethane swaybar bushings vs $5.00ea X 4 = $20. for plain rubber. I'm sure having them installed would have run me ~$1000. Thanks but I'll keep my ~$950., use the mountain of info available here on the BB and avoid these weasel dealers at all cost.

I reside on the same planet as you do however, unlike you, I do not live under a rock on that same planet that we all reside on. Ever worked in dealership, ever met the clientele that a dealership caters to, ever worked in an independent shop, ever worked on cars at all? Yeah, probably not.
As I stated, it really depends upon WHAT YOUR TIME IS WORTH. If the dealerships time, approximately $100.00 per hour, is more than your time is worth then you really need to stay home and do it yourself.
I also stated that if you want it done now and done right that your dealership or a good independent for that matter is your best avenue. Let me see, from the time you placed your order with FCP until you were rolling down the road how much time went by?
You are trying to compare buying and installing wildcat parts in your car with a factory authorized repair facility, hardly a fair comparison. I know that the urethane strut rod bushings are better, I install them in every one of my customer's vehicles but that does not change the fact that they are an aftermarket part and just not in the realm of what a dealership does. So when your aftermarket parts take a crap on you or your do it yourself mechanic abilities fail you and you are left stranded on the road somewhere it's all you. But in the rare event that your factory part installed by a factory technician does the very same thing the nearest Volvo dealer is obligated to make it right and take care of you. Believe me there are a lot of people out there that this means a lot to and do not even question it when they are presented with a $200.00-$300.00 bill for a set of bushings and truthfully it would be more than that because they are going to align that vehicle when they are done, but I am sure you probably think that to be more frivolous gouging on the part of a dealership.
Who do you think comes up with these prices that they charge, the Easter Bunny? The parts prices are all factory Volvo pricing that comes right from Volvo. The labor times are more or less out of the book, there is definitely some wiggle room there though but still within reason.
Rip off huh? So I guess you know better what it takes to keep the doors open at a dealership then right? Gosh, maybe they should come look you up and you could set the industry on its ear and straighten out all of those weasel dealers. Crawl back under your rock :)

Mark

So we exist to support the dealers standard of livin' huh?? Give me a break.

indy

PS See if you can keep your response to <5000 words. We value our time.

I think Mark is making reasonable points. The dealer (mine, anyway), DOES offer FREE loaner cars, FREE shuttle service, an on-site inventory of all the right parts, a warranty, emergency service, and mechanics who can not only do the easy stuff but are also trained to do the ridiculously involved stuff (like taking the 850 dashboard out to replace the evaporator). All that is worth something.

There are some simple jobs that I just can't see my way to paying a dealer to do: rear pads and rotors, $450 at the dealer (but note its the same at the local Firestone alignment shop, with wildcat parts!), or $125 with OEM parts in my driveway. Or an O2 sensor. There are others I would *only* have a dealer do, such as replacing the drivers door hinge on my old 240, which every indy I visited refused to do, and which the dealer happily and expertly did for $125. Whether to do it yourself or pay the dealer depends on circumstances, but there's no truth in calling dealer shops *thieves*. My only complaint about the dealer is that its hard to get past the smooth talking "service advisor" and speak with the mechanic who actually inspected and worked on my car.

I guess my question then is: why would the recommended sensor cost so much? Does Bosch offer a technology/part that is so superior to that of it's competitors? All it is is a "Lamda" sensor, right?

If you do not want to replace the O2 sensor yourself - have a reliable Volvo only indy mechanic do it and insist on the oem Volvo part.

Honestly though, it's no more than a 20-30 minute job including the time to get the car up on jack stands.

An O2 sensor is no more complicated than replacing a spark plug- you aren't going to be stranded anywhere as lond as the thing works - which you'll know very quickly.

Good Luck !

Yes actually they do. The factory sensor from Volvo in the blue Volvo box is a Bosch sensor indeed but whether or not you get the latest and greatest correct Bosch sensor from an outside parts source is another question entirely. Whether it was my car or a customer's car I would run nothing other than a Bosch or factory Volvo part in it. How much are you really going to save by running a Brand X sensor?

Mark