Hi All,

A couple weeks ago I posted a message looking for brickster-recommended shops in the Portland, OR area..... many people gave me some good leads (thanks all!!!).
I didn't call every shop that were referred to me, either due to location -I figured it best to start close and look far if needed. But, I did get a couple estimates. As promised, here they are, every shop was told the same info as far as what was needed.

Here's what's getting done:
- all the front oil seals
- timing belt
- motor mounts
- clean PCV system (failed both palm and "dancing oil cap" tests - test info offered to me courtesy of B.C. and Don Foster, respectively. :)

I have the motor mounts, so all estimates are don't have a motor mount part price built in to them - aside from that, all other parts & labor are included in the prices.

All-Around Automotive - when i called this shop, they refused to even give me a ballpark over the phone, asked me "well, how do you know you need this work done? did someone tell you?" also said "just because the engine is shaking doesn't mean it's the motor mounts". best estimate I could get was that they would charge me $40 to "diagnose the problem". note: this shop was non-volvo, recommended by someone not from brickboard.

Eastside Swede - offered to do everything for about 500 bucks, when I said I had the motor mounts, they said they would put 'em on for me just this once, but in the future would not put on outside parts. (motor mount charge alone was $150 from this shop). they may be good, but this is a little spendy for me right now.

Alamo automotive - everything for $300 bucks (actual break-down is $50 bucks to install the motor mounts, and $250 covers seals, t-belt etc.). When I asked about the PCV system cleaning, they said they do that as part of the other work, which sounded good & thorough to me. when i inquired about bringing my own parts, this shop told me exactly which seals to buy, and which not to buy due to a high failure rate. also, since I am poor right now, they told me they could work out a payment arrangement with me as needed - I thought that was really cool, considering they've never even met me before.

(Confidential to Scott C: Mitch says hi to you and Janet :)

so far, Alamo is the one I plan to go to. How does this estimate sound? any feedback welcome.

thanks!

susan.