The vast, vast majority of all mechanics charge book rates.

Think about it this way, why would you want to get better at something so you can do it more quickly and earn less per job? The idea is to get better and get quicker so you can make more money per hour. You do that by being able to do jobs more quickly than the book rate.

 

I can tell you exactly what it cost me this past March, $999. The starter assembly was $355 and the labor was $644. However, that is a low labor cost. Fortunately my long term (some 25 years) mechanic did not turn me away and in fact gave me a break on the labor. If I recall correctly I think he told me it was an 8 hour job.

 

I agree with YYYMMM. Its a hard job but not difficult by any means. I did mines in my garage/driveway and took around 6 hours as well. I was trying to buck the system by not removing the alternator and that took more time. Also had a hard time removing the exhaust bolts just past the cat. Besides that, it was pretty straight foreward. I watched a video on youtube and it was a ton of help.
If I had to do it now, might take 4 hours start to finish.

 

NorCal Bay Area would have costed about 1300
at an Indy,but Alpha Warranty made it a 100$ deductible.
Alpha Warranty came with the car and i didn't know it..
I got lucky.

 

This is true. Call up any shop and ask them how much to do ANYTHING and they will look it up in the book and quote an outrageous sum.

 

A car shop is a business. That’s how the business works. Control cost to yourself by looking for an independent shop with a decent labor rate.

 

Have there been any changes to the starter or related parts in the later years or should we all expect this at about that mileage or age?

 

I had my starter refurbed I think the relay and something I don’t know the name of was replaced for 100 Euros and 4 hours labour.