[Gregrobin]

I got my first estimate today from a reputable BMW shop to walnut blast: $1050. This is in Virginia USA.

Fair price?

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

I got my first estimate today from a reputable BMW shop to walnut blast: $1050. This is in Virginia USA.

Fair price?

That's the stealership for ya.

IMO, if your gonna own an N54, you should own your own walnut blasting setup. You can piece one together for around $200.00 or pay maybe $250.00 for a kit. The ground walnuts might run you $30 to $40.00. You need 25# of 18-40 grade.

This is assuming you have a 6.0-6.5hp shop vac & a good/ great air compressor.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

I got my first estimate today from a reputable BMW shop to walnut blast: $1050. This is in Virginia USA.

Fair price?

I paid $350 from and Indy this time last year...

[tmo24]

I was just quoted $425. The other shops have quoted me $700+. Even though it still may be a little high, its worth it for me to just have someone else do it and not have any liability. I don't even have time to do it on my own or I would.

[Vivek.]

It's about $450 around here which is one of the more expensive places in the country to get shop work done. $1050 is ridiculous, far beyond reasonable to the point that it makes me think they're not familiar with these engines and don't really want to do it.

[nicky dj]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

I got my first estimate today from a reputable BMW shop to walnut blast: $1050. This is in Virginia USA.

Fair price?

I almost puked. Many shops in SoCal do it now for $200-$400. I personally would not pay over$500-$600 anywhere in the world. It's not that difficult of a job for a mechanic to do.

[Gregrobin]

Thanks everyone, glad I posted this.

This is a weekend driver for me, I may put 2000 - 3000 miles a year on the car, so it doesn't make sense to me to do this one myself. I'll have it done once and probably never again.

I don't know if it's ever been done before, car has 93K miles on it, I'm at stage 1 MHD tune and have read it's a good idea to get it done.

[Gregrobin]

Maybe it's this area, I just talked to another Bimmer shop (not the dealership, nor was the first one I talked to) and he quoted me $1300.

He said I should uninstall the MHD tune first, let them do their work, and then reinstall the tune afterwards. He said the tune may have made adaptations based on existing carbon build up and he'd be setting it back to factory.

Talked to the local dealer, their charge is $600.

[Saif2018]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

Maybe it's this area, I just talked to another Bimmer shop (not the dealership, nor was the first one I talked to) and he quoted me $1300.

He said I should uninstall the MHD tune first, let them do their work, and then reinstall the tune afterwards. He said the tune may have made adaptations based on existing carbon build up and he'd be setting it back to factory.

Talked to the local dealer, their charge is $600.

There is no need to remove the tune, the car will adapt after the walnut blast.

$1300 is a ridiculous price for walnut blasting.

[Bimmer_Bro]

Expensive here in Canada too. Called all the shops I trust and the average quote is $900.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

I got my first estimate today from a reputable BMW shop to walnut blast: $1050. This is in Virginia USA.

Fair price?

You see even at $450.00 you could almost :

1) walnut blasting kit with 10 gallon pressurized tank & adapter $200.00

2) 6.5 HP shop vac - $175.00

3) Dewalt - D55146 / 5 SCFM at 90 PSI
$299.00 (on sale)

$674.00 + 25# of 18-40

After 2 walnut blasting you've broken even & you will absolutely use the shop vac & air compressor for other DIYs etc.

I'd even do this every 30,000 miles

So, on # 3 your cost is $30 to $40.00 🤔

[Cloverdale]

I very effectively cleaned up my intake valves w/out walnut blasting prior to major mods. In addition to the product use on it's own I scrubbed with small brushes. Be sure valves are closed. Not that difficult.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

He said I should uninstall the MHD tune first, let them do their work, and then reinstall the tune afterwards. He said the tune may have made adaptations based on existing carbon build up and he'd be setting it back to factory.

Do these guys specialize in turbo BMWs? What does their customer base look like? New cars, tuner cars? Clientele has been buying BMWs since 1975 or wasn't even conceived in 1975?

The quoted text again makes me think that they don't want to do the job because they're not familiar with the cars.

[Aceway]

I'd feel robbed if I paid more than $350.

[Dave92N54]

dmvbmw.com

Live in MD, I believe they are located in Vienna, guy quoted me around $400 for a walnut blast, decided to DIY though.

[Antetokounmpo]

Find a local guy out of his garage on here. I paid like $180

[Gregrobin]

Originally Posted by Cloverdale

I very effectively cleaned up my intake valves w/out walnut blasting prior to major mods. In addition to the product use on it's own I scrubbed with small brushes. Be sure valves are closed. Not that difficult.

Interesting video, thanks for sharing.

[Jeef]

$300-450 is a very fair price.

[Gregrobin]

This was recommended to me by a local Import auto shop for ongoing maintenance:

[fredcase]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Bro

Expensive here in Canada too. Called all the shops I trust and the average quote is $900.

Its 4hrs work, and $100cad in parts.

i can do it for you in edmonton for $400 you bring the parts

[Squirt]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

That's the stealership for ya.

IMO, if your gonna own an N54, you should own your own walnut blasting setup. You can piece one together for around $200.00 or pay maybe $250.00 for a kit. The ground walnuts might run you $30 to $40.00. You need 25# of 18-40 grade.

This is assuming you have a 6.0-6.5hp shop vac & a good/ great air compressor.

I'll say that you don't even need a good vacuum or compressor to do the job.

For what it's worth, I used the $30 blaster kit, a fraction of the $25 walnut shell box, and a lightly modified $5 blow gun all from Harbor Freight. Combined with a homemade wooden block intake port adapter, some duct tape, an old 1HP 8gallon air compressor and my wife's vacuum(no shit) I did the job with great results and no hassle. Most time was spent pulling the intake off and reinstalling.

If you're a basic DIY person, it can be done for under $75. If you have someone offer to do it for $200-250, it's a deal you should take and spend the afternoon with your family instead.

[ghanii]

Most Indy shops will charge you around 375.00 to 450.00 depending on the hourly rate.