[BMWCSRegistry] Re: Resto Frusto

[Paul Schiemer]

It's all about labor and talent.
Put the talent first, if your goal is to remake your vehicle in the
expression originally intended.
Prepare to pay much more than the car will ever be worth.

Ideal situation? Get a shop in a remote area where labor costs are less.
Average shop rate is $75 to $100 in metro areas, and your car is in
competition for attention for the quick turn around insurance work.
Out in the sticks, you might find $50 an hour the norm, perhaps even less;
but your car might have to wait for an opening.
Good shops take appointments.

No matter what; there's no cheap way to remanufacture your car.
If it's perfect going in, then why are you doing it in the first place?
If it needs 'just a little attention', you'll be surprised it takes two to
three times more attention than you realize.

My best job has come from an eccentric recluse who lives in podunk, has
forty years experience in the marque (not BMW), and employs a staff with -at
least- a dozen years each, working on the cars there.
Each vehicle has a time card; it gets punched in the minute any task begins
on it, then punched out when the task is complete.
You pay for the minutes you get at an agreed to hourly rate ($55.00 per).
Monthly invoice arrive via email, you send a check accordingly.

There are hiccups, misunderstandings, and mistakes. No system is perfect.
Taking a car to a shop and having it not worked on for six months- that's a
bigger issue than the basics I've addressed above.
Been there, done that- I can't tell you the number of times I've had to
snatch a car out from under being ignored.
I have plenty of horror stories to tell, but my therapist has told me it's
not good for complete recovery.