whats the cheapest way to get engineered?

[Lambolica]

Yes it is alot harder to get into know, The last time I checked you needed to have a
Degree in Mech Eng.
x years experience working as a mechanic
there is a few other courses to "bridge" into the industry

All told about 7 years of study. (double if you do it part time which is how most do it.)

You don't see too many young engineers around.

Also the cost is based around the charge out rate.

Assuming there are 8 hours a day 6 day week.
Most engineers would be pocketing around the 100k mark +
that equates to about $40 an hour
On top of that there is PI insurance (if it's like my industry it would be around the $25000 mark
Add another $10
Secretary add $15
workshop add $20
So without too much budgeting he has to charge $65 per hour to break even. Concidering that in the average day the engineer would probably be 60-75% effecient (ie spends time answering phone calls of people asking opinions of which he doesn't get paid for) So factoring that in he's charging $85 an hour.
Add 20% Profit to make it all worth while = ~ $100

That is pretty much bottom line... if there are 2-3 clients a day or less. if there is a demand double the cost and its at $170 per hour.

These guys might look grubby and like other mechanics but they are Profesionals, like lawyers, accountants etc most proffesionals charge out at well over $100. My company charges me out at $110 an hour, and I have No qualifications.

So what it comes down to is the amount of time the engineer requires to review the car, find and cross check it against the relevant ADR's, write up the report and submit it. Probably 2 hours for the busy engineer charging around $170 for a "bolt in swap" ($340) or for a more complex swap where multiple upgrades are required 3-4 hours ($510-680). an engineer will probably charge out at either hour or half hour blocks.

Cheers
Simon

[TA-022]

who they going to blame if there is an acco and everything was engineered but not right?

i say there is "covering my ass fees" in there; which dont get me wrong , i agree with it being there cause in the end they are going to be asked why? and it could well bite them in some cases.

so all in all im happy with todays prices.


my be more than it used to be but then again 10-15 yrs ago nikes probably werent woth $300 a pair either?

[o_man_ra23]

who they going to blame if there is an acco and everything was engineered but not right?

i say there is "covering my ass fees" in there; which dont get me wrong , i agree with it being there cause in the end they are going to be asked why? and it could well bite them in some cases.

so all in all im happy with todays prices.


my be more than it used to be but then again 10-15 yrs ago nikes probably werent woth $300 a pair either?

Thats the $25,000 a year+ public liability insurance levy. Plus if something goes wrong and the engineer was dodgy, he faces jail terms, which the insurance cant cover him for.

Cheers, Owen

[timbosaurus]

all the above is true... but don't think this is the only job they have! For most it is just a side job. They don't have a workshop, they don't have a secretary...

One of the engineers in Victoria is a director in the company I work for. You'd think that a conflict of interest

[CrUZida]

My engineer is a Mechanical (I think) Engineering Consultant.
Works for himself.

Also does a lot of accident investigation for insurance companies.

[o_man_ra23]

The one for Townsville/Mackay is pretty well dedicated to Automotive. I know a number of people who have used him, he comes down to Mackay about once every month or 2, as there is nobody in mackay who does steering conversions. I think he also does Import certification. And roll cage approval too. He is quite reasonable on the price though.

Cheers, Owen

[inertia]

My engineer was doing it part time but I believe he does it full time now including visitations. But like has been said it's 120-150 per hour.

[infotechplus]

I think it's all based on the "Coca Cola Principle".

That is, have you ever been to the footy or a club and bought a Coke. How much did you pay? $3.50? $5.00? Depends on where you are, right?

Now go to Woolies and you see that you can buy a slab of Coke (24 cans) for about 30 - 40c a can, even less when ON SPECIAL.

Getting anything done to a car is the same. It's what the market is prepared to pay.

Look at it this way. You have just spent weeks and a bagful of cash to get your car up and running with a new engine. You need an Engineer.

He knows you need that Engineer's Certificate and you'll pay to get it. You aren't going to shop around too much, especially if the Engineer charges to make the trip to see your car.
He'll charge you whatever he feels he's worth, not what it actually costs to do.

I suppose it's the same for most things in life. It's the law of supply and demand.

I spoke to a guy on Friday who said he's doesn't do Certificates as he can make more by staying in his workshop, and he doesn't have to wear any later problems if he's missed something in your conversion.

Cheers
Peter

[BeRad]

700 fark me, i pay 100 bucks for as many mods as you can fit on the plate, yes it is a legit place of business...

[timbosaurus]

700 fark me, i pay 100 bucks for as many mods as you can fit on the plate, yes it is a legit place of business...

fark Melbourne... i'm moving back to QLD!!!!

one day.

[BeRad]

joe blow wont get those prices, but at most 100 per mod...