How long does it usually take for a 4S shop to repair a car?
3 Answers
For major repairs, it may take half a month to a month. If it's just minor repairs, such as purchasing external parts, painting, or sheet metal work, it usually takes about a week. Factors affecting repair speed: Parts procurement: The first factor is whether the required parts need to be procured. If procurement is needed, it depends on the manufacturer's delivery speed. 4S shops usually order parts from the manufacturer once a week. If the 4S shop happens to have the required parts in stock, the repair can usually be completed on the same day. Number of vehicles: The number of cars being repaired at the 4S shop also affects the repair time. Repairs are done on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are many cars being repaired at the 4S shop, naturally, it will take more time. Insurance claims: For repairs involving insurance claims, the speed of repair depends on the extent of the vehicle's damage, the determination of insurance liability, and the time it takes for the insurance company to confirm the claim.
Last week, I took my car to the 4S shop for a paint touch-up after a scrape and realized that repair times are really unpredictable. Minor issues like oil changes or headlight adjustments usually take about two hours, but it depends on how busy the service bays are. When I went at 3 PM that day, I spent forty minutes just waiting in line. Moderate repairs, such as brake pad replacements or fixing strange noises, typically take half a day. For major jobs, it’s more complicated—like transmission repairs or accident damage restoration, which can take anywhere from three days to one or two weeks, especially since you have to wait for parts from the manufacturer, and the warehouse doesn’t stock everything. I recommend calling ahead to clarify the repair details and booking the earliest available time slot to save a lot of hassle.
My wife's car took a full four days to repair at the 4S dealership last time, which made her stomp her feet in frustration. The repair time was mainly delayed in three areas: inspection and diagnosis took half a day, waiting for parts was the biggest headache (especially for niche models), and final assembly and debugging required careful attention. Dropping off the car in the morning is the most cost-effective, as the workshop technicians are fresh and efficient. If you go in the afternoon, the chances of finishing the repair that day drop sharply. Important tip: For faults involving electronic systems or requiring programming, don’t casually request expedited service—last time, my neighbor rushed to fix the center console screen, only for the program to be flashed incorrectly three times, delaying the repair by an extra week.
