Hey, that's on MY list of stuff to do this summer, too!

 

$200 isn't too bad. They charged me $170 when mine broke in NJ (that's parts and labor...yeah it wasn't the OEM spring sear, but it was an emergency I didn't have 2 days to wait for a good one)

If you change your mind and decide to do it yourself there are a couple of tips:
- a second set of helping hands in very useful, especially to hold the strut assembly straight when you are compressing the spring
- do it in a quiet environment with no music. If you hear even the slightest "ping" when the spring is compressed...RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

 

But you have to yell "DUCK AND COVER PEOPLE!!"

 

A great compressor at a good price:
Single Action Strut Spring Compressor

 

I just finished replacing the struts, timing belt and water pump, and a PCV kit on an '97 850T wagon. The struts, even with a spring that could kill is still a walk in the park compared to working on the front engine components.

If you are considering front engine work for the first time, read every post and every hint that anyone has offered, then read them all again.

 

I'm a little leery about Harbor Freight tools that you rely on to, well, keep you from getting killed like jack stands. I've ordered quite a bit of stuff from them like screw drivers and torque bits. Some stuff has been crap, others have been sufficient. Not quite Craftsman or Snap-On quality.

 

+1

I really like Harbor Freight to tools, but not for something that could be life threatening if it failed. The spring compressors I got from Advance Auto worked fine, but I stay away from the front of them and stay to the side.

 

On top of all of that advanced, napa, or autozone will rent them to you for free basically...