EUR cost ranges for common car repairs across European workshops. Each guide breaks down parts (aftermarket vs OEM), labor by hours, per-vehicle modifiers for BMW, VW, Audi, Mercedes, Ford and Toyota, DIY difficulty, and country-specific notes for Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Spain and the UK. Prices reflect 2026 indie shop and dealer rates and are refreshed quarterly.
Replacing an AdBlue tank in Europe costs between EUR 300 and EUR 1,500 fitted. The lower half (EUR 300 to EUR 700) covers a heater or sensor replacement inside the existing tank, or a complete tank swap on a smaller diesel like a Golf TDI or Focus EcoBlue. The upper half (EUR 800 to EUR 1,500) covers full tank replacement on a Sprinter, larger Audi or BMW, often together with the AdBlue pump or injector if those failed at the same time. Symptoms include the dreaded AdBlue countdown to no-start, P204F or P246F codes (SCR system efficiency), and the orange engine-emissions warning light. EU emissions law mandates a working SCR system - drive-without-AdBlue mileage is now zero on most post-2015 diesels.
Replacing an alternator in Europe costs between EUR 150 and EUR 700 fitted. The lower half (EUR 150 to EUR 350) is a straightforward remanufactured Bosch or Valeo unit on a transverse four-cylinder where the alternator bolts to the front of the engine. The upper half (EUR 400 to EUR 700) is a new OEM alternator on a premium German vehicle, or one of the high-output LIN-bus or regulated units on a modern start-stop equipped car. Warning signs include a battery warning light at idle, dimming headlights, slow cranking, or code P0562 (system voltage low). Always test the alternator with a load tester before condemning it - a flat battery does not prove an alternator failure.
Replacing a camshaft position sensor in Europe costs between EUR 60 and EUR 300 fitted. Most jobs sit at the lower half (EUR 60 to EUR 160) because the sensor is a 2 or 3 wire bolt-on part at the front or top of the cylinder head. The upper half (EUR 180 to EUR 300) covers premium German vehicles with hard-to-reach sensors, or jobs where multiple sensors (intake and exhaust cam) are replaced together. Symptoms include codes P0340, P0341, P0342 or P0343 (camshaft position sensor circuit malfunction), rough idle, long crank times, and intermittent misfires. Always test the sensor wiring and confirm the air gap before condemning the sensor.
Replacing a catalytic converter in Europe costs between EUR 350 and EUR 1,800. The price is driven by three things: your vehicle, whether you fit OEM or type-approved aftermarket, and whether the car has one converter or two (V6 and V8 engines have two, one per cylinder bank). The cheapest jobs are bolt-on aftermarket cats for compact cars at around EUR 350 fitted. The most expensive are dealer-OEM replacements on premium German vehicles or commercial vans with twin converters, regularly past EUR 1,800. A failed catalytic converter is signalled by fault codes P0420 (Bank 1) or P0430 (Bank 2). Before replacing the cat itself, rule out the cheaper culprits first: a tired downstream oxygen sensor sets the same code at a fraction of the price.
Replacing a crankshaft position sensor in Europe costs between EUR 70 and EUR 350 fitted. The lower half (EUR 70 to EUR 180) covers easy-access sensors at the front or side of the engine block. The upper half (EUR 200 to EUR 350) covers sensors tucked behind the starter motor, transmission bell housing, or on V6 and V8 engines where the sensor sits between the engine and gearbox. Symptoms are dramatic: intermittent no-start, sudden engine cut-out at any speed, slow restart, and code P0335 stored. Always verify the sensor is the cause before condemning - heat-soak issues, wiring damage and ECU faults can all mimic a failed sensor.
Replacing or cleaning a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in Europe costs between EUR 350 and EUR 3,500 depending on which approach works for your situation. A forced regeneration via dealer or specialist scan tool is the cheapest path at EUR 60 to EUR 150 and resolves around 30 percent of cases. Off-car cleaning at a specialist DPF service (ultrasonic + thermal) costs EUR 300 to EUR 600 and resolves around 70 percent of cases. Replacement is the last resort: aftermarket DPF EUR 350 to EUR 900, OEM EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,500 for premium German diesels. Labour is 2 to 5 hours. DPF removal or deletion is ILLEGAL across the EU and fails TÜV, ITV, TA, SKP and MOT inspections regardless of the rest of the car's condition.
Replacing an EGR valve in Europe costs between EUR 100 and EUR 800 including parts and labour, with diesel vehicles typically at the higher end due to more complex cooled-EGR systems. Carbon cleaning the existing valve through a specialist service is often the cheaper first option at EUR 80 to EUR 180 and resolves around 50 percent of EGR-related fault codes. Aftermarket EGR valves from Pierburg, Wahler or Bosch run EUR 70 to EUR 350; OEM dealer parts EUR 200 to EUR 600. Labour is 1 to 3 hours on most engines. Diesel vehicles often have a separate EGR cooler that can crack internally - if the cooler is the failure point, parts cost rises by EUR 300 to EUR 900 and labour by 3 to 5 hours. EGR removal or deletion is ILLEGAL across the EU and fails inspection.
Replacing an EVAP purge valve (also called the canister purge valve or EVAP purge solenoid) in Europe costs between EUR 40 and EUR 200 fitted. Most jobs are at the lower end (EUR 40 to EUR 110) because the part is small, cheap, and usually accessible from the top of the engine. The upper end (EUR 130 to EUR 200) covers awkward access (tucked behind the intake or under the manifold) or premium German vehicles with OEM-only supply. Symptoms include codes P0440, P0441, P0443, P0444 or P0446 (EVAP system small leak or purge flow), a faint fuel smell after a long drive, and a sometimes-tripped check engine light. The job is one of the easier DIY jobs in this list.
Replacing an EVAP vent valve (also called the canister vent solenoid or vent control valve) in Europe costs between EUR 40 and EUR 250 fitted. The lower half (EUR 40 to EUR 130) covers easy access with the valve at the rear of the carbon canister near the fuel tank. The upper half (EUR 150 to EUR 250) covers harder access (some valves are mounted under the vehicle with road-grime corrosion to deal with) or premium German vehicles with OEM-only supply. Symptoms include codes P0446 (vent valve circuit), P0447 (vent valve open), P0448 (vent valve shorted), P0455 or P0456 (EVAP leak large/small), and difficulty taking on fuel at the pump because the tank cannot vent.
Replacing fuel injectors in Europe costs between EUR 120 and EUR 1,800 fitted, with a single petrol injector at the low end and a full diesel injector set at the high end. A single petrol injector on a Golf or Focus is EUR 120 to EUR 280 fitted. A single common-rail diesel injector (BMW N47, Mercedes OM651, Ford 1.6 TDCi, VW EA189) is EUR 200 to EUR 600. A full diesel injector set with coding runs EUR 1,200 to EUR 2,400. Symptoms include rough idle, white smoke (diesel), cylinder-specific misfire codes P0301 to P0306, and excessive fuel consumption. Always test before replacing - a leaking injector is rare; a clogged one is more common and can sometimes be cleaned.
Replacing an idle air control valve (IAC) in Europe costs between EUR 60 and EUR 280 fitted, but this is a job that mostly applies to older vehicles. The IAC valve was used on engines with mechanical throttle bodies (mostly pre-2008) to control idle speed by metering a small amount of air around a closed throttle plate. Modern electronic throttle bodies do not need a separate IAC. Symptoms include codes P0505 to P0508 (idle control system), erratic idle, stalling at junctions and slow throttle response. Cleaning is the first step - 60 to 70 percent of suspected IAC failures resolve with a 30-minute clean and an idle relearn.
Replacing a single ignition coil in Europe costs between EUR 30 and EUR 220, including parts and labour. A full set of four coil-on-plug units runs EUR 120 to EUR 600 fitted. Modern petrol vehicles use one coil per cylinder (coil-on-plug or COP design); older cars use a single coil pack feeding all cylinders. Bosch and NGK aftermarket coils are EUR 15 to EUR 80 each; OEM dealer coils are EUR 40 to EUR 180 each. Labour is 0.2 to 0.5 hours per coil. A failed coil usually shows as a single-cylinder misfire (P0301 through P0308) with the engine running rough and a flashing check engine light under load.
Replacing a mass airflow sensor (MAF) in Europe costs between EUR 40 and EUR 280, including parts and labour. Cleaning a dirty MAF with a dedicated MAF cleaner spray is a EUR 10 DIY job and resolves at least half of all MAF-related fault codes - try this before buying a new sensor. Aftermarket sensors from Bosch run EUR 60 to EUR 150 for European vehicles; OEM dealer parts reach EUR 280. Labour is 0.3 to 0.5 hours - it is one of the easiest sensor swaps on a modern car. The MAF lives in the intake tract between the air filter and the throttle body.
Replacing an oxygen sensor (lambda sensor) in Europe costs between EUR 60 and EUR 350 for a single sensor, including parts and labour. Most modern petrol vehicles have two to four oxygen sensors per engine - one upstream and one downstream of each catalytic converter. Aftermarket sensors from Bosch, NGK or Denso fit the majority of European cars for EUR 40 to EUR 150. OEM dealer sensors run EUR 120 to EUR 350. Labour is usually 0.5 to 1.5 hours. The downstream sensor (after the cat) is typically the easiest swap and fails earlier than the upstream sensor.
Replacing a full set of spark plugs in Europe costs between EUR 30 and EUR 280 including parts and labour. A set of four standard copper-core plugs is EUR 12 to EUR 30; iridium or platinum plugs are EUR 40 to EUR 180 for a set of four. Labour is 0.5 to 1.5 hours on most modern inline-four engines. V6 and V8 engines with plugs under the intake manifold add 1 to 2 hours. Direct-injection turbo engines (TSI, EcoBoost, BMW Twin Turbo) require specific spark plug part numbers - never substitute a generic NGK or Bosch unless the part number matches exactly. Service interval is typically 30,000 to 60,000 km for copper, 80,000 to 100,000 km for iridium.
Replacing a thermostat in Europe costs between EUR 60 and EUR 350 fitted. The lower half (EUR 60 to EUR 150) is a simple inline thermostat on an inline four-cylinder where the housing bolts onto the side of the head. The upper half (EUR 200 to EUR 350) is an integrated thermostat-and-housing assembly on a modern VAG, BMW or Volvo, where the whole plastic module is replaced as one unit. Symptoms include code P0128 (coolant below thermostat regulating temperature), heater that takes 10 plus minutes to blow hot, or a temperature gauge that climbs and falls erratically. Always replace the gasket or O-ring and bleed the cooling system properly afterwards.
Replacing a throttle body in Europe costs between EUR 100 and EUR 600 fitted. The lower half (EUR 100 to EUR 280) covers a cleaning-and-reuse scenario or an aftermarket replacement on a mass-market four-cylinder. The upper half (EUR 350 to EUR 600) covers a full OEM electronic throttle body on a premium German vehicle, or one of the integrated throttle-and-manifold assemblies on some modern direct-injection engines. Symptoms include codes P0506 to P0508 (idle control range), erratic idle, hesitation off throttle, and slow throttle response. Always try a cleaning first - 60 percent of suspected throttle body failures resolve with a 30-minute clean and an idle relearn.
Replacing a timing chain in Europe costs between EUR 600 and EUR 4,500 fitted. The wide spread reflects two very different jobs: a front-mounted chain on a transverse four-cylinder is a one-day job for a competent independent shop (EUR 600 to EUR 1,500), while a rear-mounted chain on a BMW N47 diesel or a longitudinal V6 means engine-out access and EUR 2,500 to EUR 4,500 in total. Always replace the full kit (chain, guides, tensioner, sprockets) and not just the chain. Symptoms include a cold-start rattle for a few seconds, codes P0016 to P0019 (camshaft to crankshaft correlation), and rough idle. Skipping the job risks a jumped chain and a wrecked engine on interference designs.
Repairing a vacuum leak in Europe costs between EUR 30 and EUR 400 fitted, depending entirely on what is leaking. The lower half (EUR 30 to EUR 150) covers a cracked vacuum hose, a failed brake booster hose, or a leaking PCV pipe - replace one or two parts and the job is done. The upper half (EUR 200 to EUR 400) covers an intake manifold gasket leak, a failed brake booster, or a leaking PCV diaphragm on a direct-injection petrol engine. Symptoms include codes P0171 or P0174 (system too lean), erratic idle, hissing noise from the engine bay, and elevated long-term fuel trims. A smoke test for EUR 40 to EUR 80 is the standard first diagnostic step.
Replacing a water pump in Europe costs between EUR 120 and EUR 600 fitted on most cars. The lower half (EUR 120 to EUR 280) is a standalone belt-driven pump that bolts to the front of the engine. The upper half (EUR 350 to EUR 600 and beyond) is a chain-driven or timing-belt-integrated pump that has to come out as part of a bigger service. Always replace the thermostat, coolant and gasket at the same time. Warning signs include a sweet coolant smell, white residue around the pump housing, an overheat gauge, or a low-coolant warning light. Coding-free generic OBD2 codes P0217 and P0128 commonly accompany a tired pump.
