STec 30 w/ Alt Hold and Aspen EFD 1000 Pro

[jelswick]

My Century 21 A/P was on the blink (great only if you wanted to make left turns!) and reading articles on cost of troubleshooting/fixing, I decided at Oshkosh this year to buy an STec 30 and an Aspen and have the avionics shop starting the install in Sept.  When I talked on the phone, the prices the avionics shop mentioned were about $13,500 to install the STec and about $12,000 to install the Apen EFD 1000 Pro.  Now the written estimate has come in about $4,500 higher than that (only about $500 higher on the Stec at 50 hrs labor, but $3,400 higher on the Aspen at 95 hrs labor). 

Does anyone have experience having these installed in their M20Js or similar and how much did they turn out?  The shop manager is telling me this is kind of an unfortunate Mooney penalty because for example he can't just slide in and screw in the servos in the wings like a Cessna, he instead has to build them in the wing due to the space available in the wing (like building a ship in a bottle I guess).  I've owned Mooneys for about 9 yrs and just not used to this kind of upcharge based on brand.  Any experience with these will be appreciated.  Thank you.

[flight2000]

Hi Jim,

I don't have anything to go off of, but the quote is in line with what I recieved about three weeks ago for the same install.  Mine will include the removal of the wing leveler system that's still in there.  I'll be interested in hearing others advice out there that have gone through it already.

Brian

[flhelo]

Brian,

Let me know what you are going to do with your winglever. Mine has been doing great but would like to have some spare parts just in case.

Thanks

[rogerl]

Quote: jelswick

My Century 21 A/P was on the blink (great only if you wanted to make left turns!) and reading articles on cost of troubleshooting/fixing, I decided at Oshkosh this year to buy an STec 30 and an Aspen and have the avionics shop starting the install in Sept.  When I talked on the phone, the prices the avionics shop mentioned were about $13,500 to install the STec and about $12,000 to install the Apen EFD 1000 Pro.  Now the written estimate has come in about $4,500 higher than that (only about $500 higher on the Stec at 50 hrs labor, but $3,400 higher on the Aspen at 95 hrs labor). 

Does anyone have experience having these installed in their M20Js or similar and how much did they turn out?  The shop manager is telling me this is kind of an unfortunate Mooney penalty because for example he can't just slide in and screw in the servos in the wings like a Cessna, he instead has to build them in the wing due to the space available in the wing (like building a ship in a bottle I guess).  I've owned Mooneys for about 9 yrs and just not used to this kind of upcharge based on brand.  Any experience with these will be appreciated.  Thank you.

[flight2000]

Quote: flhelo

Brian,

Let me know what you are going to do with your winglever. Mine has been doing great but would like to have some spare parts just in case.

Thanks

[flight2000]

This one prob. includes no autopilot interface, but just for another reference point:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Aspen-Avionics-EFD-1000-Pro-Primary-Flight-Display-PFD-/250659099779?pt=Motors_Aviation_Parts_Gear

[MB_M20F]

6 years ago I paid $12K +tax for an S-Tec 30 with altitude hold, GPSS and a new DG. That included 54 hours of labor (including removing old wing leveler) and the hardware costs were $1510 for the DG, $933 for the GPSS and $6339 for the autopilot system. Hope this helps. M

[Parker_Woodruff]

I need a good TX shop for an STEC 30 w/ Alt hold if I hold onto my plane next year.  The shop that did my panel install doesn't do STECs.

Anyone here locally have out the door pricing figures?

[flight2000]

Quote: MB_M20F

6 years ago I paid $12K +tax for an S-Tec 30 with altitude hold, GPSS and a new DG. That included 54 hours of labor (including removing old wing leveler) and the hardware costs were $1510 for the DG, $933 for the GPSS and $6339 for the autopilot system. Hope this helps. M

[KSMooniac]

STEC was purchased by Cobham, and they've really been running it into the ground in addition to raising prices dramatically.  That explains the price increase for the autopilots.  Talk to any avionics shop about dealing with STEC since the purchase and it will open your eyes.

For the OP, you need to find another shop.  On the email list, Tim Mathison (706) 638-7921 gets rave reviews for Aspen/Autopilot work with Mooneys and has owners flying across the country to his shop.  A couple years ago I was quoted ~$12k for an Aspen Pro installed and integrated with my STEC-30, and that was before all the rebates and discounts.  I've since heard of people getting out-the-door for MSRP.

[KLRDMD]

Quote: jelswick

When I talked on the phone, the prices the avionics shop mentioned were about $13,500 to install the STec and about $12,000 to install the Apen EFD 1000 Pro.  Now the written estimate has come in about $4,500 higher than that (only about $500 higher on the Stec at 50 hrs labor, but $3,400 higher on the Aspen at 95 hrs labor). Does anyone have experience having these installed in their M20Js or similar and how much did they turn out? 

[Jeff_S]

Quote: KSMooniac

For the OP, you need to find another shop.  On the email list, Tim Mathison (706) 638-7921 gets rave reviews for Aspen/Autopilot work with Mooneys and has owners flying across the country to his shop.  A couple years ago I was quoted ~$12k for an Aspen Pro installed and integrated with my STEC-30, and that was before all the rebates and discounts.  I've since heard of people getting out-the-door for MSRP.

[eaglebkh]

Your avionics shop is correct in that there is extra monkey work in getting the aileron servos into the wings.  But my avionics shop in Huntsville did the Stec-30 w/Alt for $12k and the Aspen for MSRP 1.5 years ago.  The resulting package is very nice, though...

[rogerl]

... I was under the impression that the Aspen had a built in auto-pilot interface with the more common one's available today (i.e. STEC).  Another advantage for the Aspen is the built in GPSS ...

[jelswick]

Wow, what a great resource this forum turned out to be!  A wealth of experiences and thoughts received in the same day I'd posted it.  I'm very glad I found this forum.  Thank you very much to everyone for your experiences and thoughts on this.  I at least feel much more well informed going into this.  The shop yesterday dropped the estimated install time to 65 hrs for the Aspen and they are good people; I just reminded them that I prefer to come to them when I know I'm being treated fairly and that is an estimate; if they don't have to use all of that time, I expect to not be billed for it just because it's on the estimate.  We'll see. 

Either way, I very much appreciate everyone's input and Brian, you mentioned your deployed right now; a sincere thank you for everything you're doing there for all of us here back home.  We wish you a safe, speedy return so that you can get back here and get that monster upgrade done on your panel!

Jim

[flight2000]

Quote: jelswick

Either way, I very much appreciate everyone's input and Brian, you mentioned your deployed right now; a sincere thank you for everything you're doing there for all of us here back home.  We wish you a safe, speedy return so that you can get back here and get that monster upgrade done on your panel!

Jim

[jhbehrens]

Hi Jim

 

I had my Aspen PFD installed by Tim Mathison and he has done so many in Mooney's he can do it with his eyes shut. All the rave reviews on the quality of his workmanship and his pricing are spot on. He also does S-Tec installs. No one will give you a better deal or faster or better work. I had mine wired to an S-Tec 30 and the GPSS worked great. I have now had it upgraded to a 55x (by Tim) to get glide slope coupling.

[yellowjacket]

Quote: Jeff_S

 I heard through the grapevine that Tim Matheson is no longer in the business...retired or somesuch. No independent confirmation of this but if so it would be a crying shame.

[bennergh]

Hi Jim,

I just got a quote from a shop in NC for my M20J for the following:

S-Tec System THIRTY - $10,445.00, Labor - $3,010

Aspen Avionics PFD with integral ADAHRS - $8,995.00 - (paid in advance and got a $1,000 rebate), Labor - $3,900

Hope this helps!

~ Greg

 

[jelswick]

Thanks again everyone for all of the replies and helpful feedback!  It has been more than helpful and I know now where to turn anytime I have questions on Mooneys!  It looks like I'll have the Aspen and STec30 going in at the end of this month based on the shops schedule and I can't wait.  Have a great flying weekend all!

Jim