Help with front strut replacement costs

[All Ocean]

I have a problem with my adaptive suspension system, had to send to dealer to get codes checked, they say it needs 2 new front shocks/struts, and want $4800 to replace them. I have done some home work and can get rebuilt for $900 each less $300 core charge, so cost for 2 $1200, I have been told time to replace them is 2.5 hours for both. I have been told by an outside shop that they can do the job but do not have the code reader to reset it. I have two questions, what happens if we install and not reset? Other question is what happens if I do it and then take to the deal to just have it reset?

Has anyone done this before?

I looked into buying the software and it is about $350 from Ross Tec for the standard system and $700 for the Pro, I am thinking of buying the vcds and giving to the shop.
Has anyone done this before?

Also when all the shops have priced it no one said there was a core charge of $300 included, had to check on internet to find that out!

[snapdragon]

If the dealers there are anything like here, forget them. They won't want to touch it with a bargepole if they didn't fit genuine parts, let alone someone else fitting 'rebuilds'.
You could buy VCDS and or just find an independant specialist who already has it.
I would want the whole thing doing at one place so if there is any problem it is their problem and they can't say blame bad parts, bad settings with VCDS etc...

[All Ocean]

I agree with getting it done at one spot, I was not trying to get the dealer to use after market parts. The question was what happends if you do not do the system reset after you install the struts? Does it just go to a defualt setting or will it not work at all?

[All Ocean]

Also thank you for the reply!

[Quattromatt]

I can't see what would need to be reset on the struts themselves.... There's no electronics in these. It's the height level sensors that need to be calibrated and you aren't touching these.