I scanned the archives and found general discusions of CLA but not much on cost. I am presently shopping for an M3 SS and would like to know how much you folks have paid for a CLA so that I can figure that into the total price of the camera.

Many thanks!

-- Steve Rosenblum (stevierose@yahoo.com), January 31, 2002

Answers

Leica USA charges about US$300 for a CLA. If repair or replacement of parts is needed, then your total cost will be much higher!...........................

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), February 01, 2002.

I got a CLA AND a realigned rangefinder after the M4-2 bit concrete from The Focal Point (Louisville, Colorado (out here you pronounce the "s")) John Van Stelten, prop.

$175.00 - 5 weeks

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), February 01, 2002.

Independent but qualified Leica repair technicians charge slightly less than Leica. See this list at Nemeths Leica FAQ. Call and ask.
But as Muhammad says; The final cost depends on parts.
8 month ago I asked Van Stelten for a price of a M4 CLA, and I described the problems that I had noticed. Van Stelten was very kind, and gave me an estimate on cost on parts both in a "normal" and a "worst case" scenario based on my information. The cost of the CLA alone was around $200.
I live in Denmark, and even when Van Steltens basic CLA price was quite a bit lower than that of Leica Denmark, the cost of shipping and insurance would eat up the savings, so eventually I send it to the local Leica distributor. The cost was around $350 CLA + $150 for new shutter curtains and a few other parts. Leica Denmark gives a year full warranty on the camera after a CLA. I don’t know if this is common practice.

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), February 01, 2002.

Leica Switzerland wanted around 525 SFr. which is about $300 to CLA my M3. Actually the word they used was "Revision".

-- Russell Brooks (russell@ebrooks.org), February 01, 2002.