Advice about pin/bush

[sherry]

Hello. Last year my MOT gave me advisories; "Nearside and offside front suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush". This year I live somewhere new and don't have a garage I know. I do not have a cherished mini with any warrenty. It is a 2002 mini cooper.

I am a lady driver who is in need of advice on this as I know it will now need replacing. I have been given quotes but really don't understand the variances. An independent garage estimated about £100. Then said it would be more like £700!! I went for two more estimates. One the BMW garage £700. One another independent £150 (although worried that they will requote to a higher price as well).

I was told that it is expensive because of the equipment needed to change the part, and the time it would take in labour. Not the parts?

I don't know what to think now. And I really don't understand why the extreme differences. I know I need this done, and in order to do it I really need to know what the likely cost would be in order to budget. It's a big difference between £100 and £700!!

And in reality I don't understand the mechanics of cars in order to talk to any garage with authority.

Thanks for any help.

Sherry