'He Only Charged Me $100:' Woman Buys Her Mechanic a Juice From the Corner Store. When, and How Much, Should You Tip Yours?

A woman went viral this week after sharing how she thanked a mechanic who reportedly replaced her motor for just $100.
Raeign (@raeignbykeyzz) posted a video saying she found someone willing to do the job for what most would call an unbelievably low price. Her thank-you gift? A juice.
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'GIRL MATH: Bought my mechanic a juice from the corner store because he only charged me $100 to change my motor,' she wrote in the text overlay. In the caption, she joked that after the juice, they were 'even.'
As of Thursday, the clip had racked up more than 233,000 views.
If True, She Scored a Baller Deal
Replacing a car's motor, or engine,
typically costs
thousands. For most vehicles, engine replacement ranges from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the car's make, model, engine type, and labor costs. Luxury vehicles or newer models can run as high as $15,000 or more.
On the
MechanicAdvice
subreddit, one user said a shop quoted them $6,000 to replace the engine in a
2011 Mazda 3
, with $2,400 of that going toward labor alone.
'One of my co-workers who used to be a mechanic told me that $2.4k is way too high and that it should be around $1k—$1.5k,' they wrote.
Still, $100 is unheard of.
You can find ways to cut costs, like buying a used or remanufactured engine or shopping around for quotes from different shops, just like Raeign did. And if you're really lucky, maybe your mechanic just wants a juice in return.
There are also ways to keep your engine running strong and avoid replacement altogether. Warning signs of
engine trouble
include knocking or rumbling noises, excessive smoke, loss of power, poor fuel efficiency, overheating, or an illuminated check engine light.
Replacing an engine is serious work. Staying on top of service intervals and addressing issues early can save you from a costly breakdown.
Viewers Say It Sounds Too Good to Be True
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In the comment section of Raeign's video, some people expressed skepticism that she got the deal she said she did.
'Bro did not change no motor,' one commenter wrote.
'Was it a wiper motor? Window lift motor? Because $100…wow!' another said.
'Damn most mechanics wouldn't change their mind for $100,' someone else joked.
'Aww he changed the tire,' another added.
Although some might say tipping culture has gone overboard, it's still not common practice to tip mechanics. However, if one gives you a great deal like the one Reaign got, that might warrant an exception.
Some viewers said if a mechanic ever changed their motor for $100, they'd offer more than just juice.
'Would've [bought] him lunch as well,' one woman commented.
'A juice!!! That deserved a bottle of Don Julio & some dinner,' another added.
But few people said deals like this do happen.
'My neighborhood mechanic fixed the issue and turned my check engine light off,' one woman shared. 'He wanted buffet money. I handed it to him.'
'I'm working on an old lady's car right now, I'm charging her like 300 bucks,' another said. 'I should be charging her wayyy more based on the work I'm doing lol.'
When Should You Tip Your Mechanic? And How Much?
A cursory search online reveals the obvious: When they go above and beyond. Especially when they do added work but don't charge you for it because they stumbled upon a quick solution organically and kept the fix off-books.
It isn't recommended you tip at dealerships or chains. And then it's a matter of how much.
That part is subjective! But no one says no to an extra $20. And certainly, food, drink, gift cards, or even a thank-you note all go a long ways.
Motor1
reached out to Reaign via a TikTok comment. We'll be sure to update this if she responds.
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