Isn’t it that the parts are really expensive, not the cost of work?

At least that’s my observation. They wanted $1300 for a headlight on my 2007 BMW, that cost maybe $8000.

Cost of work to replace it was like $30-40.

New, oem it could be about $1300 for the whole headlamp assembly. But used from salvage, about $250-350. Which is a no brainer. No need to put a brand new headlamp in a used car.