I will not post shop names - one higher quality shop costs more than another, well known shop - and was wondering if the extra money is worth it. All they would be doing is welding 2 cutouts into my ORY - pipe -- the higher quality shop wants $195 for 3 hours of installation and $50 for a pair of cutouts -- the manager claims his exhaust expert takes his time with clean welds and clearance issues. I have had work there done before, and am 100% satisfied. HOWEVER, the other shop also well known wants $125 for installation of 2 cutouts and $34 a cutout.

First off, I have had a cutout installed before by a cheaper shop for $50, and I even thogut that was high priced compared to what I've read. They wont work on an off road car however.

SO my question is, as much as you know from what I've told you, would you pay extra knowing they'll do an awesome job?

PM me if ya wanna help out, I just don't think it's fair to throw the shop names and prices onto a forum like this.

 

Well shop B is getting an extra 18 bucks in profit from parts, so the price difference is really only 52 bucks.

Not a big deal at all to me in the larger scheme of things. Go with what you know and whats comfortable

 

wow that price from both shops is really high, i took my car to a Mineke (sp) and the guy there installed my cutout for $30, when i was changing my oil i looked at the welds and they were perfect. There is NO reason it should take a welder 3 hours to weld in 2 cutouts.

 

That's what I said. The shop I went to a long time ago for first cutout was $50, which I knew was high. No shop will really touch my car now since it is "emissions illegal." The thing that confuses me the most, is that high performance shop A that wants the most money was under half the cost for other work I had them do. They fabricated basically my entire exhaust, including mandrel bending me a new I pipe, all for an amazingly low price with professional quality (he's been in the business working on strictly exhaust for 30 years). That's why I was in shock when I heard $195 for 3 hours based on the $65/hour labor rate. I think it can be done far under that time by such a professional, and still have no clearance issues and good clean welds.

Thanks for the feedback guys, looks like I'll most likely have the most exensive cutout install on record. I still don't get why though...

 

I think Ill give shop A exhaust guy a call tomorrow - the shop manager said his exhaust guy said 3 hours, but the exhaust guy never replied to my emails right away like always - the shop manager did. Maybe things will be different once I actually speak to him. But maybe not since shop B was still a high price...

Has anyone heard of such a high install price, or am I the only one?

 

I had my WHOLE X-pipe installed for $85.00 so I think it's VERY high. I just took it to a local muffler shop and they did good. Since we're not throwing names out they will do a few illegal things under the table...... . I had already bought the X-pipe the price was just welding it up.

 

Yea...there is definitely something wrong with the price, I know. I just don't see how an exhaust expert of 30 years can do my current setup for under half of what anyone else could and with better quality, and then when it comes to cutouts, my old guy who would have charged double for my other exhaust stuff comes out far less...

Realistically, how could he say 3 hour job on 2 cutouts to make clean welds and be sure ground clearance isnt an issue? How long SHOULD it take? If I end up stuck and going to this guy, these better be the best damn welds I've ever seen - in fact, it better look like one piece, I don't even want to see the welds.