Exhaust, a cautionary tale

[TechoSteve]

I wasn't sure where this should go, but there are some other threads on exhausts, so here it is.

I was looking to put a straight through muffler with twin pipes out, one on each side. I called a local exhaust specialist, who said they could do it, replacing all of the pipes with 2" stainless, a high flow cat converter, twin silencer (cannon) style muflers. Sounded pretty cool. At $900, I though a bit steep, but I wanted a really professional job. I even told them I would feature the system on the club web site.

Went to pick it up...

First thing I noticed was that the pipes were different distances from the sides, and at different angles. I asked them to try to get them even. A buch of young apprentice types stuck a bar in the pipes & tried to bend them into a better position. It didn't make much difference.

I asked them to hoist the car & had a look. I nearly fell over with shock. The pipes were hanging too low, the whole thing was badly welded from the cat to the tips. The new cat was an ordinary generic replacement, and the muffler was a cheap baffled variety.

Most astounding was that the second pipe was tacked on with a really lumpy weld to a hole drilled in the pipe before the muffler. It souned like an exhaust with a hole in it, which is exactly what it was.

I said that this was no way $900 but they said that was the final quote, & as they had some menacing looking guys in the place, I didn't want to get too heated. The best they would do was to put a flange joint near the rear axle, so I could at least ditch the monstrosity when I could. Also they replaced the dodgey right angle weld of the second pipe with a reinforced Y join.



"$900 Sports Exhaust System"
This thing is only about a month old, & in the same condition as when it was installed.
It was from a so-called muffler/exhaust specialist in Bankstown.
They even had the hide to put a huge sticker on my back window to advertise their handywork!

[zappy65]

Lol...rip that sticker off and shove it in the managers mouth, personally i think your a bit of an idiot for handing over that money...there are heaps of places that would give decents exhausts for $900....better luck next time...

[TechoSteve]

Now a good story.

I went to Versace tyres & exhaust with a basic design. After they got over their shock at seeing the system, Victor, the exhaust guy quoted me $440 for a proper 1 into 2 straight through exhaust, nice tips, professional welds, and pipes that come out evenly.

They succeeded on all points. The new exhaust looks & sounds great. It now has a deep growl like a classic sports car.



Drawing of what I was after. I inspected the muffler Victor sourced, & it was exactly like this.



The new stainless steel muffler. Also showing whiteline swaybar.



Pipes are in just the right place.



Great new tips.

[marcs_sp20]

Office of FAIR TRADING should be given a call to tell them about the product they sold to you, Im with zapps with this, you shouldnt have let a couple of macho's stand up to you when you know quite well the product isnt worth anything what you paid for it...

new exhaust looks the sex btw

[TechoSteve]

Originally Posted by zappy65

Lol...rip that sticker off and shove it in the managers mouth, personally i think your a bit of an idiot for handing over that money...there are heaps of places that would give decents exhausts for $900....better luck next time...

I would like to see that, but if you need your car back that day, and they have a buch of gangsters learing at you, it is not that easy. They would not budge. Even as a beefy ex-soldier, I was not willing to get into a fight in that place.

[TechoSteve]

Originally Posted by marcs_sp20

Office of FAIR TRADING should be given a call to tell them about the product they sold to you, Im with zapps with this, you shouldnt have let a couple of macho's stand up to you when you know quite well the product isnt worth anything what you paid for it...

new exhaust looks the sex btw

I am thiinking of doing that, & getting at least half back.

[Cosmo Dude]

The new proper 'zorst looks a treat

I wouldn't condone vandalism or acts of violence but if the alarm at their shop were to go off early in the morning, frequently, for a few months. I'm sure after that if you dropped off the POS exhaust and commented that they look a bit tired and should get more sleep you may feel a little better

[TechoSteve]

Originally Posted by Cosmo Dude

The new proper 'zorst looks a treat

I wouldn't condone vandalism or acts of violence but if the alarm at their shop were to go off early in the morning, frequently, for a few months. I'm sure after that if you dropped off the POS exhaust and commented that they look a bit tired and should get more sleep you may feel a little better

I do not condone anything illegal, but revenge has many forms, and I have seen to it that their reputation costs them a lot more than it cost me.

When they put "Muffler Fit" in their name, the "Fit" will now be understood as the convulsions they will have when they realise what they have reaped.

[Sleepy Gonzalez]

That was an unbelievably bad exhaust!!! Not even legal. I thought I had bad experiences with exhausts, but that is ridiculous.

2nd one does look good though.

[70NYD]

i agree with u steve (?) there is more than one way to skin a cat. and a legal way is one of the best if you have time on ur hands cus it hurts in the pocket, get 2day 2nite involved and they will never ever get a proper customer again. you also might want to report them for extortion, or hussling, cus thats what this is, n it isnt legal thats 4 sure. get accc n fair trading in the mix n u might get a good lawsuit on your hands (felt threatened upon inquiry of a falsly advertised product..)
new one looks awesome man lovin it

[rambo]

Your first mistake was taking your car to a workshop in Bankstown However, great to see you ended up with a decent system.

[zappy65]

Originally Posted by rambo

Your first mistake was taking your car to a workshop in Bankstown However, great to see you ended up with a decent system.

Thats hilarious, however i come from Blacktown and they have some good workshops down there...

[RedLineResident]

thats fcuked!

the nex exhaust is hot as tho.

[TechoSteve]

Thanks guys, the new one looks & sounds great. I will not get mad about getting ripped off before, but I will get even.

If you want a professional system at a great price:

http://www.tyres.com/

Ask for Victor, & say g'day for me.

[Putonyourshoes]

name and shame the **** place buddy

[TechoSteve]

I have given the name away in previous posts, but as they were keen to advertise themselves, here is the name, address, & map.

http://www.hotfrog.com.au/Companies/...wn-Muffler-Fit

If you want one of these, see Bankstown Muffler Fit

[rodhog]

Victor at What ever they call it now. TO me it will always be Australia's best. They have been around for years and are top guys and dont' stuff around. Hell I'm just around the corner dropping the car off for me is easy as it's only a 3 street walk home LOL.

As for the other place - let me Quesss - Bankstown MUFFLER FIT.?

The fact it's in bankstown should of told you to stay away.
I knew the owners of that place, And I won't go into it.
never touched my cars.

All I can say is $900 is steep period. In belmore - Bill Nahbam's from maz sport his brother has Unique mufflers. They do a whole turbo back system for that price $3inch mandrel bent, with dual braided flex pipe.

But Aus best's are better, on a few points.

[phly]

Hey guys a little off topic, but along the same lines as i'm looking to get a full exhaust system, so I thought i'd just add to this post.

I went to an exhaust place at Liverpool to get a quote for a full exhaust system. I asked for 4-2-1 headers, high flow cat, hotdog, some muffler with dual tips and 2" mandrel bent stainless piping everywhere else and got quoted about 1800.

I then went to Liverpool exhaust and asked for the same thing and got quoted 1600. Is this still expensive? Cuz if you guys are saying 900 is steep for everything except headers and I dont know the price of headers but i'm assuming they dont cost 700 bucks.

How much should I be paying for a system as i've described?

[rodhog]

liverpools price is on the money.

wher most quote cheaper - they don't use mandrel bends and they don't use the right stuff.

like dual braided flex pipe or a actualy 2.5inch resenator etc.

the money spent in exhuast is going to depend on the bends amound of time fitting it up - material - many types it can be made of -stainless steel comes in different types - same as mild steel, you have blakc plain - alluminumized
etc

So many variables.
YOu can go to different places and the attitudes are different for each.

Example. of answers would be
You want stainless ? - they see your car as a what ?
You want mandrell bends for a 1.8L ?
Why do you want that.

You get it in many types.
Look even Victor at Aus best would look at you but to them they only do good jobs like many others. Don't care if your car ius 100Hp to 2000HP. They want your job and they want to make it right.
Those are the people you want to work on your car.
they may still think what every but they have pride in there work.

cost of your system is going up due to material costs and your asking for headers. Extractors or headers - come in different types and differrent places make them.
So it will effect cost.

IMO most people should not worry unless your hooking it up to a matching motor.

Mandrell bends going to make a massive different on stock ecu and cams. Does it mean that civic won't beat you this time etc.

most cars benifit for better breathing but I know from real experience with both the welder and angle grinder.

Alot of cars out there have exhuast that don't really make a massive difference.
They may sound nicer but other then that it's all show.

[Cincinnatus]

I'm sorry you got ripped off. At the risk of sounding like a biggot, dodgy people of middle eastern appearance will always rip you off. Period, wouldn't ever trust them.

As to all the hard a$s mofos around here whom would've belted them, don't listen, that sh!t never helps, when u r in their workshop, you have no legs to stand on, and they are holding your car hostage you have no recourse left to you.
Trust me, i was in the Israeli army and had my fair share of fighting so believe me when i say i can handle myself, i would've still payed them.

Now for the revenge, DON"T BRAKE THE LAW, you'll get fuc*ed. You have the muffler which they installed, prosecution exhibit 1, the reciept and advert on your car, exhibits 2 & 3. Nowhere in NSW is that exhaust legal, you aren't allowed to have a pipe go straight from the cat out your car. Send them a letter of intent, download it from the web cause a lawyer will charge you $350 to prepare it and it's really not that hard, and state that you plan to sue them and will take your case in front of the courts. Offer to settle out of court if they'll mail a cheque for $900 to a PO box, don't give tem your address, trust me, they don't like to operate like you and I, they'll try and intimidate you.
That should fix it up quick smart, they fine they'll cop for that illeagle muffler will far outstrip the $900 they'll owe you.