$1400.00 dollars for an exhaust on a 1997 Nissan Maxima SE???

[coolred]

My exhaust is falling apart on my 97 max se. It is noisy and hanging down in some spots. It's in bad condition. My wife took it to the muffler shop for me today. I have done business with these guys before and have never been overcharged or anything, so I have no reason to doubt them. The guy said it looks like the original exhaust and there were only 2 small sections he could save if he just went for a patch job. He estimated 390.00 just to patch it. Said it would be 1400.00 for a whole new exhaust.

Unfortunately she did not get a written estimate, so I don't know the cost per part, what parts needed replaced or the labor charges. So I can't give a lot of info. But consumer reports says the average exhaust repair costs at 50/hour in labor is 375. 1400.00 just seems crazy high to me. My brother in law who knows a little about cars said it would probably be 300-400, because it was a high flow cat back exhaust or something like that.

I was just looking to get some opinions from the AT garage. Is 1400.00 about right for an entire new exhaust? I had a friend set me up an appointment with a guy he knows that does exhausts, so I will see what he says. But wow, I am not even sure it is worth fixing at that cost. Heck I only owe 1700.00 on the car as it is. And its probably not worth more then 5000-6000.

What do you think?

 

[Nik]

I would completely disregard any sort of estimate that is not itemized on paper on company letterhead, etc.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Thats BS. Go to some other independent exhaust shop that custom bends pipes, not Midas, and you should be able to get it done for under $300 for the whole thing. Sounds like that place is using prebent factory pipes. If you need a new cat too you can get after market cats for under $100 have it welding in.

 

[coolred]

This wasn't midas, it was Buckeye Muffler. I have been to them before and gotten exhausts fixed for under 300.00

But I can't recall if that was just a portion of the exhaust or the whole thing.

And yes I will be getting a written estimate. Thats what I sent her in after, but appartently she just thought I wanted to know how much it would cost.

 

[Nik]

:laugh:

Stupid women!

:laugh:

 

[mwmorph]

Depends on what you're doing to it.

$1400 sounds like an entire new exhaust, new headers(2) new cats(2?) and new piping and mufflers.

A cat back is only about $400 or so.

 

[TheSlamma]

If thats a complete exhaust (manifolds to tailpipe) sure.. if thats just from the flange back forget that.

 

[coolred]

With my luck it is probably the whole thing. Thats what this guy said anyways, but not what my brother in law said. I guess I will see what my dudes friend says.

 

[Funyuns101]

WOW, that sounds nuts. i'm not a super car guy though... but i am very interested as i have a overly glamorized maxima (97 I30)...
and my exhaust is showing some rust... the muffler will need to be replaced and probably a bit of the piping.
keep posting what you find out, please.

i might just sell my car if it's that outrageous!

 

[SpeedEng66]

http://www.nopionline.com/nopi...1997%20NISSAN%20Maxima

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: SpeedEng66
http://www.nopionline.com/nopi...1997%20NISSAN%20Maxima

Good post. That should sum it up right there. In my opinion, I believe these guys were trying to take advantage of your wife (ultimately, your wallet). I would go to them and ask them for an estimate and see if they tell you the same line. Either way, confront them and ask them why they suggested it was so high to her. It's grounds for finding a new shop to deal with.

For the record, I went to my local Midas shop for some repairs. They quoted me $1800 to fix my truck. They explained that the estimate included a list of itemized parts and suggested that I sell my truck. They were extremely professional and were not trying to take advantage of me. They didn't charge me for the 30+ minutes it took them to diagnose all the problems with my truck. (trust me, there were a lot...it was an old beast)

 

[T2urtle]

greddy sp1/sp2 exhaust on ebay for $500 and if you need a front y pipe. $250 from lssexhaust.


or i can sell you mines when i upgrade 98 GLE.

 

[railer]

maxima.org


that's crazy high.

 

[T2urtle]

as long as you know what is wrong you can save money.

the whole exhaust goes as follow, header/manifold ~> front y pipe ~> cat ~> B-pipe/ resonator ~> muffler/exhaust.

90% of the time you have a bad flex section in the Y pipe or your muffler rusted thru.

 

[ahfunaki]

Way too much I'd say...

 

[exdeath]

I can get a top of the line all 2.5" or 3" stainless system with headers, catted x pipe, and cat back with mufflers 4" slash cut rolled tips for a V8 (ie: two of everything) for $1400. That is WAY too much.

Better off just looking for a same parts car in a bone yard that's been totaled and just taking the OEM parts you need for a few $100 and installing it yourself or getting a quote on stock parts/labor from a regular shop. Unless you are having something welded or custom made, a regular shop should be much cheaper as they are just going to charge for a OEM part and an hour or two labor to lift, unbolt the old, and bolt in the new. A specialist exhaust shop is going to go nuts on the pricing and probably quote all kinds of cutting, bending, welding, from lengths of stock pipe, etc. being thats what they do and how they make their money.

Why such bad shape for a '97?

 

[cardiac]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
as long as you know what is wrong you can save money.

the whole exhaust goes as follow, header/manifold ~> front y pipe ~> cat ~> B-pipe/ resonator ~> muffler/exhaust.

90% of the time you have a bad flex section in the Y pipe or your muffler rusted thru.

And I just looked on carparts.com and all the above including new cat was only $480. All brand new.....

Bob

 

[imported_Truenofan]

yeah 1400 is too much, im getting a nice exhaust for my car and it's only gonna run me from 800-1100...thats headers, straight pipe/presilencer, y pipe, extenders, and two mufflers.....and thats all high grade stainless steel. they were taking advantage of your wife.

 

[coolred]

Thanks guys. I was gonna have my friends guy look at it, but had to cancel at the today. I am not sure how I feel having some guy do the work anyway. I mean at least with the shops I get a guarantee on it.

The guy at buckeye muffler told my wife that he would show me everything he showed her. But that could have just been a bluff to get her to do the repairs right then. But like I said, never had a problem with them before, but haven't been there in 4 years.

Not sure why the exhaust is so bad. Like I said, he said it looked like the original. I know part of the reason is because the car was lowered. Not by me, it was like that when I bought it. I am not much of a car person, I didn't even realize it was lowered till I had to get new struts or something and they told me. But because of it being so low, the exhaust and other stuff under the car can drag on steep inclines and stuff like that, so that is probably part of it. I am thinking of having it raised back up to stock. But I am guessing that is a few hundred more right there at least. I think it would just need stock springs, but not sure on that. I probably should just sell it, and maybe I will. But the thought of being free of a car payment by April is pretty enticing.

Oh almost forgot, she said he showed her some sort of estimate with the parts cost on it, but she didn't see labor costs, and there were no part names or anything like that, she said it was just numbers. And he didn't offer to let her keep that when she left, but she also did not ask to keep it. Like I said, I guess she thought I just wanted to know how much it would cost, not an actual estimate. When I say estimate, I think of something on paper, apparently she just thinks of the number.

So where should I take it? There is another place a .25 mile down the road from buckeye muffler, but if anything they seem slightly more shady. I shouldn't say that, they just have a stupid name, Mad Hatter Mufflers. There is a Midas close, but someone earlier said not to go to Midas. Any help would be great thanks. If I can I will have my brother in laws guy look at it.