YACT: Have to replace my "B" pipe and muffler

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Well I had Midas take a look at my car (Only place I could find that'd look at it for free :D ) and my center pipe/B pipe is virtually gone. It's completely rusted through and there's a huge gash in it as well (Explains why my car has been so freaking loud) He told me I'd have to replace everything behind my Catalytic Converter aka the center pipe and muffler plus whatever gaskets are involved. He quoted me a total of $437.00 (parts + labor) The car is a 1994 Honda Accord LX

I took it to another mechanic and he quoted me $75 for labor. He wanted $140 for the muffler and $120 for the center pipe. The total came out to about $350. I took it to a 3rd guy and he said he'd do it for $275. But I saw the mechanic give a customer's keys to another customer so the 2nd guy could go pickup some parts for him. The owner of the car walked up to him and asked him where his car was going and was told the guy was test driving it to make sure the repair work was done. Hence I don't think I'll leave my car with these guys.

Bottom line: I don't know much about car repair costs and whatnot and was wondering if you guys might have an idea on prices and whether I'm getting ripped off. Would it be cheaper If I puchase the parts myself and pay that one guy for just labor? I live in the Arlington, Virginia area if that helps
TIA!

Cliff Notes:
[*]Car (1994 Honda Accord LX Automatic) needs a new center pipe/muffler
[*]Quotes ranged from $275 - $435
[*]Are these prices reasonable or am I being ripped off?


EDIT: Oh yeah I just remember why I wouldn't ever get it done by midas. While I was there, an employee asked the desk clerk to lookup the price for a positive battery cable. She called someone up and told the employee that the supplier said it costs ~$4.00. She then got on her calculator and told him that with their markup, charge the customer ~$16 :Q
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
Rats. I've got a mid-pipe from a 91 sitting in back yard:p I think the price for the muffler is high. For $475 you could go out and buy a complete aftermarket cat-back that is probably higher quality then the stuff the shop is trying to sell you. I wouldn't pay more then $300.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
Just did some looking. OEM b-pipe is $162 and an OEM rear-section is $140. Huh, I guess I wasn't too far off with the $300 figure. At any rate, it shouldn't be more then an hour of labor at a shop.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
Where are you located? I buy online from dealers that sell at wholesale prices. The only problem is that for these larger items the shipping may offset a lot of the savings. The prices I just gave you are from a dealer located in central cali. I use another dealer located in Rhode Island for some of my other parts.
 

JDub02

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2002
6,209
1
0
Check around for an aftermarket cat-back.

I don't know too much about Hondas though. I had dual pipes put on my Dodge for ~$300 total.
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Where are you located? I buy online from dealers that sell at wholesale prices. The only problem is that for these larger items the shipping may offset a lot of the savings. The prices I just gave you are from a dealer located in central cali. I use another dealer located in Rhode Island for some of my other parts.

I live in Arlington Virginia. If I start calling around, what exactly should I ask for? He told me everything after the catalytic converter needs replacing.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
Its called exactly that. Its a b-pipe and rear-section. Anything else they try to sell you is probably uneccessary.

Part numbers should be
18220-SV1-A31 - b pipe
18030-SV1-A30 - muffler set

http://www.slhondaparts.com/images/PCI/13SV40/005/2.jpg

There's the breakdown of the exhuast. You need #'s 14 & 2. You'll probably want new bolts/nuts since what's on there is rusted to high heaven. So #'s 18, 20, 39 and 44, 29. My only caution is that since your exhuast sounds pretty rusted you will probably need a torch to get the old bolts off.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,586
986
126
Just go with the cheapest one or the middle price one since you don't feel comfortable with the integrity of the cheapest mechanic. You aren't going to be racing your 10 year old Honda so buying a stainless exhaust or aftermarket is a waste.
 

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Just go with the cheapest one or the middle price one since you don't feel comfortable with the integrity of the cheapest mechanic. You aren't going to be racing your 10 year old Honda so buying a stainless exhaust or aftermarket is a waste.

Stainless is stock actually. My stock system looked pretty good for being from a '91 (replaced it 3 years ago with an aftermarket).
 

Lifer

Banned
Feb 17, 2003
1,948
0
0
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Just go with the cheapest one or the middle price one since you don't feel comfortable with the integrity of the cheapest mechanic. You aren't going to be racing your 10 year old Honda so buying a stainless exhaust or aftermarket is a waste.

Stainless is stock actually. My stock system looked pretty good for being from a '91 (replaced it 3 years ago with an aftermarket).

if it was stainless, then why did a hole rust through it? :confused:
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Originally posted by: Lifer
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Just go with the cheapest one or the middle price one since you don't feel comfortable with the integrity of the cheapest mechanic. You aren't going to be racing your 10 year old Honda so buying a stainless exhaust or aftermarket is a waste.

Stainless is stock actually. My stock system looked pretty good for being from a '91 (replaced it 3 years ago with an aftermarket).

if it was stainless, then why did a hole rust through it? :confused:

Stainless rusts

Tons of other links out there too, bottom line is stainless != rust proof.

Viper GTS
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Quick update: Got a quote on a muffler assembly for $88. That's almost 70 bucks cheaper than what my mechanic wanted for it. This is from advanced auto parts (Didn't catch the brand name of it but I'll find out)
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Another quick update:

Parts total cost is ~$198. The mechanic's gonna do it for $75.00 for the labor. He said he can do it in about an hour or so. Does that sound about right?
 

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
9,837
0
0
Yeah, that sounds about right, took me about and hour and a half to replace the entire exhaust system on my car.