If so, I think there is serious savings, because that business rips people off for parts and labor both. Kinda like the "optician" business, where no matter where you go, what kind of insurance you have, you are mugged and there's only one co. who owns all of the chains....

 

If you have your own jack, jack stand and tools for the job it should be easy for anyone to do. The only thing that may be difficult is getting off the old bolts, especially if you live in an area that uses salt on the roads. PB blaster or a torch should make easy work of the frozen nuts and bolts.

 

this is pretty obvious, no? its serious savings to do any work on your car yourself. but if you cant, then you have to pay professionals. its their career, they cant just do it for free or hook you up. gotta either man up or pay up.

 

Try craigslist for a home mechanic to save bucks.

 

It can be done but without the right tools like impact wrench, jacks that lift the car high enough for you to work, torch for them rusted nut and bolts, another pair or more hands to help and knowledge on what to do then you could get half-way and then be stuck and have to call someone to do it and still pay. It's not impossible but without the right tools and help you're a sitting duck

 

I think exhaust is much more extreme than other DIY. Think about the piece that includes the cat and flex pipe. It may be $308 on rock auto, but more than double plus labor at a shop. For example, you DIY your starter. How much will you save, $200 tops? You DIY your exhaust from the manifolds back, I think you will save over $1500. And you'll be in a position to make good on lifetime warranties, instead of paying someone every 3 yrs. for a new part while they throw away a part with a lifetime warranty, because you are footing the bill....

 

yes, i installed my exhaust from the ypipe back. it saved me money. that was my intention. probably saved 3-400. had to grind my cat bolts out(the ones in the s pipe, and the ones bolting to the ypipe). other than that it was easy.

 

^This.

A shop needs to make money on both parts and labor or else it would go out of business. Its called Capitalism...

 

^^---- As bad as it sounds it's true, that's why I cut out the middle man and buy my own parts and just let them do the labour. Some mechanics over do it so people are forced to do what ever it takes to save money. For example, the stealership. Ever freaking thing in the dealership is over priced, right down to a simple nut or bolt so aftermarket parts are available for us

 

Oh for sure, but anybody is free to shop around.

I'll give you an example--my buddy is a wholesaler in Austin, TX. He will sell me a phone for $148. If you go to an etailer's website, I dunno, like CDW, it's $294. CDW will tell you, we have to make a profit. But you know what? There are folks who pay a systems integrator $369 for the phone.

Where are you in the food chain? If you order from rockauto, you're at the CDW level, but you have to DIY. If you drive in to Midas, you're at the $369 retail level. When you've got a friend in the biz, you're at $148.

btw you can't peruse prices of a wholesaler/distributor online, and you can't order from them directly if you're just an individual.

 

My best scenario was when my wife's uncle had his own shop. The prices he paid from dealers for OEM anything, BMW, Porsche, Nissan, are far below rockauto's pricing. We needed the OEM clutch hose for the Maxima--it's not expensive, but it was still nice to get it for another $14 less than a 30% off OEM online deal. He did an evaporator core on a 750li, list was $694, he got it for around $380, from the dealer.

 

^^ its different for certain makes as far as parts prices go. BMW does not have cheaper aftermarket versions of their parts. you HAVE to buy OEM. so no matter what youre paying out the ***. whereas our cars you can buy a $60 fender and install it yourself.

 

Is it so hard to start a relationship with a dealer though? I have a good one with the local Nissan and I get parts cheaper than online. Then again I spend a few grand there every year

 

if you dont have to torch or weld (which u prolly will have to on a 4th gen), then exhaust is pretty straight forward as others have stated especially if u buy OEM direct fit