AR Design Downpipes

littledragon99 · 03-20-2012, 04:22 PM

I'm just trying to get some opinions on install times and costs for downpipes. I called up a place today and I got a quote from them on how long it would take to install these. So here is what they said.

AR Design Catless Downpipes around 7 hours and costs around $850.

I own a 2010 335xi Sedan. I think the downpipes install time they quoted me is way too long. They said removing the cats is what takes so long. Just some opinions on how long it took some of you guys to install similar parts on the same vehicle?

NiVeDh · 03-20-2012, 04:28 PM

It should cost less than $300 for labor and it should take them under 3 hours, even on the xi. Do you have N54 or N55?

scott_uw · 03-20-2012, 04:30 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11413536

Syndicategt · 03-20-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littledragon99

AR Design Catless Downpipes around 7 hours and costs around $850.

HAHAHA you got to be kidding me! An absolute noobie of a mechanic can have these done in under 4 hours. With just the tiny bit of mechanical skill 2 hours or less is needed. $200 would be the max I'd ever pay anyone, even with the xi. Why not DIY? Just need some basic tools, some time, and a case of your favorite beverage.

GmoBmw · 03-20-2012, 04:32 PM

takes like 2 hours to Install DP's... $850!?!? There Tripping balls.

CPWINCH · 03-20-2012, 04:33 PM

thats a very reasonable price

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 03-20-2012, 04:35 PM

Took me a few hours last night LOL

It wont take a professional thats done it before 7 hours though. 3 hours max with a lift. Realistically you can do it in 2 hours if you push.

skim7x · 03-20-2012, 04:36 PM

LOL wow... was this "place" the BMW Dealership? In that case, i could believe it...

rader1 · 03-20-2012, 04:39 PM

My buddy is a ford tech and he installed mine in LESS than two hours and charged me $60

littledragon99 · 03-20-2012, 05:24 PM

I have the N54 engine. Actually this was Tunerworks in Calgary, AB.

Beemw335 · 03-20-2012, 05:32 PM

Xi takes longer but shouldnt be more than 3 hours!

marv85 · 03-20-2012, 06:13 PM

I payed 200$ to get mine in.

Wes335XI · 03-20-2012, 07:09 PM

I suggest doing it yourself. You'll enjoy doing it and learn more about your car. I can't wait to install mine. The exhaust section should be a breeze after that.

skim7x · 03-20-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes335XI

I suggest doing it yourself. You'll enjoy doing it and learn more about your car. I can't wait to install mine. The exhaust section should be a breeze after that.

Hmmm... It really depends on the person, so be careful about this advice. I like working on the car, but I found I only like easy tasks like my V1 hardwire or intake install LOL... I tried coilver install and haaaated it HAHA... so be careful what you get yourself into.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beemw335

Xi takes longer but shouldnt be more than 3 hours!

Oh yeah... if you have an Xi it should take an extra hour... so probably 4-hours is a reasonable quote.

BQTuning · 03-20-2012, 07:33 PM

I am glad this topic came back up, I have been hacing nightmares of what some shops would charge me on this. Glad to know though

Wes335XI · 03-20-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skim7x

Hmmm... It really depends on the person, so be careful about this advice. I like working on the car, but I found I only like easy tasks like my V1 hardwire or intake install LOL... I tried coilver install and haaaated it HAHA... so be careful what you get yourself into.

That is ture, I used to own a WRX STi and I did a lot of work on my own. There was never an install that ever went smoothe or flawless, most issues arise at a mechanic shop as well. But when I popped the hood I was able to explain everything in detail and give good feedback on what was done and how it worked, good or bad. Now big stuff like the clutch, and even coilovers I made sure I had help or I paid someone else to do it.

Given that, I would never pay someone $300.00 to do an exhaust. I paid an authorized Subaru mechanic $400.00 on the side to do a clutch job. There are ways around the system. I still take my BMW to Subaru and pay $30.00 for an oil change with the same mechanic vs $150.00 at BMW. The service advisor there is a huge BMW enthusiast and was nice enough to help and show the tech how to find a few things on the car. Plus they are all car enthusiasts which helps.

JRubin13 · 03-20-2012, 10:33 PM

850 is nuts. 200-300 is reasonable for your XI. Any mechanic who considers himself somewhat decent, should be able to have it done in 2-4 hours.

GetWellSoon · 03-20-2012, 10:37 PM

takes me an hr on the lift, 2 on the ramps, do it yourself lazy butt

Mahhvinn · 03-21-2012, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

HAHAHA you got to be kidding me! An absolute noobie of a mechanic can have these done in under 4 hours. With just the tiny bit of mechanical skill 2 hours or less is needed. $200 would be the max I'd ever pay anyone, even with the xi. Why not DIY? Just need some basic tools, some time, and a case of your favorite beverage.

ModBargains.com · 03-21-2012, 01:02 AM

It should take no longer than 2-3 hours to complete the job. We typically charge $250 for a N54/N55 DP install.

Sleeper · 03-21-2012, 01:10 AM

Tunerworks is going by book time. Eurasia in Edmonton quoted the same amount of time for a "catalytic converter replacement", aka DP install. Tunerworks is notoriously expensive but regardless, clearly neither shop has done many of these installs.

For a newbie installer, I wouldn't recommend a DIY for an N54 xDrive. If you're not comfortable dropping the subframe or loosening the passenger side engine mount, maybe save your pennies for a shop to do it.

BoostNinja · 03-21-2012, 10:01 PM

He was quoted that price for an awd and I see most of the people posting 2 and 3 hour install times are rwd.

xi must have the engine supported and subframe lowered to clear the factory downpipes unless you want to cut them.

Took me 1.5 hours on a rwd and 3-4 on awd.

03-20-2012, 04:22 PM	#1
littledragon99 Enlisted Member 5 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 335i xDrive Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Edmonton iTrader: (0)	AR Design Downpipes I'm just trying to get some opinions on install times and costs for downpipes. I called up a place today and I got a quote from them on how long it would take to install these. So here is what they said. AR Design Catless Downpipes around 7 hours and costs around $850. I own a 2010 335xi Sedan. I think the downpipes install time they quoted me is way too long. They said removing the cats is what takes so long. Just some opinions on how long it took some of you guys to install similar parts on the same vehicle?
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03-20-2012, 04:28 PM	#2
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	It should cost less than $300 for labor and it should take them under 3 hours, even on the xi. Do you have N54 or N55?
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03-20-2012, 04:30 PM	#3
scott_uw Teatime 3 Rep 171 Posts Drives: Toronto Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: FBO Civic 3L TT edition iTrader: (3)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?p=11413536
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03-20-2012, 04:32 PM	#5
GmoBmw Captain 34 Rep 645 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: California iTrader: (8)	takes like 2 hours to Install DP's... $850!?!? There Tripping balls. __________________ 2007 BMW 335I- JB4 G5,DCI,VRSF DPs,NT555r Drag Radials Daily Driver
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03-20-2012, 04:33 PM	#6
CPWINCH Brigadier General 734 Rep 4,635 Posts Drives: Toyota Prius Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (7)	thats a very reasonable price __________________ Follow my BMW instagram @CARMODIFICATION Let me know you are from bimmerpost and i'll follow back
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03-20-2012, 04:35 PM	#7
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	Took me a few hours last night LOL It wont take a professional thats done it before 7 hours though. 3 hours max with a lift. Realistically you can do it in 2 hours if you push.
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03-20-2012, 04:36 PM	#8
skim7x Colonel 208 Rep 2,558 Posts Drives: 335i, C63 AMG Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: USA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2007 335i [10.00]	LOL wow... was this "place" the BMW Dealership? In that case, i could believe it... __________________ '07 Space Gray 335i coupe - R.I.P. COBB ProTuned \| AMS \| CP-e \| BMS \| Quaife
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03-20-2012, 04:39 PM	#9
rader1 Banned 70 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: Cobb Stage 2+ 135i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Roanoke, VA iTrader: (0)	My buddy is a ford tech and he installed mine in LESS than two hours and charged me $60
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03-20-2012, 05:24 PM	#10
littledragon99 Enlisted Member 5 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 335i xDrive Sedan Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Edmonton iTrader: (0)	I have the N54 engine. Actually this was Tunerworks in Calgary, AB.
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03-20-2012, 05:32 PM	#11
Beemw335 Colonel 62 Rep 2,013 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: My car is my home iTrader: (2)	Xi takes longer but shouldnt be more than 3 hours!
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03-20-2012, 06:13 PM	#12
marv85 Colonel 70 Rep 2,626 Posts Drives: '07 E92 335i MT Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (7)	I payed 200$ to get mine in. __________________ '07 E92 335i 6MT- HP650, inlets/outlets, ER FMIC, VRSF CP, LPFP stg2, CSF rad, 'is Aux rad, ER OC, Ohlins, M control arms, eibach front sway bar. '05 C55 AMG SOLD - '22 Tesla M3P \| '10 E92 335i M, 6MT COBB, FBO, st2 LPFP, Mfactory LSD \| '07 E90 335i, PTF COBB E50, FBO, HFS4
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03-20-2012, 07:09 PM	#13
Wes335XI Lieutenant 107 Rep 400 Posts Drives: 2008 335XI Space Grey Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Anchorage, AK iTrader: (0)	I suggest doing it yourself. You'll enjoy doing it and learn more about your car. I can't wait to install mine. The exhaust section should be a breeze after that. __________________ 08 E92 335XI - Space Grey/Coral Red 11.80 @ 118.95mph - 470AWHP 2013 BMW 335XI MSport Alpine White/Venetian Beige 2018 WRX STi TypeRA 2022 X5 MSport Alpine White/Tartufo Merino - Inbound
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03-20-2012, 07:33 PM	#15
BQTuning Banned 469 Rep 4,392 Posts Drives: 2012 Z4 sDrive35i M Sport 6MT Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: bq@bqtuning.com iTrader: (0)	I am glad this topic came back up, I have been hacing nightmares of what some shops would charge me on this. Glad to know though
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03-20-2012, 10:33 PM	#17
JRubin13 Captain 34 Rep 601 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i/2012 F10 535i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	850 is nuts. 200-300 is reasonable for your XI. Any mechanic who considers himself somewhat decent, should be able to have it done in 2-4 hours.
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03-20-2012, 10:37 PM	#18
GetWellSoon Banned 15 Rep 242 Posts Drives: 2009 335i e92 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Brooklyn & NJ iTrader: (0)	takes me an hr on the lift, 2 on the ramps, do it yourself lazy butt
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03-21-2012, 01:02 AM	#20
ModBargains.com Banned 475 Rep 13,583 Posts Drives: JB E92 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 1721 E. Lambert Rd #C, La Habra, CA 90631 iTrader: (51)	It should take no longer than 2-3 hours to complete the job. We typically charge $250 for a N54/N55 DP install.
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03-21-2012, 01:10 AM	#21
Sleeper . 660 Rep 1,059 Posts Drives: '23 BSM X5///MC Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North iTrader: (1)	Tunerworks is going by book time. Eurasia in Edmonton quoted the same amount of time for a "catalytic converter replacement", aka DP install. Tunerworks is notoriously expensive but regardless, clearly neither shop has done many of these installs. For a newbie installer, I wouldn't recommend a DIY for an N54 xDrive. If you're not comfortable dropping the subframe or loosening the passenger side engine mount, maybe save your pennies for a shop to do it.
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03-21-2012, 10:01 PM	#22
BoostNinja Second Lieutenant 59 Rep 235 Posts Drives: 335is Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Spring TX iTrader: (2)	He was quoted that price for an awd and I see most of the people posting 2 and 3 hour install times are rwd. xi must have the engine supported and subframe lowered to clear the factory downpipes unless you want to cut them. Took me 1.5 hours on a rwd and 3-4 on awd.
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