ppe headers
08-17-11, 07:39 PM
#62
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The shop that installed them were like those are some really nice headers! even though they are Evo specialists (the Works @ Infineon). They are now interested in seeing what they can do with the ISF. It'll will be interesting to hear about what they might be able to do once their other projects are done.
08-18-11, 10:08 AM
#63
Yeah, PPE customer service is truly outstanding and they really standby their product! Hats off to Paul. Haven't done a post header dyno yet but will soon.
The shop that installed them were like those are some really nice headers! even though they are Evo specialists (the Works @ Infineon). They are now interested in seeing what they can do with the ISF. It'll will be interesting to hear about what they might be able to do once their other projects are done.
The shop that installed them were like those are some really nice headers! even though they are Evo specialists (the Works @ Infineon). They are now interested in seeing what they can do with the ISF. It'll will be interesting to hear about what they might be able to do once their other projects are done.
How much did you end up forking over?
I paid $550 in town (Napa) for 4 baseline dynos and header install, no cats.
~Dv8
08-18-11, 12:42 PM
#64
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550 for 4 pulls and and install is a pretty good deal - about $73/hr. I watched the guy install the headers, it seemed like a royal pain. You got 7.5 hrs of labor done for 550 (6.5 -7 hr per average install and about 1hr for dyno).
08-22-11, 09:13 AM
#65
I forked over more than that on a per hour basis.
550 for 4 pulls and and install is a pretty good deal - about $73/hr. I watched the guy install the headers, it seemed like a royal pain. You got 7.5 hrs of labor done for 550 (6.5 -7 hr per average install and about 1hr for dyno).
550 for 4 pulls and and install is a pretty good deal - about $73/hr. I watched the guy install the headers, it seemed like a royal pain. You got 7.5 hrs of labor done for 550 (6.5 -7 hr per average install and about 1hr for dyno).
~Dv8
08-23-11, 05:20 AM
#66
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I received the replacement driver side header this morning. I will leave the car at the dealer this evening for them to do the installation and I should get it back on Friday 
I can't wait
I can't wait
09-21-11, 05:55 AM
#67
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So I'll be picking up my car with headers installed sometime today.... They took three days to do the install, but didn't work on it the whole time... They are telling me it's going to be around 14 toal hours of intall and "book time" would be around that as well. I've seen on this forum and the lexusfforum, that typically shops were taking 7-8 hours of install time. The shop manager said he'd drop it to 10 hours... (at $100/hr). Am I getting ripped off? I'm not happy about the fact that it took them 3 days to complete and that's it's gonna be a few more hours than I anticipated. Also, they just now told me yesterday that they don't do welding there, so they wouldn't be able to weld in the cats I bought with the PPE headers into my exhaust! This is a month after I sent them detailed info on what in install entailed and the fact that this would need to be done... So, now I have to take it to ANOTHER shop, have my exhaust removed, and the cats welded in, etc, (will be using v-band clamps so i can remove cats for track days) which will cost me another 3-5 hours I'm sure! Ugh!
They also said they have been working on the "oil tube" fitment that came with the PPE headers for over 4 hours as it is not even close to fitting from what they tell me... Has anyone had this issure before? Maybe it's cause mine is a 2011 and it's a little different than the previous years?
__________________
So I'll be picking up my car with headers installed sometime today.... They took three days to do the install, but didn't work on it the whole time... They are telling me it's going to be around 14 toal hours of intall and "book time" would be around that as well. I've seen on this forum and the lexusfforum, that typically shops were taking 7-8 hours of install time. The shop manager said he'd drop it to 10 hours... (at $100/hr). Am I getting ripped off? I'm not happy about the fact that it took them 3 days to complete and that's it's gonna be a few more hours than I anticipated. Also, they just now told me yesterday that they don't do welding there, so they wouldn't be able to weld in the cats I bought with the PPE headers into my exhaust! This is a month after I sent them detailed info on what in install entailed and the fact that this would need to be done... So, now I have to take it to ANOTHER shop, have my exhaust removed, and the cats welded in, etc, (will be using v-band clamps so i can remove cats for track days) which will cost me another 3-5 hours I'm sure! Ugh!
They also said they have been working on the "oil tube" fitment that came with the PPE headers for over 4 hours as it is not even close to fitting from what they tell me... Has anyone had this issure before? Maybe it's cause mine is a 2011 and it's a little different than the previous years?
__________________
09-21-11, 06:50 AM
#68
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So I'll be picking up my car with headers installed sometime today.... They took three days to do the install, but didn't work on it the whole time... They are telling me it's going to be around 14 toal hours of intall and "book time" would be around that as well. I've seen on this forum and the lexusfforum, that typically shops were taking 7-8 hours of install time. The shop manager said he'd drop it to 10 hours... (at $100/hr). Am I getting ripped off? I'm not happy about the fact that it took them 3 days to complete and that's it's gonna be a few more hours than I anticipated. Also, they just now told me yesterday that they don't do welding there, so they wouldn't be able to weld in the cats I bought with the PPE headers into my exhaust! This is a month after I sent them detailed info on what in install entailed and the fact that this would need to be done... So, now I have to take it to ANOTHER shop, have my exhaust removed, and the cats welded in, etc, (will be using v-band clamps so i can remove cats for track days) which will cost me another 3-5 hours I'm sure! Ugh!
They also said they have been working on the "oil tube" fitment that came with the PPE headers for over 4 hours as it is not even close to fitting from what they tell me... Has anyone had this issure before? Maybe it's cause mine is a 2011 and it's a little different than the previous years?
__________________
So I'll be picking up my car with headers installed sometime today.... They took three days to do the install, but didn't work on it the whole time... They are telling me it's going to be around 14 toal hours of intall and "book time" would be around that as well. I've seen on this forum and the lexusfforum, that typically shops were taking 7-8 hours of install time. The shop manager said he'd drop it to 10 hours... (at $100/hr). Am I getting ripped off? I'm not happy about the fact that it took them 3 days to complete and that's it's gonna be a few more hours than I anticipated. Also, they just now told me yesterday that they don't do welding there, so they wouldn't be able to weld in the cats I bought with the PPE headers into my exhaust! This is a month after I sent them detailed info on what in install entailed and the fact that this would need to be done... So, now I have to take it to ANOTHER shop, have my exhaust removed, and the cats welded in, etc, (will be using v-band clamps so i can remove cats for track days) which will cost me another 3-5 hours I'm sure! Ugh!
They also said they have been working on the "oil tube" fitment that came with the PPE headers for over 4 hours as it is not even close to fitting from what they tell me... Has anyone had this issure before? Maybe it's cause mine is a 2011 and it's a little different than the previous years?
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09-21-11, 05:37 PM
#69
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probs after header install
So I finally was able to pick up my car today after the shop had it a total of 3 days to do the PPE Header install. 
They ended up only charging me for 10 hours of labor for the install, But now I have multiple issues/concerns: 
First, is that the car doesn't even go into first gear in auto mode. I can force it to go into first using manual mode ONLY if i'm moving between 5-10mph or so. (I can't shift into 2nd while not moving) It's NOT in snow mode btw.
Second, is that the CEL came on about 5 min of driving the car. The shop said that this would happen until the cats are installed, but I'm confused as I thought the PPE headers came with an O2 sim kit that avoided this issue even without cats installed and I haven't seen ANYBODY on here complaining of CEL after PPE header intalls. I asked the shop guy about the O2 sim kit and he didn't seem to know what I was talking about and said that it only came with an O2 sensor extension wire for the front O2 sensor. Did PPE not send what they were supposed to?
Third, is that the slip indicator light (orange car icon with wavey lines below) is on AT ALL TIMES! (this also occured about 5 min after driving the car.) They did reset the ECU by the way....
Fourth, is that they had great difficulty and reportedly spent 5+ hours getting the oil dip stick tube to fit... Apparently they ended up using the OEM tube. (but this concerns me that they weren't able to use/make the supplied one with the PPE headers work?)
Fifth, is that they put a DEEP jagged 2.5" scratch in my front left wheel on one of the spokes... WTF !?!?
I did call them immediately after I left the shop about the scratch but the other issues hadn't arisen yet so we did not discuss them.... He tried to tell me that they could "buff" the scratch out of the wheel... LOL GOOD LUCK! I"m thinking to myself. I'm now freaking out about this scratch because since the exact color code for the wheels isn't known getting a matching paint to try to fix it will be next to impossible... I've used the color mentioned on here the most ... phantom grey.... in the past on small chips/scratches (thanks to the dealership alignment ) and the color is TOO LIGHT!
I just had a wheel repainted a couple weeks ago (that is sitting in my garage and will soon be going up for sale) that had been slightly damaged in a small accident I had 6 weeks after I got my IS F and the color is "very close" but not exact and I'm not too keen on going this route either....
At this point I'm just overwhelmed and frustrated about all of these issues and need some guidance FAST!
Thanks in advance as always!!!
BTW the car does SOUND SICK and SEEMS QUICKER TOO at least!
They ended up only charging me for 10 hours of labor for the install, But now I have multiple issues/concerns: First, is that the car doesn't even go into first gear in auto mode. I can force it to go into first using manual mode ONLY if i'm moving between 5-10mph or so. (I can't shift into 2nd while not moving) It's NOT in snow mode btw.
Second, is that the CEL came on about 5 min of driving the car. The shop said that this would happen until the cats are installed, but I'm confused as I thought the PPE headers came with an O2 sim kit that avoided this issue even without cats installed and I haven't seen ANYBODY on here complaining of CEL after PPE header intalls. I asked the shop guy about the O2 sim kit and he didn't seem to know what I was talking about and said that it only came with an O2 sensor extension wire for the front O2 sensor. Did PPE not send what they were supposed to?
Third, is that the slip indicator light (orange car icon with wavey lines below) is on AT ALL TIMES! (this also occured about 5 min after driving the car.) They did reset the ECU by the way....
Fourth, is that they had great difficulty and reportedly spent 5+ hours getting the oil dip stick tube to fit... Apparently they ended up using the OEM tube. (but this concerns me that they weren't able to use/make the supplied one with the PPE headers work?)
Fifth, is that they put a DEEP jagged 2.5" scratch in my front left wheel on one of the spokes... WTF !?!?
I did call them immediately after I left the shop about the scratch but the other issues hadn't arisen yet so we did not discuss them.... He tried to tell me that they could "buff" the scratch out of the wheel... LOL GOOD LUCK! I"m thinking to myself. I'm now freaking out about this scratch because since the exact color code for the wheels isn't known getting a matching paint to try to fix it will be next to impossible... I've used the color mentioned on here the most ... phantom grey.... in the past on small chips/scratches (thanks to the dealership alignment ) and the color is TOO LIGHT!I just had a wheel repainted a couple weeks ago (that is sitting in my garage and will soon be going up for sale) that had been slightly damaged in a small accident I had 6 weeks after I got my IS F and the color is "very close" but not exact and I'm not too keen on going this route either....
At this point I'm just overwhelmed and frustrated about all of these issues and need some guidance FAST!
Thanks in advance as always!!!
BTW the car does SOUND SICK and SEEMS QUICKER TOO at least!
Last edited by ERDoc74; 09-21-11 at 05:43 PM.
09-21-11, 07:11 PM
#71
Lexus Champion
Wow Doc I can totally feel your pain man. My question is how were you even ok with them telling you 3 days for the install???? Did you not talk this over with them?? Also 14 hrs labor??? Youy should have given them install instructions or something.
About the 02 sim, did you check to see what was shipped to you before you handed it over to them?
I would have talked all this over before anybody even touched my car. About the welding, I guess you didnt make yourself to clear. If you did then you should have asked for a work order sheet explaining what they were authorised to do....
All in all sorry to hear all this shatty news. I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you this but don't ever let them touch your car again
About the 02 sim, did you check to see what was shipped to you before you handed it over to them?
I would have talked all this over before anybody even touched my car. About the welding, I guess you didnt make yourself to clear. If you did then you should have asked for a work order sheet explaining what they were authorised to do....
All in all sorry to hear all this shatty news. I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you this but don't ever let them touch your car again
09-21-11, 07:22 PM
#72
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Wow Doc I can totally feel your pain man. My question is how were you even ok with them telling you 3 days for the install???? Did you not talk this over with them?? Also 14 hrs labor??? Youy should have given them install instructions or something.
About the 02 sim, did you check to see what was shipped to you before you handed it over to them?
I would have talked all this over before anybody even touched my car. About the welding, I guess you didnt make yourself to clear. If you did then you should have asked for a work order sheet explaining what they were authorised to do....
All in all sorry to hear all this shatty news. I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you this but don't ever let them touch your car again
About the 02 sim, did you check to see what was shipped to you before you handed it over to them?
I would have talked all this over before anybody even touched my car. About the welding, I guess you didnt make yourself to clear. If you did then you should have asked for a work order sheet explaining what they were authorised to do....
All in all sorry to hear all this shatty news. I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you this but don't ever let them touch your car again
They had the exhaust and headers shipped to them so I was not able to look over the parts before install.... The PPE header installation sheets were with the headers and available to them as they were given to me with my OEM parts, etc. (although they don't look like they were used as they were in pristine condition and not bent/folded/soiled in any way... )
I did give them detailed info and emailed them links to Joe Z exhaust info and the PPE header info and they said it would be no problem... I don't know how they could have looked at that stuff and not figured out they needed welded in...
Lou's response had me TOTALLY FREAKED OUT!!!! and I don't know how I'm gonna sleep till all this **** is resolved... (I wish I knew what they F'd up...)
09-21-11, 07:37 PM
#73
Lexus Champion
All in all you got screwed cause you didnt check the boxes, talk to the guys in person and explain everthing, and most importantly you didnt get anything in writing
I would have not paid for the extra day and half. And you should have asked what the charged an hour of labor.
all in all I hate reading things like this..sorry man
I would have not paid for the extra day and half. And you should have asked what the charged an hour of labor.
all in all I hate reading things like this..sorry man
09-21-11, 10:11 PM
#74
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Talk to Paul @ PPE. He's very helpful and will sort things out on his end. For all you know, that shop could have jacked your O2 sim. With the O2 sim and working O2 sensors, you shouldn't have a CEL. If you don't have the O2 sim, running a straight exhaust system with no cats, you will throw lots of codes which show CEL, traction off, VSC off, etc.
Sorry to hear about your install situation, but you should be able to get the CEL fixed with Paul's help. I would never go back there again for anything.
Sorry to hear about your install situation, but you should be able to get the CEL fixed with Paul's help. I would never go back there again for anything.
09-22-11, 11:51 AM
#75
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WoW "ERDoc".. sorry to hear about the issues you ran in to...
It might be a blessing in disguise that there weren't able to do any welding..
My advice would to be to find a different shop to inspect the install and look everything over carefully.
Hopefully the next shop understands basic installation of exhaust parts and is able to handle basic TIG welding.
~ Joe Z
It might be a blessing in disguise that there weren't able to do any welding..
My advice would to be to find a different shop to inspect the install and look everything over carefully.
Hopefully the next shop understands basic installation of exhaust parts and is able to handle basic TIG welding.
~ Joe Z