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Hey there, looking to have the rr racing power package along with borla exhaust installed in Portland Oregon. Just visited a reputable shop for the install. Was quoted a high price which was a little concerning. Looking for some feedback and advice......thank you
I installed my borla myself and it's pretty straight forward, if you don't have tools/time sure you can pay somebody but intake you should install it yourself, I'm sure it comes with nice instructions. I was quoted 2.5 hrs for borla install so shops will probably charge 2-3 hours , I think for headers it's aprox 8hrs-10hrs depends on shop experience, give or take from what I've seen what ppl pay. Your estimate seems high no doubt.
For Pacific Northwest... the labor rate for exhaust and header installation aren't surprising. The intake should be a fairly easy DIY. Why do you need to pay labor for the tune? Is it to load the OBD device to your car and then put on the dyno? In any case, $400 seems double what it should cost.
A reputable shop should be able to do the header install in about 6 hours tops!
When I did my install with the help of a Master mechanic I paid on the side with some help of a few ISF owners we installed headers on 2 ISF's in about 9 hours (that's with taking about 45 min for a lunch break).
First ISF took 5 hours, and the second one took 4 hours.
What's with the labor tune= $400?? Don't tell me they are trying to charge you to upload the tune from the my genius handheld?
Sorry for not being more elaborate as I was on lunch and typing int the parking lot at the shop. The $400 was for dyno session baseline and after. I contacted 2 other tuning shops one being a local and the other was surgeline COBB. They both said they usually don't touch Lexus since there's not a large aftermarket. They mostly do Subaru up here. The intake I can do myself. The obd plug I can do myself. The under car work I prefer not as I'm inexperienced. So I can knock it down some, and skip the dyno session. Just felt like the guy "saw me coming" since it's a Lexus ffs. Anywho I'll continue to visit shops in person since over the phone most places say they don't want to touch it.
I would try to find a shop that has done a header install on the F prior to yours. Also, (if you haven't) when you do get it installed, be prepared to have some O2 sensors on hand in case your current ones are damaged when being removed. The before and dyno session would be nice but $400 is still pricey.
All you could use the shop for is the headers and exhaust.
Tbh if the headers are done by this shop, how in the world are they charging you extra for exhaust when they would bolt the stock exhaust back up the same exact way? LOL
A reasonable price for headers+exhaust (which is essentially just headers since exhaust comes off regardless) is 600-1200, IMO.
$2200 for labor and services is quite steep. I've been looking back at the rates I was quoted for various installations...
-headers @ $500 (requires the vehicle to be cooled down first- total: 9 hours)
-exhaust @ $100 (requires the vehicle to be cooled down first- total: 2 hours)
-intake @ $0 (DIY- total: 20 mins)
-tune @ $0 (DIY and physical ECU removal- total: 1 hour)
-alignment @ $90 (similar to Lobuxracer's alignment specs- total: 30 mins)
-brake rotors and pads @ $50 (first time was done at a shop due to injury- total: 2 hours)
-dyno @ $80 (first FBO + tune data with jspecvtec and ISF4LIFE- total: 3 runs)
So far for services in So Cal, it comes out to well less than half of what the OP has listed. Then again, it's not a local shop and I'm certain there aren't a lot of IS F installers in OR, so quotes are likely to be higher.
OP, if you're in SoCal, there are a few really good shops that are much more affordable and will provide adequate help and installation.