idriveastick
07-25-2008, 11:06 AM
Well, after looking around and doing some research and thanks to some of you guys, I finally replaced my cat with an el-cheapo Magnaflow.
It was $65 on the 'bay and I figured the car has high miles so it wouldn't be justifible to buy an OEM replacement.
So, took it on over to good ole Monroe Muffler. :buttrock
First off, it started as a complete lack of communication on their part. I spoke to the boss/exhaust "guy" there on Wednesday. I told him I have an aftermarket cat, there will be some pipe bending and welding involved. He said ok, I know what you're talking about, bring it in as close to 5 o'clock as you can on Thursday afternoon. I said ok, should I make an appointment? He said no, just bring it on in.
So, I get there and this is the most packed I've ever seen a Monroe Muffler, EVER. Litterally, 15 people crammed into a 15' x 10' room with the counter/desk taking up 1/3 of it. So I wait in line for about 5 minutes and finally, the Assistant Manager (who, by the way, looked like he was definitely inbred and had 27 teeth going in 29 directions) says "how can I help you?" I explained I talked to Charlie, the bossman, and he told me to come in at 5. He goes, who are you? I go, Jeremy..with the BMW. He goes, oh ok..what did you need done to it? I go - didn't Charlie give you a heads up? Needless to say, Charlie completely forgot he told me to come in at 5 and they were booked for the night. He said, wait a half hour and I'll see if I can squeeze you in.
So, I waited 15 minutes and they had my car on a lift. I said that Charlie told me $75 all inclusive, they said ok we can do that.
So, they start on the project and ended up making a sort of "z pipe" with two bends in it, no not mandrel :(.
Welded it up and by this time, I'd say it was about 8pm. They close at 7pm. So I'd already been there 3 hours.
So, they go to fit it up to my car and sure enough, they welded the pre-cat pipe on....yes...UP. SIDE. DOWN. I didn't know they made people that stupid anymore!!!
So, they bust out the saws all. The blade's focked. He has to go run to a store to buy another one. By this time it's about 8:30-8:45. So, I'm growing quite impatient with them and I'm about to knock them out and do it myself at this point.
So, to make a semi-long story shorter, I ended up leaving at 10pm with a hob-jobbed midpipe and a new cat. Worked out for me - he said we'll call the $75 even and then on Monday, come in and I'll fix the small leak you have.
AKA - it was late; he didn't want to be there anymore; he half-assed it; I have a leak at the welds.
But, on the "bright" side, I got a free cat install in trade for 5 hours of my time.
I love franchise mechanics. :lol:nono:eyecrazy
It was $65 on the 'bay and I figured the car has high miles so it wouldn't be justifible to buy an OEM replacement.
So, took it on over to good ole Monroe Muffler. :buttrock
First off, it started as a complete lack of communication on their part. I spoke to the boss/exhaust "guy" there on Wednesday. I told him I have an aftermarket cat, there will be some pipe bending and welding involved. He said ok, I know what you're talking about, bring it in as close to 5 o'clock as you can on Thursday afternoon. I said ok, should I make an appointment? He said no, just bring it on in.
So, I get there and this is the most packed I've ever seen a Monroe Muffler, EVER. Litterally, 15 people crammed into a 15' x 10' room with the counter/desk taking up 1/3 of it. So I wait in line for about 5 minutes and finally, the Assistant Manager (who, by the way, looked like he was definitely inbred and had 27 teeth going in 29 directions) says "how can I help you?" I explained I talked to Charlie, the bossman, and he told me to come in at 5. He goes, who are you? I go, Jeremy..with the BMW. He goes, oh ok..what did you need done to it? I go - didn't Charlie give you a heads up? Needless to say, Charlie completely forgot he told me to come in at 5 and they were booked for the night. He said, wait a half hour and I'll see if I can squeeze you in.
So, I waited 15 minutes and they had my car on a lift. I said that Charlie told me $75 all inclusive, they said ok we can do that.
So, they start on the project and ended up making a sort of "z pipe" with two bends in it, no not mandrel :(.
Welded it up and by this time, I'd say it was about 8pm. They close at 7pm. So I'd already been there 3 hours.
So, they go to fit it up to my car and sure enough, they welded the pre-cat pipe on....yes...UP. SIDE. DOWN. I didn't know they made people that stupid anymore!!!
So, they bust out the saws all. The blade's focked. He has to go run to a store to buy another one. By this time it's about 8:30-8:45. So, I'm growing quite impatient with them and I'm about to knock them out and do it myself at this point.
So, to make a semi-long story shorter, I ended up leaving at 10pm with a hob-jobbed midpipe and a new cat. Worked out for me - he said we'll call the $75 even and then on Monday, come in and I'll fix the small leak you have.
AKA - it was late; he didn't want to be there anymore; he half-assed it; I have a leak at the welds.
But, on the "bright" side, I got a free cat install in trade for 5 hours of my time.
I love franchise mechanics. :lol:nono:eyecrazy