Midas, Meineke, etc for Exhaust Replacement

[conversation]

ANyone have success getting an exhaust shop to replace mufflers, pipes, cats?? I called up a Meineke place to get an estimate for a muffler and the guy said I had to come down and put it on the lift. He acted like he never did Versas before.

I don't actually need a muffler, just want to know my options for the future.

Someone posted here that he had to get an OE Nissan muffler for $500 !!!!

I definitely don't want to pay $500 for a new muffler.

Anyone using the big exhaust chains for stock mufflers and pipes ? Are they expensive ?

While I'm here, let me also ask this : Are there 2 cats, a muffler, and a resonator on the Versa ?

Thanks

[silverarrow27]

Obviously these cars are new, maybe he hasn't worked on Versas before. I don't think there are tons of people out there too excited to swap out exhaust parts as soon as they get it.

[Promise Land]

There are aftermarket cat-back mufflers available from NISMO, Stillen, Greddy, etc. VersaSpeed carries a couple of them if I remember right and AZHitman has an exhaust company that has a full system available for that kind of money. You should be able to buy individual parts through other sources than OEM unless you want OEM. Then there are discount OEM places out there.

[biggie]

There are aftermarket cat-back mufflers available from NISMO, Stillen, Greddy, etc. VersaSpeed carries a couple of them if I remember right and AZHitman has an exhaust company that has a full system available for that kind of money. You should be able to buy individual parts through other sources than OEM unless you want OEM. Then there are discount OEM places out there.

Note that all you mentioned except the BRM (Greg - AZHitman), are axle back only.

[conversation]

Thanks for the replies. I just want the basic bare-bones lowest cost replacement parts (that last a reasonable amount of time). Maremont comes to mind. Good to know there are options to the overpriced OEM parts. There is some noticeable rust on the exhaust pipes, and just a bit on the last muffler (resonator?) I don't expect it to be rusted through until after the warranty runs out ( 3 years??)

[biggie]

Thanks for the replies. I just want the basic bare-bones lowest cost replacement parts (that last a reasonable amount of time). Maremont comes to mind. Good to know there are options to the overpriced OEM parts. There is some noticeable rust on the exhaust pipes, and just a bit on the last muffler (resonator?) I don't expect it to be rusted through until after the warranty runs out ( 3 years??)

Can always sand and paint/coat those places to avoid rust at all if you want the OEM stuff to last longer.

[kerrton]

Wow you really like to plan ahead, the new exhaust system on my 08 Rogue should last me 8 years or more with my driving conditions, not something I'm thinking will need to be replaced for a very long time....

There are so many other parts that will need to be replaced first (brakes, suspension maybe, tires, etc), what made you worry about pricing out exhaust replacements?

[conversation]

Wow you really like to plan ahead, the new exhaust system on my 08 Rogue should last me 8 years or more with my driving conditions, not something I'm thinking will need to be replaced for a very long time....

There are so many other parts that will need to be replaced first (brakes, suspension maybe, tires, etc), what made you worry about pricing out exhaust replacements?

I read somewhere, might have been here, that somebody with an 07 already had to have a muffler or a cat replaced due to rust, and the exhaust shop told him he had to use OEM, which was hugely expensive.

[Bubs daddy]

That's assuming what he posted was an actual factual account. There wasn't a pic posted and I don't recall any similar incidences. I don't believe everything I read on the internet. I don't hink you should either.

[Showtyme]

I am having this issue too. I wouldn't mind the punch from a nice aftermarket exhaust system but one thing I love about my Versa is how quiet it runs (when everything is working okay). My last trip the dealer for an oil change (I had a coupon) revealed that my exhaust was bent awkwardly, probably due to a pothole, and their estimate was $720. Later I got a letter in the mail saying he'd be willing to discount it 10%, which would bring me down to around $650. Are there any alternatives? Are there aftermarket exhaust systems that aren't racing-style or noisy? Where are some of these discount OEM places?

Thanks.

[Bubs daddy]

Could you post a pic of your exhaust and muffler?

[conversation]

I am having this issue too. I wouldn't mind the punch from a nice aftermarket exhaust system but one thing I love about my Versa is how quiet it runs (when everything is working okay). My last trip the dealer for an oil change (I had a coupon) revealed that my exhaust was bent awkwardly, probably due to a pothole, and their estimate was $720. Later I got a letter in the mail saying he'd be willing to discount it 10%, which would bring me down to around $650. Are there any alternatives? Are there aftermarket exhaust systems that aren't racing-style or noisy? Where are some of these discount OEM places?

Thanks.

If it doesn't leak, it could well pass inspection, if your mechanic likes you (the dealer will fail it, probably, hoping you will give him the $650) so why fix it? Keep the money for yourself. For God's sake, stay away from the dealer, unless you like giving away money. I can get one free oil change for my 09, but I've decided not to use it. I just don't want the dealer touching my car.

I have used Meineke in the past, for great prices on exhaust work, but that was for generic Chevy V8, not an import. I asked him about replacing an 09 Versa exhaust, and he wouldn't tell me a thing over the phone. Wanted me to come in with the car. I haven't done so yet.

By the way, a different Meineke place could cost a lot more. Depends on the owner / manager.

[Showtyme]

Will try to get pics up of it, but unfortunately, I don't have access to a lift. It does make sort of a rattling noise, sometimes it's much worse when the car is uphill.

[Showtyme]

If it doesn't leak, it could well pass inspection, if your mechanic likes you (the dealer will fail it, probably, hoping you will give him the $650) so why fix it? Keep the money for yourself. For God's sake, stay away from the dealer, unless you like giving away money. I can get one free oil change for my 09, but I've decided not to use it. I just don't want the dealer touching my car.

I have used Meineke in the past, for great prices on exhaust work, but that was for generic Chevy V8, not an import. I asked him about replacing an 09 Versa exhaust, and he wouldn't tell me a thing over the phone. Wanted me to come in with the car. I haven't done so yet.

By the way, a different Meineke place could cost a lot more. Depends on the owner / manager.

Thanks. That helps. I think I'll keep mine clear of the dealer too, but I have the same concern about other shops not knowing what's going on with newer import models. Still, exhaust is pretty straightforward, isn't it?

[conversation]

Thanks. That helps. I think I'll keep mine clear of the dealer too, but I have the same concern about other shops not knowing what's going on with newer import models. Still, exhaust is pretty straightforward, isn't it?

Again, depends on the manager or owner at the shop. I spend a lot of time calling ahead to different exhaust shops to get an idea of how "customer-friendly" they are. I found a Meineke place that is pretty good. Low prices, and they know what they are doing, and, most important, they don't try to rip you off ( as in automatically charging the highest price, repairing stuff that's still OK).

They might be able to bend your exhaust back to normal, as opposed to replacing it with brand new, for example.

Welding is another example. Some shops will weld pieces to fix them, other shops won't. (welding is cheaper)

Every shop is different. Depends on the manager. A straightforward fix at one shop is a "can't be done" problem at another shop.