I installed the Xerd headers on my car along with the complete Nismo exhaust. I would say the complete install took about 14 hours.....16 tops.
I also installed the headers without removing any of the radiator plumbing on the passenger side. Most of the work was pretty straight forward except for 1 bolt on the passenger side that was a real pain!
Worst part is that I can't drive it because of the snow and bitter cold!!
How does -40F with a windchill sound?

 

ZRAYGO - Haha - this is one of those mods where I wouldn't think any less of somebody if they had a shop do it. If you've got the money, I'm ADVISING you to take it to a shop

The 34 hours consists of mostly constructing a complex assortment of swivel extensions and such not to get to certain bolts. We broke one of my most "durable" extension pieces in the process.
I'm not counting the hours we'd just take off a mother of a bolt and stand back, smoke a cigarette, and cuss about how much we hate Nissan (not really). I'm just counting work-time.

And Shocka - It had to be a freakin' miracle if you got to the passenger side manifold without taking that radiator pipe off. If we ever meet in person, I'll buy you a beer for doing what I couldn't do. Hehe.

Peace

 

Don't feel too bad. I remember the first set we did took a couple days and all the tech's said they would never do another. We have two guys that do the installs and have it down to an honest 5 hour turn around now. So now you know all the tricks, maybe you can start your own header install business... Congrat's on your new toys!!!

 

Hey Jeff,

Does Nissan require you to charge 12 hours for the installation of headers? Or do you charge 5 because it takes you 5? I was speaking with the Nismo guy at my dealer over here in Jersey and he was feeding me an assortment of lines about how he couldn't charge less than X dollars for the installation.

Dan

 

If it's the first one they do it might take them that long, but they are probably just trying to make a lot of money off you

 

We have been trying hard to change the way people look at dealers.... well it's worked for us anyway. We only charge Z owners real time, not flat rate. We may not make as much money, but with the traffic we're driving into the store, our experience, our level of understanding and our mod friendly attitude, it has taken this store to new heights with the Z community and we have gotten the attention of Nissan Motor Corp as well. It's not uncommon anymore to have VERY high up people from Nissan Japan and Nismo come to my store to meet me and my staff. This has become a lot of fun for us and being that the 350Z is my passion, it's just a bonus!!

 

Excellent Jeff. Glad to hear Nissan is taking notice of you guys. Your dealership should be a model for others in the U.S. IMO.

 

Car makers have been missing the boat on mods for a long time, and they are realizing it now. I saw something on TV a couple months ago about how car makers will eventually deliver the car with mods you choose already installed. They figure they can get the mod bucks up front, and people will splurge on them more because they don't have to have the cash for the mods up front........just roll the cost into the payments. Don't know when this will happen, but they were talking about it.

 

So it could take someone up to 32hrs to install the headers!!

Imagine installing a twin turbo set-up!!! That would take at least 365 days at the same rate!

Murray

 

FYI to others: you don't need to take the steering column off to remove the stock headers. We installed the XERD headers and Borla TD in about 13 hours total (11 probably went to headers). Just get rid of all the piping on both sides of the engine and you can get to all bolts, although some had to be done through the bottom of the car.

 

Not to bring this too far off this thread... but this is what we do now in our store. I had one guy want a car with all the toy's after he drove my car. It was an $8K add on sale to the contract.

 

What's scary about this topic, and maybe it should be moved elsewhere is the following. I got my Z in Janaury 03, I was starting a new business, and I ended up attaching a part of that business to the aftermarket car industry.

One of my first goals, and approaches was with Dealers. I spoke with a few, and due to previous agreements, I am unable to disclose which, but every dealer stated about the same response.

"there is no value to the aftermarket from the dealer perspective"

"we've been there, it's not that good, and we're not going back"

"thanks but no thanks, let the "kids" get their "gizmos" elsewhere"

I didn't understand the fact that the dealer makes "X" dollars ONCE per car sold. Sure it's going to need oil changes, and some "chargeable" maintenance down the road, but wouldn't the dealer like to make a few more dollars, on a recurring basis, after or while the vehicles being sold? and not just on "mop and glow" (paint and interior protector).

Helllo?????? Anyone in there???????

It's been exciting as well as a relief to see Performance Nissan wake up and smell the Zmoke from the fire that is the aftermarket industry.

 

There is a lot more profit in a car than in an air filter. In a world of limited resources it's all about allocation. For some dealers it can be worth it, but for most, it simply is not. Different markets also play a large role. What percentage of Performance's sales go to CA cutomers, by mail or in person? Either way, just because one or two people think that something is a good idea, doesn't mean it is. Specialization breeds efficiency, more productivity, and better products and services. When you get into trying to serve every part of every market the overall picture begins to suffer. I do not think that dealers should get into the aftermarket any more than they already are. Let them do what they do best and let the aftermarket handle the rest.

 

(I had a post ready to submit, when another app took over my browser session and 86'd it. This is going to be a shorter less clarifying post than previously intended and hopefully this works nearly as well without stirring up any "issues")

re-posting:

Now sounds like a good idea to at least continue/move this thread elsewhere or possibly end it.

Unfortunately there tends to be a need to take a post from one extreme to the other.

No one is suggesting that ALL dealers take on ALL aftermarket business in ALL cars, across the country, state, city, or town and of course analog and/or digitally or snail-mail.

No one is suggesting that ALL people take ALL of their aftermarket desires and needs to a dealer.

The fact is that there is a comfort level for many (not all) people to be able to modify their vehicle through the dealer and get the quality and security they're seeking through the dealer and howya bout less warranty concerns?

Yes. A Dealer makes more money on selling a car, than on an air filter.

Profit margins on a car after cost and effort to sell it is fine. That sale is over and done with. What's wrong with that car coming back, getting an "enhancement", charging the part and or service? And that car coming back again for additional items and or services aside from "scheduled maintenance" and "warranty issues"?

Can you do it yourself? Sometimes you can. Do you like dealing with that cool shop around the corner, or on-line? Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. Is the dealer going to stock, every product out there for every car out there and be an expert in dealing with it? Not likely, but either is that shop, or that on-line location.

Welcome to America where you have a choice.

Please don't take this too seriously.

Please don't change your purchasing/installation opinion based on the 1-2 people here or anywhere, or on anything else at anytime.

But please don't shut down, or blanket any and all other opinions with yours because of a few simple facts you come up with; which just about anyone here would agree with, including myself.

It's just be nice if you could get the things you want, from a dealer, have them deal with it, and not to worry.

ALL dealers will not DOMINATE the aftermarket arena. ALL non-dealer businesses and entities will not implode in the event a couple more dealers do more than what might currently be what's expected of them.

Thank you and sorry where applicable.

 

My simplest response is that you and I are speaking from opposite ends of the spectrum. Don't forget that there are two halves to the economy. Supply AND demand. If one or two dealers nationwide are enough to sell the parts then that's all there will be. You are speaking from a consumer point of view and I am speaking from the dealers' point of view, which I feel I can do up to a point. It may be something that a lot of people say they want but when it comes down to it, MANY times, not ALL times, it just isn't. It has been obviously fruitful for Performance and although my fam owns many dealerships, I have still purchased things from Performance. My purchases from there have most likely not ended either. Even so, it would not be worth the price of entry for our stores (and many others) to become as involved as Performance in non-Nissan parts sales and distribution. Demand does not power supply and vice versa. They fuel each other mutually. I would venture an uninformed guess that all that is necessary for dealers dealing aftermarket parts to exist is two or three. One is thriving on this board, one has been alienated by this board, and another one or two are out there but very quiet. Keep in mind, I am not saying that all dealers (and I never said ALL dealers in my previous post as you alluded) should avoid the aftermarket. If you need an aftermarket part your dealer can def. get it for you. But I am talking about staying nationally competitive. You will never see it. Ok that turned from my simplest response to another rambling paragraph. Sorry bout it.

 

I know what you mean, and I'm with you as I mentioned on your facts which is mostly "reality" vs. fact.

I'd like to see more dealers be more mod-friendly, more than anything I'd like to see the dealers be more mod friendly and offer aftermarket parts and services if they can do it right.

Unfortunately there are a lot of fly-by-night operations out there who are simply throwing enough crap in enough directions and only hoping it to stick.

By all means competition is good, and we all know that. I would never wish to impact any part of that, and no dealer can take that away from any other 3rd part business.

The dealer is busy with their main business, whatever that may be, period.

I never wanted car manufacturers and dealers to be our only source of vehicles and after-the-sale fun. I'd just like them to be more involved and les anti-fun after-the-sale.

How's that?

thanks

 

Yeah I hear ya man. But I guess alls I's tryin ta say is that the aftermarket is pretty saturated and highly competitive. It isn't a market a lot of dealers want to deal with. Too much hassle for too little return. That's my basic point. Damn, why didn't I just say so?

 

'nuff said

 

This statement is more true than most people will realize!! My internet program in 4 months went from 2k in sales a month to 70k+ a month now. BUT I'm still running this at HUGE losses every month. At a 10% to 12% profit, 2 full time emplyees, a shipping person, mistakes, dealership overhead, advertising, inventory dollars sitting on the shelf, office personal, ME..... as you can see I don't know why many dealers would let a Parts Manager get away with this. On the plus side, the part that doesn't show on my books, we are driving business into service, making car sales, and have brought global recongnition to this store. It's pretty cool to get personal Christmas cards from Nissan Motors in Japan!!! This also helps drive our road race program www.performancenissanracing.com , and we're hoping sponsorship dollars for our race cars will come.... some day. The payoff for me and all the hours I put in... well that's easy... I love Z cars! My Z is my passion and the love of my life... ya' I know I need help... Well so much for taking this thread in a whole new direction, I guess I'm just saying "THANKS" to you guys for your support!!