Last month, I swapped out the OEM for the Kinetix. My initial thoughts were that this y-pipe sounded very ricey and resulted in significant vibrations especially at low rpm's. I was not at all satisfied with neither the sound nor the constant vibrations. As a result, I emailed Kinetix to express my concerns.

My first email to Kinetix is below:

I installed your y-pipe approximately a week ago. Almost instantly I noticed substatinal vibrations underneath my seat, especially at low rpm's. It sounds as though the car is flatulating. I thought this might subside after a week or so. However, this has not been the case. Is this normal? I thought that these vibrations may be a result of air leaks, however the installer advised that their were not any fitment issues. What are your thoughts?

Kinetix reply is below:

sometimes, the y-pipe causes the mid section pipe to drop down slightly. There is VERY little clearance between the factory mid pipe and the cross brace underneath the car, generally less than .25" This is what is causing vibrations. Adjust the exhaust or the cross brace to allow for some more clearance.

Thereafter, I took my car into my installer to check to see if their are any clearance issues. My installer confirmed their were infact fitment issues. My follow-up email to Kinetix is below.

I returned to my installer today and requested that they (along with myself) check any potential clearance issues causing the vibrations and excessive noise that I was complaining of (per my prior emails to you). Upon inspection of the y-pipe, we noticed that one of the flex joints (directly under drivers seat) of the y-pipe was touching the underbody of the car and this was causing the vibrations and noise. I have attached pictures showing the contact of y-pipe to underbody for your review.

After examining the contact point, the service technician attempted to adjust the y-pipe (as well as other exhuast components) to prevent this contact. He un-torqued, adjusted, then re-torqued the bolts of the y-pipe on numerous occassions, to determine if the contact could be prevented.
However, in the end the contact remained. He along with the three other technicians determined that this particular y-pipe had fitment issues and regardless of the adjustments made, a clearance issue would exist and therefore the vibrations and noise that I could not stand would also prevail. As a result, I have no choice but to remove the y-pipe as I can no longer
stand the vibrations caused by it. I am very disappointed as I never imagined that the y-pipe would have these fitment issues. And, I was not anticipating having to pay for an install, removal, and then re-install of my OEM y-pipe. Due to the fitment issues with the y-pipe, I would like to return your product and am requesting full refund.

Kinetix reply below:

well,

I sincerely apologie, and thank you for the pictures, as we will definately look into our test car and the fitment on that vehicle.

We can honor a full refund. Please simply send the y-pipe back to us at the address below, and include a slip of paper including original order info and request for refund.

My follow-up email:

Please be advised that I have fedex'd the y-pipe back to your company. FYI, the tracking number is xxxxx and the estimated delivery date is 10/21. I will follow up once again upon your receipt of the pipe. Also, I have endured considerable expense as a result of this y-pipe not
fitting properly as it should have. This additional expense is as follows:

1) Installation of Kinetix Y-pipe (swap from oem to kinetix) = $40
2) Removal of Kinetix Y-pipe (swap from kinetix back to oem) = $40
3) Shipping of y-pipe back to your company = $22.10

In my opinion, the fair and honorable thing for your company to do would be to credit me for #2 and #3 ($62.10 - in addition to the $300 that I have already paid Kinetix) as these expenses were a direct result of the poor fitment of your y-pipe on my vehicle.

Please be advised that the above email was forwarded on 10/17 and a similar email was forwarded on 10/28. I have received credit for $300, however I have not even received a response to the above email requesting additional credit for $62.10.

In my opinion, I should be entitled to reimbursement for the expenses I incurred removing and shipping a faulty product. What are your thoughts?

As for all the claims of Kinetix providing exceptional customer service, I think they are average at best. They have only credited me for a faulty product, which I have returned.

 

wow, tell me how it worked out

 

that sucks. sorry to hear bout your experience.
i don't think that they will reimburse your $62 tho.
i had one of the kinetix plenums and they didn't refund me the shipping costs for returning the plenum. so i doubt they will pay for your shipping costs.
from my experience, all i can say is that i would never purchase a kinetix product again.

 

Well that stinks about the fitment issue.

I have to admit when I saw the Kinetix Y-pipe anounced in a ad in the Zsport magazine awhile back it looked like a really sweet copy of the Jic Y-pipe. And since it has the same pipe diameters as the OEM exhaust it would be a excellent choice for those sticking with the rest of the oem exhaust. But alas, seeing pics of the production piece, looking all too different, ugh another great idea flushed. And now a fitment issue. I'm not a Kinetix hater, just really let down without cause.

 

good luck getting a refund on installation!
i bought lowering springs from a vendor on this board, paid $450 to have them installed-turns out that the springs were defective, and after much ranting an raving (at the beginning i was very polite) what did i get...... nothing! i sent my springs back to them about 3 weeks ago.
now i am dealing with the company that makes the springs,(very reputable company) they offered a discount on a coilover setup.
bear in mind i've been dealing with this problem going on two months.
money i've spent
$200 springs
$450 install
$200 pull the springs off my car and put in OE springs

all i can hope to get back is the cost of the springs $200
and hope to recoupe some of the losses by purchasing a more expensive product.

yup.........i got f@%*ed!

 

Kinetix = NO R&D and HIGH FAILURE RATES...