[GronkDaSlayer]

So I got my humongous big box last week and I can't install it until after the 23rd so I figured that I would talk to a couple different Ford dealerships to know what they'd charge me for the install.

First, I went to my local dealer. They never installed that kit on the Focus but installed it on some Mustangs (kinda makes sense). The services foreman basically said about 6 hours ==> $840, which put the hour at $140. Expensive but I guess that's how it goes nowadays.

This morning I went to the dealer from whom I purchased the car. Went to the service department and asked about the install. The dude, said that they already installed a couple of those and that would run me $1105.
I told him that my local dealer quoted me 6 hours of work and $840 and he went like "Oh! well yes, it's about 6-6.5 hours"

That's $170 (6.5 hours).... damn! that's how much I pay for labour on my Lotus...

I can't say I give a damn about the warranty but I'm thinking that if something goes wrong with the kit, It will most likely end up costing me more than $840...

I'm pretty sure that it would take me some 4 hours to do this and I work slowly... oh well, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet.

 

[thenorm]

really its just the exhaust that maybe difficult. and not really at that.

call a muffler shop and see what there rates would be to install.

or else it shouldnt be hard to do it your self

 

[rambleon84]

Dealer prices will kick you in the butt on labor but if you want to keep Ford's warranty I believe they have to install, right? I'd call a couple more dealers. Still cant believe its a 6 hour job...

 

[GronkDaSlayer]

Yup, they both said 6 hours...

The way I see it for me to do it:

Re-calibrate the ECU: 10mins (15min since the list of instructions is rather long)
Replace the spark plugs: 10mins
Install the CAI: 1 hour if you remove the bumper...
Install the Exhaust: 2 hours

I work slowly, especially when the car is new to me and that's some 3.5 hours.
For a tech who has done this before and who has a lift (to make the exhaust install easier) shouldn't take more that 2 hours really, maybe 2.5 if he decides to hit Taco Bell across the street.

There is a stealership south of where I live so maybe I'll go see them on Tuesday and see what they think.

I'm inclined to have it done by Ford because of the warranty on the kit. Normally I wouldn't care but since the car is a month old, and is my daily driver, if something goes awry, I'd rather have the warranty pay for it.

 

[CajunRS]

WTF….people dont realize how much money the dealerships make through parts/labor, its where they bring in a lot of their profit. They probably pay that tech under 20$ an hour and they are making well over 100 hour in profit.

If you really have an issue with the warranty, I would at least do the exhaust myself. For them not to honor a warranty they have to show the part is what caused the problem. That would be extremely difficult for them to prove that a faulty exhaust install caused the engine to blow up. That should cut labor cost down to 400ish for the intake install. Also check with your local dealership. Some of them don't care about aftermarket mods. When I had the Speed3 as my daily it was modded to hell. Here in El Paso I was buddy buddy with one of the managers and would talk cars and he didn't care and took care of the car when I had some issues with the turbo. Back in Alabama it was a different story.

 

[GronkDaSlayer]

I do understand how much money the dealers make off service, parts and other stuff. They barely make any money on new cars (unless someone is dumb enough to pay the markup when there's one) so they make most of their dough on trade-ins, extra crap they sell you after you bought a new car and the aforementioned stuff.

In regards to the kit, the only reason for the motor to fail isn't the intake, nor the spark plugs or the exhaust but the tune. In reality, that's the only thing that should be installed by them but I would have to go and convince them

I'll put the car on the Dyno later this week and I'll again after the kit is installed. I'm curious...