Downpipe install cost?

[NY01]

Just curious before I call around, what is the going rate that you've found for a shop to install a downpipe keeping cat-back? I don't have a ramps, so figured I'd let a shop put it on.

 

[eajr]

Call around

 

[90ina20]

Any decent shop should be able to do it within an hour maybe 90 minutes max if you have a 2019 model or a golf R.

 

[Ungwei]

I was quoted 375 dollars in CT so I ended up doing it myself on ramps, though as a novice it wasn't super easy and I had my dad helping.

 

[IanCH]

Any decent shop should be able to do it within an hour maybe 90 minutes max if you have a 2019 model or a golf R.

Huh?

You meant to say unless there?

Golf R 1hr would be a speed record.

 

[Desslok]

What is different about the 2019 model? I know mine was a bitch to get out.

 

[Acadia18]

You shouldn't be charged for more than an hour of labor. You probably be though. If you have a space to work in, you could buy a jack, jack stands, and the necessary tools to do it for less than a shop would charge you to install, and do it yourself.

 

[Supermoto]

More expensive than a set of ramps from harbor freight

 

[Chogokin]

My local shop quoted me 150 for a GTI. Just about double that for an R.

 

[NY01]

Thanks. I'm debating shops or buying jacks. Just don't want to mess up install.

 

[draza74]

Only hard part iirc is fishing the oem dp out

 

[90ina20]

What is different about the 2019 model? I know mine was a bitch to get out.

i know for sure the heatshield mounting behind the LSD is a b*** to get to. Those 2 nuts on the passenger side. Granted I was on jack stands in a parking lot. Even then I had to go back to the store 3 times until I found a ratcheting wrench small enough to fit in there to get them off.

other than that it’s a huge pain to wiggle the OEM DP out and if the shop isn’t familiar with VW’s I could see them start disassembling unnecessary stuff. I almost gave up until I watched YouTube videos that confirmed it’s possible to get out.

Edit: the downpipe hanger is riveted on the MY2019+ cars. So it has to be drilled out from the back to release from the rubber enough to pop it off

 

[90ina20]

Thanks. I'm debating shops or buying jacks. Just don't want to mess up install.

I would go this route. Even though I personally had a bad time it’s pretty hard to mess up the install per se. But now that I’ve done it, I would totally do it again and probably could do the job in an hour. I spent more time than I had to because I didn’t have the right tools. Just make sure you have a set of metric ratcheting wrenches (the $12 set from Walmart worked for me,) and a deep drive socket set with a long breaker bar for the exhaust sleeve because the bolts will be rusted and impossible to get loose without leverage. Last thing is the hanger is riveted on the newer cars, so you have to take any household drill and drill through the rivets to release them once you have the DP off the car.

I barely had my car jacked up off the ground but I did it for all-in-all $80 bucks in tools including the jack stands. The ShopDap video really helped show me how to wiggle the DP out properly when I was losing hope. Just know it does come out even though it may not seem like it. If you DIY make sure you buy a new DP gasket to the turbo, part #5Q0253115B. Mine leaked until I replaced this part.

 

[staying_tuned]

The higher you can get the front end the better, I couldn’t imagine doing it on ramps, I was nearly 2 feet in the air on the stands and was still tight on wiggle room. Make sure you have extensions and the proper bits and yeah, it’s more just time and wiggling than anything else. As for cost, yeah I’d say 1 hour labor, maybe 1.5 from a shop. Took me a good 3 or 4 hours but I’m slow.

 

[It's Sam]

+1 for doing it yourself. There's not much you can really "mess up", per say. You just need patience, and the right tools. I did 2 MK7 turbo-back exhaust installs, and the first time I didn't have the right tools and the second I did. Makes the difference between a 5 hour job and a 2 hour job.

That and believing in yourself. You can do it!