LA area exhaust install ?

I have decided to go with the Fabspeed performance exhaust over the B&B from recomendations. Do any of you guys know of a good shop that will install the exhaust (fair price) around the LA area. I'm in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood. Thanks for any advice. Steven

I've heard good things about ByDesign in Beverly Hills, although they're probably a bit on the expensive side.

I would have them do it also. They did my alignment and I couldn't be any happier. You can also do your yourself if you are so inclined it's extremely easy. I did mine.

Steven, do u have the part yet? if u got the part already i would give Wheel Enhancement a call to ask how much they'll charge for installation. they were only dealing with wheels before, but now they are expanding to deal with most Porsche stuff. ask David or John. [phone removed] the tech Tom is very good & experienced.

Try calling L.A.Porsche in Sun Valley (818)porsche. Very nice people, Porsche specialists (obviously)

Thanks everyone. By Design wants 1 hour labor for the B&M shifter install and two hour labor for exhaust install. Not too bad!! Only thing is when I go in there what else will I find?? Thanks again, Steve

Parerai, Please post the results - I have used Paris Audio for stereo and phone install and I'm considering the B&M. Paris was great and I have heard great things about By Design. I'd be curious to see how they do for you. ER

I used By Design and I do not care for their work. They also overcharge on labor. I will not use them again. Several people have called them the Porsche version of a "Rice Rocket" shop. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Check out Meridian Autosport on Westwood Blvd., <a href="http://www.meridianonline.us" target="_blank">http://www.meridianonline.us</a>

dan the installer at by design is great and first rate. Tom over at wheel enhancement is great as well you can't go wrong.

By Design's work is ok. For electronics, Paris Audio is superb. Enough said. SP Engineering's is definitely one of the best in Southern California, but they are in City of Industry. They are probably one of the only shops I would ever allow to mod my car. How many shops do you know do everything from M3 to Skyline GT-R to 900hp Supras to Lamborghini Diablos. Yes, the owner owns at least one of each of these cars as well. Let me save you guys some money... if you want to do an exhaust install, go to AAA Muffler, across the street from Globe Tire/Motorsport on La Cienega (south). Talk to Pepe. They do all the work for 310 Motoring, Skyline Auto, Globe, and where welding is required, I think they even do By Design's work. Their work is quite good.

I had my fabspeeds installed at Wheel Enhancement. No complaints here and the price was reasonable. Tom was great to work with as well as John.

trust me! go with Wheel Enhancement. u'll be happy. Tom is the best u can find out there. he knows what he is doing. Great man too! i don't like ByDesign because: 1. they deal too many cars they can handle. small parking lot full of cars. ur car might be damaged there. also, because of that, they just want to get ur car done as quick as possible. 2. main thing here, the tech there didn't know how to install my steering wheel last time. i was worried & kinda angry about their work. just my personal thought!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Hamann7: <strong>By Design's work is ok. SP Engineering's is definitely one of the best in Southern California, but they are in City of Industry. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Wow my office is quite literally down the street from SP Engineering and I never even knew it!! I will have to stroll over and check out their work. My only concern is that on their website they seem to specialize in rice rockets. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Ryan, Just because their specialty is doing 800hp Skyline GT-R's and 900hp Supras, this does not mean that they don't know European cars. I personally think Skylines, RX-7 and Supra are in a different class than Honda Civics or Acura Integras. After having some of the same initial concerns as you, it put me at ease when I saw the AC Schnitzer M3 and the Diablos that the owner has modified. First of all, they are one of the largest distributors for CEC. They move over $100,000 worth of AC Schnitzer/TechArt/Lorinser equipment every month. I entrusted them to do my very complex ACS DFC suspension among other things on my M5 and their work was impeccable. Second, and more importantly, SP Engineering was referred to me by Wilber on this board, who IMHO knows as much or more about the Porsche/BMW tuning business than anyone else, especially in Southern California. I would encourage you to go over and talk to Alex Shen. BTW, they will be the one tuning my 996GT3 as well with titanium exhaust/headers, ecu, intake, etc. If you still think they are only good for rice rockets, then I am glad to be 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS!!!

20c4s that is a bummer that they had some problems initially. Was it someone other than Dan who put it in? I have found Dan to be an enromous source of information and a nice guy to deal with, same of course goes with Tom at wheel enhancement. I would rather have them do my stuff any day. I think it boils down mainly to a point where 1. They have done whatever you want to have done often and know the ins and outs of it so they don't have to spend more hours figuring it out along the way and possibly damamging things, and of course 2. They are familiar with the lineage of the car and or brand, i.e. going from a 993tt to working on a 996tt is much easier than going from a japanese car to a german car, or really for that matter from a bmw to a P car. But to each their own. I believe it's all about going with someone you know who has had the same thing done there and or simular stuff done with the same car and that should reduce the problems enormously.

From my personal experience Tom and John at WE are fine to deal with on the front end. But the problems that I've had with them is on the back end of a purchase, when or if you have a problem that needs to be taken care of. They become very arrogant and like to shuffle the puck. Calls never returned etc. I am not the only one that has this type of service from them, there are quite few others that have had this "after sell" sentiment. On the other hand By Design is busy for a reason, you can drive by any day of the week, and there will be a parking lot full of high-end vehicles for a reason. Now drive by WE {they are in the same neighborhood} on the same day and you'll be lucky to see any cars in the parking lot. BD has many repeat and very satisfied customers from all over the globe. They stand behind what they sell and make sure the customers are happy with their purchases and will stand behind what they sell. In fact myself and a few others that have had problems with other tuner or product purchases from other retailers, By Design has helped out to solve the problems with out any compensations. Sure, anyone can sell you stuff at a good price, it's when you have a problem with what they have sold and how they handle the problem is how a company should be judged.

bottom line is, find a guy and shop that u can trust with. at least let them get to know and remember u. i've always found out later that the price is not an important issue after u get to know the guy well enough. the point is u can trust them. they do need to make profit in order to survive, so i don't mind let them make a little money if they do the car right. SPR, that wasn't Dan who put my stuffing in. he's always busy as u know. of course if u know him personally, u know that'll be a different story. it was a black guy who worked on my car. i got scared by him. to tell u the truth, i was sweating all over the place... OAK sorry to hear that. i did have the same feeling with them before. (infact, every shop is like this) like i said, get to know them personally is important. find a guy u can trust. i can call Tom anytime i want no matter he's at work or not. that's a good sign to me!

20C4S, I beg to differ, I don't think every shop is like this. In fact I find it very rare that I've been treated in this manner. I try to be very reasonable. For some reason, when ever dealing with Dave, or John I get a feeling of apathy. Like they are doing you a favor. Seems like they aren't very happy to be in the business.

Oak, I agree that By Design is a pretty decent shop. Where I don't totally agree with them is their approach to tuning. They are definitely ok for a show car, but not a go car. Their highly tweaked GIAC/K24 program that some of their customers have would make me sweat bullets. Though they claim 600+ hp on 100 octane, I can see long term reliability/longevity problems with their setup. I have seen one of these cars in action and to tell you the truth, it didn't really seem all that fast. By the way, Cargraphic and FVD confirmed that they are pushing more customers towards the GIAC route rather than the RS Tuning program. As for their FVD stuff, they basically charge you 20-30 grand for an alleged 540hp. Although as you may have heard, Wilber encountered one of these cars and well, you know how the story goes. To be fair, I guess FVD should take the blame for this one... either that or we underestimated the difference between 625hp and 540hp. Then another customer had just gotten a brand new Tech Art body kit installed on his 996TT and not even a week into it, the front bumper was already falling off and he had to hold it up with duct tape. I really like the guys over there, but there definitely have been some problems.

Tyson, By Design has the same basic programs that all the other tuners that sell the GIAC products have. I know of many turbo owners that have the GIAC DME, and have absolutely no problems. From my personal experience By Design is not sold on any one tuner, they will build a tuning program to your preference, hence the name By Design. At the time I had purchased some FVD products, the price was about the same as if I were to by it directly from FVD. From what I've heard from Michael Mansouri the car that Wilber ran against wasn't an FVD turbo and had a stereo system that weighed quite abit. As you know the spoilers are always being repaired at By Design from owners carelessness. Especially new owners. By Design has the body kits down, It's hard to say with out seeing the spoiler but, I doubt the spoiler is falling off from poor workmanship. Either way I'm sure By Design will do what ever to make the customer satisfied.