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Why are some OEM parts so expensive?

Stevearcade

Stevearcade

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Location
Eastbourne
Car
2003 Accord CM2
I was told yesterday after my MOT that my exhaust has a hole in it. It's only small but is near a mounting bracket so they're not confident that they can weld it. Therefore I need a replacement exhaust pipe. However for the 2.4 the exhaust system is sold as single unit for nearly £400 and that doesn't include the other pipe and ****ler which is a further £155. So we're talking £550 for an exhaust!!!

The guys at the Honda garage couldn't believe it. They do a deal on the standard 2.0 exhaust of £147 fitted or something at the moment. So to go up to £550 before labour on the 2.4 was crazy. They advised me, to their credit, that I'd be better off shopping around for after market systems and talking to local custom exhaust companies.

So I just googled it and called a company in Hastings and told them my scenario. He couldn't believe it and said he can't say without seeing the car, but they've done a few 2-Litre+ Vauxhall Vectras recently with twin exhausts for about £250. He said, he can certainly come in way under Honda's price on the job.

So why is it that the OEM part is so much more money than a customised part that will likely improve my performance?

Also what are people's feelings on custom exhausts. Worth doing? I imagine yes, but just want to be sure.

:)
 
That is a lot Steve but perhaps its because there made of stainless steel. its a shame because im sure Honda's exhaust has a 7 year warranty.
 
Stevearcade said:
I was told yesterday after my MOT that my exhaust has a hole in it. It's only small but is near a mounting bracket so they're not confident that they can weld it. Therefore I need a replacement exhaust pipe. However for the 2.4 the exhaust system is sold as single unit for nearly £400 and that doesn't include the other pipe and ****ler which is a further £155. So we're talking £550 for an exhaust!!!

The guys at the Honda garage couldn't believe it. They do a deal on the standard 2.0 exhaust of £147 fitted or something at the moment. So to go up to £550 before labour on the 2.4 was crazy. They advised me, to their credit, that I'd be better off shopping around for after market systems and talking to local custom exhaust companies.

So I just googled it and called a company in Hastings and told them my scenario. He couldn't believe it and said he can't say without seeing the car, but they've done a few 2-Litre+ Vauxhall Vectras recently with twin exhausts for about £250. He said, he can certainly come in way under Honda's price on the job.



So why is it that the OEM part is so much more money than a customised part that will likely improve my performance?

Also what are people's feelings on custom exhausts. Worth doing? I imagine yes, but just want to be sure.

:)
Click to expand...


Do the twin exhausted system bud not only will it sound awsome, look awsome, it should help with pushing out a extra few horses ....just a few things to consider :
Try and make sure they are mandarel bent, so this will help it to be free flowing, letting the exhaust gases ecscape more easily.
Good grade steel....
And 3.5" pipe work ...

Its a shame you far from Birmingham, I would have got the guys who did my exhaust at Torqueflow sort you out.. :)
 
Reason the exhaust is so expensive is the main section is complete with centre box and rear box, then as you said a seperate second rear box. Ask the Dealer what's their best price? And what year is your car as the warrranty on the exhausts was about 5 years i think??

http://www.hondaoriginalparts.com/honda_car_parts_selection.php?block_01=17SED601&block_02=B__0201&block_03=703

Sorry Brett, didn't see your post, but I thought the warranty was 5 years??
 
It's an 03, so the car's 9 years old now. A great car considering it's nearly a decade old frankly. But outside of warranty sadly. The existing exhaust does look awesome, a serious bit of kit for a stock part, but I just can't part with that many sheets when I could get a custom job for much less.

I take the point about the Mendrel bends. From what I've read anything inlet or outlet that's medrel is likely to be better than stock. And if anything, it's kind of cool as I can tell the Mrs, I have to get this noisy, performance enhancing exhaust, as it cheaper :lol: . I wish all modifications were this case :lol: .
 
OEM parts are so expensive because you can only buy them from one place.

With regards to Exhausts, Batteries, Brake Discs and Pads I really doubt Honda have a Honda factory for these components, surely they are bought off another manufacturer/supplier?
 
Yes Nick, Honda do obviously use other suppliers for components but when it came to exhausts, Honda couldn't find one to supply a product to meet their criteria/demands, so they didset up their own exhaust manufacturing facility B)

Edit, this was taken from www.honda.ie

8 Years.The average life expectancy of a Honda Stainless Steel Exhaust. Honda searched the world over to find a manufacturer to meet their standards and discovered most competitors didn’t which is why Honda started their own exhaust company.

http://www.honda.ie/contentv3/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageID=15913
 
I've a similar issue. My car has passed its MOT (only needed a ball joint) but with an advisory on the exhaust. The garage recommended just getting the section where it's starting to blow cut out and new bit of pipe welded in. Thought this sounded a bit of a faff but now I know why when I see the price of an OEM exhaust. I hate to go down the Kwik Fit route but I wonder what they charge?
 
I work for one of the other Japanese car manufacturers with a UK facility (thats why I drive Honda...) and I can tell you 2 things:
1) Your dealer fitted genuine exhaust is NOT the same as the one fitted in the factory. Irrespective of which supplier makes it, aftermarket exhausts are made of lower grade materials & to slacker tolerances than OE factory fit parts. Dont believe anyone who tells you otherwise. Manufacturers make their money on these 'consumeable' parts. Same can be said for brake pads etc
2) Dealer parts pricing is not based upon cost + margin, its based upon percived value and/or competitor pricing. Why else is an Accord windscreen washer jet £11? They know you will pay it and you have little choice.
It then gets complex because dealers are pushed to target selling certain parts for a short period in a campaign. This will often be significantly discounted just to shift product. Like Stevearcade said the current price for a 2.0 exhaust is £150, but by the time mine drops off theyll be back up to double that.
I think theres 2 other considerations about exhausts
1) A dealar exhaust will be better than an independant - but does it justify the cost difference? It wont last twice as long as a typical kwik fit type product. As advised before, shop around.
2) Regarding 'performance' exhausts, think hard about how you drive and what you want from it. Unless you're improving the manifold and are scavenging power from other engine mods, a performance exhaust will give you negligable increase in power - maybe 3 to 5 bhp. You wont notice that difference in a 150+bhp car. What it will give you is increased noise, which makes you think you are going faster. Equally this can become very tiresome on long motorway runs. Tread carefully before 'upgrading'
 
Mr Honda said:
Yes Nick, Honda do obviously use other suppliers for components but when it came to exhausts, Honda couldn't find one to supply a product to meet their criteria/demands, so they didset up their own exhaust manufacturing facility B)

Edit, this was taken from www.honda.ie

8 Years.The average life expectancy of a Honda Stainless Steel Exhaust. Honda searched the world over to find a manufacturer to meet their standards and discovered most competitors didn’t which is why Honda started their own exhaust company.

http://www.honda.ie/contentv3/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageID=15913
Click to expand...

Well I'll be.
 
I've always uprated to performance parts where possible, they are usually cheaper than OEM and much better.

Insurance might be an issue though.
 
Shiny said:
I've always uprated to performance parts where possible, they are usually cheaper than OEM and much better.

Insurance might be an issue though.
Click to expand...
agree with you there siney mate...
 
5+ years of no claims, and a clean licence, I figure someone will cut me some slack on just a custom exhaust (no other mods - yet ;) ) and not sting me with a massive premium. Will do some enquiry soon. But there's no rush. The mechanic reckons I've probably got at least 6 months or longer left on it before it starts blowing.

And regards getting performance "enhancement", I fully take the point about the noise. I wouldn't be looking to go down the absolute straight pipe, no ****ler, super loud, granny scaring route. Just something that will be as good, or better than what I have now, not too loud, cost as little as possible and doesn't have rust holes in it :lol: .
 
Steve try that exhaust putty it might work as it hardens with heat lol
 
A decent stainless exhaust doesn't have to be noisey, you can get it built to spec.

Insurance isn't about age or NCB, some (well most) insurers just don't like modifications and won't insure you, regardless.
 
The exhaust is in 2 pieces thats why its expensive, you get the nearside back box, and the other backbox from tailpipe to the cat flange is all one unit! Plus its stainless steel. I'd definitely go for an aftermarket system, you can either choose off the shelf or get a custom system made up. At least with the custom you can spec the tailpipes and sound yourself
 
I've read a couple things about off the shelf exhausts, but are there really generic off the shelf things. I can't actually find any on online shops. Maybe I'm searching the wrong thing. If anyone can link me, that would be wicked.

Otherwise, does anyone know anywhere in the South East that's good for custom exhausts? Google's only turning up a couple of places. I'd have imagined there would be more and like shopping around if you know what I mean.

Just ran the car through compare the market with the addition of exhaust modification and a couple firms came up with almost the same as what I'm paying now, so not too bad. Haven't mentioned it to the insurer who's affiliated with this place. Might drop him a message to see what he can offer.
 
Skunk2 should be the only name/option on your mind at the moment ;)
 
Doesn't fit the tourer dude :( . At least that's what the guy at Hond-R told me. Saloon only. Said the only off the shelf option for the tourer was the Mugen. As much as I'd love to, I could never afford a Mugen exhaust system :rolleyes: .
 
skunk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXVvrzyWl8I&feature=related
 
So how different do you reckon the fitments are from the saloon and tourer?

Edit: Ok, they're pretty different :( .

Saloon

Tourer
 
Stevearcade said:
So how different do you reckon the fitments are from the saloon and tourer?

Edit: Ok, they're pretty different :( .

Saloon

Tourer
Click to expand...
(im presuming here bud)the silencers should fit both tourer and salloon exactly the same,weather its diesel or petrol,im not sure about the actual pipework bud..sorry :blush:
 
Yeah, sadly it's the pipework that needs replacing. But I'm sure the Skunk2 backboxes would fit. They're a tad expensive though. But looking at this diagram I wonder if I got a Mandrel bent pipe to follow the same line as the existing pipe all the way back to removing one or both of the ****lers, it would make a nicer noise and free up flow. Then get some decent backboxes to stop it being too obnoxiously loud. My main concern is replacing the exhaust without breaking the bank, any performance or nice sounds gained is just a perk. But I don't want to go too loud.
 
As a thought - if funds are tight could you get one from a breakers yard?
 
I did consider it, but would rather get something new. With second hand parts, it could be fine, or it could fail in a short space of time meaning you actually end up paying more in the long run. I'm not much of a gambler in that respect :blush: . With something like an exhaust I'd rather pay that little more for something new (and preferably with some sort of warranty or after sale care). And read between the lines, it's a great excuse to get an exhaust modification past the Mrs ;) .

"Yes dear, I have to get a custom exhaust made up as it will be cheaper than the Honda part. I can't help it if it's noisier and more powerful" :lol: .
 
Jap manufactuers will make bolt on systems for the tourer but for the cost to get one across your wallet would be better off getting a custom system made
 
jayok said:
As a thought - if funds are tight could you get one from a breakers yard?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I got a powerflow cat back system for my 6th Gen at the breakers, £25 :lol: needs buffing up but it's solid and will do until I put the money into something serious.

I think for satisfaction you have to go for new though, like has been suggested it's probs best to see what you can get from the custom exhaust places.

I've got a mate with a Civic Type-R who recently had a new powerflow system custom fitted, I'm over in Newhaven which iirc isn't too far from you? I can give him a shout to find out where he got it done if you like
 
Yes please Josh. Newhaven's like a 15-20 minute drive from me. I saw this place in Hastings. They're website isn't much, but I called them and they were confident they could do me a new exhaust from the cat backwards for around the £250. Obviously can't give a firm price until they see the car. But I looked through their pictures earlier and reckon I can see the pipes pinching on the bends, which I'm not cool with. I'd want Mandrel bends. I've read mixed things about Powerflow though. Is your mate happy with the job they did on his TypeR?
 
Cool, I'll drop him a message and find out where he went. The guy is a mechanic so I'm sure he wouldn't buy anything not up to scratch. Last time I saw him he seemed really pleased with it, apparently the sound was spot on. Haven't seen him recently though so will need to find out if anything has come out the woodwork.

I spotted on my powerflow system there were crush bends btw, which I was surprised by, although as I bought it second hand I don't know if maybe the previous owner was just okay with having them rather than mandrel bends. I shall check with my mate what he got.

Another place worth trying is Arrow Tyres in Newhaven, they do exhausts too and I hear a lot of good things about them, although I don't know if they have the equipment to make mandrel bends. Worth a call though :)
 
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