Vendors please explain the inflated pricing.
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 971
Likes: 1
From: D.C. METRO AREA
CLS55 AMG
Vendors please explain the inflated pricing.
Why are you charging this community inflated prices for virtually the same parts.
Heat exchanger
http://www.lightningforceperformance...roducts_id=319
Pulleys
http://www.lightningforceperformance...&cPath=234_140
Headers short and long
http://www.lightningforceperformance...th=234_132_159
Throttle body
http://www.lightningforceperformance...&cPath=234_135
ECU tuning
http://www.lightningforceperformance...&cPath=234_136
catback exhaust
http://www.lightningforceperformance...th=234_132_155
The craftsmanship is 10 times better than whats being offered in this community for a fraction of the cost.
Heat exchanger
http://www.lightningforceperformance...roducts_id=319
Pulleys
http://www.lightningforceperformance...&cPath=234_140
Headers short and long
http://www.lightningforceperformance...th=234_132_159
Throttle body
http://www.lightningforceperformance...&cPath=234_135
ECU tuning
http://www.lightningforceperformance...&cPath=234_136
catback exhaust
http://www.lightningforceperformance...th=234_132_155
The craftsmanship is 10 times better than whats being offered in this community for a fraction of the cost.
Last edited by Full Throttle; Sep 2, 2009 at 10:38 AM.
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Glendale Arizona
C55,SL55,C63
Dont be fooled, alot of this stuff comes from China, and company's just put their name on it. I have catalogs of parts offered from China and you would swear most of the common place mods for American cars, Sport Compacts, and what not are coming from China.
Those headers shown in the pic at Mild steel. Mild steel is like $0.11 a pound. 304 stainless is much much more. If these headers (as shown in the pics) are from China, Its only a matter of time before they crack.
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: May 2009
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From: D.C. METRO AREA
CLS55 AMG
Dont be fooled, alot of this stuff comes from China, and company's just put their name on it. I have catalogs of parts offered from China and you would swear most of the common place mods for American cars, Sport Compacts, and what not are coming from China.
Those headers shown in the pic at Mild steel. Mild steel is like $0.11 a pound. 304 stainless is much much more. If these headers (as shown in the pics) are from China, Its only a matter of time before they crack.
Those headers shown in the pic at Mild steel. Mild steel is like $0.11 a pound. 304 stainless is much much more. If these headers (as shown in the pics) are from China, Its only a matter of time before they crack.
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SL600
I believe supply and demand of course hold some weight, but a lot of it is simply because of what we drive. For example, I've seen in some magazine a Murcielago exhaust system for over 10K. I think Vendors, wether or not they like to admit it, charge by the type of car the customer has (ie the higher end car it is, the more money the customer can dish out).
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
If there was a market for it the Chinese would be all over it. Everyone is out to make a dollar even if it's just a few. So I do think it has to do with demand. Also MB customers want the highest quality materials used for their vehicle, but are also not willing to pay for it virtually leaving them with no options or companies willing to make the products. This is just my opinion though. If I could get some cheapo headers made and sell 200 of them to customers why wouldn't I do it?
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From: Blasting off!
CLS63 Designo Edition, Hyundai Genesis 3.8 , Veloster Turbo, CLS500(Sold), E320 (SMOKED) R500 (Sold)
+1
I believe supply and demand of course hold some weight, but a lot of it is simply because of what we drive. For example, I've seen in some magazine a Murcielago exhaust system for over 10K. I think Vendors, wether or not they like to admit it, charge by the type of car the customer has (ie the higher end car it is, the more money the customer can dish out).
I believe supply and demand of course hold some weight, but a lot of it is simply because of what we drive. For example, I've seen in some magazine a Murcielago exhaust system for over 10K. I think Vendors, wether or not they like to admit it, charge by the type of car the customer has (ie the higher end car it is, the more money the customer can dish out).
Thread Starter
Banned
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From: D.C. METRO AREA
CLS55 AMG
Have you seen some of the crap parts from some of these vendors? We are absolutely NOT getting high quality parts across the board. Have you seen the quality of a Freddy 3 row intercooler for a Supra compared to a dinky H/E for our cars from some of these vendors. Many of our parts look like they are made in someone basement.
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From: California
06 C55, 09 E350
lol no I haven't seen these parts, but I do know that those CM30 pumps are cheap and comparing them is not really relevant to the types of parts we are talking about. Just from watching Hooley and his development process and his LT headers is what I am basing some of this off of. He put a lot of time work and development on his product I have no idea how many he has sold but I doubt it more than 3 sets. I honestly think he has lost money on the whole thing and I trust what he is saying is legit. He can tell you more in details than I could though. He also marketed it to C55 owners who were most likey not going to put out that kind of money so I see it as he is just and enthusiast trying to give people and high quality option. I know that these don't apply to every situation and I really don't agree on the prices renntech powerchip and kleeman charge for virtually nothing nothing (software) when LET charges half the price.
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SL600
Have you seen some of the crap parts from some of these vendors? We are absolutely NOT getting high quality parts across the board. Have you seen the quality of a Freddy 3 row intercooler for a Supra compared to a dinky H/E for our cars from some of these vendors. Many of our parts look like they are made in someone basement.
) started looking at H/E used on 1000bhp Supras to custom fit on the SL, along side a few other import parts. I figure if it can hold out to a 1200HP Supra, it'll do just fine with my measly 493 bhp SL. 
Thread Starter
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From: D.C. METRO AREA
CLS55 AMG
Exactly. The cheaper (reference to price, not quality) stuff used on Supras and Cobras and what have you are supporting ridiculous HP figures, for as you said, a fraction of the cost we pay to have lesser products sustain less drastic hp figures. It is ridiculous. It's exactly why I've (secretly ) started looking at H/E used on 1000bhp Supras to custom fit on the SL, along side a few other import parts. I figure if it can hold out to a 1200HP Supra, it'll do just fine with my measly 493 bhp SL.
) started looking at H/E used on 1000bhp Supras to custom fit on the SL, along side a few other import parts. I figure if it can hold out to a 1200HP Supra, it'll do just fine with my measly 493 bhp SL.
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SL600
As I've said, I'm looking.
A single turbo conversion couldn't hurt the V12 either haha
I've seen those H/Es though, and they are massive and truly look like a work of art. I can't imagine the demand for Supras can be that much more then that of AMGs, considering both are pretty rare-- yet the price for imports is still cheaper.
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From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
I'm guessing that the vendors wont reply. A Kleemann supercharger was $15,000 two years ago. They are now selling for half the price. That's a hell of price difference.
Last edited by khelawanb; Sep 2, 2009 at 01:17 PM.
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SL600
The Cobra KB or Whipple are around 4K. And net significantly higher power gains.
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From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
$600 for a little v2 lowering module remote? I can buy two laptops for that price.
But I might still buy it, lol!
Last edited by khelawanb; Sep 2, 2009 at 01:36 PM.
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SL600
There is actually allot more involved with the Kleemann system that a stand alone SC. But still, $15,000 is major. Same with the renntech system, and their prices have not dropped.
$600 for a little v2 lowering module remote? I can buy two laptops for that price.
But I might still buy it, lol!
$600 for a little v2 lowering module remote? I can buy two laptops for that price.
But I might still buy it, lol!
Where are the vendors? Why has not one vendor post here?
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Bowie, Md
2006 CLS500 with 55 AMG motor, 2008 Infiniti G35, 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
Lol! I think we encourage this high mark up behavior.
Here is my question.
How do these companies survive? I've been all over the US & Canada, seen all types of cars at the shows and track, but rarely see these things actually installed and used.
Last edited by khelawanb; Sep 2, 2009 at 01:48 PM.
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1
That's all part of the game. . The middle man marks up the retail price..even higher for folks like us with benzes since they know we will "dumbly" pay a premium. This goes for everything. Then when people find out the wholesale prices they go 
. The middle man marks up the retail price..even higher for folks like us with benzes since they know we will "dumbly" pay a premium. This goes for everything. Then when people find out the wholesale prices they go
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Alright, I'll bite. I can only speak to ECU work, since that is what we do.
When I was a just a customer, I felt the same way that you guys do. However, being on this side and developing our products, making them work properly, etc., costs a fair amount of R&D money. Additionally, MB/AMG computers are extremely difficult to get through the multiple layers of code protection (read high priced AMG software writer). These cars are not like tuning a Cobra with a laptop. Many domestic and Asian cars can easily be tapped into, but many of the high line products from MB, Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche and BMW are not. I also will not release a product until I like the way it drives, as I do all of the development driving for our tuning.
When you take into account all the development costs, along with the limited market that we deal with, and the performance/reliability gains that we provide, I feel we are a bargain.
When I was a just a customer, I felt the same way that you guys do. However, being on this side and developing our products, making them work properly, etc., costs a fair amount of R&D money. Additionally, MB/AMG computers are extremely difficult to get through the multiple layers of code protection (read high priced AMG software writer). These cars are not like tuning a Cobra with a laptop. Many domestic and Asian cars can easily be tapped into, but many of the high line products from MB, Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche and BMW are not. I also will not release a product until I like the way it drives, as I do all of the development driving for our tuning.
When you take into account all the development costs, along with the limited market that we deal with, and the performance/reliability gains that we provide, I feel we are a bargain.
Last edited by IngenereAMG; Sep 2, 2009 at 09:51 PM.
