Burns Stainless in Costa Mesa = LAME

ericbauer · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:07 pm

Hi all,

I wanted to relate a lame experience I had with Burns Stainless in Costa Mesa this week.
First some background info...

The stainless muffler that came on my Skyline from Japan is slowly blowing itself out...
The packing ends up spread across the back of the car after a spirited drive, and obviously the car gets louder after each passing mile.

It sounds pretty glorious at WOT, if not a bit deafening, but it's a bit flatulent sounding around town and just that excessively loud that I feel bad for my neighbors...

Anyways, so I did research on which muffler shop had experience with stainless, and would REPAIR mine by cutting it open, re-packing it, and welding it back together...

After asking around, all signs pointed to BURNS STAINLESS in Costa Mesa CA.
I first emailed them with pics and dimensions of the Skyline's muffler and what I wanted done.
I then called them up to discuss the details with VINCE.

At first Vince assumed my muffler was a $50 item that it would be easier just to replace at the local shop...
Have you ever seen a $50 stainless muffler by the way?...

I corrected him, explained that with exchange rate, international shipping, etc it would cost me close to $1500 if not more to get the same thing straight from Japan...

He then figured that he could probably have his guys fix mine for less.
He specified that he couldn't give me an exact quote until they cut it open - I understood this...
He estimated a ballpark of $300-500 which I was fine with.

Fast forward to last Friday, I emailed Vince and asked if they were slammed this week or if they would have time for me.
Vince told me: "sure no problem, bring it on monday, talk to mike"

I took it off the car sunday night, and put it in the SUV.
Monday I told my manager I was taking a long 2hr lunch and left work at 11am.
It takes about 1hr to drive down to Costa Mesa from Santa Monica.

I called Mike at 11am - told him I'd get to the shop at noon
I reminded him I'd been talking to Vince, explained what needed to be done
"Sure no problem, see you soon!" was Mike's reply

I get to the shop at noon exactly and it's empty except for receptionist and owner.

NO Mike
Mike had just left for lunch - wtf?
I was told to drop off my exhaust and leave my phone number

I'm kind of annoyed he didn't wait for me, but whatever
I get back in the car and am halfway back up to Santa Monica when the cell phone rings

"Hi Eric, this is Mike... yeah took a look at your muffler, and well... we can't work on this..."

!!

Long story short, he didn't even want to TRY
he didn't even want to cut inside and get an idea of what needed to be done

No other reason given.

I turned around, furious, drove back down, picked up my stuff and my lunch hour turned into a 3hr waste of time...

Super super lame...
I'll never go back there again for anything else.

Thought I'd share with yall...

-e

Norcal510 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:03 am

Reading that just pisses me off. I hate shops like this and dont understand how they are still in business. This reminds me of a chrome shop up in the bay area that I had a similar experience. Just thinking about it boils my blood.

Wagon_MX29 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:26 pm

Yea, they are pretty bad. I'm over here in Costa mesa also, a good shop to check out would be RRR motorsports off of harbor and warner in Santa ana, ill deal with them a lot, and they mainly do rotarys, but they have old 240z, and some toyotas sometimes too...if you need any other shop referral advice, I know a ton over here. Good Luck!

ericbauer · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:03 pm

Hi Wagon_MX29

I don't need a shop to work on the car...
I just need a shop which has experience with stainless exhausts and building custom mufflers, or in this case re-building existing mufflers.

If you know someone, hit me up...
thanks

-e

Wagon_MX29 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 9:17 pm

You might be able to still contact RRR motorsports, they build full race rx7, so I know they do some custom work. I'll talk to my friend that works with project car/super street magazine, I know for sure he will know some one, ill see if I can get a hold of him tomorrow and get back to you. I'll send you a pm after I talk to him.

Burns Stainless in Costa Mesa = LAME

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