Feedback on quote for ICE install

[555]

Hi Guys,

I'm planning to get my first ICE install done, and I've managed to get a quote from a place here in Sydney. Trouble is I don't have any idea how competitive the quote is, and would like to ask fellow members if they think its a good deal - thanks in advance for your replies!

The details are:

total price installed $3500

Alpine IVAW200E DVD/CD/tuner (retails about $1500)
cable
stacker
stinger steering wheel adaptor
reverse camera

[jerrel]

Hi Guys,

I'm planning to get my first ICE install done, and I've managed to get a quote from a place here in Sydney. Trouble is I don't have any idea how competitive the quote is, and would like to ask fellow members if they think its a good deal - thanks in advance for your replies!

The details are:

total price installed $3500

Alpine IVAW200E DVD/CD/tuner (retails about $1500)
cable
stacker
stinger steering wheel adaptor
reverse camera

can u explain wat this tern ICE means please.

[Cobalt]

In Car Entertainment

Seems a bit exe to me....

[dazz5.7]

Looks a bit expensive to me too. Do you know what the stacker etc are worth individually ?

Dazz

[555]

Yeah I thought so too. 2 grand for the camera, stacker, stinger kit and labour seems pretty steep, although it apparently does take a full day. I know the Ipod cable only costs $50.

Don't know the cost of the individual items sorry. Just wondered if somebody had done something similar to get an idea of cost, or could recommend me a place who could do it at a fair price! Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Red CV8 R]

Might be worth doing an ebay search for the head unit, there are some great prices sometimes for new audio equipment from genuine audio retailers that save money by selling on Ebay and pass it on to the consumer.

[555]

Thanks for everyone's responses. I too think its a bit steep and will phone around for some more quotes first. Can nobody recommend a decent ice installer in sydney to do the job at a fair price?

[huggies]

if your in Sydney Fhrx Studios usaly has good reviews
and if your down near Canberra try Audiotech
use google you shell find there websites
Audiotech have 2 shops in Canberra and are an Alpine dealer
not sure if FHRX stock alpine or not

[Carrots]

Just some rough guessing on prices for you based on the stuff i've had done and looked at doing 12mths ago....

Alpine IVAW200E DVD/CD/tuner (retails about $1500) $1600 installed...
cable $100...
stacker $600-1000...
stinger steering wheel adaptor $200 installed...although when done at same at stereo - should be less.
reverse camera...NFI on $$ lol

[burninwheels]

In Sydney definately go with FHRX.

[BIGW]

If its a VY-VZ then it will be more than 100 to fit the deck as there are no known double din 'off the shelf' fascias.

Depends on how good the workmanship is going to be eg. modifying an off the shelf fascia v a new custom one color matched to the dash.

Its hard to compare pricing of labor as it varies, generally what you would pay for labor from an install at a mainstream store will be significantly lower than a specialist store.

Your car is your investment, so go on reputations and previous works the store has conducted. Ive heard Marty at FHRX pop up a few times in this thread and his work is of extremely high quality. Work you are willing to pay good money for.

Just my observations from working as an installer.

[SSV8pilot]

Mate - upgrading the head Unit is good - I hope your also thinking about the speakers and maybe some 6 x 9' for the rear.

You don't need to go overboard on prices but anything will be better than the 15w korean paper speakers that come stock.

About 3 years ago in my VY SS - I upgraded all speakers, added a blaupunkt 5 channel amp, subby (kept same Blaupunkt unit) - from memory the cost was circa $1800.

Sound was signficantly improved. Had all the stuff removed and then I reinstalled (with an Alpine HU) into my sons VX - my first major ICE install - good fun and all worked and still does.

I kept all the old Holden speakers and they got reinstalled in the VY before selling

[555]

I don't know much about installing guys, hence my post. But I thought I read something somewhere about VT-VX double din installations just slide right in without modification, unlike VY onwards, hence install should be cheap?

Take your point about the speakers, my plan is to do the alpine unit first and then save up and spend some more on the speakers afterwards.

Looks like Sydney Fhrx are well thought of here, I'll phone up and ask for the quote. I found their website here:
http://www.fastfoursforumscarclub.com/temp/fhrxstudios/aboutus.asp

Thanks for all your help, I'm new to Sydney and finding the best people for the job in a new city can be hard, thats why I love this forum. Cheers!

[Sime]

Here's the RRP on all the Alpine gear I think you're getting which I got from the Alpine website

Head unit $1,900
Camera $450
Stacker $350
The ipod cables are $50-$100 and I was quoted about $200-$250 for the steering wheel controller

The maximum total there is $3050

The head unit will just slide into the VX using the cradle that comes with the unit. I assume they will use a wiring loom adapter which means they will just plug the Alpine unit directly into the factory loom without having to solder wires etc. That would take at least 5 minutes!!!

The install for the rest of the stuff is hardly complicated. $500 for installation is way off!!

By the way, great choice of head unit. I bought one a couple months back and absolutely love it.

[burninwheels]

You could join www caraudioaustralia com (cant post links yet :p )they will answer all your questions in detail. It's just like this forum but for car audio :thumbsup:

[DRAGON]

If $3500 included some sound deadening, and decent cabling/terminals/fuse holder...etc, then that price sounds fair.

Decent car audio isntallers will easily charge $60-80 an hour, and to install all the gear you mentioned above would defiently take a few hours.

If you're around the Parramatta area, have a look at "Fairfield Car Radios" they sell and install Alpine products.

If you're over near sutherland way, then go and see "FHRX", they dont sell Alpine gear, but will defiently install it for you.

(These days i personally buy my Alpine gear from Fairfield, and get the majority of my install work done, and buy the other products from FHRX)

Both places are highly recommended!

[555]

Thanks guys, I actually live in North Sydney, so both are a bit of a trek but I don't care if it means a quality install.

Marty has written back to me already with a quote for labour which is very competitive, he estimates 4-5 hours work so you are bang on Dragon. I've asked him for a quote including supplying the parts, to work out whats the cheapest option (buy parts myself or lump sum supply and install).

Sime, its good to know you are getting on well with the Alpine. One of the reasons I chose it was its ipod functionality, and also I haven't heard a bad word against it. I'll let you know how it goes. Cheers!

[DRAGON]

Yep! I've known Marty for a few years so roughly know how long things will take him :p

He's the only guy i would trust to install my over the top stereo :)

I'd be interested to know how good the reversing camera turns out to be, feel free to leave some opinions after you have it isntalled :D

[nang3]

install prices will vary a lot depending on the place and what sort of job they do...
you'll find the more exxy ones *should* overall do a better job - all the panels, carpets etc will line up and be exactly like before, they will use decent branded cables, connectors and heavier gauge speaker wire... cabling will be affixed to the panels under the carpet instead of just lying there... even things such as the amount of screws/bolts etc to install will be more..

[555]

Bit of an update. Marty has said he can't supply Alpine parts as he's not a dealer, that means i'll have to buy all the parts myself. Frankly thats a bit of a hassle, I'd rather drop the car off, have it installed, and pick it up with everything working! Oh well.

[Fhrx]

I also said that while we're not Alpine dealers, we actually can source the parts if you wish.;)


Looks like Sydney Fhrx are well thought of here, I'll phone up and ask for the quote. I found their website here:
http://www.fastfoursforumscarclub.com/temp/fhrxstudios/aboutus.asp

Thanks for all your help, I'm new to Sydney and finding the best people for the job in a new city can be hard, thats why I love this forum. Cheers!

This addy is probably easier dude:

http://www.fhrxstudios.com

:D

[MrMaad]

I work at an AUTHORISED Alpine dealer, so here are some prices on hardware alone;

IVAW200E $1899
KCE422i $69
CHAS634 $399
HCEC100 $449
CAT09 $225
CATALPRCC $27
KCE422i $69
Fascia?????? Depends how good you want it to look and fit, colour coding etc??

[555]

Thanks Mr Maad, I managed to get a quote for supply and fit which I was very happy with from Auto Acoustics, who are also official Alpine suppliers. But I appreciate your post makes me realise i'm in the ball park. its going in Wednesday (assuming parts arrive on time). Can't wait! Juerg seemed very knowledgable and helpful, so its in good hands. Will post up some photos when its ready! Also have a nifty little surprise up my sleeve which owners of the same HU may appreciate.

[Fhrx]

I'll vouch for Jeurg's work; he is a very gifted installer.:)

[Maz]

$3500 is a good price.

That will easily take an entire day to be installed. So $500 in labour right there.

[Fhrx]

For all that it actually takes us about two to three days. We just only charge for one.:)

Like I always say, things must be done correctly, no matter how long it takes.:)

[555]

Got the car back today, am totally blown away with the result. Pics to follow!