Jim M.

I bought a set of the protection plates for an S4, GT, GTS. They fit so poorly that I spent two days grinding to make them work. He has seen the last of my business.

Fabio421

The radiators are nicely done. But as you mentioned, Carl doesn't build them. It's actually this company who builds them. http://www.howeracing.com/ They used to sell to anyone who wanted to buy one. Now, Carl has them locked down to only sell through him, and at a HUGE mark-up.

Regarding the expansion tank....WHY? The stock tank is cheaper and they last for 20 years. Is that not long enough for you?

andy-gts

Wow,

I must say , I purchased a raptor sc with instructions and intercooler and instruction manuel even made it easy for me to install and I sharktuned it and got the advertised results ....I can't complain.
All my shipments (6 ) have been accurate and timely. and carl is available for questions when I call...

cold_beer839

Made several orders over the years and never had an issue. In fact, I have never had an issue with any of the major 928 venders. Guess I'm lucky there, cause I sure as hell can't pick a winning lottery ticket.

karl ruiter

I have had positive experiences buying from Carl and appreciate that he makes stuff for our cars. I don't see how anybody could make a business out of that. I don't know any details but I can tell you for sure he is not making himself rich doing this. More than that, I can point out at least one case where he has made a major exception to his standard policies to help me out. However, from what I read here, it seems that maybe he has a temper and if somehow you **** him off you can expect to see reduced help/support/compromise. Or perhaps he is just operating at such a low margin that there is no room for that sort of thing. Or perhaps it is just not his policy that the customer is always right even when he is sure they are wrong.

My suggestions are these:


1) Make sure you really understand how he means the parts you are interested to be used before you purchase, and only order them if you have exactly that use. Probably not a good idea to order the billet motor mounts for your street car and then go back to him if you are unhappy, for example. Might be a good idea to ask him if he has used them on exactly your year and model car in the way you intend.


2) Make sure you totally understand his return policies before you order. I have no idea what they are, but hopefully he can spell them out specifically. If you don't like them, don't order. There is obviously some chance that the parts will not work out in your application or the way you hope and perhaps some chance they are defective. And clearly some cases where people ended unhappy and he was not really able to make them happy.


3) Post here for experience with a specific part before you order it. I think that me makes some very nice and unique parts and kits, but he also has made some parts that some folks have had trouble with. So ask around first.


4) Be very nice and very respectful. Don't **** him off. This is a good idea anyway, but turn it up. Understand that he is not one of those people who you can move by getting angry. Seems like it just makes him dig in.

He makes some great parts for our cars that you cannot get anywhere else, and if he stopped doing it you would not be able to get them anywhere at all, and I try to support him. On the other hand, if I can get it from Mark A. or Roger or Mark B., I would always go there first because I know there will be no misunderstanding about who is right. It will be me.

outbackgeorgia

Fabio,
Well, the thought is that my tank is now approaching 25 years, so the all aluminum idea seemed the way to go. Cheaper is not always a better plan, but I see your point. The price difference isn't much (about $40), but I don't have $ to waste. What have other's experience been with the stock plastic tank? My S4 is my DD and is mostly stock. Reliability is my biggest concern.
Dave

James Bailey

The factory tank is usually good for 15-20 years based on my experiences selling millions of dollars of 928 parts.....The one in the old very brown 1980 looks like the original

jcorenman

I replace them every 20 years, just because that seems like a good idea. But I have never seen a crack or leak in the tank. Hoses, radiators, water pumps all seem to have a shorter life. YMMV.

(And I really like to be able to check the coolant level by looking).

James Bailey

Mine is a little hard to see in since it is now yellowed !

928mac

I have bought off of 928 MS .
I have had to modify most but as a new 928 owner I was unsure if it was normal or not. As a mechanic it frustrated me.
I've since learned better

I realize now that you really have to read close and more then likely you got what was advertised and are expected to take it from there.

Carl has always been polite to me on the phone.
The shipping was always on time.

I think his prices are high but what he sold me know one else had.

I will buy from any vender that has what I want if delivered quick and at a good price.

I don't mind paying more for service.

It burns my *** If I pay more and it dose not fit.

I do not like to burn bridges but ILL only get burned once or twice. Lets face it, it we lost 3 of our venders the 928 may die.

Lizard928

IIRC Jon928se got a set of his plates and found them to not acceptable.
as well, iirc a local member to me TerryGT got a set.

The problem with the plates is that they are perfectly flat. Yet the spot they mount to is not!
It was suggested that he supply them with the bend as without it if you crank them down you may rip off the body mounts. Do a search and I am sure that you will find a threat or two on the matter.

I also have emails from when Norbert (belgium barry) who was on an emailing list. He got his suspension kit with 800# springs (about 6 months after I had my problem), he posted up asking there if anyone else had had this problem. Carl is on that list and said that he had no other issues with this kit and that this was the first he had heard or seen about the car riding too high! I called him on the lie and stated my experiences and what Carl had offered to do for me. The problem is that a stiffer spring compresses less with the same weight, and that Carl only uses hypercoils who cannot supply him with the right sizes of springs. After I called him on this, he then changed his website to how you see it now. So that you must contact him before you can buy the 800/1000# spring sets.

bigmac

I ordered replacement exhaust system from them. the first shipped did not fit, he exchanged them promptly.
No complants, here. Mac

jon928se

Colin

I wouldn't go as far as to say they were unacceptable - well at least not to me but then I had the facilities to easily bend them to the correct shape. I think I suggested that Carl had them bent as it would add little to the production cost for a fab shop with a press brake.

I'm not entirely convinced that this thread is a good idea nor the hijacking of other important threads with Carl bashing. There are enough threads praising suppliers for even the noobs to form their own opinion.

kccampro

I waited 2 months for my order and when it arrived, it was wrong. I also ordered a pair of their steel a-arms which arrived scratched to hell from banging against each other in the box during shipping... not impressed

Courtshark

Just placed, and already received, my second order of his steering rack bushings; plus he had the best price on solid motor mounts. I remember my (professional mechanic) brother admiring the quality of the bushings the first time around. Haven't done a ton of business with him, but each time it's been pretty uneventful, so this thread is a bit surprising to me.