$250 snorkel delivered D40

How does $250 compare to someone like ARB or the like doing the job? Considering the work involved it would nearly be easier to let someone else install and cut holes in the body work if it was only $100 or so extra. But then I'm lazy when it comes to that kind of stuff so maybe it's not worth it for some people.

I believe retail price on a Safari snorkel is mid $600's or thereabouts. It's something like $250 for fitting from memory - can vary of course depending on a whole range of factors.

The kit in the eBay picture looks like it could have been moulded off a Safari item... The pieces look very similar to the pieces I installed in my D40 when I fitted the snorkel.

I bought a Nissan genuine last week (d22) for $390 and was quoted $420 to install. 4hrs of F'n about and I saved enough to buy another. Cutting the panel is actually the easy part if you use the template provided - which I see this one has. Its the rest of the finagling about to get hands into awkward places that will do your head in.
Doing it yourself also gives you piece of mind that surfaces that have been cut have also been treated to prevent corrosion, it is sealed properly and that it has been done right. Also gives you alot of satisfaction at the end of the day to crack open a cold one and stand back and admire your handy work and knowledge you now have. Smug is the word I believe.

nav-pilot said:

Hey Aido

I dont mean to sound negative but the guy you bought this snorkel off, has only sold 2 snorkels before (feedback %100 with 2 items sold)

I would definetly be checking out the pattern first to make sure it matches properly before cutting & drilling holes.

It should be fine but you never no.

As for fitting the snorkel they are easy as if the patterns are right.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Nah I didn't buy one of these - mine was genuine from dealership.
Just pointing it out to the D40 boys. Your right though check that the template actually matches the snorkel before applying it and drilling.
Yes the seller has got a low feedback but I have seen these before sold by others. They are no doubt straight out of Thailand where all good quality Japanese vehicle parts are made.
Same same
Snorkel Nissan Navara D40 on eBay (end time 13-Feb-10 13:05:47 GMT)

They are a copy of the safari snorkle.....

But the quality of material is shit and will crack and fade in a year out in the weather. Have also heard they don't like the cold either. The plastic they use is very low qualitly compared to safari.
Chinese built from a safari template!!! Being an Aussie this really pisses me off too. I know most things are chinese these days but when they obviously copy the design of an australian product and market as their own without the work and cost involved in design and r&d it is just wrong.

The Nissan snorkles imo look ok but the way they seal (or don't really) is not great.

Safari are the only ones to actually test air flow with their snorkles too which is a bonus.

One of those things that ya get what ya pay for really.

^^ Yeah I agree, they would need to be very UV stable, some of the quality ones getting around are quite a few years old still looking new.

P.S. There is a thread already here for these types of posts: http://www.navara.asia/main-forum/502-seen-bargain.html

already on my ebay watch list for when i can afford it (probably shoud read, when i can hide money from missus but we know what thats like!)

4.8GU said:

They are a copy of the safari snorkle.....

But the quality of material is shit and will crack and fade in a year out in the weather. Have also heard they don't like the cold either. The plastic they use is very low quality compared to safari.

Click to expand...

Speculation or fact?
Can you point to units that have failed or regurgitating third hand here say?
Don't get me wrong I am not having a go at yourself - as much as it would seem. It's a keyboard thing. I just like to see that statements are backed up with facts.
Buy Australian? I would but so many factors that are not worth going into in an unrelated thread have destroyed Australian manufacturing and forced the costs of Australian products beyond what is reasonable.
Without facts to back up your statements there is no reason not to assume that the two products don't come out of the same factory and that Safari snorkels dont just have a die insert that stamps them with they're trade mark.

Geez aido what's with asking for facts to back things up, it's never been needed before

The bloke has been a member on ebay for 2 weeks and in that time he's sold 4. That's what I'd be using to make my purchasing decision.

Personally I wouldn't go near him, but each to their own.

Safari Snorkels are made in Aus, he states that his are imported and have no affiliation with any other brands sold in Aus. I doubt the 'same factory' comment.

I have a pretty simple perspective on these kind of things.

A snorkel is only ever installed once. It's not like, say, a set of driving lights which, if you don't like, you can take off again, no harm no foul.

Installation involves some pretty decent cutting, drilling etc. Hardly irreversible.

It's being installed on a vehicle which, if you bought it new, probably cost you somewhere in excess of 40 grand at a guess? For many people, that is a substantial purchase.

But yet when it comes to making a one-off modification (such as a snorkel), they are prepared to penny-pinch a couple or a few hundred dollars for a product of unknown quality. Even if there is a $400 difference in price between the snorkels, and the vehicle costs $40 grand, then we're talking about what, 1 percent of the price of the vehicle? Not worth the risk for my dollar.

I bought my genuine nissan snorkel from a different nissan dealer than where i bought the car from because they were cheaper, then again i had a different nissan dealer install it because they were cheaper then any other dealer i rang before, and when i dropped the car off at the nissan dealer they didnt even install it, they dropped my car off at their local 4wd specialist arb/tjm/on track whoever it was, but they done the install not nissan. My guess is thats why we get different quotes from different dealers because they might use different places to install it.

Well I can't show pics from my personal stash of ones that have failed. But I do remember some pics of quality testing done here in Aus and under the microscope the difference in quality is obvious. I work in the industry so I guess I do get to hear and see a lot of stuff on the front.

Also Safari snorkles have been on vehicles in Aus for many years and seem to handle the pace quite well.

Oh I can prove one thing though
http://telawei.en.made-in-china.com/product/QbMJgflOaapZ/China-Snorkel-Navara-D40-.html

I am not into internet slander or make believe stories though (no time for that shit), so I do appologize for a couple of second hand stories but I do stand by the made in china statement
This topic is probably way off now but oh well.

Regards
Brian

What the heck, let's have another philosophical discussion

Not saying these ones are and example.....but we all know of examples where factories in other parts of the world "flop mould" original pieces manufactured by someone who has taken the time to put in the effort to do research and development, design etc. Either made to look just like the original, badged the same and sold for a bit of a discount to drag in the punter, or manufactured to look VERY similar, without brand labelling, and many would assume "Oh, must come from the same manufacturer, they are just selling unbranded at a discount price"...

Personally, it really aggravates me that some cultures think R&D means "Receive & Duplicate". Trade and Intellectual Property laws (and basic concepts) seem to mean nothing in some countries, and until they start playing by the rules, I see no reason to support them or their industries.

For what it's worth, I actually make efforts to positively discriminate - I will refuse to buy something made in some countries if I know I can buy an equivalent product manufactured in a country that I know generally plays by the rules. Maybe I'm taking it too far, but I can only be judged by my own actions, and as they say - if people don't buy it, then no point in building it. Well, I'm just one person, but a few more like me, and all of a sudden it becomes "people"...

Food for thought anyway.

So...who wants to plan a trip somewhere in the middle of NSW (central to a lot of people) where we can sit around the fire and have deep and interesting discussions about varied subjects

Aido said:

Speculation or fact?
Can you point to units that have failed or regurgitating third hand here say?
Don't get me wrong I am not having a go at yourself - as much as it would seem. It's a keyboard thing. I just like to see that statements are backed up with facts.
Buy Australian? I would but so many factors that are not worth going into in an unrelated thread have destroyed Australian manufacturing and forced the costs of Australian products beyond what is reasonable.
Without facts to back up your statements there is no reason not to assume that the two products don't come out of the same factory and that Safari snorkels dont just have a die insert that stamps them with they're trade mark.

Click to expand...

Well said Aido, I installed one of these snorkels about three months ago and it works a treat and looks fantastic. I would have gone the Safari brand but at a $450 diff inc fitting there's no way the misses would of approved. I had a bit of trouble with the template but got there in the end taking about 6 hrs to install in 45deg heat.

Now, i live in the Pilbara where it sits at a constant 40+ deg. It hasn't faded as yet, nor fallen apart or cracked. I am very happy with it.

i know this threads a bit old however does any know which is better snorkel..ARB or Nissan genuine?? i like nissan cause its not as chunky as arb but arb might have better airflow...

Mate I know people might think I am biased etc. (I have safari snorkle) but Safari are the ONLY ones to actualy airflow test their snorkles and not just make em to fit/look good.

The Nissan snorkle doesn't look too bad but the way it seals in the inner gaurd is very dodgy if you ask me. Especially if you get Nissan to fit it.
I have seen a couple now that would be about as waterproof as a boat without the bungs in! Also the Nissan snorkle retains a whole lot of noise suppressing rubbish on the airbox that is quite a big restriction.

Have also seen an TJM snorkle that used tech screws into the pillar to secure the top which I didn't like either. I don't like the fit of these at all and the top hat doesn't look right either.

Either way it is your call but I would recommend the Safari/ARB as it is a quality well backed and tested unit.

Install is up in the air on all snorkles as it really depends on who you get to do it. If you were on the Northside of Brissy I could do it for ya and guarantee the fitment would be good but whoever you get to do it check the job well.

Regards

Brian

Hey guys just wondering if the snorkels actually do anything like improve fuel economy or give you a bit more power? Or would you see better gains changing the exhaust from the dpf back to 3" or even just pulling out that rear muffler? $500 seems like allot of money to spend on something that doesn’t really look that good on the vehicle if you don't get any gains from it?
Cheers lads.

The purpose of a snorkel is not about power gains, it's about raising the engine air intake to a safer position for water crossing, moving the intake to a position less prone to dust contamination etc...