First off, I'd like to apologize if I posted this in the wrong section. I looked, but didn't see any other section that seemed like a better fit.
After going back and forth with AAM over the course of 26 emails with no resolution (besides my realizing that it's time to return the kit), I cannot emphasize enough how you should stay away from this company. I bought a set of short tails for my 2012 370Z NISMO. Based on all the positive feedback I've seen on here, I expected no different than my past experience with Stillen (for my 09 Altima exhaust). Well I was very wrong making this presumption. There are many differences between this inexperienced company and Stillen, some of which are customer service skills, quality, and attention to detail. AAM is lacking in all of these categories.
When I received the order in, I noticed that they failed to include the gaskets which are part of the kit. Not a big deal, they shipped them out shortly after contacting them about the issue. Then a few days later when I was checking them closer and noticed that one of the short tails had a weld as though they screwed up the lengh and just welded on extra piping to make it work. The weld doesn't line the pipes up very well and should not have even been there in the first place. When I emailed them about it, they responded by stating: "I have brought your issue to the attention of the shipping department supervisor and he was embarrassed that one of our products even made it to the warehouse in this condition." Okay, so I'm thinking it's just an honest mistake and I'll get the replacement short tail and move on.
Well, when I received the replacement short tail, it had no welds but was instead an incorrect length. This short tail has at least 1" less piping where the exhaust tips would clamp on as compared to the original two short tails (both of which where the same length). Furthermore, each of the bends in this new short tails was in a totally different spot compared to the original two short tails. So that brings me to the next logical thought, how does a company that produces "engineered" parts have such large differences in production quality and specifications? This is where it gets really interesting. I contacted AAM again just to hear the following responses: 1. how much did they differ?!, followed by 2. well we have a new guy working on the floor so maybe he messed them up, which was then followed up the next day with 3. our production manager wants to know if you test fit it. it may be the correct length and the original short tails were both the incorrect length, and finally 4. can you test fit them tonight so we can figure out which one we sent is truly the correct length? Are you kidding me, they don't know whether or not the products you are shipping are actually correct?
In addition, each of these three short tails all had varying distances between the mounting section of the flange and where the pipe was welded. One was very close to the mounting side and relatively uniform in the distance, while another was recessed (almost to the other side of the flange) and was welded crooked such that the distances were not uniform. The other was somewhere in between but still was not welded with a uniform distance. Again, poor attention to detail.
This company cannot produce parts to a specification they create and want me to troubleshoot their production issues. Not happening. I requested a full refund which they agreed to. When the credit finally posted to my account a few days ago I realized that they failed to include my shipping costs in this refund. If I chose to return this product because I changed my mind, I could understand them keeping the shipping costs, but since they cannot get their act together and because the refund is as a result of 3 separate issues with their production line I should not be expected to pay these costs. No reasonable company withholds the shipping costs you paid when they screwed up. I sent an email to the "Sales and Marketing Executive" that I have been working with to resolve these issues, but it's no surprise that he has started ignoring me. At no time did he refuse to give a full refund. Well, not including the shipping costs is not a full refund. I wish I could say that I was surprised by these tactics, but I'm not.
Before someone says that I'm too picky, I'm not. I paid $800 for a full Catback on a 2009 Altima from Stillen. That included 2 Stainless mufflers, 4" exhaust tips and a lot more piping. For $500, these (very) short tails should be freakin perfect. I'm not going to put a flawed part on an otherwise flawless car - it's just not happening. And if you think that this was just a one-off occurrence, ask them why they were going to test fit short tails that they had just produced? If they tell you anything other than "to identify where our production issue is," then they're lying to you.
In just a few dealings with them, I've noticed a pattern that definitely throws up a big red flag. I can assure you that I will stay away from AAM in the future, and I honestly would recommend that you do too. If they cannot produce parts that are all within a given threshold such that they will all fit correctly, then you aren't truly engineering parts. I would expect this of some custom muffler shop operating in a shady section of town, but not a company that is supposedly well-reputed and working on high performance GT-Rs.
If there is anything that you take away from this review, it should be don't waste your time or energy on AAM Competition. I hope this helps to prevent someone else from going through the same issue.
Images:
The initial set of short tails I received.
The passenger side short tail with the extra weld that wasn't supposed to be there.
The replacement short tail that I received (bottom) length-wise comparison to the initial passenger side short ail (top). There is at least 1" difference in overall length.
Lack of attention to detail as to where the pipe is welded in the flange. This particular one was crooked - one side was almost flush with the flange and the other side was somewhere between 1/8" to 1/4" away from being flush.
This short tail had a flush mount for the pipe all the way around the flange.
Every one of the short tails I received was dented and scuffed in the same spot (must be how they clamp the pipe to bend it). It's not a huge deal, but it definitely doesn't look very good.