Wide variation on KIA installed Remote Starter price, go aftermarket?

[19GT-AWD]

(USA, base Stinger GT AWD)

Dealer #1: $540 + $275 install
Dealer #2: Doesn't install OEM, sends customers to 3rd party (see below)
Dealer #3: $640 + ?? install
Dealer #4: $650 installed ($75 website coupon drops price to $575)

Dealer Recommended 3rd Party Company: $275 installed
(company's been in business for 30+ years, did a Mustang GT I had years ago without issue)

All the dealers said install time would be several hours, 3rd party company says 1 hour.

Needless to say, I'm strongly considering 3rd party. Thoughts?

 

[Kamauxx]

You should keep your car the way it came from the factory.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Buy it yourself. Install in is DIY SECTION. NOT THAT HARD.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Buy it yourself. Install in is DIY SECTION. NOT THAT HARD.

Didn’t mean to yell. Caps lock stuck.

eBay has them as do most online Kia dealers. If I recall, $400 for the parts.

Third party, look at drone mobile. That way you can get remote functions including aux for seat heater/cooler/steering wheel heater.

 

[Marc Collins]

Didn’t mean to yell. Caps lock stuck.

eBay has them as do most online Kia dealers. If I recall, $400 for the parts.

Third party, look at drone mobile. That way you can get remote functions including aux for seat heater/cooler/steering wheel heater.

Umm, the official KIA UVO app for cars with telematics (non-USA) can't even do the seat and steering wheel controls. If there is a third-party solution that is confirmed to do that, please provide a link. Will help us persuade KIA to improve their own lame app.

 

[19GT-AWD]

Didn’t mean to yell. Caps lock stuck.

eBay has them as do most online Kia dealers. If I recall, $400 for the parts.

Third party, look at drone mobile. That way you can get remote functions including aux for seat heater/cooler/steering wheel heater.

Don't worry about the caps.

Your comment is no doubt light years ahead from that of what a loonie I blocked on here likely babbled about.

Just unusual how parts/labor vary so widely from dealer to dealer. Never experienced that before with other car brands. Also don't trust too many things to smartphones, especially items like car starters.

I want a warranty for the job, so I'm either looking at KIA or from the established (and dealer recommended) 3rd party business.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[BlueByYouGT]

Don't worry about the caps.

Your comment is no doubt light years ahead from that of what a loonie I blocked on here likely babbled about.

Dude, its cute what you're going for there, but understand that most of us know people's posts don't show up when they're blocked on a forum. You typically have to hit a button specifically okaying the post to be displayed. At that point in time the post shows up for you to see, no different from the rest. Why you're trying to pretend like you didn't read something that you've just mistakenly admitted to all of us you've clearly read is beyond me.

Now that that's out of the way, unless you have some kind of strange affinity for Kia service departments there's no reason to ever use a dealership for installation of a part that isn't a part of the "You Owe/We Owe". The service will ALWAYS be more expensive at a dealership and it will ALMOST ALWAYS be worst. (if you're asking for our advice) Go to the people who have built a business on installation of auto electronics and avoid the ones that will be doing the entire installation based on instructions they find online.

 

[19GT-AWD]

Dude, ...

Pal, it's amusing to see where you're trying to go with this. But you should be aware that when common sense prevails, when one scans down their thread and sees any wackos that they've banned, all they have to do is sign in to have their diatribes hidden. I understand that not everyone gets it, just a heads up for you ...

Now that I've cleared up those suppositions, I found your use of caps did little to justify your statement. Dealer service is clearly not "almost always worst", and I have no idea how you can even advance such a notion. My experience over the decades has been the exact opposite.

Understand that my thread focused on a) the large discrepancy in price form one KIA dealer to the next b) whether that increased price is merited by having it done from an authorized KIA dealer.

Please, only thought out constructive remarks from now on.

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

Go aftermarket, we have an option for you as well.

We offer a remote starter that has:

1) More features than the stock & aftermarket remote starter.
2) Remote Starting from the factory keyfob remote, no need to keep a separate keyfob
3) No engine shut off once getting in & starting the car before driving away
4) Ability to open and close the sunroof with your keyfob remote
5) Our remote starter adds proximity locking & unlocking to the vehicle

Check it out on our website here: K8 Stinger Store Canbus Control Module

 

[BlueByYouGT]

Understand that my thread focused on a) the large discrepancy in price form one KIA dealer to the next b) whether that increased price is merited by having it done from an authorized KIA dealer.

Please, only thought out constructive remarks from now on.

...

Needless to say, I'm strongly considering 3rd party. Thoughts?

Make up your mind. What exactly is it you're hoping to accomplish with this thread? Did you actually want our thoughts? Or were you hoping we would all only say things you already believe to be true? Were you hoping for a discussion or a circle jerk?

sees any wackos that they've banned

That isn't how the "ignore" function works. Only moderators can ban people. All you're doing is making sure posts don't appear so that big bad mean people's words are less likely to melt your eyes.

 

[nhcowboy28]

Umm, the official KIA UVO app for cars with telematics (non-USA) can't even do the seat and steering wheel controls. If there is a third-party solution that is confirmed to do that, please provide a link. Will help us persuade KIA to improve their own lame app.

There is a thread on this very forum.

As I mentioned, it’s called drone mobile. It CAN do aux functions for seats/steering wheel. It isn’t range limited. It’s mobile app/cellular component capable.

I never said the US market OEM could.

 

[Ruturaj]

I have Kia remote which I included in the deal for 500. Only plus point of OEM remote install is warranty (my dealer told me it will be same as cars).

But
1. Car stays on for only 10 minutes and then shuts off
2. When you open the door it shuts off
3. Can not use your phone to start the car (limited distance, can only start engine)

I would advice you to get drone mobile app and try to get cooled seats and heated seat + steering wheel hooked in. @StingerNick paid around 500-600 for all that.

 

[19GT-AWD]

Go aftermarket, we have an option for you as well ...

Thank you very much, I will add it to my considerations!

....

My mind on the direction of this thread was clear when I posted it. The fact that you aren't able/refuse to follow it's lead is a problem that only you can rectify.

Regarding your confusion on my banning, when I set a ne'er-do-well to "ignore" they are for all intents and purposes banned from my view. Understand? Great.

And seeing how it's become a part time job for me to constantly nudge you towards the straight and narrow, allow me to congratulate you on your being added to my ban list.

Goodness knows, you've earned it ...

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

Thank you very much, I will add it to my considerations!

You're very welcome! Just let us know if you have any questions.

 

[Obxguy2000]

You're very welcome! Just let us know if you have any questions.

To close the deal on my car, i asked the dealership to throw in the remote start, which they agreed to. When I went to pick it up, they had installed a Pusuit remote start system. Took ownership of the car and started researching this Pursuit remote. This thing is only good for starting you car just as you walk up too it and most of the time it does not let the starter run long enough to even start. I hate this freaking thing and want to replace it with your Canbus control module. I have 2 questions for you, how difficult is the install? How difficult would it be to remove this Pursuit remote system?

 

[K8 Stinger Store]

To close the deal on my car, i asked the dealership to throw in the remote start, which they agreed to. When I went to pick it up, they had installed a Pusuit remote start system. Took ownership of the car and started researching this Pursuit remote. This thing is only good for starting you car just as you walk up too it and most of the time it does not let the starter run long enough to even start. I hate this freaking thing and want to replace it with your Canbus control module. I have 2 questions for you, how difficult is the install? How difficult would it be to remove this Pursuit remote system?

Hello,

Installation difficulty greatly depends on one's level of experience when it comes to working on cars.

This is a very intricate installation, and we only recommend having it professionally installed.

I would say 2-4 hours is a reasonable amount of time for a professional installing this on their own.

I know nothing about the existing system you have in place now, so I would not be able to answer that one, unfortunately.

 

[19GT-AWD]

I'm strongly leaning towards the local 3rd party company.

They've been in the retail business for decades, are near my home, have an equally long and successful history of working with nearly every dealer in the area, and received an average 4.8 out of 5 rating from an extensive list of customer reviews.

All for $275 installed.

 

[Ucinn]

Umm, the official KIA UVO app for cars with telematics (non-USA) can't even do the seat and steering wheel controls. If there is a third-party solution that is confirmed to do that, please provide a link. Will help us persuade KIA to improve their own lame app.

I have an aftermarket that has the phone app and second fob that controls heated seats and defroster.. it was $650 installed.. Nustart

Remote Car Start | FyneTuned

 

[Marc Collins]

I have an aftermarket that has the phone app and second fob that controls heated seats and defroster.. it was $650 installed.. Nustart

Remote Car Start | FyneTuned

How does the phone app connect to the car if you do not have telematics? Or, is the app only used to adjust the settings while you are proximity to the module and you have to use a fob to actually start the car?

As annoying as the UVO app is (clunky, often requires two log-in attempts, slow, missing the seat controls even though it has the heated steering wheel), you can start your car from inside a building (mall, workplace, home, whatever) regardless of whether you are in the proximity range of the fob. I rarely use it, but when I did, the car did not shut off when I got in. That may have been because the car recognized the fob in my pocket as I approached the car, or maybe I unlocked it with the app?

I think there are several good options out there, but pay attention to how remote the remote start is. Personally, I would only want to use remote start to cool or heat the car in extreme weather. And if it was extreme, I would want the car running for a lot more time than it takes to walk the distance of the fob proximity.

EDIT: I clicked your link. One mile is enough to walk!! But does the RF work through buildings and such? If so, the only downside to this one would be the need to carry three fobs (the car's original, plus one to start and one to control the seats, etc.).

 

[19GT-AWD]

Done. $275 installed. Took them one hour. Works great.

Ultra Start 1272XR-PRO Series