Ok firstly they are offering their looms at a price point I could never get to and the cost of the materials I put into a loom is more than what they are charging. The reason I point this out isn't because I need the work but because people need to understand that you get what you pay for. They are listed at $240 and say it takes 12 hrs so you are getting them at $16 which is way cheap and no respecting qualified professional would do jack for $16 an hour. At $16 an hr X 12 hrs = $192 so they are charging $192 worth of labour leaving $48 worth of materials. So by their own sums they are using very cheap components.
They mention in their listing over 90 solder points like this is something to be proud of ... solder in Automotive applications has a very limited area of use with good reason. To suggest this 90 point thing is good is bad and shows a lot about what level they are aimed at. There are some applications where you can't avoid it and there are steps you take to make it acceptable, 90 in a VW loom is not acceptable and will cause issues. Solder creates fatigue points and increases failers. It make it brittle and often breaks. Solder is at home on boards, and static loom applications not buggies. To solder a crimp terminal is stupid as if you terminate correctly it detracts from the crimp function so defeats the purpose.
SXL grade wire is a good thing and depending on brand and SAE compliance it will be rated to handle the heat and have enough wall thickness to suit the application, far from what the empi looms use, thumbs up to them.
They have been doing them for a while and if memory serves me correctly they use to be sub $100 when they first came out and have worked their way up to where they are now, also means they are selling them and not having to many issues.
Compared to the other stuff on the market I would use one if I had to over Empi and the other limited universal setups. The multi circuit looms from places like American Autowire are around double what these guys are charging so there is value in their work don't get me wrong.
My buggy wiring starters at $950 installed and we do not do DIY Kits. We offer lifetime support and if any loom we do gets issue etc then we fix it free of charge for as long as you own the vehicle. This covers damage as well since if the loom gets damaged it wasn't correct so we fix it free.
As a DIY option I think they are good value BUT I would expect to have to tweak some parts which they plan on by using loom wrap over electrical tape.
Wire labels are common practice but I am not a big fan of flag labeling as they tend to fall off and fade out over time. We print and heat shrink.
As far as fuse boxes go to put one of those exposed terminal universal spade terminal blocks in a buggy from the outset makes me wanna cry ... there are so many better options that look so much better ..
But as I said they are at a price point where I could not do what I do and not have it cost me money so it is not far to compare what we do to what they offer. Doing DIY looms is a talent in itself and something we do not currently offer with good reason as every buggy is a bit different and I hate not being able to run the wires like I want and add stuff in anywhere the customer wants
Things like Tow car hook ups would just make a pre fab loom a PITA to do
Same with hood disconnects and sub looms
Not to mention how you go dealing with things like Manx Number plate lights which could be in so many different places
BUT please do not read this as me saying their looms are crap and not worth the money, they are and for the $200 odd they are charging you could save yourself a lot of time and learning. I am just adding this post to show there are lots of options and the post was about Manx Wiring Options.
