Garmin Panel Upgrade Estimate

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Jimimac

Filing Flight Plan
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Jun 4, 2026
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Jimimac
An overcharge fried my audio panel and one radio, so I'm looking at an upgrade. A small shop that seems very competent has bid $32,845 to install a Garmin GNC355 W/GA35 database, a GMA342 audio panel and two G5's in my Skyhawk. The equipment price is $17,400 with the remainder labor at about $14,710 (106 hrs labor at $135/hr). Is this in line with what others are seeing? I could replace my Narco CP136M and Narco Mk12D if I could find good used units I guess. Thanks!
 
Have you considered Dynon? I think it's a much better value.
 
I have not looked at any Dynon products. Do you know of a shop that deals with them in the N Texas area?
 
What else do you have in the panel? Transponder, ADSB, etc.? Are you looking to get this IFR ready? Want to add anything in the future, like an auto pilot?

Overall, GNC 355 is a good pick. If you've had only one radio, I'd skip the GMA342 audio panel and put in a PS Engineering PAR 200B audio panel which also has a COM 2 built in.

The G5's are nice, the G 275's are nicer.
 
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I had an over voltage and my MK12D and Narco CP135M got fried. So now have a Garmin 300XL and a Stratus TXP. The audio panel will send voice to the speaker, but not the headsets. I'll look at the 275's. Thanks!
 
sounds good but for that price you can probably finagle 2xgi275s, more expensive but easier to install. also think about a pma8000g, i totally recommend this audio panel, love mine. keep the 300xl, great radio.
?
where are you located?
 
Jimimac said:
GA35 database
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GA35 is an antenna.
Jimimac said:
The equipment price is $17,400 with the remainder labor at about $14,710
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Labor being in the range of 50%-100%, sounds like yours is on the high side but not unreasonable. Sounds like a good plan if you want the plane to be IFR. If you want to stick strictly to VFR, you could just replace the busted radio with a simple COM for a lot less money.
Jimimac said:
I'll look at the 275's.
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275’s are about 2x the price of G5’s, last I checked. AV30’s are about the same or a little cheaper than G5’s.
WDD said:
Precision Engineering PAR 200B
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“PS Engineering”, not “Precision Engineering”. I think the “S” might stand for “Scheuer” but perhaps @mscheuer can weigh in :)
 
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I recently had Edge Aviation in Commerce (2F7) do a complete panel in my Debonair. Excellent work and so easy to deal with...

-Kevin
 
A GNC355 is not a dealer item - Spruce's cost is $7750.
A GMA 342 is also not a dealer item - it's $1925 at spruce. I would consider the 345/350, dealer items.
Garmin sells the dual G5's for $6,995, also not a dealer item. For a little more, you could look at GI275's.
That brings the price to $15,670.00

Our labor hourly is pretty close - we have more install staff than most, and we'd be at a little less than 100 hours. We are in Southern California near Los Angeles.
Feel free to contact us!
 
If you get the Dual GI 275's, you'll get the Dual GI 275 kit, which also includes the misc parts such as the GMU magnetometer, OAT sensor, etc. You'll also add in - no matter what route you choose - some other misc parts such as new cables, circuit breaker, etc.

When I installed my set, I added a back up battery for the HSI in addition to the standard back up battery in the AHRS.

I see the dual kit for the G5 is $7000, and for the GI 275 it's $8500. All in all, one of the best upgrades I've done.
 
WDD said:
I see the dual kit for the G5 is $7000, and for the GI 275 it's $8500. All in all, one of the best upgrades I've done.
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Where are you looking? The Garmin website lists the G5 AI for $3095 and the G5 HSI for $3495 (total: $6590).
1781309071263.png1781309135597.png

Meanwhile, the GI275's are $4695+$4595=$9290.

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I believe you get a discount when you buy a dual set vs individually.
 
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