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Seems to be a big price variation between oe and aftermarket, and also just amongst the aftermarket brands themselves. Which of these brands are rated by Backroomers please? Or, how many would opt for oe item from dealer instead from experience? I haven't bought one for ages.
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rule of thumb would be you just get what you pay for,dealers usualy are better than timax or other cheap brands but still have premium for dealer name ,think I will start and have stainless systems fitted,maybe a bit more cash layout but cheaper at the end of the day and much less hassle
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Defenders right, to an extent.
I wouldn't go anywhere near a fast fit place for exhausts anymore. The last one I had fitted was made of metal which was very poor quality and was nearly as thin as fag paper. Quite a good fit though.
The last rear box I had fitted was an OEM part (VAG, so it will be an Ernst part) and its of top quality. The metal is nice and thick and it just looks the business, with a good fit and some added structure which stops it bending at the back of the box (A polo weak spot). Not only that, but it was fitted with 'anti condensate technology' which prevents the excessive build up of moisture, thus prolonging its life. So far, its working and it hasn't even started to rust, despite being fitted for a year and a half. Very hard wearing.
Because of this, any other parts of the exhaust thats needed replacing has been done using OEM parts supplied and installed by my VAG specialist.
Thing was, it was cheaper than fast fit places! £50 for a back box, inc VAT supply and installation.
Go for OEM (made for the manufacturer, but without their stamp or price tag).
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Recent exhaust jobs I've had done have followed the pattern of me buying genuine manufacturers exhaust parts and fitting them myself!
I'd never buy pattern parts as, in my own past experience, they are never exactly the same and, consequently, are difficult to fit and never fit properly, anyway.
None of the exhausts I've ever had fitted in fast-fit type places ever last. They seem to be able to produce an exhaust system which just manages to last out their warranty and then, literally within a few months, falls apart!
It's possible that exhausts fitted in car manufacturers fast-fit outlets may last longer, at least you would be getting genuine parts. However, I personally have no experience of using one so can't comment.
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Sorry, nearly forgot.
I had a stainless steel exhaust fitted to a car I owned once. I would never have another one.
Don't believe all you hear about stainless steel exhausts. The one I had fitted produced noticeably more vibration and noise, cost a great deal more, and had to be inspected once a year to maintain the warranty.
Oh, and they do still rust, because the stainless steel used for making them is if very low quality.
I can't tell you how long my system lasted because the car was stolen and never recovered about 2 years after fitting.
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Genuine / OEM exhausts far superior to aftermarket. BMW original exhausts appear to last around 7-8 years regardless of mileage.
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I would always go for the OEM exhaust. My previous Ford Mondeo, had a new Ford exhaust fitted, by Rapidfit, at 5 years old. The new one cracked where the pipe enters the middle box after 18 months due to weak mountings. I took it back to Rapidfit to get a new one and they replaced it FOC as it had a 2 year warranty, and they replaced the rubber mounts FOC at the same time. The new exhaust was still on the car, as good as new, when it was traded in 18 months later. The exhaust was the same price as aftermarket ones, which in my experience on previous cars, only lasted 18 months before they rusted through on the back box. My current 2001 Mondeo is 4.5 years old now so I guess the original exhaust might be nearing the end of it's life, although it still looks as good as new.
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My Saab 9-5 at 150,000 still has the original exhaust, althought the outer skin is flakey the main structure is still fine - but it does get mainly long runs. I doubt whether a fast-fit version would last as well.
Also, I've had a year of problems with a Megane non-oem exhaust, the garage eventually ended up replacing the lot with a manufacturers exhaust because they got fed up with seeing so often. Problems were poor fit and the baffles in the rear box broke up after a few months.
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Go for OEM if the price makes sense. It may well do if you screw a discount out of the main dealer and get an independent to fit it (or do it yourself).
However, Euro Car Parts and GSF trade in perfectly respectable aftermarket systems, most of them made by OEM suppliers anyway. Names such as Ernst and Eberspächer offer more comfort than doubt, and can be many tens of pounds cheaper than OEM. I recall that the redoubtable Aprilia has reported having fitted many of them with no problems or come-back.
I fitted an SS system to my Capri 2.8i only because Ford no longer makes them and the Capri Club offering is reputed to be noisy. I had to take the SS system back to be quietened down to its minimum level to make it tolerable, and now it's fine, if distinctly noisier than the original (Longlife did that without hesitation and at no extra charge).
Search the forum on my name and "exhaust" and you'll find plenty more.
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My experience of pattern parts is that they are generally of poor design and quality. They don't silence as good as the original (which probably accounts for the large number of cars with noisy exhausts), they don't fit as well, and they don't last as long. Ford dealers fit genuine Ford parts in their RapidFit departments at very reasonable prices. Hardly worth going elsewhere.
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L\'escargot.
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I used to get about 8 years from a genuine VW exhaust. 'Fast Fit' ones lasted about 2 to 3 years and were always noisier.
I have never replaced an exhaust on any of my Renaults, since they have done high mileages quite quickly. Short journeys will kill an exhaust as the damp doesn't get burned off.
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I'm avoiding fast fit type pipes in future. Damaged centre box about a year ago on a speedbump (own fault, too fast) had it replaced at a fast fit place, price seemed reasonable at the time.
Last week car on ramp for MOT, original 3 year old rear box in good condition, only slight rust around fixings. The fast fit centre box covered in surface corrosion. I know where I won't be going next time.
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Just taking a slight detour - what type of joints do your exhaust systems use? My last two Cavaliers had slip-on joints with large clamps - a PITA to get apart. Both my Accords have butt joints. Is this common?
Andy
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Rover 25 uses butt joints, sealed with a gasket and two bolts.
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I have a Longlife Stainless exhuast on the Mondeo.
Looks nice and sounds.. a little different, yet not OTT.
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I have a Longlife Stainless exhuast on the Mondeo. Looks nice and sounds.. a little different, yet not OTT.
In my book anything that is noisier than the original is OTT.
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L\'escargot.
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I've always found Bosal exhausts to be OK quality-wise and good value.
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I currently have a 1999 Ford Transit motorhome with its original exhaust system and it has done just over 65,000 miles.
In the past I used to go to Kwik Fit etc for cheap pattern replacement systems for use on our various cars. These were very well made indeed; they lasted just until they were outside the warranty period, then failed.
I have had two stainless systems, neither was any good and both were noisier that the originals.
Ford coat their systems with aluminium and this does seem to prolong the life.
My advice is go for an oem system, if you want to keep the cost down and can do so, then fit it yourself.
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One mid section (Bosel IIRC) I had on the Fiat Regata failed at 18 months.
The place that fitted it (an independent in Leicester) were great about changin it. The only problem is that I had moved to Cornwall since they supplied and fitted it!
It was not a problem. The inlaws still lived in Doncaster so we were doing regular trips. It was just a slight detour to go and get it changed.
IIRC the next one stayed on the car until I sold it.
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I've always found that original exhausts last much longer than replacements.
The original back box on my 6yr old (73k) Vauxhall Astra is corroding round the hanger hooks so will have to be replaced before the next Mot. The original centre box and pipework is still in very good condition and fortunately the two sections are joined by a bolted flange so replacing one section at a time is easy.
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Deviating slightly, if you have a MkI Focus don't be too hasty in renewing the back box just because it has a hole in the outer casing. They are double skinned and last ages after the outer box gets a hole in it. And the silencing is unaffected by the hole. This was advice from a Ford dealer.
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L\'escargot.
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>>...don't be too hasty in renewing the back box just because it has a hole in the outer casing.They are double skinned and last ages after the outer box gets a hole in it.
>>And the silencing is unaffected by the hole. This was advice from a Ford dealer.--
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The Focus in our household has almost no outer skin left on its back box.
What is there is so thin you can just break bits it off it with your fingers. Not a pretty sight.
I gave it a good shake and swept up the rust pile.
It has just passed its second MoT, at a good MoT station.
I did question them about its state but I got the the same advice, It is legal.
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I bought an aftermarket exhaust (center and back box) from GSF for my 1995 520i and was very pleased with the fit and sound. Because they were designed to fit together and the car I was able to bolt the whole thing together on my drive, no need for any specialist fitting or welding.
Only put it on in Oct of last year so no idea how long it will last, but so far no complaints whatsoever.
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