Life expectancy of car exhausts?

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Life expectancy of car exhausts?

17 posts & 13 voices | Started 2 years ago by bowglie | Latest reply from martinxyz

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bowglie - Member

Trying to decide whether to replace a knackered exhaust with stainless or mild steel. Thinking of keeping the car for another 5 years - just wondered how long a typical aftermarket mild steel exhaust is likely to last(?).

IME, the aftermarket replacements never last as long as the OE ones.

FWIW, the car only covers about 4k miles a year, but it's not used for lots of short journeys, so the exhaust does get hot enough to dry out.

p.s. cost of OE replacement exhaust rules it out, as it's twice the price of aftermarket system!

Posted 2 years ago #
jam bo - Member

Well I've been running a jetex SS system on my golf for the last five years/80000 miles. It had done 30000 prior to that.

Had to have a spot of welding done earlier in the year, and all the clamps had to be replaced a year or two back.

Sounds good to.

Posted 2 years ago #
Suggsey - Member

My OEM fitted Tdi Passat exhaust is just starting to deteriorate at 150000 miles and 11 years!
I enquired about stainless systems for diesels and was told that they are not cost effective but they would get me one if I wanted the noise!
Check out firms that offer standard replacements with lifetime warranty-theres bound to be one somewhere.

Posted 2 years ago #
bowglie - Member

Jeez, you got your moneys worth out of that Passat exhaust!

The original exhaust on our car has lasted 55k miles and about 4 & 1/2 years - but 'cos it's a 4wd car, the back box is transverse and catches loads of spray (& winter road salt) off the back wheels.

Been quoted £150 for a Bosal (mild steel), or £265 for a local firm to custom make a stainless exhaust. Dunno if Bosal exhausts are any good - anyone know?

Posted 2 years ago #
MikeG - Member

I used to run a motor factors which did over half it's business in exhausts, there are several qualities of exhaust even from the same supplier. We used to stock Arvin as a premium brand - they had a 2 year no quibble warranty and Tuberex/Energy as a budget brand - they also had a 2 year warranty but insisted on inspecting every warranty claim.
Bosal also do 2 qualities. If you want to stand a good change of the system lasting 5 years (which is possible depending on driving style) go for arvin or the good bosal system.
It's been a couple of years since I worked there but KwikFit and ATS used to only buy the better exhausts, all the independants used the cheap stuff.
Custom stainless should last longer but only if it's designed well and is 100% stainless, most stainless systems use mild steel flanges and some are welded with mild steel wire, also stainless is more prone to fatigue cracks so has to be secured/suspended well.

Posted 2 years ago #
sobriety - Member

Do Kwik Fit still do lifetime guarantees?

If they do then the trick is to get an exhaust from them, go in before your mot and ask them to check it (don't show them the proof of purchase) when they tell you that you need a new exhaust, produce the receipt and demand they change it free of charge. When they backtrack (which they will) insist.*

*My dad did this for a numebr of years.**

**They didn't learn.

Posted 2 years ago #
Suggsey - Member

To be honest it was Kwik Fit I was thinking of. I think the VW exhaust has lasted well as it is well shrouded within the undertrays and is always well warmed and I believe diesels emissions are less acidic than petrols (but I may be wrong on that count). That stainless system is not a bad price but all depends on the warranty on it. I normally on all my other cars go for Bosal with a three year guarantee.
If you use your 4x4 off road go for the cheaper option as you may damage it when off roading which will not be covered on any warranty!

Posted 2 years ago #
b r - Member

My 12 year old 5 series is still on (most of) its original exhaust, with the exception of one cat - would replace like-for-like as now the original stuff is cheap.

Posted 2 years ago #
footflaps - Member

My 10 year old Golf is still on the original exhaust...

Posted 2 years ago #
OrangeChammy - Member

Berlingo with 70k miles and 5 year old still on original exhaust and looks like it will last a long time yet... to be honest most aftermarket exhausts I have had on older cars havent lasted half as long, the worst for rust was my "ashley" performance exhaust on an old saxo - however the noise was cool (I was in my early 20's) - it sounded like a B52 at 3000 rpm!

Posted 2 years ago #
coatesy - Member

Had a custom stainless fitted to an Astra about 8 years back, chose the quiet option without the "make me look like a c*ck" tailpipe. It's now in somebody elses posession but was still going strong last time I heard.Wasn't noticably noisier than standard, allowed me to climb some motorway hills a gear higher than previously(small engine/South Wales), and a slight improvement in economy.Will be putting one on my new van when it dies.

Posted 2 years ago #
spence - Member

bowglie you mention about longer journeys within you 4k so I take from that you understand the condensation problems with many shot ones. Where is the car kept when not used? The same consideration should be taken. ie dry garage if possible to prolong the mild steel life.

Suggsey, I believe the (early at least) Passat B5 TDI's had a stainless or part stainless systems, will explain why yours has done well. My T plate was on 160k when I got rid, still on the OEM.

Posted 2 years ago #
Scienceofficer - Member

I recently learned during my Mondeo's MOT that it still has the OEM exhaust. Its 11 years old and has done 126K!

Quite surprised I was. I mean - its a ford!

Posted 2 years ago #
bereavementmonkey - Member

If you love the car and going to keep it go SS as mostly they are guaranteed for life.

If you may sell it in a year or two just go pattern... Easy.

I put a custom SS on my celica GT4 went for the quiet option and it was brilliant.

Posted 2 years ago #
bowglie - Member

Thanks for the feedback. I've had a really good ferret around & under the car today to check what state the rest of it is in (we bought the car 2nd hand a couple of weeks back - wife agreed the deal before I'd had chance to really look the car over a case of 'yes, but I've always wanted one of these')

Given what people have said on here re: off-road use, plus what I've seen today. I decided to go for a Bosal mild steel exhuast from a decent local firm (exhuast comes with Bosal two year no-quibble warranty, but fitter reckons it should last way longer, as it's the better quality Bosal. Assuming it doen't get biffed off-road of course).

As far as stainless goes, I'd found a couple of places that guarantee for 25 years against corrosion and lifetime on welds etc. Both places use best quality stainless and experienced TIG welders. FWIW, one place is in Sheffield, the other is in Walsall, West Mids, and both come highly recommended.

If we were gonna keep the car more than the expected 4 to 5 years - and we weren't having to use it on a section of unsurfaced/rutted & potholed farm track, we'd have def. gone for the stainless system. (glad someone reminded me of potential 'off-road' damage...d'oh)

Once again, thanks for comments.

Posted 2 years ago #
bowglie - Member

p.s. love the trick with Kwik-Fit. Oh, to be a fly on the wall with that one

Posted 2 years ago #
martinxyz - Member

my back box has snapped and it hanging there. it was fitted on 5th June 2007 (3 year warranty) but i can see them trying to get out of it by saying that the snow depth has ripped it off.it looks fairly rusted in the time its been on. do you think i should go for a warranty job?

Posted 2 years ago #

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