What should a bespoke stainless steel exhaust system cost?

[ClaphamGT3]

Hi all

Would welcome the wisdom of crowds on this one. I have a 1961 Riley One Point Five with an MGB drivetrain conversion.

The exhaust system is a sorry, end-of-life lash-up of various bits of mild steel systems from God only knows what. It just about got through the MOT a few weeks ago but the examiner gave the system an advisory and said he couldn’t see it being in a fit state to pass next year.

I found a well recommended exhaust specialist not too far from me and they quoted a price to fabricate and fit a bespoke stainless steel system from after the manifold back. They sounded like they knew what they were talking about but the price quoted was quite eyebrow-raising.

Would welcome views on what you’d expect to pay for a handmade stainless steel exhaust for a small car

[austina35]

https://www.maniflow.co.uk/

I've used these before. I gave them my vehicle and they made and fitted it for me at their place. I paid £550.

[ClaphamGT3]

Thanks. That indeed suggests that a bit of leg-lifting was going on

[bennno]

austina35 said:

https://www.maniflow.co.uk/

I've used these before. I gave them my vehicle and they made and fitted it for me at their place. I paid £550.

They don’t appear to provide stainless or bespoke systems?

I’d have thought £1-2k

I don’t see you getting a bespoke stainless system fabricated for £550. It’ll be a several hours work, plus all materials .

[Decky_Q]

Alfa 147 cat back with no cat £350
Added sports cat later for £99
Mercedes s500 cat back in 2 banks with X pipe, minimal silencing, finished with 2 back boxes with amg style quad tips £800

Both powerflow.

[ferret50]

Do these folk.... https://www.longlife.co.uk/ ......have an agent nearby?

Some years ago, uffff, maybe 12 years ago, the Peterbough agent made up a stainless system for an E30 for me, long time ago but £750 ish rings bells.

Do your homework, though, as not all agents are equal!

[Hoofy]

ferret50 said:

Do these folk.... https://www.longlife.co.uk/ ......have an agent nearby?

Problem is the nearest one to the OPer based on his name was a grumpy git who gave you the impression he was doing you a favour. I'd rather just set my car alight and sell the scrap parts to a dodgy FB buyer than bother trying to find their garage. And I'm talking about my Porsche. Mind you, maybe the business has changed hands because I went there about 20 years ago.

The nearest to Clapham for me would be Mr Exhaust in Reigate. I suspect they could do a decent system for under £1k and would happily go back to them, mainly because they do a good job, deliver their service professionally and they're friendly. They've done work on both of my cars.

[OldDuffer]

I paid £1100 recently. Twin-box 4-pot Series Land-rover. Park Street (Nr St. Albans) Which I thought was pretty good.

You're going to get fairly heavy stainless because tube won't be the greater cost. Thin tube is hard to weld.

[Shaoxter]

https://haywardandscott.com/

Have used these guys for various Porsche and BMW exhausts for very reasonable prices, although they weren't custom jobs. They're an old school outfit and will make you pretty much anything.

[aeropilot]

I'd be surprised if a bespoke s/s manifold back system would be much under £1k these days, even for a small car.

[Big_Dan]

I paid about £600 for bespoke stainless centre box back for my Discovery 3 V8 last year from a place in High Wycombe - took most of a day

[KTMsm]

Depends whether you're looking for a work of art of not

I've used MIJ in Birmingham who did a couple of simple Cat back systems for me, one for an F150 and one for my Vito

Both exited by the rear wheel

One was £200 the other £250 - they tend to quote a lot more but if you know what you want and pop in on spec in the week, when they have staff hanging around they are very reasonable - barely charging more than the parts cost (in their retail store)

[ds666]

I've had ss exhaust systems for race cars made from around £1800 - that includes complex manifolds ( bike engine very close to a bulkhead ) , so from the manifold would be much cheaper .

[rufusruffcutt]

Could you adapt to fit an aftermarket stainless kit or seperate stainless steel exhaust parts for an MGB from the likes of Moss or MGOC Spares? Might work out cheaper?

[catso]

Recently bought a SS exhaust for my V8 Land rover from Double S exhausts in Devon; https://www.stainlesssteelexhausts.co.uk/

Part standard, off the shelf and part bespoke due to my requirements for a different rear-end setup and using my own silencer/backbox, cost around £900.
So, bearing in mind it has 2 x 4 cyl manifolds I would expect a 4 cyl exhaust to be cheaper but I suppose it depends how 'bespoke' it is as making a one-off is always going to be more expensive.

But Double S were very helpful, making the rear pipe section up to my design (I fabbed up a pattern, using the old mild steel pipework) and sent it to them which they replicated in SS.

[rovermorris999]

I'm having a full bespoke stainless system fitted to a 1939 Rover 14 saloon next month, manifold back, one big silencer. £450 all in. Had to wait 6 weeks as they're busy. In Louth, Lincs.