How Long Should An OEM Exhaust Last

[TheDetailDoctor]

The 500 went oin for it's 18,000mile serviuce yesterday & I was informed the backbox is in a bad way, it's true, it's nearly rotten through at the folded seams.

The thing is, the car is only 18months old, and according to Fiat UK, 18months is acceptable for an exhaust system. At £300 fitted for the backbox it's a bit of a joke really.

Edited by TheDetailDoctor on Wednesday 12th May 14:25

[ian2144]

TheDetailDoctor said:

The 500 went oin for it's 18,000mile serviuce yesterday & I was informed the backbox is in a bad way, it's true, it's nearly rotten through at the folded seams.

The thing is, the car is only 18months old, and according to Fiat UK, 18months is acceptable for an exhaust system.

The other halfs Passat 130tdi did 110,000 miles in three years it went away with the original still on !! I think it varries from car to car !

[ScottishSamurai]

Blimey, that seems a bit iffy...

[aeropilot]

TheDetailDoctor said:

The 500 went oin for it's 18,000mile serviuce yesterday & I was informed the backbox is in a bad way, it's true, it's nearly rotten through at the folded seams.

The thing is, the car is only 18months old, and according to Fiat UK, 18months is acceptable for an exhaust system.

That probably is acceptable in Italian terms......

My ex's Ford Focus still had it's original exhaust on it at 4 years old and 60k miles.

And, the original factory exhaust on my Saab 9-5 Aero has now lasted nearly 7 years and 80k miles and only has some rust holes on the outer skin of the rear box, but hasn't started getting noisey or anything yet....

[skyslimit]

ian2144 said:

TheDetailDoctor said:

The 500 went oin for it's 18,000mile serviuce yesterday & I was informed the backbox is in a bad way, it's true, it's nearly rotten through at the folded seams.

The thing is, the car is only 18months old, and according to Fiat UK, 18months is acceptable for an exhaust system.

The other halfs Passat 130tdi did 110,000 miles in three years it went away with the original still on !! I think it varries from car to car !

Dervs last a lot longer due to far lower exhaust temps. I mot'd a rover derv once, 200000 miles, OEM exhaust.

I also had a superchipped R19 16v many moons ago, which ate its OEM exhaust in 2 years from leaving the factory.

[trickywoo]

My '97 e39 is still on its original system.

I wouldn't bother replacing yours until it has a hole in it or is in danger of falling off.

£300 is a massive piss take though.

[JB!]

warranty job, surely?

[hornetrider]

trickywoo said:

I wouldn't bother replacing yours until it has a hole in it or is in danger of falling off.

£300 is a massive piss take though.

As is 18 months. FIAT eh?

[TheDetailDoctor]

JB! said:

warranty job, surely?

Apparently it's a consumable!!!!!

Good excuse to get a stainless cat back fitted, for less money than the backbox alone, goodbye rust.

[Braintax]

Suppose it depends on the level of use, last winter wouldn't have helped things.. not to mention all the additional salt on the roads.

Just remember for ~£300 you could get a stainless cat back system that will last a lifetime and can be built to your taste

[LC23]

Other than on the TVR, I've never had to replace any part of an exhaust system (probably jinxed myself now). The closest I have come other than that was a bit of a weld on the old 323i. But that had reached 114,000 on its original exhaust.

[Pkh72]

If they want £300 for a replacement backbox would it not be worth looking at a stainless system for it, i'm not on about a carlos fandango big bore jobby, just something similar to OE.


Ha, beaten to it.

Edited by Pkh72 on Wednesday 12th May 14:36

[JB!]

TheDetailDoctor said:

JB! said:

warranty job, surely?

Apparently it's a consumable!!!!!

Good excuse to get a stainless cat back fitted, for less money than the backbox alone, goodbye rust.

"hi, is that the dealer principal"

"hi, is that FIAT UK?"

[bazking69]

Acceptable by Italian standards maybe, but not ours. 18 months is a joke and down to a cheap supplier supplying cheap quality exhausts. I'd be very insistent that it was replaced under warranty immediately.

[TheDetailDoctor]

Pkh72 said:

If they want £300 for a replacement backbox would it not be worth looking at a stainless system for it, i'm not on about a carlos fandango big bore jobby, just something similar to OE.


Ha, beaten to it.

Edited by Pkh72 on Wednesday 12th May 14:36

Booked in already, £230, as std looking as possible, with a mildly fruity note.

[Munter]

An Ex got 10 years out of one on a 1989 Mini
MX5 still on it's original at 120,000 and 13 years
The Vectra did 100,000 in 5 years on it's original

A fiat I had needed one after 5 years and 38000 miles.... I had presumed it was unlucky...possibly not.

[SWH]

I'd have thought it would last a bit longer than that, although the roads were very salty this winter; still, I'd be a bit miffed, depends I guess if it's £75 or £350 to replace it (so not great!)

Just to cheer you up (sorry!) our 1996 850 T5 is still on its original system at 226K miles - it did need a tiny bit of welding on the pipe into the silencer a couple of years ago, but still going strong* for now.....


(* waits for a phone call from Mrs SWH saying she's stranded in a cloud of smoke!)

Edited by SWH on Wednesday 12th May 14:42

[Berger]

Worrying, will stick my head under and have a look at ours tonight, theres no much to it either, straight pipe from the cat all the way to the backbox, no centre silencer.

[sleep envy]

who makes the OEM part?

[ShadownINja]

Yep, utter BS. Get a stainless one fitted. Which reminds me...