General Exhaust - a rant really

[stranter]

Just a rant really, the exhausts on these Bravos, they don't last long in age or in miles do they? Ours is five and a half miles with a touch over 50k.

The exhaust is blowing from the back box and the flexi-pipe near the front, but I was shocked when I had a look on a ramp just how badly the back box has corroded in a car less than six years old! Where it was blowing, the outer skin had gone and the actual back box was very very rusty,soft in places!

And the price - £170 to £250 I have been quoted, of the places that do them. A lot of places come back with "dealer only part" and of course the dealer wants to do a full inspection of the car (chargeable) before they will quote.

I love our Bravo, and it has been a great car and still is. But really, OEM exhausts should last longer, or if you need to replace them, they need to be more readily available and cheaper.

Rant over!

Stewart

 

[RobW]

i think you will find this is the same with most cars, the oe exhausts are lifed to last 5 years in my experience

dont worry about the rear box outer skin, it corrodes quickly and then lasts

if you look on ebay germany you can find aftermarket exhausts or get a custom made stainless sytem from longlife

 

[850kd]

Depending on your model some stilo parts fit the bravo and if this applies to you ,they are readily and cheaply available.
5+ years doesnt sound too bad to me !

 

[stranter]

It's just I have never experienced such quick rotting of an OEM exhaust before, they're usually the best exhaust that'll ever be fitted to a car. I don't expect BMW levels of quality (I've had 20 year old BMWs with the original exhaust!) because it's nowhere near the price of BMWs! But less than six years and a lot to replace it? Not really what I expected!

I shouldn't complain though, it's been a very good car. We looked at getting a newer car recently, but decided for our price range, nothing could match our six year old car for build quality or spec levels.

Stewart

 

[Marcos999]

Yes, when I bought my Nissan 200sx it was six years old and the standard exhaust was finished. Didn't bother me, I didn't particularly want the standard exhaust!

 

[stranter]

It's a 1.4 and I think this engine was fitted to Stilos? Same floor pan, so could be a winner!

 

[Marcos999]

Rear bumper?

 

[stranter]

True, but I think the are both close. Next time I see a Stilo in a car park I'm going to have a look underneath.

 

[850kd]

The 1.4 Bravo active (90) takes the stilo 1.4 exhaust and brackets. I cant vouch for the other models.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

True, but I think the are both close. Next time I see a Stilo in a car park I'm going to have a look underneath.

Want me to take some pic's of ours?

 

[stranter]

That'd be great and really good of you if possible!

 

[Rosso187]

I love my Bravo (1.2 SX) bought from new in 2000. There are aftermarket parts available much cheaper than OEM products and not difficult to fit if you feel confident in doing the work.

Rosso.

 

[AMT]

To add to the list of rantee's
This is my first car, so I can only follow with this idea that 5 yrs is not acceptable.

My 1.4 Dyn is exactly 5yrs old with 60 on the clock. I was advised at my last service/MOT that the exhaust was on its way out. When I checked back at home, the same as Stranter, the outer skin had a gold ball sized whole in it.
In the last 5 months following I heard the outer skin falling off over several mini speed bumps.

So to clarify what RobW said, can I leave the car as it is? Will it pass its next MOT in this condition?
Moving on, where can we get replacement centre and rear noisy bit from?

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

To add to the list of rantee's
This is my first car, so I can only follow with this idea that 5 yrs is not acceptable.

As you've said, its only an outer skin, its fitted to prevent the inner skin and to rot away first, its is more than acceptable, exhaust is a consumable part just like brakes etc.

 

[doz smith]

There appears to be an inner skin, then a sound deadening material and then an outer skin. Early Last year I had an mot warning on my back box. I pealed all the outer skin off and it appears to have lasted fine, just passed another mot.

 

[Marcos999]

Mine was the same. First MOT, advisory for the rear box, did nothing, second MOT, all fine!

 

[AMT]

Mine was the same. First MOT, advisory for the rear box, did nothing, second MOT, all fine!

Did you peel the outer skin off? I only have half of my skin left.. Hanging really.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Did you peel the outer skin off? I only have half of my skin left.. Hanging really.

Only if it'll come off freely, if not get the bit hanging off cut off and leave the rest

 

[rossocorsa]

In the good old days Italian car exhausts only lasted 18 months! Modern exhausts are amazing

 

[Charnwood Fox]

Nothing was done to the exhaust of my B1, except for a bit of patching to get through the last 2 MOT Tests, in the 10 years I owned her from new.