80 cab V6 exhaust suppliers

[Dox]

10 days and 150 miles into V6 cab ownership and the exhaust is blowing front and possibly rear too (the rear was an advisory on the MOT). Is there anyone who supplies NOS audi parts at reasonable prices, any suggestions for quality aftermarket manufacturers or a quality performance manufacturer.

Thanks in advance

[Sandokan]

I had a full stainless steel custom exhaust fitted on my cabrio recently (1994/95 Cabrio V6 2.6e). Same issue probably - system was simply 12 years old and in need of replacement - plus, the front bolts rusted through (common issue apparently) and the thing almost dropped off one day while driving around.

The people that did it were "Welsh Coast Customs" (WCC), a little outfit in Newport, South Wales. They are a PowerFlow specialist, so a well known custom exhaust supplier. You can find their contact details via the PowerFlow website.

Honestly, the result is fantastic, but what a nightmare to get right! Told them when I put the car in to be done, keep it quiet please, no boy-racer noise. Turns out the V6 is quite a noisy engine ... there is a huge centre box in the original system ... so it took them quite an effort to get it quiet. The chap reported the configuration he had to use to the PowerFlow head office, so if you do opt for this be sure to tell your fitter to contact PowerFlow to get advice ... or contact Gareth at WCC to get advice directly.

However ... the final solution is very good ... and a lifetime guarentee ... exhaust pitch is fine and has a fantastic but subtle sound above 2500rpm ... only a little resonance around 2000rpm ... and all for 560 quid, including a sports cat. If you mix this with a remap (new chip) from someone like ECU Evolution (http://www.ecu-evolution.co.uk/) you will be amazed at how much more lively the car is ... all at no fuel efficiency penalty!

One warning about the sports cat. You need a "friendly" MOT centre for the emmisions tests. If totally cold, they tend to fail the fast idle test ... however, if they repeat the test it should pass fine. Apparently, these 200 cell sports cats need about 3 minutes or so to warm up and start working properly ... so technically they are legal ... but its better to be aware of this potential issue ...

[Dox]

Thanks for the reply, I'm in a similar situation to yourself and don't want a chavvy boyracer system and I've have already looked up my nearest powerflow centre ready to phone tomorrow.

I was hoping Jetex, remus or similar quality performance system was available but it seems not

[Sandokan]

I was impressed with the PowerFlow solution ... but ... it did take them 3 punts to get it right.

I would get them to give PowerFlow or even Gareth @ WCC a call to get advice (Gareth - 01633 841484 - he was a super star and would not give up until the car was quiet).

The system he fitted has:
* sports cat
* inline slimline box in the cat tunnel, right after the cat
* a BIG centre box, fitted diagonally across the original "square" box area
* a BIG rear box, biggest he could fit

He said he would have charged me more if he had known how difficult it was going to be, but maybe that is because it took him so much longer to get "right" than he expected. So act all innocent and get a quote from them first ... then tell them you found info on a forum ... and get them to contact PowerFlow or Gareth to find out exactly what they fitted on mine ... because mine has the biggest boxes and the most (in number) that would fit

[Dox]

Hi, thanks again for your input, the car is a fair weather motor only so there's no panic for the moment, but I'll enquire with my local agent and see what he says. Its nice to know that these systems can be made efficient and quiet too

[cookie7354]

Hi my bolts have rusted through and ive sorced a front down pipe for £56 with a two year garantee there from southampton and supply top notch gear there web site is www.onlineautomotive.co.uk i hope this helps they have diagramms etc etc

[Dox]

Update

I took the car to my local Powerflow centre today, the cat back system is rusty but gas tight due to it being double skinned and can therefore be left a while longer.

The car needs downpipes (they've been bodged before) and the chap says by the time the downpipes are removed the cat will fall apart also He wont make stainless downpipes and has no supplier of the items either so mild steel they will have to be.

Cookie, how long ago did you have the downpipes fitted? They seem cheap, the cat also cheap and I'm wondering how long the cat will last?

Thanks again to all who've posted on this thread

Nearside downpipe, £36.48
Offside downpipe, £53.86
Cat, £145.33

http://www.onlineautomotive.co.uk/search_results.php?

I'll give the guy a mention as he did'nt try to BS me into making a purchase and will fit anything I'll supply



1 Stop MOT Centre

Weston Road,
Crewe,
Cheshire,
North West,
CW1 6BT

Phone number: 01270 250190
Fax number: 01270 258847

[cookie7354]

Hello there Dox I have just fitted them tonight (1 hour) and there a perfect match, i used exhaust paste for the joints which hardens when they get warm etc etc. I only brought the near side one but realised the other sides clamp had wasted away.

Everything went well but i did manage to snap an exhaust manifold bolt this should come off with a little heat, but for the time being its held on by 2 bolts instead of three and its gas tight too, bonus.

Online automotive are top dollar as you can see by there products, and the down pipes are lighter, have excellent welds etc

Just remember to heat up the bolts before attempting to undo them!!!!!!

Regards cookie

[Dox]

Thanks again Cookie, I'll order them up on Monday

Whenever I do manifold nuts I use an oversize socket with rag in the bottom and fill the socket with engine oil, bodge the socket over the studs gets lots of oil all over the threads. Using the correct size hexagon impact socket begin to undo the nut then reverse the ratchet to clear the rust from out of the threads. Working slowly too and fro quarter or half a turn at a time help prevent studs from shearing

[Dudey Head]

Hello there Dox I have just fitted them tonight (1 hour) and there a perfect match, i used exhaust paste for the joints which hardens when they get warm etc etc. I only brought the near side one but realised the other sides clamp had wasted away.

Everything went well but i did manage to snap an exhaust manifold bolt this should come off with a little heat, but for the time being its held on by 2 bolts instead of three and its gas tight too, bonus.

Online automotive are top dollar as you can see by there products, and the down pipes are lighter, have excellent welds etc

Just remember to heat up the bolts before attempting to undo them!!!!!!

Regards cookie

Nowt like digging a thread up!
Are your downpipes still alright Cookie? I'm going to order a pair if they are.
I had mine into 1 Stop in Crewe, he said he didn't want to do them because they're a pain if the manifold bolts go, can't say fairer, no BS.