Hi
We've just taken our 2000 w GTi into the local VW garage to be told that we need a complete new exhast system, including a new cat' both the front and rear mounts have rusted through....VW are after £841 for it.....OUCH, we've been to Kwik Fit and a local indep' VW garage, who have come in around £730....
Have any of you guys had to replace the full sytem and if so what did you use / how much did you pay? Are there any suitable aftermerket systems which include new cat that are a straight forward fix on?
Please help, as we don't want to get another mortgage
Cheers
POLO GTi EXHAUST!!!
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Dangerous Dave
- Silver Member
- Posts: 297
- Joined: Fri May 27, 2005 10:52 am
If they are saying it needs replaced because the brackets are broken, either get the brackets re-welded on or as I did getbrackets that went round the exhaust and the broken bracket and problem solved for under £10.
If they are saying it needs replaced due to corrision I would be very surprised if the cat needs replaced more than likely they want too replace the cat as its a all in one system from the factory so they need to cut it to replace the rear two silencers. You should be able to find a garage that are willing to cut the exhaust after the cat and replace the rear section. There are people on here who have got custom stanless steel exhausts cat back fitted for £300 from powerflow it may be worth find a local dealer and seeing if they can do one that is no louder than the standard system (unless you want a louder exhaust).
If they are saying it needs replaced due to corrision I would be very surprised if the cat needs replaced more than likely they want too replace the cat as its a all in one system from the factory so they need to cut it to replace the rear two silencers. You should be able to find a garage that are willing to cut the exhaust after the cat and replace the rear section. There are people on here who have got custom stanless steel exhausts cat back fitted for £300 from powerflow it may be worth find a local dealer and seeing if they can do one that is no louder than the standard system (unless you want a louder exhaust).
Regarding Powerflow, take the car to a reseller who has a good reputation and then ask them to make it as quiet as possible. I went to Unique Exhausts in Stafford, and when I asked him, "if I had asked for a system exactly like the standard one would it be as quiet?", his answer was that it would have been pretty straightforward.
In the end I had a cat-back Powerflow fitted with a hidden tailpipe (so just like the standard system) for £210 inc. fitting and VAT. It is a little louder than standard but thats because that is what I asked for
My brother in law had a Powerflow on his old mk4 16v. He expressly told the garage to make it as quiet as possible (apparently they looked at him funny when he said that) and to be fair it was a good job, you wouldn't have known it was different to OEM
In the end I had a cat-back Powerflow fitted with a hidden tailpipe (so just like the standard system) for £210 inc. fitting and VAT. It is a little louder than standard but thats because that is what I asked for
My brother in law had a Powerflow on his old mk4 16v. He expressly told the garage to make it as quiet as possible (apparently they looked at him funny when he said that) and to be fair it was a good job, you wouldn't have known it was different to OEM
Best thing to do. Like Dangerous Dave said just get it re-welded if the brackets broken. I think its like £650 for just the downpipe.Dangerous Dave wrote:If they are saying it needs replaced because the brackets are broken, either get the brackets re-welded on or as I did getbrackets that went round the exhaust and the broken bracket and problem solved for under £10.
of course, the thing that garages dont tell u is how much they pay. e.e they might but a cat from a dealer for about £60 or watever, then the garage adds couple of hundred or more onto the price they pay so u end up paying loads for something that cost not so much from the garage...... then theres the fitting and VAT on top. my sister got some stuff done on her car from our cousin, she got a new clutch and gear box for her w reg fiesta and he charged her £150 goes to show the price the garages pay for parts. my cars currently in my cousins garage to getting the engine rebuilt as it need new parts.
Two big lessons with VW ownership. They are a cheap vehicle to run provided that you:
A. Avoid Main Dealerships
B Avoid KWIK Fit
C. Find a good independant you can trust
A&B will make no attempt to make repairs of individual components as there is little of no money especially when they can sting you for new parts. I think I was quoted nearly £200 for a centre exhaust section from A & B my local guy charged me less than £50
A. Avoid Main Dealerships
B Avoid KWIK Fit
C. Find a good independant you can trust
A&B will make no attempt to make repairs of individual components as there is little of no money especially when they can sting you for new parts. I think I was quoted nearly £200 for a centre exhaust section from A & B my local guy charged me less than £50
THis might be of some help http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/POLO-GTI-16V-CAT- ... dZViewItem
