BX Exhaust League Table

[Way2go]

Prior to a few years ago, I always believed in the low pain (except on the wallet) idea of getting the exhaust components replaced by the exhaust specialist. That was until a local good outfit was taken over by kwikfit, unknown to me because it had not yet been renamed.
Now there seem to be a bundle of different types available, so I wondered if we could sort a list into a preferential order. For example I think that "Walker" are good but that Euroflow is the shit fitted by "Kwikfit".

So in no particular order:

Walker
Insa
Arvin
Rosi
Tesh
Klarius
Flowmaster
Bosal
Euroflow


The above are types that come up for sale to fit a BX, on Ebay. If you want to add to the list and recommend types, please do.

The question is also based in practicality as I need to buy a crossbox that will last a decent amount of time without perhaps going to the silly money of stainless steel.

[JayW]

I think Walker & Bosal are the same thing these days but in reality, a lot of the budget brands are made in the same factories and labelled differently. This is the reason Bosal and Walker no longer emboss their name into the silencers.

In my experience, in the past 10 years i've not bought any exhaust which has fallen apart during the remainder of my ownership so i can't really judge.

OEM's always the best way for longevity if you can afford it.

[citronut]

Bosal, Walker and Tesh i think are the only reasonably good quality exhaust companies in your lust,
i was told Bosal do two qualities of exhaust with one with a years warranty and the other a 2 year warranty,

then Tesh used to be OE fitment

regards malcolm

[citsncycles]

I've used both Walker and Bosal on a variety of different vehicles. On some where part of the exhaust is bolted to the engine / gearbox I've had alignment problems with Walker systems (2CV & H Van). When I decided to change the back box on the GS, I bought Bosal because it was all that was available, only to find the inlet diameter didn't match the OE centre pipe that was fitted a couple of years previously. On the other hand, Once fitted they've all lasted well.

[mds141]

Or,for the cost of replacing exhaust components every few years, fit a stainless steel system.

[citsncycles]

You need to be careful what stainless system you get though - as always you get what you pay for.

I've come across systems made with seamed tube welded with mild steel wire, or which have silencers with mild steel baffles.

I've not used them personally, but know people who have had good experiences with Longlife, and I know from shopping round in the past that my local branch at least will be up for a haggle if you're so inclined.

[mds141]

Touch wood, the system on the valver is holding up well. Gave it a polish yesterday in fact. No signs of corrosion, so hopefully I've got a 'quality' set up.

[Defender110]

Walkers have always been A1 in my experience, I too have seen many poor SS exhausts that have rotted through on the none SS welds.

[Way2go]

Is there a particular reason, does anyone know, why the centre silencer is significantly more expensive than the rear?

[barry badger]

From my local euro car parts branch a td centre box is just under £20 + vat and a td estate rear silencer is just under £42 + vat, both in klarius. I am going to fit a td exhaust to my txd so i priced them up a couple of weeks ago.

[Way2go]

ECP only list the front pipe for the GTi (but it is a Walker @ £62.40 ).

[citronut]

i would not touch parts from that bunch with a barge pole,

as IMO they are squeezing there buying in price's down so much/far, there suppliers are cutting costs/cornners,

even with supposed branded named products,

i call it the T*E*S*C*O syndrome

[Way2go]

IMO they are squeezing there buying in price's down so much/far, there suppliers are cutting costs/cornners,
even with supposed branded named products,
i call it the T*E*S*C*O syndrome

Are you actually saying a Walker from ECP is not the same as a Walker bought elsewhere?

I don't know about Tesco but ECP probably attended the MFI school of marketing where the mantra was "stack it high, sell it cheap!". Better prices can always be achieved by those who buy in bulk.

[barry badger]

Surely companies like walker, luk and snr to name a few are not going to compromise on quality because a company negotiates a tight deal with them. They will probably make twice the profit margin supplying to euro car parts than they will to a major car maufacturer.

[mat_fenwick]

I really doubt that there is a consistent difference between a brand bought at ECP, and the same brand bought elsewhere. Perhaps the problems experienced are more down to the general trend of quality being sacrificed in the name of prices?

There's always a chance that the odd dodgy part gets through, and I know from experience that there are some customers who you could 'take a chance' with, and others for whom the consequences of even one failure meant you made damned sure everything was 100%. That (unofficial) judgement was made not on the price the customer was paying, but on the amount of arse kicking and paperwork you'd get from the customer if anything went wrong...