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[Alex W]

I know there's already a post about this somewhere but I can't find it.

My GM exhaust has finally given up the ghost after six and a half years and 50,000 miles (£355 seemed a lot for an exhaust at the time). My local exhaust centre say they cannot supply one but they'll fit one I source for £80 labour.

I understand that GM don't make these excellent original systems anymore so I need to source a replacement ( both centre pipes and back box). I've seen some cheap ones on Fleabay, (probably made of blancmange). I remember reading on here somewhere that there is a German firm that supplies good quality exhaust systems. Does anyone have the details?

Any advice on how best to proceed would be welcome. The car is 12yo now, the rear doors are rusting at the bottom, somehow I don't think I need another 6 year exhaust.

[tigers_gonads]

Eternal off ebay 

[Tonka.]

Yes, Eternal. About £120 delivered in a box the size of a coffin 

[jonny2112]

£80 is too much for labour IMHO. If you get one yourself, then shop around for fitting 

[Alex W]

I think the labour figure is about right, about 90 minutes work. The old one has been on there for 6.5 years and its gonna take a bit of getting off. And then the replacement is only a pattern part so it probably won't fit straight away.

Last time, the Vx dealer had to apply heat to get the cat converter bolts to unseize and it took nearly two hours to do the job. I still had to take it back again when it was making a dreadful noise.

Anyone got those German supplier details???

Thanks in advance

[Tonka.]

Mine was a perfect fit. From on ramp to off ramp 30 minutes. Charged me £20   
Mind you, I did drill the cat bolts out when I fitted the AR35   

[tunnie]

£80 is a lot, think I bunged local fatty in town 30 quid to fit it. That said only one downpipe, the V6's can be a right pig. Often better to remove the cat & downpipe section.

[TheBoy]

A place near my work will fit a supplied exhaust for £25.

£80 is taking the phish.

[dbug]

I fitted an Eternal one to the Elite Estate to replace original GM one - original came off easily and replacement fitted together OK (only "mod" required was to slightly bend one hanger to fit) - all in on ramps about 1 hour.  £80 labour is taking the "piss" IMO

[Alex W]

OK, I won't pay £80 then.

Now, does anyone have details of that German exhaust that was supposed to be just as good as the original GM kit? I'm sure I read about it on here once, or did I dream it??

[tunnie]

Eternal, store is on eBay 

[dbdb]

If staffordshire is near you there is a used one for £60 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251186813963 or new one from Poland £90 delivered http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150933332385 .  I have no connection with either.  I got one from Germany adu-auto and it was great but he is not selling them now.  I fitted it myself with the car on car ramps, bit of a pain but that was only because of not having a warm indoor car lift.  The Polish one looks very similar.

[Alex W]

I do quite like the idea of fitting it myself, I've done one before on a previous car without too much drama.

What I tend to find when doing jobs on cars is that I often can't get the old stuff off and then I'd be stuck on the drive with half an exhaust and have to pay £100 to get it towed to a garage, with the resultant humiliation.

The last time I tried some DIY was replacing my steering control arm after MOT failure, an apparently simple job. But I simply could not break the ball joint. I bought a ball joint breaking tool and IT broke. I had to put the nuts back on take it back to the garage to eat humble pie. I'm thinking that taking a 6 six old, rotten, exhaust system off while the car is on axel stands could turn out to be a nightmare.

[Alex W]

I meant to say "steering idler arm" not "steering control arm"

[TheBoy]

The only trouble you may get replacing V6 exhaust is seized mid-to-cat section bolts. Just be prepared - have a good drill, centrepunch, hacksaw and nuts/washers available. Then if you shear bolts, saw them flush, centrepunch and drill them, then use a nut to secure the new bolts (always use new bolts).