Exhaust center box replacement.

[smilespergallon]

Hi everyone,

Just taken my Edition 30 for an MOT at a local garage. It failed due to an exhaust leak. The exhaust center box has rusted through and needs replacing. They also said that the center box and back box is all one part, so will all need to be replaced at one go.

Apparently there isn't much/anything available for aftermarket exhausts, so the best option is to get the replacement part from VW at a cost of £1,088. Then a small amount of labour on top.

Naturally I'd rather not pay £1,088+ if I can avoid it. Do I have any other options here?

Is there anywhere else I can get a decent replacement part? I'll be honest and say that I've not replaced any part of the exhaust system before, so I'm not exactly sure where to go or what I'm looking for (i.e. exhaust terminology), but would be happy to give it a go if there's a better alternative than what I'm currently looking at.

Any advice would be much appreciated, as always.

Edit:  These look like some of my options:

• Milltek (£723.6) - https://www.awesomegti.com/shop-by-car/volkswagen/golf-mk5/milltek-2-75-cat-back-exhaust-vw-golf-mk5-gti-and-edition-30/
• Cobra Sport (£740.47) - https://cobrasport.com/collections/vw-golf-exhaust/products/vw-golf-gti-mk5-cat-back-performance-exhaust?variant=32119900307537

[breeze]

There are a few options available in the aftermarket. I suspect your garage just doesn't want to sell one to you.

Broadly you have three options:
- Original VW - this is the most expensive and what it sounds like they want to sell you
- Aftermarket OEM spec - these are varying levels of quality. Try https://www.autodoc.co.uk/ or https://www.eurocarparts.com/ and put in your registration
- Aftermarket performance system - usually in stainless steel. These are generally louder but depending on what you go for will allow you to make more power later.

It sounds like aftermarket OEM spec is the sensible option for you. If you want an aftermarket performance system that is on the more quiet end, try the Milltek Resonated 2.75" system. Resonated is important if you worry about sound. Around £650 I think. Of course you could buy used too.

[breeze]

Looks like I responded whilst you were editing!

Milltek is good. If you go for resonated the sound will be very similar. Just be aware that if you want to get big power from your car later, the resonated 2.75" system may be a bit of a restriction. I suspect the Cobra will be quite a bit louder but I haven't heard one in person. Both 'hampshirephoto' and 'Decimal Tenths' have videos with Cobra exhausts on YouTube and 'pumaspeedtuning' has resonated and non resonated Milltek videos, also on YouTube.

[smilespergallon]

Thanks, you're a great help (again).

I checked on AutoDoc and it looks my main option is Polmo:

Polmo Middle Silencer (£56.80) - https://www.autodoc.co.uk/polmo/9475143
Polmo Rear Silencer (£94.01) - https://www.autodoc.co.uk/polmo/9475145

I'm guessing that a Middle Silencer + Rear Silencer is the equivalent of the "cat back" options available from Milltek and Cobra.

Don't know what the quality of Polmo is like, but £150 for Polmo vs £750 for Milltek/Cobra seems like a big difference.

Thanks for the links.

[smilespergallon]

For what it's worth I'm not looking for a more aggressive sound or anything. Would like to stay close to OEM. Just want to fit something that's quality.

[FatWelshBoy]

If you are after quality, quiet and no drone then look at BCS. Nige at BCS does a discount on the website prices if you ring up and say you are on the forum. They do three sound levels and valved and non-valved systems. Have a chat with Nige and he'll advise what will suit your needs

[breeze]

Honestly, going to a couple of exhaust places on the high street and getting quotes isn’t *terrible*.

Most people here, including me, tend to assume that we need to get super quality stuff but it isn’t always needed. You’ve got to add the cost of fitting to the prices you see too.

One thing I would say… I wouldn’t try fitting a cheap exhaust like the Polmo myself. They often need tweaking to fit and you can’t really do that on the driveway.

[smilespergallon]

Thanks both.

Whatever exhaust I go for, am I right in thinking this is something I can do myself?

[skkane]

VW are crazy charging that. I got one from a breaker (only the middle part) for 27GBP, the straight pipe the owner had on was driving me insane. He will cut it from the final muffler and sell it only by itself. You would need a quick release fastener to install it and use that epoxy paste thing which hardenes and "welds" itself from the heat, providing a perfect fit. Or you could just weld it on.

I'd check the breaker yards. Works from seat/audis everything. You can even get a away with a smaller diameter one from a 1.4 since all it does is break up the noise. But then you'd need the 3" to 2.75" adapter or whatever size the 1.4 one is (it is smaller in diameter vs the 2.0tfsi ones).

I'd get the Polmo one for 56 quid brand new if I had to do it again.

[Rado16v]

Hi, I was in the same boat as you a few months back, the original exhaust was blowing at the join to the mid box, it's very common.

I also wanted as close to original as possible without any drone. Opted for the Miltek 2.75" resonated system and it fits the bill. Good fitment and sounds no different to the original.

[breeze]

Thanks both.

Whatever exhaust I go for, am I right in thinking this is something I can do myself?

Sorry if I wasn’t clear - I wouldn’t fit something like the Polomo on the driveway. The cheaper exhausts often need bending with heat and I just wouldn’t want to get into that. Genuine or quality aftermarket (like Milltek) I’d have no issue fitting.

[smilespergallon]

Managed to get the exhaust off.



Wasn't too bad. I rounded off one of the bolts on one of the clips that holds two pieces of pipe together, so I cut it off with an angle grinder. Didn't feel too bad about it because the other clip had rusted in to pieces anyway.



Hardest part was getting the metal hangers out of the rubber holders. But with a trusty flathead screwdriver and a bit of persuasion I managed to get them all out.



Turns out there is a hole in the center box.



Now I'm thinking about what to replace it with. I can either go second hand for about £100, or I'm now tempted by this £550 stainless steel exhaust by Scorpion: https://www.awesomegti.com/shop-by-brand/scorpion/scorpion-cat-back-exhaust-volkswagen-golf-mk5-gti/

Apparently it's good like the Milltek one, but £200 cheaper.

Thanks for all the help guys.

[smilespergallon]

I'm guessing if I go for a new aftermarket exhaust it will come with the right fittings so I wouldn't need to use those broken clips (that were rusted and I angled grinded off)?

[breeze]

Try and listen to the Scorpion before you buy if at all you can. They all vary quite a bit, with Milltek being the most quiet.

Scorpion is generally of good quality (worst being e-Bay unbranded, best being something like BCS).

Should come with all the fittings.

[pudding]

£1100 for a mid-rear section   It does last 15 odd years though I suppose! 

I'd get the lowest mileage used original you can find on ebay personally.  Most aftermarket exhausts are complete garbage compared to OEM.

Should be plenty about as everyone seems to want to fit aftermarket drainpipes to their GTIs.