Standard exhaust for the Mk 3

[DavidL]

...what does it consist of?

My current exhaust is blowing/rattling/knocking on the gearchange remote/too low/just wrong...

What the car has behind the LCB is:

a ball-type joint (this seems to be loose and rattling)
a dog-legged section to clear the g/c remote (although I suspect it's knocking against the remote)
a centre box (circular section) in roughly the same place as the seats
the cranked pipe bit that goes over the rear subframe
an oval rear box sited in line with the car, with twin outlets, directly under the fuel tank (the box has about 5mm vertical clearance from the fuel tank)
twin tail pipes which exit one on either side of the car (one is in the same position as the exhaust relief arch and the other is symmetrically opposite).

I said it's too low - not the whole system, just a support in the g/c remote area which I could reposition, but I'd rather make sure I was starting with an exhaust which was designed for the car, not something else cobbled together.

I know the rear box should sit east-west behind the fuel tank, and that Maniflow sell (or sold) this box.
Should there actually be a centre box? If so, should I line the tunnel with heat shield material? It looks a little short of space for a centre box, although I've done 500 miles with the exhaust like this and not noticed any excess heat coming up from between the seats.
And where can I buy the proper system - Maniflow? Or are there other suppliers?

[Stuart]

Here's a standard mild-steel version

[DavidL]

Thanks Stuart, the centre box is a standard fitment then, as is the balljoint where it joins the LCB.
I remember fitting a short length of flexi between the LCB and the Midas-supplied SS exhaust system on the Bronze, which seemed to help reduce the incidence of LCB fracture. Since the balljoint seems to have a lot of movement in it, and the middle section might be savable (saveable?), I'd be tempted to cut the balljoint out and replace it with flexi again. However, the middle section won't last forever, and if I can get a new one (and a new back box) that's the direction I'd like to take. Do Maniflow do the whole system (sans LCB)?
Or would Alistair Courtney be the best person to ask?

[Stuart]

I'm led to believe Maniflow do a full system, however I doubt it would be sensibly priced. Although it would be nice to know the price for reference.
My last MK3 had a club sourced stainless system fitted, it was rather noisy and not a great fit.

I guess another option is to see what a standard Metro system is like, and adapt bits of it to fit the Midas

[DavidL]

Maniflow don't list it on their website (hardly surprising if they do a lot of "nonstandard" stuff though).

However the prices listed for standard Mini/Metro systems don't seem cheap. Would this be a case of paying for quality gear, or are they chancing their arm? I seem to recall Hans saying he thought they were overpriced, although I think the word he used was "ripoff"...

However, I think I may have to phone them anyway, even if just to get a ballpark figure. I will have a chair handy.

[Stuart]

These guys did some mods on my MK2 exhaust years ago http://www.jpexhausts.co.uk/
Too far away and expensive for you though. If a Maniflow is going to cost £250 I think I'd go custom stainless or a mixture with some Jetex stuff http://www.jetex.co.uk/website/custom_p ... =1.75+inch

[DavidL]

These guys did some mods on my MK2 exhaust years ago http://www.jpexhausts.co.uk/
Too far away and expensive for you though. If a Maniflow is going to cost £250 I think I'd go custom stainless or a mixture with some Jetex stuff http://www.jetex.co.uk/website/custom_p ... =1.75+inch

I'll take a look at that, since Maniflow just got back to me. Prices for reference:
System from balljoint back in mild steel: £275. SS: £375
Back half in mild steel: £195. SS: £245 (1.75" bore, slightly less for smaller bore).

I said I'd think about it.

[ACourtney]

Hi David,

For your information, I can supply mild steel or stainless exhausts to the original pattern. One small improvement is that the ball joint, that is vulnerable to damage, has been replaced by a flexible bellows section.
The prices are not much different to Maniflow (I'm assuming the Maniflow prices quoted as pre-VAT), as they are also hand made to order.
The mild steel system is £330 (Maniflow £275 + VAT = £330) and the stainless system is £440 (Maniflow £375 + VAT = £450).
I can supply the individual parts if required and these will match up to an original system, which the Maniflow one will not.
My observation from selling exhausts over the last seven years is that Stainless exhausts only seem to need the ball-joint section replaced (hence the change to a flexible bellows), whilst it is the rear box that tends to go first on mild steel systems.

Regards,

Alistair

[Rich]

Makes me really glad mine came with a stainless system........

[DavidL]

Hi David,

For your information, I can supply mild steel or stainless exhausts to the original pattern. One small improvement is that the ball joint, that is vulnerable to damage, has been replaced by a flexible bellows section.
The prices are not much different to Maniflow (I'm assuming the Maniflow prices quoted as pre-VAT), as they are also hand made to order.
The mild steel system is £330 (Maniflow £275 + VAT = £330) and the stainless system is £440 (Maniflow £375 + VAT = £450).
I can supply the individual parts if required and these will match up to an original system, which the Maniflow one will not.
My observation from selling exhausts over the last seven years is that Stainless exhausts only seem to need the ball-joint section replaced (hence the change to a flexible bellows), whilst it is the rear box that tends to go first on mild steel systems.

Regards,

Alistair

Hi Alistair,
Right now my choice of exhaust system (full stainless) is out of my financial reach, although I couldn't say how much, if any, of my exhaust system is original, or matches the original. I do prefer the idea of a flexible section as opposed to a single balljoint, at least from a mechanical point of view.

I have to admit that I forgot to ask Maniflow about the inclusion (or not) of VAT in their prices. Once they'd actually told me the prices, my first thought wasn't so much "does that include VAT?" as "HOW much???" - but it's been a long time since I've had to buy any exhaust system.

I am going to have to bite the bullet and buy a full system, though. Once I've sorted the finances out I'll let you know.

Three more questions:
How much is the rear box section, if/when it needs replacement on its own?
For a full system, how long would I have to wait for delivery, from date of ordering?
How much is delivery?

Many thanks. I hope I'll be ordering one soon...

Best wishes
David