I read when I was looking for a vRS that they had Stainless Steel Systems as standard, is this true?

Luke

Nope not true. The rear box has a stainless tailpipe that's all..

Thanks for clearing that.

Is it expensive to replace system when/if it goes? In the 2.5years I had the 307, it never needed doing. I may be tempted for a stainless steel system afterwards.

They seem to last a good few years, not a weak point i believe, stainless steel cat back will cost around £250 upwards, maybe get them a little cheaper now.

Think that they must be stainless. Mild steel wouldn't last as long as these do.

Defo not stainless, Mild steel will last that long depending on the join, as that is what makes them go.

You should expect 3 years on a mild steel. Most folks that do replace , change to Stainless and as stated price would start at around the £250 mark, going upwards. A rear box can be bought cheaper, but most folks go for Cat back systems.

Pretty sure that VAG exhausts have been stainless for quite a few years. OEM mild steel systems used to last about 3 years as you say, but these seem to last 7+ years.

Pretty sure that VAG exhausts have been stainless for quite a few years. OEM mild steel systems used to last about 3 years as you say, but these seem to last 7+ years.

Happy to be proved wrong buddy, 7 years, christ wish mine lasted that long.. The back box went

My 1999 TDI is still on the original exhaust.

Depends on what sort of driving you do. Mostly long runs means you won't end up with water condensing in the silencers and rotting from the inside out. I can well imagine that 7 years might be possible if you do mostly motorway business miles. As for cost, I've recently fitted a standard oem system, cat back. Centre section cost ninety something, rear section, just over £200 Inc vat! So you can certainly get a stainless system for less than that.

Perhaps it lasts longer on the vRS because the exhaust gases are hotter than a normally aspirated car.

My Octy vRS is a 52 plater on the original exhaust, and it still looks pretty good. My x reg toledo (1.8 20v non-turbo) needed the original exhaust replacing after just 4 years.

When you park the cars up, the toledo exhaust tailpipe was warm, but not hot. The vRS tailpipe is really hot, so maybe condensation and acid etc can't build up.

Happy to be proved wrong buddy, 7 years, christ wish mine lasted that long.. The back box went

Maybe I am wrong then, but I seemed to remember reading that from about the Mk3 Golf onwards VW changed to stainless, so that would carry across to the rest of the group too. Perhaps it's my age and I'm getting confused, or just wishful thinking

My 53 plate TDI has its original exhaust as does SWMBOs 04 Fabia TDI. The one on my old 02 plate Fabia 16v was still original when I sold it last year too. None of them are high mileage and SWMBO mainly goes to and from work about 5 or 6 miles in each direction.

I actually cleaned up the backbox on my 2001 Y reg, 66k miles. With some elbow grease the pipes & box came up like new. Definitely some decent material there.

My 2001 110TDi with 146k on the clock is still on its original pipework (no patching/welding needed.... yet....)

I always just assumed that the standard exhaust on the vRS was stainless. It sure looks stainless!

Mine is still mint after 8 years, so that sort of backed up what I thought.

I wonder what grade it is, and how you could find out?

mine still looks to be on the original exhaust, thought they must be stainless?

Perhaps someone could try putting a magnet next to it?

Most (not all) stainless steel isn't magnetic, so if t is stainless, a magnet shouldn't stick.

I just tried this and magnet didn't stick to it - also didn't stick to the tip which is defo stainless.

Mine is on 97k and still on original exhaust, i wish it would fall apart i want an excuse to buy a new one lol

Mine is on 97k and still on original exhaust, i wish it would fall apart i want an excuse to buy a new one lol

lol

I just tried this and magnet didn't stick to it - also didn't stick to the tip which is defo stainless.

Maybe they are stainless then?

I'd try it on mine, but it's in the garage at the minute getting the central locking fixed under warranty.

I was speaking to my friend who thought it was stainless too, just a different grade compared to aftermarket systems.