Technical Stainless Steel Exhaust Advice

[Loujam]

Hi all,

in the relatively near future I may replace my exhaust system with a stainless steel system from the cat back as I plan to keep the car for a long time. Will a non standard system void my warranty? I am in the 3rd year manufacturers's warranty which will end in about 10 months so its not too big a deal to wait until then, but just interested to know.

Also, the change is purely to have an exhaust that will last the life of the car and any performance gains would just be an added bonus. Would the change in charactersics (as in more free flowing) adversely affect the life of the engine?

Is it a good idea or not bearing in mind I shall keep the car for many years and can anyone recommended any exhausts/suppliers?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[RobW]

Depends if it a performance system or just a standard type replacement made from stainless

 

[Turtle]

Having looked into this myself, I'm not aware of any standard looking off the shelf systems available for the 500. If you post up your location, you may get some recommendations for somewhere local that will supply and fit a custom system to your specification. I would recommend C&C Exhausts in Glasgow for custom exhaust work and will be paying them a visit shortly

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Don't forget you'll need to notify insurance company of the system.

 

[RobW]

Don't forget you'll need to notify insurance company of the system.

Not necessarily

If it is made to OEM size and standards but in stainless it will not be a modification


But if it a performance or custome system then yes it is a mod

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Not necessarily

If it is made to OEM size and standards but in stainless it will not be a modification


But if it a performance or custome system then yes it is a mod

OP has already said it'll be none standard.

 

[Loujam]

If you post up your location, you may get some recommendations for somewhere local that will supply and fit a custom system to your specification.

I'm from Gloucester, but if there is nowhere nearby then I will be happy to travel up to 60 miles or so.

OP has already said it'll be none standard.

I haven't really thought about this properly. If I could get a stainless steel one that is an equivalent to the standard one, then I'm sure there will be no issues with insurance and warranty.
A performance one would be perfectly fine for me if a standard one in stainless didn't exist (and actually sounds appealing). With no experience on this at all, would I then need to go to a specialist insurer?

 

[eco sTAr]

A performance one would be perfectly fine for me if a standard one in stainless didn't exist (and actually sounds appealing). With no experience on this at all, would I then need to go to a specialist insurer?

NO, you'd just need to tell your existing insurer what you have done. They may say it makes no difference to your premium, or they may charge you an additional sum. Either way, you're then covered.

If they want to charge you too much (whatever you think that is) that is when you need to look for a different insurer. I doubt if a modified exhaust will make much difference anyway, but your age, NCB and where you live are all factors.

Why not speak to your existing insurance company before you commit?

 

[RobW]

I'm from Gloucester, but if there is nowhere nearby then I will be happy to travel up to 60 miles or so.


I haven't really thought about this properly. If I could get a stainless steel one that is an equivalent to the standard one, then I'm sure there will be no issues with insurance and warranty.
A performance one would be perfectly fine for me if a standard one in stainless didn't exist (and actually sounds appealing). With no experience on this at all, would I then need to go to a specialist insurer?

There are 2 guys on this forum selling stainless exhausts
http://cartel-parts.com/collections/frontpage/products/stainless-steel-fiat-500-exhaust-back-box
And
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/270765-louder-exhaust-fiat-500-1-2-1-4-a.html


If you want a custom system made locally you could check out Longlife, based in Bristol http://www.bristolexhausts.co.uk/

Regarding exhaust most insurers won't worry about an aftermarket exhaust, but will charge more
if you describe it as a performance exhaust

 

[Loujam]

Thanks to all who replied.

If you want a custom system made locally you could check out Longlife, based in Bristol http://www.bristolexhausts.co.uk/

Rob, I have also come across Longlife and was just popping on here to pass on my findings to other members. I have been in contact with them and asked them about insurance premiums being increased. LongLife said that they actually issue a letter on completion to hand to your insurance company explaining that the exhaust is a stainless steel replacement of the original factory fitted exhaust and that there are no performance gains. So I think this company is a good find. They quoted me £289 inc VAT and fitting for my 1.4 Sport and they've been around for quite a few years. Thanks for your help on this one.

There are 2 guys on this forum selling stainless exhausts
http://cartel-parts.com/collections/...haust-back-box
And
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/270765-...1-2-1-4-a.html

I will still have a look at these other two links that you posted before I rush into things. And then, do I wait until my Fiat warranty expires in 10 months or so? In the unlikely event of an engine failure, Fiat might still argue that the stainless exhaust somehow affected the engine and caused the failure. I'll put some thought to it. Even though my mild steel exhaust isn't in too bad a condition, the 'calling' of a gleaming stainless steel one might get the better of me.

 

[306maxi]

Thanks to all who replied.



Rob, I have also come across Longlife and was just popping on here to pass on my findings to other members. I have been in contact with them and asked them about insurance premiums being increased. LongLife said that they actually issue a letter on completion to hand to your insurance company explaining that the exhaust is a stainless steel replacement of the original factory fitted exhaust and that there are no performance gains. So I think this company is a good find. They quoted me £289 inc VAT and fitting for my 1.4 Sport and they've been around for quite a few years. Thanks for your help on this one.


I will still have a look at these other two links that you posted before I rush into things. And then, do I wait until my Fiat warranty expires in 10 months or so? In the unlikely event of an engine failure, Fiat might still argue that the stainless exhaust somehow affected the engine and caused the failure. I'll put some thought to it. Even though my mild steel exhaust isn't in too bad a condition, the 'calling' of a gleaming stainless steel one might get the better of me.

I think Fiat would be fighting a very much uphill battle if they tried to argue that an exhaust caused an engine failure, that said if your exhaust isn't in bad condition I'd wait till it is and then get it replaced. Otherwise you'll be chucking a perfectly good exhaust away.

 

[Loujam]

Yep, I have decided that I will go with LongLife. They are only a 20 minute drive away from me. Don't know when I'll get it done though but I'll see if they will let me take photos while it is up on the ramps so that I can report back here and show the results. There is no getting away from the fact that the money will have to be spent on a new one at some point anyway due to the fact that the mild steel exhaust will inevitably fail some time in the future. It sounds like I'm talking myself into this!

 

[staffordmike]

Hi, I was surprised to see how rusty the back box was on my 3 year old 500, it looks like internal corrosion is pushing th baffles out of the sides of the box. I have looked at buying a stainless system and note that Remus, a well respected manufacturer in biking circles, make a full stainless system for the 500. The price is a bit steep at £500 but it looks nice and gives an extra 4bhp on the 1.4 Sport. I like the idea of a properly designed stainless system rather than a collection of off the shelf silencers joined together with "custom made" tubes.

 

[Loujam]

I like the idea of a properly designed stainless system rather than a collection of off the shelf silencers joined together with "custom made" tubes.

Same here. As I'm not one for rushing into things, after a bit more browsing on the net, I realised that this was how a lot of these exhausts are made. (Sorry for my naivety, maybe most of you knew that already but I'm not the brightest sometimes). This is why for fitting, they can require your car for up to 3 hours. Your exhaust fit and build quality will then be down to the skills of the fitters/fabricators on the day. I think I'm right in saying that. Anyone please put me straight on this if I'm wrong.

 

[frupi]

Loujam, hi,

If you do get a proper custom fit stainless steel exhaust specifically designed for the car, it will be good and I promise you, you will have no regrets.

I bought a custom stainless steel system from the cat back, for my wife's MX5 which we have only just recently PX'd for the 500. The system cost just over 300 quid, but it looked superb underneath when fitted. It took our local garage an hour to fit it, they charged us only 30 quid. It would have only taken half an hour, but under the MX5, there is a chassis protection cage which has to be removed and it was an absolute ass to undo the bolts holding it on.
With the 500, I suspect it would be a very quick, straightforward job, although you can never tell!!! The only thing I would suggest is, make sure you buy an original Fiat exhaust gasket to join the stainless steel section to the cat. I did so for our old MX5. The garage were chuffed to bits because the quality of the gasket was superb compared to what they would have used. What's more, an original Mazda exhaust gasket only cost 5 quid, so I can't see a Fiat one being too much.

 

[Loujam]

Loujam, hi,

If you do get a proper custom fit stainless steel exhaust specifically designed for the car, it will be good and I promise you, you will have no regrets.

I bought a custom stainless steel system from the cat back, for my wife's MX5 which we have only just recently PX'd for the 500. The system cost just over 300 quid, but it looked superb underneath when fitted.

Hi frupi,
that's really good information and I'd be much more inclined to go ahead. Just over £300, was this recently? Do you have any info on the company? StaffordMike pointed me in the direction of Remus, but these were £500 which is over my budget really but thanks to Mike anyway for the info.

 

[frupi]

The system I bought for our old MX5 was a specific system sold through a supplier that deals only in parts for the MX5. It was custom made to their own specification. It didn't increase BHP and so was not classed as a modification. It was just a straight replacement for a mild steel exhaust, but the quality of the stainless was excellent and will probably outlast the rest of the car. The thing it did do (which I liked) was give the car a slightly deeper tone making it sound more like a sports car should. But like I said, it didn't increase its performance.

From this particular thread, I would be very inclined myself to have a proper, custom made replacement for our own 500 when the time arises. It would be worth it for me and my missus because we tend to keep our cars for years (we don't treat ours like white goods like some people do!) It seems to be a fact, that once the original system needs replacing, replacements only seem to last a couple of years. I once managed to get hold of a genuine Nissan back box from a dealer for my old Primera for 54 quid. It cost me a fiver to get it fitted. There was me thinking it was going to last at least 5 years, and I only got 18 months out of it! I was gutted.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

. It didn't increase BHP and so was not classed as a modification.

You asked and got that in writing?

Who was your insurer for reference as not all will Have the same view probably.

 

[RobinPJ]

Getting it in writing is obviously the best thing to do. However, a happy middle ground is to scribble a note of what you are told on paper (I tend to use the covering letter that sent out the policy or even write on the back of the policy), get the other person's name (preferably surname as well as first name) and write that down, and date it.

In my humble (lawyer's) opinion, any judge would be persuaded of the accuracy of what you were told by such "contemporaneous written evidence".

 

[RobW]

i think you lot worry too much...