Stainless steel exhausts.

I own a Defender 90 300tdi Hard Top. Is it worth spending money on a Stainless Steel Exhaust. My local repairer suggests I stick with Mild Steel. Any one with first hand experience of having one fitted.

Different car, but I've had a SS exhaust on my 1986 MR for over 20 years, got fed up of replacing ever more expensive mild steel ones. In 2013 I also put a cat back SS exhaust on my P38.
It's only worth the extra money if you plan keeping the vehicle long term

Thanks for your imput. I can see where you are coming from. I have just spent £71 having a Mild Steel back box fitted.

My Disco came from factory with SS. Still there after 14 years.

I expect you have a lifetime guarantee whilst you own the vehicle. My tdi which I have owned for 5 years has over 200.000 miles on the clock. I am 73 years of age. No one knows how much longer I will be able to continue driving.

glenelg said:

I own a Defender 90 300tdi Hard Top. Is it worth spending money on a Stainless Steel Exhaust. My local repairer suggests I stick with Mild Steel. Any one with first hand experience of having one fitted.

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Local dealer might not do stainless, therefore would lose a sale if you went elsewhere - cynical or what!

You may well be right. He did explain that he had customers with a fault with the stainless exhaust. The manufacturer wanted the faulty part back. The vehicle would then be off the road so he had fitted a mild steel exhaust temporarily. When the replacement stainless exhaust arrived he was then left with a used exhaust. I suppose you can see where he was coming from.

hughdavies said:

My Disco came from factory with SS. Still there after 14 years.

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What model of Disco was that?
Never heard of factory stainless exhaust from LR.

My original lasted 7 years, MS replacement been on 4 years and looking a bit ropey now. Considering now SS or MS replacement - just to decide how long its likely to stay with me to make it worthwhile.

bobupndown said:

What model of Disco was that?
Never heard of factory stainless exhaust from LR.

My original lasted 7 years, MS replacement been on 4 years and looking a bit ropey now. Considering now SS or MS replacement - just to decide how long its likely to stay with me to make it worthwhile.

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2001 TD5. Did not have a cat fitted either, there are a few around the same.

glenelg said:

I expect you have a lifetime guarantee whilst you own the vehicle. My tdi which I have owned for 5 years has over 200.000 miles on the clock. I am 73 years of age. No one knows how much longer I will be able to continue driving.

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73? Should have at least another 10 years driving, I'm coming up to 72, just passed my bi annual medical for heavy vehicles and trailers.
I went stainless on the P38 because, whilst I may still be able to drive, I may not want to be crawling about under the car in the 3 or 4 years time that a mild steel exhaust might last. Got mine from Double S, not a lot dearer than I was quoted for a Bosal mild steel one.

As ever, it depends, in my opinion ...

If you use it off-road then it maybe better to leave it cheap 'cos it's more likely to get knocked off .. Mine has a couple of times on the 90, but I just pick the pieces up and weld 'em back.

If it's mostly for mild laning, roads and towing etc then stainless might be worth it.

As said, if you're keeping it for long enough then stainless, if you're likely to sell it or change it within a few years then cheap ..

Thanks for your useful post. I think I will go Stainless. Congratulations on passing your bi annual medical for heavy vehicles and trailers.

Good advice. Thanks.

some stainless exhausts are better than others. I drove a neighbours MGB a while ago, stainless boxes, the ringing in my ears was horrible. Get people to comment on the make they have.

landover said:

some stainless exhausts are better than others. I drove a neighbours MGB a while ago, stainless boxes, the ringing in my ears was horrible. Get people to comment on the make they have.

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P38, Double S to original pattern, quiet as a mouse

Datatek said:

P38, Double S to original pattern, quiet as a mouse

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Hope its a diesel, wouldnt want to pay the additional fuel cost for a V8 to be quiet

bobupndown said:

Hope its a diesel, wouldnt want to pay the additional fuel cost for a V8 to be quiet

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Why tell me would there be an additional fuel cost running a quiet V8?