New Exhaust Needed - Help!

[jdrrco]

Hi all

My 56-plate Gen ii Prius needs a new exhaust. The whole thing needs replacing, front end (including 2 cats) and back box.

Any tips or advice on where is worth going to? Quotes so far vary between £600 and over £2,000.

Please let me know your experiences and advice. All contributions appreciated as always.

[Chris Dance]

I would only get a genuine Toyota exhaust fitted by a Toyota dealer regardless of cost. I would not trust any other garage to service a Prius. That is my advice.

[twohats]

I was wondering how much longer the exhaust on my 06 would last. Seven years seems pretty good going.

Has anybody else had to replace the exhaust on a Gen 2 yet?

[MLW2233]

I have not relaced an exhaust for ages. They seem to last for ever.

I am surprised that it has ALL gone. Might get a second opinion. Unusual for 2 cats to go as well.

I have used Hengst exhausts from Europarts. Really strong and beefy. Top quality.

[jdrrco]

I was suspicious at first, but four garages have all said the same thing and I've seen for myself. It's not the cats that have gone, but the pipe has split just the other side of the back box and the system is in just 2 parts: back box and the rest!

I was a little surprised at first, but, as twohats said, 7 years and 100,000 miles isn't unreasonable.

I would prefer to stick to Toyota dealers and parts, but the difference in price is so large that I'm tempted to go with the cheaper option. After all, I could replace it twice more and still be quids in.

Has anyone on here replaced theirs yet and if so, with what?

[don21]

Most cars have a complete one piece system fitted at the factory. When it comes time to replace part of the system especially just the back box the aftermarket part will come made to fit over the good part of the exhaust..

Done hundreds of them you just have to cut in the right place and fit the new section on fit and tighten clamp with paste and away you go..

Euro car parts are showing a rear silencer for £68.40.

My bet is this would fit your car.

In my experience Toyota exhausts last forever you seem to have been unlucky.

Good luck.

[MLW2233]

The Hengst stuff at Europarts is very good. Consider it.

[Yolina]

Most cars have a complete one piece system fitted at the factory. When it comes time to replace part of the system especially just the back box the aftermarket part will come made to fit over the good part of the exhaust..

Indeed, that's what my local independent garage has done every time my car has needed part of the exhaust replaced :) When I had it done on the 206 a couple of years ago, the cost was IIRC around £200-250 all in.

Surely it's possible to do that on a Prius? Though I guess it's in the dealer's interest to say that the whole lot needs to be changed.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Have you driven through flood water a lot lately? There a few reports of the Prius ever needing a new exhaust.

[kithmo]

Sounds like someone's reversed it into a mud bank or something and strained the metal near the welds.

[jdrrco]

Have you driven through flood water a lot lately? There a few reports of the Prius ever needing a new exhaust.

interesting question. yes i have a few times in the last six months. how does this affect it?

btw, all fixed now and running like a new car again

[cootuk]

Did you get a full exhaust or just a back box?

Our exhaust is burbling and, having a quick look, the weld going into the back box has sheared off completely.

I'm surprised it doesn't sound worse...

[jdrrco]

Did you get a full exhaust or just a back box?

Our exhaust is burbling and, having a quick look, the weld going into the back box has sheared off completely.

I'm surprised it doesn't sound worse...

I got a full exhaust from the local Bosch service centre. £640 all in and very good value in my opinion.

It sounds like yours has done much the same as mine did, there was no way it could have been patched up or just had one section replaced. Still, hopefully it will last a while now.

Let us know what you do with yours.

[cootuk]

This is turning into a farce.

I've had the part number quoted as 17430-21580 so I'm talking about the same exhausts.

Burrows in Sheffield sell the exhaust for £130 delivered on eBay.

RRG Bradford and Benfield Leeds both quote the part alone at about £200. Nice profit margin there.

Toyota fixed price repair quote it fully fitted as £180, whereas two main dealers will be about £300 in reality.

I've rung Toyota Uk and they don't know whether the website is out of date, but will look into it as people do base decisions on fixed price repair. It shouldn't be this difficult ringing round, waiting for callbacks, trying to get someone to honour the fixed price repair.

edit Benfield just rang back and will honour £180 fully fitted..no idea why they quote over £200 for part alone.

Burrows rang back 1 min later offering £180..they had best telephone manner but missed out by about 1 minute.

I'm not bothering to go back to RRG.

[timberwolf]

I found the same thing when I wanted to buy a 12V Battery, the parts were initially more than the fixed price repair, so I opted for the later.

It's not surprising that there is confusion, remember the dealers are franchised, so they may only have reluctantly agreed to the fixed price promise with Toyota GB!

[johalareewi]

I found the same thing when I wanted to buy a 12V battery, the parts were initially more than the fixed price repair, so I opted for the later.

+1.

Have sometimes had to refer Mr T service dept to the fixed price shown on the web. There hasn't been a problem with Mr T honoring the web price but it is strange that there seems to be two prices.

[cootuk]

Had a call from Toyota UK saying that RRG want the car in for exhaust diagnostics to ensure they are quoting the correct part number. LOL. Diagnostics on which bit needs replacing when the pipe's physically hanging off.

Besides, my argument is I'm not asking for diagnostics, I'm asking for the dealer to perform a repair under the fixed price plan as advertised, so I'm telling them what i want doing, not asking for their advice.

i wonder how many people have been skanked on the pricing because they haven't checked online?

[Parts-King]

If you ring a parts department you will get the parts price

If you ring the service department, you SHOULD get the fixed price

The parts department and fixed prices DO NOT match each other, for instance, the fixed price will include an element of labour for the fitting of, and a juggling of parts discount to get the total price correct.

If you want the part fitting and want a fixed price, contact the service department

Kingo

[cootuk]

I was asking for the fixed price repair and even quoted on their websites where it was offered, and it was the service dept querying where I got my £180 figure from.

Then the service dept checks with the parts dept on the cost of the item and that's where everything turns to a farce.

tbh Burrows Sheffield were the only ones that 'got it' and agreed that there was the £180 offer.

Benfield have asked me to print off the offer from their website and bring it in on the day. Ludicrous.

[johalareewi]

Benfield have asked me to print off the offer from their website and bring it in on the day. Ludicrous.

It's amazing how often this happens. Customer facing staff not knowing what the company is offering on their website.

[cootuk]

Got it fixed at Benfield for £180.

Funny thing was they have the fixed price repair poster displayed behind their counter so there's not really any excuse for not quoting that price straight off.

[cootuk]

Just got another burbling and the flange connector to the back box is splitting on the engine side.

Front section fitted for £300 inc vat from a specialist exhaust builder who recommended the stock part rather than a stainless system..pretty good price.