Alfa exhaust original vs pattern???

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DJ - 28 Oct 2004 10:37 GMT

I have to replace the mid section of my Alfa Spider (99 V) exhaust
and have been advised to get oringial alfa parts. But this is over
twice the cost of say Kwik Fit. Are there any real advantages to
getting original exhaustss parts?

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Catman - 28 Oct 2004 13:39 GMT

> I have to replace the mid section of my Alfa Spider (99 V) exhaust
> and have been advised to get oringial alfa parts. But this is over
> twice the cost of say Kwik Fit. Are there any real advantages to
> getting original exhaustss parts?

Some pattern parts are pretty dire

I use Bosal with good effect
try
www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk
They have a full Bosal catalogue on line

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SteveH - 28 Oct 2004 23:51 GMT

> > I have to replace the mid section of my Alfa Spider (99 V) exhaust
> > and have been advised to get oringial alfa parts. But this is over
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> www.bodyshopwarehouse.co.uk
> They have a full Bosal catalogue on line

Of course, OEM exhausts are usually made by Bosal or Timax anyway, so
you're more than likely buying the original spec. part but without the
cost of OEM wrapping.

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Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
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Richard Fantom - 28 Oct 2004 13:40 GMT

I'd recommend a Ragazzon mid section - should fit fine into the existing
system
try www.ragazzon.it
supplied in UK by www.poweralfa.com

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Alfistagj - 28 Oct 2004 18:28 GMT

In 1999 my local Kwikfit shop got an original Alfa mid section as he
couldn't get his hands on another one.
All in all 35% cheaper than my dealer offered me and original!!

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>I have to replace the mid section of my Alfa Spider (99 V) exhaust
> and have been advised to get oringial alfa parts. But this is over
> twice the cost of say Kwik Fit. Are there any real advantages to
> getting original exhaustss parts?

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Ppelectron - 28 Oct 2004 23:02 GMT

>>I have to replace the mid section of my Alfa Spider (99 V) exhaust
>> and have been advised to get oringial alfa parts. But this is over
>> twice the cost of say Kwik Fit. Are there any real advantages to
>> getting original exhaustss parts?

I don't think the quality of the parts is a major problem. The problem is
usually with the quality of the fitting. I let a back street garage do my 156
exhaust and I saved lots of money. But the job was butchered and I have never
been happy with it. I think Kwik Fit are pretty good in general and I have
previously bought tyres and exhausts there for other cars. The fitters seem
quite well trained. But my next Alfa exhaust will be from the local main dealer
because frankly, nobody else seems confident enough to work on the car.

Phil 156 V6 1998

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SteveH - 28 Oct 2004 23:50 GMT

> In 1999 my local Kwikfit shop got an original Alfa mid section as he
> couldn't get his hands on another one.
> All in all 35% cheaper than my dealer offered me and original!!

The original will just be a Bosal or Timax in Alfa packaging....

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dom - 28 Oct 2004 19:22 GMT

>I have to replace the mid section of my Alfa Spider (99 V) exhaust
>and have been advised to get oringial alfa parts. But this is over
>twice the cost of say Kwik Fit. Are there any real advantages to
>getting original exhaustss parts?

Got a kwik-fit (I think) on my cinquecento. Lasted about a year, I think.
Got a proper one at the fiat dealer, a year later, genuine part,
cost about the same. Fiat mechanic said the kwik fit one was so thin
it collapsed (and not the part of it that had rusted through) when he
tried to pull it off. (he proceded to make a balls up of fitting the new
one, didn't bother to check the threads on the clamp were clear, so
it ended up not being tightened so I had to re-seal and clamp the
joint myself... well, that mechanic was an ex-ford one.)

Anyway - reckon I'll be getting a genuine one when my 147 needs it.

dom.

p.s. once visited a unipart exhaust pipe factory (with work, exhaust
pipe testing rig...) and the guy I spoke to there said that cheap ones
use low quality steel so they rust away straight away (unlike, he
said, his ones!).

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Karl - 28 Oct 2004 22:05 GMT

Try a company called powerflow, they hand build stainless steel systems on
the car and can still work out cheaper than alfa originals. i have a full
powerflow system on my 75 and it is sweet.

Thanks

Karl

>I have to replace the mid section of my Alfa Spider (99 V) exhaust
> and have been advised to get oringial alfa parts. But this is over
> twice the cost of say Kwik Fit. Are there any real advantages to
> getting original exhaustss parts?

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Catman - 28 Oct 2004 22:26 GMT

> Try a company called powerflow, they hand build stainless steel systems on
> the car and can still work out cheaper than alfa originals. i have a full
> powerflow system on my 75 and it is sweet.

How much was it, Karl? I need a custom job for the Giulietta

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Karl - 30 Oct 2004 00:16 GMT

The Exhaust they built for me was a full system from the manifolds back,
they charged me ?250 although they did say once they were finished they
would never do it again for that price. Best i can suggest is find your
local franchize and give them a call. I think the head office is based in
London. I know there is one dealer in Bath and one in Stratford Upon Avon
(my nearest). Good hunting, if you have any difficulty finding your the
company give me a shout i am sure i still have the details.

Karl

>> Try a company called powerflow, they hand build stainless steel systems
>> on
>> the car and can still work out cheaper than alfa originals. i have a full
>> powerflow system on my 75 and it is sweet.
>
> How much was it, Karl? I need a custom job for the Giulietta

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Catman - 30 Oct 2004 08:22 GMT

> The Exhaust they built for me was a full system from the manifolds back,
> they charged me £250 although they did say once they were finished they
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> (my nearest). Good hunting, if you have any difficulty finding your the
> company give me a shout i am sure i still have the details.

Cool. There is a place near me that builds custom exhausts, but they very
much aim at the 'barry' end of the market. They quoted me 400 for a full
system, but thye didn't exaclty inspire faith.

It'll wait til the spring anyway since the old(er) girls will soon be going
to bed for the winter.

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steve - 30 Oct 2004 20:34 GMT

> > The Exhaust they built for me was a full system from the manifolds back,
> > they charged me £250 although they did say once they were finished they
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> It'll wait til the spring anyway since the old(er) girls will soon be going
> to bed for the winter.

Give Longlife Exhausts a try. They quoted me £449 for a custom fit
straight through stainless steel exhaust with lifetime warranty for my
GTV.

www.exhaust.uk.com

Steve

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Catman - 30 Oct 2004 22:05 GMT

>> > The Exhaust they built for me was a full system from the manifolds
>> > back, they charged me £250 although they did say once they were
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Steve

Cheers

Remind me in April, yes? ;)

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