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[midnightmower]

I am trying to decide which stainless steel exhaust system to fit to my 1999 V6 Tourer estate. I have read comments on the forum which suggest satisfaction with the Longlife system. Has anyone any experience with Powerflow? The prices fitted for a cat back system are similar Longlife £490 Powerflow £410. Powerflow on their website claim an overall increase in power to be greater than their rivals and without replacing the cats to give same as the Ashley where the cats were changed.  I can have either the Powerflow or Longlife fitted locally. Is there another I should consider?  Any useful comments welcome.

Paul http://images.omegaowners.com/forum/smf2000/Smileys/oofstd/cry.gif

[YZ250]

I've got a Jetex on mine but if you go down the Longlife route make sure it is as quiet as you want it to be. They struggle to get 'true' twin exits out of the back box due to the shape of the back box so a lot of them cheat by running the pipes straight through a dummy back box. That's why you see some 3.0L with either a 'Y' piece or an oval tailpipe. It can be done but just make sure get what you ask for.   

HTH

Regards
Alan

[Cliffo B]

 I had my S/S Exhaust done by my local Longlife agent I insisted on a twin tail pipe as was the std one by GM they produced a top quality twin exhaust outlet far better than the GM one
Each  pipe is 65mm dia is double skinned with the outer skins chrome finished with rolled edges
They told me the double skins were to prevent the chrome getting "heat blued" and rusting
This seems to have worked well as the twin pipes are as good as the day they were fitted in Jan 2009
They fully welded this unit into their customised S/S back box and the jobs a good un
I think the great advantage of haveing a custom made exhaust is it is custom made and you can at the very least let them know what you want and take it from there.   

[Jimbob]

Im in the same boat.....Thinking on Jetex though, seem to be the quietest of the stainless ones, and mirror the pipe run of the original, some use 1 big pipe instead of 2.

[YZ250]

I had my S/S Exhaust done by my local Longlife agent I insisted on a twin tail pipe as was the std one by GM they produced a top quality twin exhaust outlet far better than the GM one
Each  pipe is 65mm dia is double skinned with the outer skins chrome finished with rolled edges
They told me the double skins were to prevent the chrome getting "heat blued" and rusting
This seems to have worked well as the twin pipes are as good as the day they were fitted in Jan 2009
They fully welded this unit into their customised S/S back box and the jobs a good un
I think the great advantage of haveing a custom made exhaust is it is custom made and you can at the very least let them know what you want and take it from there.

I agree, it can be done if you insist on it and when I visited a Longlife outlet the workmanship and welding did appear to be of a good standard.     I was not happy with my local Powerflow suggestion of cutting the front pipe flange's off and welding straight off them. This would have effectively made it a single piece exhaust. 

[Plomien]

i have a longlife exhaust on my estate, there are picts on here somewhere not had an issue and they will tune the sound to what you want as well.

[blackviper90210]

I've got a '99 estate with a Powerflow fitted. This was bought 2nd hand off 2woody, cheers mate!

It fitted straight onto mine with little effort and sounds great, not overly loud, but has a nice deep growl if you happen to put your foot down a little too hard 

Oh and it's twin pipe exit too 

HTH's 

[Cliffo B]

It's a very hard choice to make Jimbob,I didn't know of Jetex when I was advised at the time by Albatross,sadly no longer active on the forum who seemed to me to be very technically able on the subject of exhausts
I was at the time surprised and aprehensive when I went to collect Miggy that the system comprises only one bigger centre box albeit fed by a larger fatter pipe going to a backbox with the rather posh tailpipe assembly welded on
Tony Banks the engineer assured me two centre boxes are not required which the road test did confirm
He said one of the essential needs of a good system was heavy gauge s/s steel which is a longlife spec
The exhaust note when travelling is hardly noticeable unless you push Miggy hard into dropping a cog or two then if you listen you're made aware of the rising engine revs
This is just right for myself
Also as Tony Banks said the system being much simpler minus almost 50% components it becomes far easier to do other work/jobs under the car 

[Jimbob]

I just looked at the longlife website....there is a very local one to me...

rang em up, and the website is that uptodate they havent started fitting yet!  bloke had just finished the course.

Gave me his trainers details to call for a price and details, and advised I would be his first!  hmmmmm

[Cliffo B]

That's not good to say the least
Put in that position I would consider useing a well established firm with the Longlife franchise
Would have thought Longlife would operate this policy Jimbob
Anyhow hope however you decide to sort it it turns out to what you want 100% as indeed mine did

[Kevin Wood]

I just looked at the longlife website....there is a very local one to me...

rang em up, and the website is that uptodate they havent started fitting yet!  bloke had just finished the course.

Gave me his trainers details to call for a price and details, and advised I would be his first!  hmmmmm

Depends if he's new to longlife or new to welding.

On one hand, he might be looking to prove himself, so take time to make an excellent job of it. On the other hand, you might be the guinea pig. I guess you need to pay him a visit and see if you can judge which it'll be.

[midnightmower]

Hi folkshttp://images.omegaowners.com/forhttp://images.omegaowners.com/forum/smf2000/Smileys/oofstd/undecided.gifum/smf2000/Smileys/oofstd/sad.gif
Many thanks for your comments
I now find that there is no Longlife franchise near me in Nottingham having closed, the nearest is Birmingham. Longlife's price is £100 more than Powerflows. Is it worth the journey?
I have contacted MIJ in Walsall who are custom makers for performance and their price is £315 against Powerflow's £350 all in.  Has anyone any experience of this system to make it worth the journey?
Paul

[Ralph]

I had a Powerflow system fitted 3 years ago, never had any problems since. I would definatley use them again.

[midnightmower]

I have had a Powerflow system fitted from the cat back for £350 to the 3 -3.2l spec with twin tail pipes
There is a hum at low speed but otherwise totaly unobtrusive without a roar.
The fitting appears to be to high standard.
The longlife franchise phoned me this Monday to tell me they did not work the weekend or Fri afternoon. When I told them the PF price they told me to grab it.

Paul