MGTF 135, 53 plate flexi exhaust has completely separated, from manifold.... Advice please...

Just need a little bit of advice as to how much it would cost in labour and parts on average for a garage to replace the flexi as it has completely broken away from the manifold..... Just don't have time to do it myself.....


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I just had the very same thing with the flexi section. To install a 4-2-1, sports cat and 2 new O2 sensors (after an hour 'arguing' with the old ones), Mike Satur billed for 4hrs, so just to do a flexi pipe, can't think it'd be more than 2 at the outside.

I think a down-pipe and flexi was about £150 ish, but that was only noticed in passing....no idea if there's cheaper alternatives.

And while hideously expensive, I can't recommend the 4-2-1 and sports cat highly enough.... Totally transformed the car!

Edit: and I've been quoted £40 - £45 per hour at various MG specialists

If your engine is ripping flexis apart then you might want to look at the engine mounts, especially the sump to subframe bushes. The extra twisting of the engine in use destroys exhaust flexi pipes. I fitted torque tamer bushes and it is a lot better now.

http://www.the-t-bar.com/forum/22-cjjs-guides/15329-torque-tamer-bushes-how-to-fit

Honest opinion guys would I be able to change it myself on stands?? And how long would it take if so?? I'm Fully fledged mechanic but am a very persistent hands on person....


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The issue with this job is that changing just the flexi is not a simple replacement job. The flexi is an integral part of the down pipe.
Changing the entire downpipe will probably be simpler anyway.
Is it doable by you?
Well you need to look at the nuts holding the cat to the end of the downpipe. If these nuts are not corroded lumps of rust but look like they will undo then YES.
Then it's just a matter of getting the correct downpipe- 4 or 6 bolt to the manifold. The mk1 F has 4; the mk2 and TF has 6.

When mine went I bought a stainless manifold and downpipe from Toyosports and changed them both on the drive without a major hitch. Toyosport often have auctions running where you can get these items at bargain prices. I have had no problems with them but I have read reports of quality problems with Toyosports earlier afforts.

I would allow a couple of hours to do the job. It is doable in an hour if it all goes well.

I would say I could do it, had a look at the nuts onto the cat and they seemed fine.... I'm a pipe fitter / Gas engineer by trade so have lots of different tool and used to get bastard jobs in tight places!!!! Any magic tools that would help me out??


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No special tools necessary. Socket set and spanners only.

Cheers David, appreciate it....


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I did mine in a few hours. You will need a grinder and a 22mm spanner / crows feet socket to get the lambdas off.

And determination lots of it.

A garage quoted me £100 to do it.

The part cost me £40.

I decided to do it myself.

You will need new gaskets and cat saved nuts too.

I decided to cut off the flexi pipe after the cat bend as it was easier to pull it off in smaller bits than to have fun grinding nuts off under the car near the wheel.

Then it was easier to do.