Typical UK exhaust prices
Most exhausts are made up of separate sections, so a good garage will replace only the part that has failed. Prices include fitting at around £70 an hour.
| Job | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Rear silencer or backbox | £100 to £250 |
| Centre or mid section | £150 to £350 |
| Front pipe with flexi joint | £150 to £400 |
| Catalytic converter, aftermarket | £250 to £700 |
| Catalytic converter, original equipment | £500 to £1,500 |
| Lambda or oxygen sensor | £120 to £300 |
| Full system replacement | £400 to £1,200 |
| Cat protection cage or marking kit | £150 to £350 |
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What affects the cost
Which section has failed
A blowing joint or a rusted backbox is a cheap fix. A failed cat with contaminated internals is the expensive end, particularly if the OE part is the only one that satisfies the ECU.
Aftermarket or original
Aftermarket cats are far cheaper but must be type approved for your car. On some models a non-OE cat triggers an emissions warning light, so ask the garage what they recommend.
Corrosion and access
Seized clamps, rusted hangers and heat shields all add time, especially on salty coastal cars and anything over ten years old.
Why the cat failed
Cats rarely fail alone. Misfires, oil burning and rich running destroy them. Fitting a new cat without fixing the cause will just kill the new one.
Signs of exhaust trouble
- A droning or blowing noise that gets louder under acceleration.
- A rattle from underneath, often the heat shield or the cat internals breaking up.
- The engine management light on with catalyst efficiency or lambda codes.
- A strong smell of fumes or a sulphur, rotten-egg odour.
- A sudden, very loud roar after parking in a public car park, which usually means the cat has been stolen.
How to pay a fair price
Ask for the failed section to be identified precisely before agreeing to a full system. Many garages will also weld a new flexi joint or section rather than replacing the whole pipe, which can halve the bill. Comparing local quotes on the same diagnosis is the surest saving.
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