After 120K miles my exhaust is starting to get loud. Does anyone have an estimate of what it should reasonably cost - whether you might have replaced your whole system, or just part(s) it would be helpful. I assume the original system is stainless steel since it has lasted a long time. Are the aftermarket systems usually also stainless? I like to go with good quality for this car. It would also be of interest to know if you did the work yourself.

Also has anyone had their cat fail (i.e. become partly obstructed and cause loss of power/overheating of the cat), without other problems being evident?

Thanks to everyone who posts to this very helpful forum.

I got 287,000miles on my 93's exhaust and pipes, muffler and cat. Ditto on my 94 with 189,000 miles. These swedish stainless systems last much better then american steel.

At about 125,000 miles I thoughtI needed exhaust due to noise and exhaust smell in cabin. Turned out to be crack in exhaust manifold where it connects to front pipe.

Might want to check there to be sure you fixing the right part.

Another benefit of the IPD system is that it is not a one piece system. As a result I found it very easy to work with.

My cat has failed (S70 1998 120k). It sounds like rattling when the car idles and is louder but not obnoxious when driving. The Midas guy said that the honeycomb has broken and is bouncing around. He couldn't help me, because like another post stated, it is exclusively a dealer item for roughly a grand installed. Your only risk is if the cat contents somehow plug the downstream pipes. Good Luck

Do a google search for for catalytic converter. I found them for under $280 .An easy change but remember to use anti-sieze on the O2 sensors.

It is a one piece pipe from the cat back. Tail pipe tip/extension is extra. I replaced mine last fall because it was too loud, DIY with lots of cursing. OEM from the dealer, about $300US + a new rear hanger and tip = ~375US. Needed a new clamp too, bolts broke off.
The hard part was geting the rear of the car high enough to pull the old pipe out and jiggle the new one in. Jack stands only go 2 feet, would have liked 2 1/2 feet. My cat was still good.
It is hard clamping the two pipes together because you need two hands to push the pipes together and another to tighten the bolts! You should wait until you really need a new cat before installing a new tail pipe. Besides, turbo cars with rectangular pipes? Don't make those any more :(

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

My understanding of the Cat (I just had it replaced on my 1993 850 GLT--it was out for a year but I finally had to replace it to pass CA Smog for just over $700.00) is that it can be non-functioning without affecting performance--it was described to me in these terms: Eventually it will begin to disinegrate and will cause loss of power etc., like a sponge that eventually breaks apart and clogs the system.

I am sure someone else has more wisdom on this than I, but that's my 2 cents.

Good luck

My 94 850 turbo with 300,000 km is also in need of a complete system. IPD carries 2 types of aftermarket systems running around 600.00 USD from the cat back.I believe the front pipe with cat is a dealer item unless a custom shop will build you one.Dealer wants aprrox 600.00 CDN for the front pipe, therfore it will be a 1200-1500.00 expense for complete system. I went to a local muffler shop and was quoted over 1000.00 CDN for a non-stainless system. Seeing how well the stainless performed, I think I would go for OEM front pipe/cat and IPD tuned exhaust for the rest.Hope this helps.

PS: visit ipdusa.com

I would replace the whole system from the cat back with the ipd system. I had 225,000 on my 1994 850 with the original volvo system. I just replaced the system on my 1996 850 turbo with the ipd system, better sound and performance. It is made of a 304 or 305 stainless steel which is pretty tough stuff. It should last you along time 200k plus. It took about half an hour to install on the overhead lift. Nice clean installation. TME in sweden make the system it is complete with all clamps and hangers, real quality stuff. The crap Midas sells is just regular steel, good for about two years here in the Northeast. Spend the extra money and the do the job right the first time. Volvo's are a long term car. Good Luck Doug Macrae

My original exhaust lasted about 10 years (150000 miles) and I had it replaced with a custom built T304 stainless steel system that has a lifetime warranty on corrosion. The price was less than that quoted by Volvo for a genuine replacement, but higher than a KwikFit type place that would rot through in a couple of years.
I even had the exhaust outlet split in to two outlets like the AWD which is now becoming a pretty popular mod.


http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2129&sort=1&cat=500&page=1

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2125&sort=1&cat=500&page=1