The inlet pipe on my rear muffler broke apart this weekend so I've been doing some research in the forums on exhaust systems since mine will need to be replaced (It's all welded together from front to back and falling apart). I see the general consensus is stay away from Midas and Meineke and use OEM volvo parts. To get OEM parts, are you guys buying from the dealer and having them install it or is the exhaust system from FCP Groton (Starla) OEM? I'm just wondering if I should be making an appointment with the dealer to have them take care of it. I'm guessing I would pay out the ass cause the closest Volvo dealer, Weiss volvo of St. Louis (30 miles away) charges $130/hour for repairs. Any thoughts?

Buy the exhaust system you want and take it to whatever shop you are comfortable with and have them install it. There is nothing about the job that requires the knowledge of a dealer or an independent Volvo specialist.

The genuine Volvo kits are the best quality, and come with a lifetime warranty on the mufflers. They are dead easy to install and fit well. The Starla systems aren't bad, and will save you some money. I went with Starla for my '92 945T because the difference was almost $200 compared to the factory exhaust sourced locally (I'm in Canada-- things are more expensive here). The Starla stuff looks good, but I've only been running it for under a year, so I can't say how it will hold up in the long term...

Good luck!

In addition to the lifetime warranty on the mufflers, Herb, I was told that Volvo no longer sells them individually but only as a cat-back kit. Thus, if one muffler ever goes bad, you get a whole new kit.
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'93 244: 'A' cam 4 deg. advanced, 25/22 sways, custom heim endlinks, poly bushings, and a lot more styling customization than I care to recount.

My take/experience is that when one exhaust component behind the cat is rotted out, the rest aren't toooo far behind, so you might as well do the kit... and if you run aftermarket cat converters in a strict emissions state, replacing the cat at the same time doesn't hurt the wallet too bad (the old cat is a juicy recyclable!) and really simplifies the replacement process if you don't have a acetylene torch or air tools... If there were a list of unfun car stuff, separating old exhaust components with hand tools would be like a notch below having a 240 fall off jackstands on you. :)

-Ryan
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Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 300k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars
Buckeye Volvo Club

Actually you can get stick replacement at ipdusa.com . They have tow types of setups; one is the stock, non sport exhaust (this includes both mufflers and all wonderful fixin's) and there is the sport exhaust which is really just the turbo exhaust for n/a use. It has a delete pipe where the first muffler goes and a single baffle rear muffler. So it gets a nice little rumble without being loud.

here is for the stock exhaust: http://ipdusa.com/Volvo-200/Exhaust-System/Exhaust-Systems-Replacement/p-69-464-402/

and the sport:

http://ipdusa.com/Volvo-200/Exhaust-System/Turbo-Sport-Exhaust-for-non-turbo-models/p-69-464-408/

good luck with it all!!
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1987 244.....'nuff said.....

Last I checked. IPD's "stock" replacement is indeed Starla/Walker (the new photo conveniently hides the stickers, so you don't know what it is), and $50 more expensive than the same exact kit from FCP... and I guarantee you that IPD's gouging oversize shipping costs will further the disparity in price.

That said, I'm not sure on the Starla. I have one on my '90 245 (18 months old), and the the fit is perfect... but Starla has been known to use fiberglass as the "muffling component" (mufflant?!)... and that can be a freaking nightmare from the photo's I've seen of a 740 exhaust with this stuff.

For the cat back, price out the Genuine Volvo stuff. Should still be very competitively priced (under $200).

-Ryan




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Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 300k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars
Buckeye Volvo Club