Muffler replacement options

[FireFox31]

What are the longest lasting replacement mufflers for the P80 these days? Poor Geronimo, the 2000 V70 NA FWD, has a large hole in its center muffler. I think the muffler is only three years old with maybe 16k miles on it. It's clearly aftermarket but I don't know which.

The last time I bought an OEM muffler, a center muffler weld rusted in four years and the rear muffler interior screen rusted in three years causing the fiberglass to blow out. This doesn't encourage me to pay $850 list ($650 on Black Friday discount) for OEM parts.

The replacement exhausts sold as OE are sh*t for newer models as well. they've got nothing in common with what was fitted at the factory. A good used will be a much better buy.

This quote from 2018 has haunted me for years. Used original equipment seems like best only solution.

FCP stocks a BRExhaust brand exhaust but it's backordered. I tried the Ferrita stainless and it was too loud for my tastes. Bosal, Starla, and Walker all seem cheap like they'll rust. My local exhaust shop will build a stainless one with a warranty which might be the best bet.

Could the muffler have been damaged by the car running poorly? For instance burning oil, misfiring / passing raw fuel, running rich or lean, condensation pooling water, etc. I know I ask this every time my exhausts rust, but I suspect the cars aren't running well.

[BlackBart]

Two years? Wow.

Short trips, not getting everything hot in order to evaporate all the moisture in burned fuel - that will eat exhaust.

[abscate]

FCP baby, for the win.

Couple of bear river ( corrected on edit) converter stainless flanges and that thing is off and on in an hour

[jmartin919]

Bear River?

[BlackBart]

I add some bear fiber to my oatmeal every morning.

[abscate]

I add some bear fiber to my oatmeal every morning.

Corrected above. Can be grizzly extracting that...

Firefox...Evan out a Starla on Evita in 2018 and she is still going strong. That’s a daily driver in a much less salty winter environment than yours

[MoVolvos]

.
Per Vibrant the small mufflers are call Resonators which are specific to help with droning. Don't know the size of the exhaust you have but here is an example. Very good sound per Youtube but my Son says 5 cylinder NA's are not known to sound good with any kind of performance exhaust especially a muffler delete.

(www.amazon.com/Vibrant-1790-Bottle-Styl ... 111&sr=8-3)

https://www.summitracing.com/search/bra ... e/mufflers

https://vibrantperformance.com/
.

[FireFox31]

Does a -1999 muffler work on a 2000? -1999 has no rear part, 2000- does. Why the change and does it matter?

The usparts.volvocars.com exhaust diagram lists muffler 31372150 as up to 1999 with no rear, and muffler 31372159 as 2000 and later with a rear (part 31372156). FCP lists the Starla 31372150 for up to 1999 only. It looks just like the stock one on a 2000 but with no rear. At $280 with availability, warranty, and good reviews, this is my best option. But will it work on 2000?

The one right behind the catalytic converter is a resonator not a muffler. The one on the end is the muffler.

A resonator does not muff the sound. It just changes the sound to sound to something more pleasant so that they can use a less restrictive muffler and get better fuel economy.

If you take the resonator out or use a aftermarket resonator, the way the exhaust sounds will change. The OEM resonator is tuned to the car. Making a change is a crap shot. There is no way to predict what it will sound like if you make changes.

Is it possible that -1999 center component is a muffler but 2000- is a resonator needing the final muffler? Could 31372150 and 31372159 be internally different though they look the same? This calls for a pair of autopsies to find out.

[abscate]

I think they are minor variations in the end piece with some sound performance changes. I bet all these options will fit on 99 and 00 models

I just went to parts geek and looked at muffler options. All the usuals are back ordered. There must be supply chain issues

[FireFox31]

When buying mufflers from FCP, know that the P80 Starla muffler can only be picked up at their CT location, they won't ship it. That info only appears when you place the item in your cart. It will force your entire order to be picked up there, charging you CT sales tax. Orders for pickup will only be held for three days once they're fully prepared.

I'm going to try the the Starla muffler without the rear resonator for a while. I may swap on the OEM rear resonator from my other car to see how that changes the sound (cutting the Starla pipe end to do so). I'll keep it if it's worth the $250 price, otherwise I may try an aftermarket resonator (which may be more hassle to add pipes for the exhaust tip) or clamp the old pipe back on.