Bosal or Starla Exhaust
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I'm sure that not all the parts and pieces that Bosal makes are the same, and this is for a different car but my experience with Bosal was pretty dismal. My daughter ran the Accord up onto a roundabout and damaged the factory exhaust on that car. I choked at the price of the OEM parts and bought Bosal instead. The fit was poor, I spent quite a bit of time pulling and pushing the pieces together to get them to align and bolt up (the mid pipe was a good 3/4" to an inch shorter than the OEM). The whole thing lasted about two years before rusting out. At that time she was taking the car to California for the foreseeable future, so I broke down and bought all new Honda parts ($600 or so IIRC) and the difference was as obvious as can be. No pulling, pushing or sweat was involved in the installation, everything lined up with millimeter precision and the pipes were stainless steel with all the required heat shields. That was nearly four years ago and it still looks good and no leaks.
My experience, your mileage may vary. The answer probably has to do with how long you wish to keep the car.
My experience, your mileage may vary. The answer probably has to do with how long you wish to keep the car.
Can you tell who the OE is?
I would also mention that the reason I bought Bosal parts was that all over the Interwebs everyone was saying that Bosal was OEM for the car. Maybe they do make it for Honda, but what they sell as aftermarket wasn't anywhere near the same thing as what they made for Honda (assuming they do).
Vegemite or Marmite
A lot of times you can find the manufacturer embossed into the rear muffler. Honda is frequently Sankei.
Bud_One
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Bosal aftermarket muffler on my Vibe only lasted 3 yrs.
It's come apart internally and is rattling like crazy when idling.
It's come apart internally and is rattling like crazy when idling.
Had a cat back Starla exhaust kit installed on my Volvo 240 about a year ago, and it's still doing great. Bought it from FCP Euro. Local shop charged me $55 to install it. Shop manager said it fit perfect, and they did not have to change a thing. Wanted to know where I got it.
It was made in Europe some where. Can't remember the country.
It was made in Europe some where. Can't remember the country.
In my limited experience Bosal aftermarket is not the same as what they supply to the OE. In the few applications I've seen the OE will be stainless and the aftermarket will be aluminized mild steel. That might not be an issue in a dry salt free state but it certainly would be in an area with snow and road salt.
FWIW, FCP says both Bosal and Starla are OEM suppliers.
No experience with Starla but unless I could verify the OE manufacturer of the particular part, I would probably go with the Ansa over Bosal.
No experience with Starla but unless I could verify the OE manufacturer of the particular part, I would probably go with the Ansa over Bosal.
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The Japanese will use Sankei, Futaba or Sakamoto(I've seen this on a Subaru). However, Toyota and Honda do use Tenneco for their US plants and it will say Walker on it, but the stuff in the aftermarket is no where close to the OEM piece.
FWIW, I did install a Bosal flex pipe on a Nissan Quest my parents had, it bolted up and sat like the OEM Ford/Nissan piece.
FWIW, I did install a Bosal flex pipe on a Nissan Quest my parents had, it bolted up and sat like the OEM Ford/Nissan piece.
Bosal exhausts for old BMWs are regarded as poor fitting and short lived. I concur with this . Ansa does not last much better but fits well. Factory is Boysen. They are good for 25 yrs.
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I think Starla is owned by Walker/Tenneco
And wow they're all so expensive! Rock Auto's price on Walker is the best I could find.
And wow they're all so expensive! Rock Auto's price on Walker is the best I could find.
I bought a Bosal downpipe/cat for a 2004 F150 (2 actually, drivers and passengers).
Drivers side went on fine, passenger side would not bolt up and seal correctly. Apparently the flange was made too big to seal against the manifold pipe. I had tried using some muffler putty to seal it, but it still leaked badly. I ordered a second one and that one did work. No idea on longevity, only been 4 months so far.
Drivers side went on fine, passenger side would not bolt up and seal correctly. Apparently the flange was made too big to seal against the manifold pipe. I had tried using some muffler putty to seal it, but it still leaked badly. I ordered a second one and that one did work. No idea on longevity, only been 4 months so far.
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