X-Force exhaust doesn't last the distance.

[Benboy]

Mild steel - there's your problem.

 

[mpower]

This is what happens when people go for cheap, they get something of cheap quality.

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Mild steel - there's your problem.

Not necessarily. There are different thicknesses of piping as well as the coating used that contribute to longevity. To make them so cheap, one has to question why. A lot of cheap systems use 1mm wall thickness tubing, they only paint it with cheap paint and of course it rusts.

Another factor is believe it or not, mandrel bending. If too thin a pipe is used, the nature of the mandrel bend makes it even thinner. The tubing will stretch on the outside radius of the bend so it gets thinner and will rust through quicker. While the old press bend style will compress the inner radius.

Most quality exhausts use 1.6mm at a minimum with some even using 2mm. The coating makes a difference too, aluminized tubing will last longer as it doesn't rust. (Well, it does, but it takes a lot longer). I have had Manta systems go 5+ years in mild steel.

I replaced an X Force 3" mild steel about 4-5 months ago and it had holes in it at the bends where the pipes go under the axles. The rear mufflers also had holes in them. You can tell straight away that it was thin walled tube by the weight of it, it was pretty light. Don't know how old it was though, although the car was a 2012 VE.

Stainless will definitely last longer than mild, but a decent brand mild steel system will still last quite a few years.