What's up Org!

I have an issue with the replacement exhaust on my 02 GLE. I'm hearing some really bad sounds and I am assuming the tailpipe/muffler needs replacing.
I recently bought it used, but I used to own an 03 GLE back in the day. I remember what the stock exhaust looked like. Been doing some research and the stock OEM Nissan replacement is about $400-$500!!

Anyone know of a very good quality OEM direct fit replacement?

Any thoughts/concerns/reviews of:

Ansa
Walker
Bosal

Unfortunately, I can't find one with the standard GLE chrome tips that came with the original vehicle. Even the OEM factory replacement doesn't look like it comes with the tips.

Any help is very appreciated!

UPDATE
Just found this thread from Boondoxmax from way back in the day:

http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...t-exhaust.html

The chrome tips are not part of the muffler. They are sold separately. You would need a quantity of two.

20091-16V00 Finisher-exhaust list $42.63 on-line approx $32 + shipping.

My infiniti i35(chrome angles tips) exhaust muffler went out as well. I purchased the walker direct fit and like it more because now the muffler looks hidden. But I would highly suggest it works very well!

I had the bosal and it lasted less than two years. I now have the Walker QuietflowSS and think it's a slightly better muffler. I had to install my own tips, from magnalflow.

Someone on here recently purchased an OEM style muffler with chrome tips but I don't remember the brand.

Thanks for your suggestions!

I'll def look into the Walker replacement. As I realized while driving home from work yesterday... I am hoping it is not manifold or cat converter issue.

I hear the rumbling noise everytime I hit the accelerator and it seems to be worst going from 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd gears (between 1500-2200 rpm). If it is a bad manifold or converter, would it make a rumbling noise while accelerating?

When idling there is a faint puffing sound, but I can't seem to find exactly where it's coming from.

So I'll pose one more question, have any of you had to replace manifold, cat converter, and/or resonator pipe? And if so, any good experiences with a direct fit manufacturer?

Thanks again for your responses and guidance!

The very first sport it rusts out on all of our cars is at the coupler between the intermediate pipe (B pipe) and pipe for the muffler. It's located around the rear axle and can be a cheap patch job fix if you know a mom and pop muffler place. I would have gone that route if I had known that in advance. I think some people on here had it fixed for like $40-50.

Another spot to check is the flex pipe section in front of the main cat.

Hmm, sounds like a possibilty.

Is that the part that looks "meshy"... sorry, dont know how else to describe it. Near the front axles?

Yes, it's the mesh section. It's right before the main catalytic convertor. Your exhaust moves with the engine and the mesh section is needed to keep the exhaust from breaking apart.

Damn... so that's part of the y-pipe assembly right? I'm gonna take it the mechanic this weekend to see what he says. I want to, but then I don't. It's the same feeling I get going to the dentist, the tootch hurts, and I know in the end the dentist will make me feel better... but OH THE PAIN!

Just get a friend to lightly rev the engine while you look around the car. There are only two main spots for rustouts on our cars if it is a factory exhaust: by the muffler or up front at the mesh area. Either spot at a mom and pop muffler place shouldn't cost much to repair.

Just don't go to a chain muffler place. They will upsell you a whole exhaust.

I purchased this one and just installed it today. It looks like the factory one on the 00-01. It has a nice chrome tip and its nice a quiet just like stock

Looks like the OEM, just black. Any durability warranty on it?
Where did you buy it and how much did you pay?

http://www1.1aauto.com/search?q=muff...2003&model=336

As far as warranty goes I don't know. I am replacing a Bosal B pipe that rusted out in 5 years, but the Bosal muffler was fine. It seems like the B pipes are the weak link because my factory one rusted out first and the OE muffler was still usable, but I chose to replace it. They also sell the B pipe and it comes black also. I emailed them and asked them why the muffler was black. They stated it may be some type of rust protection, but wasn't 100% sure.

That's a true car guy thing to do, putting auto parts in the kitchen. I used to do that too, haha.

It has the biggest sinks and the bottle of Dawn engine degreaser

Very true

Thanks for posting this! I was checking this exact one from 1A Auto... they had a nice youtube vid on swapping this muffler out. If you can, post a vid of the sound once you get it mounted!

Just FYI if you are doing this yourself without a lift, prepare to jack that car up super high to get the pipe over the rear frame.

Yes, I have heard that... need about 4+ ft. of clearance.

Not worth it due to the fact is so quiet. Its exactly like stock sound. If your looking for some growl then this muffler is not the one for you.

Just an FYI, I just had to replace a Walker muffler that was only three years old on mine due to it rusting completely out- it was "suppose" to be Stainless Steel, too. There is a lifetime warranty on Walker exhaust but I still would pick another brand.

Hmmm... well, the stock look isnt bad. Like you said, it looks exactly like the 00-01 exhaust.

Yep, I like the stock look and the Walker muffler looked pretty much identical to the OEM muffler and sounded like it also, it was just that the Walker did not last long at all. This last winter was brutal, though, so that probably had a lot to do with it, its just that it was suppose to be SS and it "should have" lasted longer. Oh well.

Bosal is garbage. I got the replacement tail pipe/muffler and it lasted a single year before the outer shell was rotting away. Crazy.

Yeah, my bosal laster two years tops. I have the walker quietflow now and will see how this goes.

I wished I knew that I could have just repaired the exhaust joint instead of getting the bosal. OEM is stainless steel and I am sure I would have been better off with a simple patch job.

Cool, so far:

Bosal = Garbage and a total waste of $$$
Walker = 1 for, 1 against
1AAuto = identical stock look, identical stock sound, durability, unkown yet

Good stuff everyone. I finally found the leak... it's a 1.5" hole (not sure how my mechanic missed it when inspected my car). But it was exactly where you said it might be TallTom... at the flanges where the tailpipe and b-pipe meet.

I'll patch for now until I decide what the hell I'm gonna do. I know there are other threads going here about exhaust, but keep any suggestions coming!

That flange is normally the first place to go. The OEM catback is an excellent system so definitely patch it up.

Unfortunately, I recently bought this Max with a replacement muffler assembly already installed... so who know how long its been on there. No wonder it has a rusty hole in it.

To be honest, the whole exhaust system looks to be in rough shape. As mentioned before, I truly hope this hole is the only issue I find. I just need this Max to last a few years til I get out of this financial hole.

But I remember my old '03 GLE, never ever had an issue with the OEM components. I miss her, she was a thing of beauty!