Frequently Asked Questions
Fitting Guide
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Before you start
- Once you have received your performance exhaust system, check all the components against the corresponding packing list.
- For safety purposes and ease of installation, wherever possible we recommend that you take your vehicle to a qualified installer with a vehicle lift to install your exhaust system.
- If you are carrying out a home install, then park your vehicle on a level surface and allow time for the vehicle and exhaust to cool down.
- Remember to always use axle stands / jack stands to support the vehicle when working underneath.
- Wear protective clothing, including eye shields.
- Disconnect the battery if working near electrical connections.
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Removing the stock system
- Spray all bolts, joints and mounts with releasing fluid, allow to penetrate for about an hour.
- Release all connectors or clamps on the system and then start to dismantle the system from the rear forwards. Some stock systems are installed in one piece by the vehicle manufacturer before the suspension or rear axle are installed, these systems will need to be cut to be removed.
- Stock systems are heavy, so make sure that you have help or can adequately support the system when it is released.
- Sometimes removing the rubber hangers can be difficult, removing the bracket from the body may be a better solution.
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Installing the Milltek system
- Remove all protective packaging for your new performance exhaust system and assemble the unit on the ground, make sure that each joint has a clamp and that the rubber hangers are transferred from the stock system. Replace any worn or damaged mounts.
- Smear a small amount of exhaust assembly paste inside each slotted joint, this will help prevent leaks on start-up and the pipes from seizing together.
- Install the system, front to back without tightening any of the clamps on any of the joints.
- Position the system so that the hangers are ideally inclined to the front of the car by 10-15mm, these hangers will then move into their correct position when the performance exhaust system is hot and expands.
- Make sure that there is adequate clearance around the system, remembering that this exhaust system will expand by around 25mm when hot.
- When the Milltek exhaust system is in the optimum position, tighten up the clamps from the front to the back, adjusting the system as necessary. Do not over-tighten the clamps.
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Running the Milltek exhaust system for the first time
- Wipe off all oil, grease and fingerprints from your Milltek exhaust system.
- Make sure that all covers, heatshields and brackets have been replaced.
- Reconnect the battery if necessary.
- Do not start the engine in an enclosed space, adequate ventilation is always required.
- Start the vehicle and allow to run at tick over until the exhaust system is warmed up.
- Check the system for leaks, it’s not unusual for condensation to find its way out of the joints in the warm-up phase.
- Take your vehicle for a test drive and allow the vehicle to reach optimum running temperatures. After test drive, re-check all the joints and clearances whilst the exhaust system is still hot and re-adjust if necessary.
Support
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How Do I Become a Milltek Dealer?
At Milltek, we are always looking for specialist tuners to build upon our highly successful network of stockists around the World. If you think your company has what it takes, you can apply here.
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Is my performance exhaust system covered by a guarantee or warranty?
For a full comprehensive look at our warranty Terms and Conditions, Click Here.
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Can I get a copy of the EC Approval certificate?
EC Approval certificates will be issued with your system upon purchase, if for some reason you have issues, contact the original Milltek Dealer for support.
General
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I can’t find my vehicle system on your website, are you developing new products?
We are constantly expanding our performance exhaust system range, so if you have a specific vehicle model that we don’t currently cater for please get in touch, as it may already be in development or something that we could work on together! You can fill in your information in our Enquiries form.
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How do I fit my new Milltek exhaust system?We recommend your Milltek exhaust is installed by a Milltek dealer, this ensures it is fitted safely and correctly. Fitting the systems can also sometimes be fit by a competent DIY mechanic. You can take a look at our exhaust fitting guide.
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How do I clean my stainless-steel exhaust tailpipes?
We recommend that you should clean your tailpipes regularly to prevent them suffering from discolouration. Because of the high quality of our stainless-steel, you will always be able to get them back to looking brand new, without any degradation to the materials. It is important to note that the longer you have left the tailpipes without cleaning them, the harder this task will be.
Our Milltek metal polish has been developed and tested to suit all markets and weather conditions. This is available to purchase from your Milltek dealer. -
Can I buy from you directly?Our main focus is on engineering and delivering the best quality products to the performance aftermarket industry, so while we do that, we have developed a trusted network of international dealers, who are fully trained to offer technical and sales support.
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Can I buy parts individually?You can buy hi-flow cats as a stand-alone product. Other units are sold as a package, This is because Milltek exhaust systems are designed to be genuine performance systems, we design them to have specific tolerances and specifications, so we can guarantee fitment and performance. If you are looking for individual parts as replacements for an existing system, please contact your local Milltek reseller.
Technical
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Is it legal to de-cat my car?
Legality
In certain countries de-catting a car is illegal, such as in the UK where any car registered after 1993 has to have a catalytic converter. As every country is different it is best to check your local laws.
What alternative do I have to a de-cat?
We also manufacture a hi-flow sports cat, which when fitted will increase flow by as much as 30% over the original manufacturer’s unit. It is important to consider local laws, we also have a list of ECE approved downpipes and cats, making sure that you have the paperwork to prove legality.
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What is the pipe diameter specification on your performance exhaust products?We specify the main pipe diameter on each system listing. The pipe diameter can vary depending on the system, and as a whole can vary throughout the system, however we always test to make sure the properties of the exhaust are up to standard, general flow, back pressure and sound are all taken into consideration when choosing pipe diameter.
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What is a resonator and what's the difference between a resonated and non-resonated exhaust system?
A resonator is a chamber in the exhaust system that contains a specific volume of air that is designed to cancel out certain frequencies of sound made by the engine; essentially reducing or hiding the noise that the engine is producing.
Therefore, a non-resonated exhaust system will give you extra performance and a louder exhaust note, while a resonated Milltek system will give you extra performance whilst minimally changing the exhaust note. -
Will I need to modify my car when fitting a Milltek exhaust?
Fitment
Milltek performance exhaust systems are direct replacements for original systems and come with complete fitting kits. There are some vehicles that may require different rear valances to be fitted to allow tailpipes to exit the rear bumper, these are for situations such as when you want to go from a dual tips to quad tip setup.
If the OE exhaust needs to be cut to be removed, we note this in the product listing and always try to use the factory designated cutting points.
Remapping
You don’t need to change anything on the vehicle when fitting a cat-back, GPF-back, or rear silencer upgrade. When fitting a downpipe with up-rated catalyst we recommend the vehicle is re-calibrated to suit; ensureing it’s making the most of the additional flow and preventing a CEL.
NOTE: Some of our downpipes use NC – No CEL catalysts that don’t require a remap/ECU recalibration.
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What performance benefits does a Milltek Exhaust have?
Weight Savings
This is variable dependant on the system. Our design philosophy is to develop market leading products that provide the best performance, and where possible aid in vehicle weight reduction. Specific information can be found on each of the product pages where this has been achieved.
Power Gain
Every car has different characteristics, and the power gain can vary greatly between them. Typically, 8-10% is the most accurate general figure to cover most variations. To get the most out of your new exhaust it's recommended to also remap your ECU.
Throttle Response
Throttle response is improved through reducing backpressure, this means when you put your foot down, power is put down to the road in a quicker manner.
Turbo Spool
In forced induction applications, our downpipes and performance exhaust systems are designed to reduce back pressure and increase flow rate; which helps turbo chargers come on boost sooner and not be restricted in the same way as the OEM systems can be, particularly where the car is tuned and / or remapped.
All these vary and depend on the type of system being installed.
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Do your systems introduce drone?
Whilst in the research and development phase audio levels are tested throughout the rev range, our engineers then act accordingly; if there's any standout resonance then the design is changed to dial out any unwanted sounds. Our experienced engineers know how to best balance between reasonable noise levels and maximum performance.
You can also choose one of our many systems that have a valve system, which dependant on the situation, you can choose between quiet and loud.
Our systems are designed to appeal to enthusiasts of all levels, and because of this, we offer both resonated and non-resonated versions of most of our performance exhaust systems.
