Buying aftermarket exhausts in Australia: finding a reputable online supplier

If you’re in the market for a replacement exhaust, you’ll likely have come across two common expressions: OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and aftermarket. An OEM exhaust is the like-for-like replacement that’s supplied by your car’s manufacturer, while the aftermarket refers to any exhaust system that’s made and sold independently of vehicle manufacturers (this can cover a huge range of options).

Most people choose an aftermarket exhaust for one of two reasons. The first is price; OEM products can come with pretty steep markups. The second is performance, as most car exhausts are made with economy and comfort in mind, rather than things that matter to car enthusiasts (think deep growl, more power, etc).

Whatever camp you fall into, you’ll almost certainly want to know that the exhaust you’ve bought fits your car and works as advertised, especially if you’re buying online. That’s why we created this guide. It walks you through all the things to consider when comparing online exhaust retailers, such as products, reputation, deliveries, returns policies, and, yes, price, all designed to give you full confidence when you hit that “buy now” button.

1. Do they actually sell exhausts for your car?

This might sound like an obvious question, but it’s easy to get drawn in by a headline price and miss the bit that says “fits most utes”. Making sure the company sells exhausts for your specific make and model of car is one of the most important steps, which is why it sits at number one on this list.

Reputable suppliers make this process as easy as possible, either with easy-to-navigate catalogues that split exhausts up by manufacturer, model, and year, or with an exhaust search tool where you can enter your car’s details and it suggests all applicable products. Ideally, you’ll be given both options. If a website has vague descriptions and is messy and disorganised, you should probably give it a wide berth.

Another indicator of a reputable supplier is the range of exhausts they stock for your vehicle, such as standard and performance varieties. For example, if you own a relatively common model, like a Ford Falcon XR8, and a website only offers one generic exhaust, then it’s likely they’re focusing on volume of sales, rather than quality.

Finally, check if the website offers exhaust sub-components, such as catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters (DPFs), brackets, gaskets, and clamps. These all indicate that the company understands exhaust systems and they’re serious about helping you find what you need, rather than just trying to make a quick sale.

2. What will the total price be, including shipping?

Price is often what attracts people to aftermarket exhausts, and you can definitely purchase high-quality products for significantly less than OEM versions. However, exhausts are bulky items and can be expensive to ship, so when you’re comparing prices, look at the total landed cost (the base price plus GST plus any shipping costs added at checkout).

It’s also worth checking whether a supplier offers price matching, as this can be a great way to lock in more favourable shipping costs or buy from a website that feels more reputable. Just be aware that many companies will only match prices from other Australian suppliers. You might also need to show that the other company has the product in stock (rather than being an old listing), and it often needs to be exactly the same part number.

3. Where is your exhaust being sent from?

Many online businesses sell products that they haven’t actually handled themselves. This is known as drop-shipping. The website advertises the products, takes your payment, holds a portion of the money themselves, and then passes on the order to another company that actually holds stock and handles the shipping.

Working through an intermediary like that can create several complications, especially if there’s a problem and you need to send the exhaust back, if the sender is located overseas, or if the website listed a product as “in stock” when it wasn’t.

To avoid all those issues, it’s often best to work with a supplier who holds stock themselves in an Australian warehouse.

4. How are warranties and returns handled?

Ordering an exhaust online means you won’t actually see it until it’s delivered, so it’s important to check a supplier's policies around damaged products, manufacturing faults, returns, and refunds.

For example, we explain warranty periods in each of our listings, and we offer replacements for products that are:

• Damaged or dead on arrival

• Defective as a result of manufacturing

• Incorrect

Our full warranties, returns, and refund policy can be viewed here. Reputable suppliers should provide a similar page, detailing how they handle each situation.

5. What is the background and reputation of the business?

Finally, ordering online can often feel like a minefield, but there are a few simple “vibe checks” you can run to confirm that a company is legitimate and trustworthy. Here are a few examples:

• Do they have a physical Australian address?

• How long have they been in business?

• Which brands do they sell, and do they have “preferred supplier” status with any of those brands?

Perform-Ex Automotive: proudly Australian-owned for 50+ years

Perform-Ex Automotive is a 100% Australian-owned business, and we’ve been involved in the automotive parts industry for 50+ years. We’re a preferred supplier for Capricorn, and also offer a wide range of standard and performance exhausts from the likes of Manta, Redback, and Pacemaker.

All products come with a full manufacturer’s warranty and our lowest price guarantee. Stock is held in our warehouse in Orange, NSW, and we ship directly to customers all around Australia. Providing excellent service to our customers is what has kept us in the game for five decades, so if you have a question about exhausts or don’t see the product you’re looking for, get in touch with the team, and we’ll be happy to help.

FAQs

What is "total landed cost" when buying an exhaust online?

It's the full price you pay once freight and any regional or express surcharges are added. Two retailers can list the same exhaust at different prices and end up costing the same, or the other way around, once shipping is added.

How do I know if an exhaust will actually fit my car?

Use a website’s search tool that asks for make, model, series or submodel, and engine variant, rather than vague or general listings. If unsure, call before you buy. Reputable companies should always be able to confirm, and a quick call or email is always better than having to return something.

Do all online exhaust retailers offer a price-match guarantee?

No, and the ones that do usually only match other Australian companies selling the identical part number. You’ll also need to confirm that the part is in stock before asking another company to match the price.

What is the difference between a retailer who has their own warehouse and a dropshipper?

A retailer holding its own stock is usually in control of the whole process, from managing stock levels to packing and shipping orders and managing any returns. A dropshipper is just forwarding your order to someone else, which usually means a longer wait and two businesses to deal with if it turns out wrong.