2004 A3 3.2 Quattro exhaust refurbishment

Hello,

So I'm looking into some more of the defects on my beloved 3.2...

Exhaust valve:
Contrary to most I actually want the car to operate as originally intended, in particular I'd like to try and get the car a little quieter as I drive through town. Seems I'm attracting a lot of unwanted attention from the loud grumbles and burbles my exhaust makes at the mo.

Anyway, the control valve on the left hand tail pipe has been sabotaged and left to rust. Currently the valve is stuck partly open. Photos below should help show what I mean.

I want to replace the silencer (or muffler) to one with a working valve. Where should I start looking? Ebay hasn't shown anything useful yet.

After posting this I'll contact Audi for a quote to see what's possible from the brand new side of things. But if I can pick up an unwanted and working original part I'll happily fit it.

Key question:
Is the silencer a separate part? Or is it only available with the pipe back to the middle box?

Thanks for any help/suggestions.


Image of broken exhaust valve.

Update:
East Kent Audi have quoted £780 for the exhaust replacement part. Centre box, piping and rear silencer.
I just came to after collapsing. This isn't an option for me.

The guy on the phone also offered a 'exhaust valve unit' also known as a 'guard plate' for £33.43.
Does anyone know if the rusty valve mechanism in my photo could in fact be connected to a mechanism to enable it to work again?

Update 2: Ok so looking online for photos of similar setups I can see immediately that I'm missing quite a lot of bits. The valve that sits on top of the bracket in my photo...a connecting hose....and some stuff under the bonnet (a solenoid?).
Gawd this looks like it's going to be a nightmare.

Again, any help much appreciated.

gokiwi64 said:

View attachment 131380 Unfortunately that looks like toast. It should look like this.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the qualifier photo @gokiwi64
I just realised I was missing quite a lot of stuff from some Googling. Damn.
I suppose I can't find and it a replacement flap and valve combo? Whether my tailpipe will like being separated from the rusty old flap housing I currently have or not is anyone's guess.

Seems for now I'm stuck with a noisy car.

gokiwi64 said:

The problem is that the flapper valve in the exhaust on yours looks to have been welded and the lever cut off , these parts are not replaceable. the missing solenoid above probably is but you also need to check the vacuum line that runs to it.

Click to expand...

I see. Yep on closer inspection of my photos I can see what you mean.
I don't have access to a ramp so I haven't been able to check for a hose running up to the engine. However I guess when it was butchered in this way whoever did it may well have stripped out any unwanted pipework?
Next time I'm out I'll park on a kerb and crawl under to have a look for any hosework which might have been left behind.

Thanks again for your input.