Put a gloved hand over the exhaust pipe. If there is little pressure, and you hear exhaust coming out elsewhere, there is your leak.

OE exhaust will last 10 or more years. Made of very heavy metal.

Midas will last perhaps 3 years, may not fit properly, and may not be as quiet. Remember, that silly "lifetime" warrantee they give is only for the muffler, which is never the part that fails. They use cheesy pipes with short lifespan. If your car has some years left in it, invest in OE parts.

If you want a cheaper fix, consider visiting a welder for a patch. Depends upon the extent of the damage, but you may get several years from a patch. The heavy OE exhaust material takes welds well.

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1986 300E 5-Speed 240k mi.