I've just done 3000 miles to Amalfi and back in mine (fun - got caught up in the Historic Mille Miglia on the way down) with no real problems. I had removed the spring and used stainless lockwire to wire the valve open. It is certainly a little louder on startup, and there is more spitting and popping in 'normal' (i.e. not sport) mode. This I don't really understand as obviously whether or not he car is in 'sport' has no effect on the exhaust valve.
For most of the trip, around town there was a very annoying and quite loud buzzing rattle, which I assumed was a heatshield or similar come loose above the exhaust. However when I got home I removed the lockwire and it vanished, which was also annoying as I could have done that at Calais on the way out! I had felt around the valve during the trip and everything seemed tight.
I've now left it open with no wire. It is absolutely solid and I cannot close it anyway. As long as it doesn't affect back pressure or contribute to wear or damage (and I can't see that it would), it'll stay that way until the next service, at which I'll be interested to see what they say (and either do or don't do, with or without telling me!). I might need to 'express a preference', because the last thing I want is to have to leave the car whilst they order a new part from wherever.
If this thing's going to keep on sticking I would prefer to just leave it open. Restricting an exhaust at high revs is far more likely to do damage than 'opening' an exhaust at low revs.
Topic: 124 - Record Monza exhaust issues (Read 10929 times)