S6 Downpipe Flex Blowing

So, i’ve had my S6 for just over 3 months now and the flex joint have started to go - can only auume this is due to my heavy right foot and age of the pipework.

Anyway, went to see a local exhaust/fabrication specialist today I got told horror stories of work they’d done on other large engine’d VAG cars. The long and the short of it is…£1200!

Has anyone had theirs replaced before? Did it go smoothly or did it end up with a subframe drop etc?

I’ve seen ads for cars that have had them done so it must be a fairly common issue as they get older.

Pics attached to give you a better idea of what i’m on about.